GANDHI & DIET

A tribute to Gandhi on the occasion of his 153rd birth anniversary.

‘Mahatma’s experiments with food seem as elaborate as his experiments with Ahimsa and truth'.Though they were dismissed as fads during his life time,’many of Gandhi’s dietary concerns wereuncannily contemporary.’

It is astonishing that Gandhi who led millions of fellow Indians during India's freedom struggle survived mostly on a handful of fruits and nuts in his life time. Although of frail constitution, he could walk miles together, without feeling any fatigue. He would undertake periodic fasts, but did not seem to have any problem. Where did Gandhi get his strength, sustenance and stamina from?

Gandhi ate frugally. Nevertheless, he constantly experimented with his diet, and these experiments lasted all through his life.“I have been known as a crank, faddist, madman,” wrote Mahatma Gandhi in his weekly journal, Young India, in 1929, referring to his dietary experiments.

Evolution of Gandhi's diet Gandhi came from a Gujarati family whose members were strict vegetarians. He said in his Autobiography that, as a schoolboy, he ate meat for a brief period, prompted by his elder brother’s friend. The boy convinced young Gandhi that that the English were able to rule over Indians because they were meat-eaters! But soon he overcame this habit.

Before leaving for England to study law in 1888, he vowed to his mother that he would not touch meat or liquor. In England he kept his word to his mother. As he could not get vegetarian food, he always remained hungry. Finally, he could take food in a vegetarian restaurant on Farringdon Street. “The sight of itfilled me with the same joy that a child feels on getting a thing after its own heart” wrote Gandhi in his autobiography.

Vegetarianism was a new cult in England at that time. Gandhi was deeply influenced by a book on Vegetarianism written by Henry Salt. "From the date of reading this book, I may claim to have become a vegetarian by choice,” wrote Gandhiji in Diet and Diet Reforms.He joined the Vegetarian Society in England and made English friends who were part of the Society.

Gandhi's experiments in Dietetics, while he was in England, are well known. According to Gandhi, 'these experiments were conducted not from the point of view of religion, but from the point of view of economy and hygiene'.

Gandhi in South AfricaGandhi at the age of 23, set sail for South Africa in April, 1893. 'For 11 days in the summer of 1893, Gandhi ate nothing but raw food. But soon heconcluded that “The vital food, doesnot seem to agree well (with me)'. On September 2, Gandhi returned to his regular diet.  But Gandhi continuedhis experiments with raw food later in his life.

Gandhi, while living in Durban, made attempts at dietary reformswhich he felt encourage simplicity, good health and economy.He started using Hand-ground flour and unleavened whole meal bread at home.  At Tolstoy Farm in South Africa, at his behest, the residents started growing food in the farm and started consuming raw vegetables and fruits.

Return to IndiaAfter returning to India, Gandhi continued his dietary experiments. For years he subsisted on fruit and nuts.  In May 1929, Gandhi attempted another experiment by eating only raw, uncooked food.

While he was in India, on a visit to Hardwar for the Kumbh Mela, he took a vow never to take more than five articles of food in 24 hours, and to finish his last meal before sunset. He mostly kept the vow and finally stopped eating all spices and only consumed boiled or raw food.

Why Vegetarianism?Gandhi advocated that food should be taken "--as a matter of duty – even as a medicine- to sustain the body, never for thesatisfaction of thepalate.”

Conscious ethical choice was another reason. "Man was not born a carnivorous animal, but born to live on fruits and herbs that the earth grows".

Gandhi's food habits were deeply guided by his belief in the principle of non-violence, ‘the core principle on which his politics was based’.

Gandhi firmly believed that a meat diet was not good for health, because of the “defects of the animals from which it is derived.” 

To him the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Wrote Gandhi"Man's supremacy over the lower animals meant not that the former should pray upon the latter, but that the higher should protect the lower, ---man eats not for enjoyment, but to live".

Gandhi’s experiments with his diet were closely connected to the vow of celibacy he took in 1906. Said Gandhi "The diet of a man of self-restraint must be different from that of a man of pleasure.”

Raw foodappealed to him for many reasons, chiefly due to its simplicity. Besides, it cleansed the body by getting rid of impurities. “That I could dispense with cooking, that I couldcarry about my own food wherever I went, that I should not have to put up with any uncleanness of the landlady or those who supplied me with food”—. He also believed that nutrients could be lost in the process of cooking. In an article he wrote in 1913, Gandhi stated "--If cooking could be avoided, much of the time of our womenfolk … would then be saved.” Once India had gone raw, women will be set free from the prison-house of the kitchen.” 

Gandhi believed that raw-food experiments would benefit the society as a whole. The cost of cooking oil and fuel could be saved in every home. It would do away with the inequalities that prevent poor people from having access to healthy food.

