On the occasion of Sadhu TL Vaswani's birth anniversary, the Uttar Pradesh government has designated November 25 as a "non veg day."
To honour Vaswani's advocation for a vegetarian lifestyle, the state government has directed the closure of all slaughterhouses and meat shops today.
Only a few days earlier, the Yogi Adityanath government had announced the ban on the production, distribution, storage and sale of halal-certified food products in the state.
Dharmendra Pratap Singh, Special secretary in the UP government wrote a letter addressed to all the District Magistrate, Divisional Commissioners and Municipal Commissioners, among other senior state officials where he announced the decision to declare November 25 as "no non-veg day".
The letter reportedly said, "The birth anniversaries of our country’s great men who propounded the doctrine of ‘non-violence’ are celebrated as ‘non-violence’ days. Like we celebrate Mahavir Jayanti, Buddha Jayanti, Gandhi Jayanti and Sadhu TL Vaswani Jayanti, the U.P. government has been issuing notifications to keep the slaughterhouses closed in the State. On the occasion of birth anniversary of Sadhu TL Vaswani on November 25, 2023, it has been declared as ‘no non-veg day’. All slaughterhouses and meat shops are to remain closed on the day."
Who was Sadhu TL Vaswani?
Sadhu T.L. Vaswani, also known as Sadhu Vaswani, was an Indian spiritual leader, philosopher, and humanitarian. He was born on November 25, 1879, in Hyderabad, Sindh (now in Pakistan), and he passed away on January 16, 1966, in Pune, India.
Sadhu Vaswani was a proponent of vegetarianism and advocated for the ethical treatment of animals. He believed in the oneness of all religions and emphasized the importance of love, compassion, and service to humanity. Sadhu Vaswani founded the Mira Movement, which focuses on education, social service, and promoting a vegetarian lifestyle.
Throughout his life, Sadhu Vaswani worked towards fostering religious harmony and promoting a message of universal love and understanding. His teachings continue to inspire people, and his birthday, November 25, is often observed as a day dedicated to vegetarianism and compassion in some regions.