Views on Food ItemsOn consumption milkSaid Gandhi--“We are certainly not entitled to any other milk except the mother’s milk in our infancy’-- for the same reason for not consuming meat.

 Gandhi was literally in death bed,due to dysentery, during a campaign in Kheda, during World War I. When the doctors insisted on his taking milk, he agreed to drink goat’s milk, but refused cow’s milk. He felt that those who can take milk should have no objection to taking sterile egg.

Gandhi avoided refined sugars, fats and oils, but was favorablydisposed towards ghee (clarified butter). Gandhi did consume sweets occasionally and had a weakness for sweet mangoes. He considered sugar to be a harmful and advocated the use of Gur or jaggery instead.

 Gandhi’s routineIn his book Diet & Diet Reform he mentioned that his food was divided into two parts; the first meal was taken at 11 a.m. the second at 6.15 p.m. The only thing touched by fire is water. He took boiling water, lemon and honeyin the morning and once more during the day.  When on the move, he  favored a snack of plantains, with groundnut paste.

On fastingHe considered fasting too as his way of healthcare. It is said that Gandhi’s fasts altered the course of Indian history. He also fasted for religious and health reasons. Almost a century ago, Gandhi fasted on 17 occasions during the freedom struggle, the longest being 21 days. His 1948 “fast unto death” for peace in Delhi was a turning point.

Gandhi perfected a routine for long fasts. Before going for a fast, he would take lemon juice and honey, with warm water. He would take water, occasionally with salt or lemon juice, through the day. To save energy, he would sleep more than usual.

Eating locally Gandhi was of view that by eating local foods we get fresh, high-quality food. It reduces transportation, supports farmers directly, boosts local economy and helps the soil and ecology and it also meant self- reliance.

Mahatma advocated consuming wheat, rice, jowar, bajra and a range of locally-grown coarse cereals and millets as staple diet and locally-grown fruits and vegetables (Note: This year we celebrate the International Year of the Millets).  Instead of tea, coffee or cocoa, he suggested the use of honey, hot water and lemon as nourishing drinks.

Practicing vegetarianism Gandhi did not merely believe in advocacy, but practiced what he preached. Onhis frequent visits to the Viceregal Lodge, he would always carry curd made out of goat’s milk with him, and offer it to others. Gandhi politely refused the scones and ice creams that were offered. During lunches in his honor, he would opt for only clear soup or lemon water.

Bapu’s FiveHealthy Rules

1. Follow simple vegetarian diet

2. Avoid processed foods-only simple home cooked meals.

3. Fast in moderation.

4. Monitor saltintake

5. Reduce sugar consumption.

Don’t you think that they sound more like advice from modern doctors?

Healthcare Most of us do not know that Gandhi was interested in studying medicine and wanted to become a medical practitioner!! But the force of circumstances made him a barrister, political leader and social reformer.  He viewed health holistically that include healthcare, hygiene, nutrition and exercise. He was a follower of naturopathy.“Gandhi’s vocation as a healthcare and nutrition expert, even ifnot discussed often, was more pronounced than his career as a lawyer”.

Walking   Gandhi considered exercise essential for good health, along with a healthy diet. ‘Gandhi used to walk around 18 km every day for nearly 40 years. 'During his campaign from 1913 to 1948, he walked around 79,000 km, which is equivalent to walking around the Earth twice'.

Writings: Gandhi carefully recorded his experiments on diet.A prolific writer,he kept journals and regularly wrote on food, diet and health issues extensively, especially in Harijan, a weekly newspaper.  Gandhi also wrote books on diet and health which include ‘Diet and Diet Reforms’, ‘The Moral Basis of Vegetarianism’ and  ‘The Key to Health’.

Lessons from Gandhi's experimentsGandhi's unique dietary experiments and his unconventional approach to healthcare have valuable lessons for us.Today, many people are attracted to veganism and vegetarianism, out of choice. The Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)set up by the United Nations has pointed out that high consumption of meat and dairy produce by western countries is one of the factors fueling global warming. It, therefore, recommended that there should be a major shift towards vegetarian and vegan diets. In view of the deep implications of climate change, it seems that we now have little choice, but to go for a largely vegetarian diet.

We might have banished Gandhi from our thoughts, but today a deadly virus has brought his thoughts again to the center-stage. It has imposed a Gandhi- like discipline on at least some of us, as never before-- self- reliance, simple living, minimizing wastage, upgrading skills, self- education, focus on preventive health,hygiene, sanitation etc. Of course, it is difficult for an ordinary person to practice everything that he advocated. But following even some of his easier advice could be beneficial. 

Only from our own experience can we realize that Gandhi was far ahead of his times, and that, he is as relevant today as he was, when alive.Ref: www.netmeds.com; hindustantimes.com; www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; www.netmedst.com; www.theatlantic.com;  health.ucdavis.edu

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Note: This piece first appeared in Annual Issue 2020 of Life Stream e-magazine