Of penance and child monks

Photo Credits: MAIN ARTICLE

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Gauri Gharpure studied journalism at Columbia University, New York, on a Fulbright grant. She makes paper jewellery. Follow her on twitter @gaurigharpure

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In the backdrop of such fanfare and an intricate mix-up of communal pride, there is a high possibility that many children may also be cajoled, coaxed or even forced to observe fasts but this information is tough to get in the tight-lipped Jain community

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A Jain couple was booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder after their 13-year-old daughter died on October 4 of health complications resulting from a 68-day fast during which she had nothing but boiled water. The Secunderabad teen, Aaradhana, reportedly undertook the penance after someone suggested that it would bring success to her father Lakshmichand Samdhariya's jewellery business. Aaradhana had fasted just on boiled water for eight days (Atthai) in 2014 and then for 34 days in 2015. More than 600 people attended her grand funeral procession called "shobha yatra". The Jain community elders are defiant and demand "no interference" in a religious matter.

Aimee Kuvadia, a journalist who grew up in a moderately strict Jain family in America but doesn't practice Jainism now, feels the family should not be held responsible if the person fasted voluntarily. "But if there are gods, I don't believe children dying from antiquated rituals in honour of them would please them very much," Aimee said. Darshil Shah is a Jain friend who isn't quite religious but respects Jainism. He is, however, "disgusted" by what happened: "The parents are solely responsible. She almost went to school for 25-28 days (sic) or something which is ridiculous!" Religious leaders tell child rights people not to interfere. That's too much. Anything in excess or stubbornness can destroy you and in this case it's religion."

Hemant Mehta, a born-Jain editor of the portal FriendlyAtheist.com replied by email: "It's incredibly disappointing. Maybe they'll reconsider whether fasting is truly worth celebrating when some people will put themselves at tremendous risk to please their religious community." Udit, a Jain from Goa, felt that Aaradhana's parents shouldn't have encouraged her even if they had not forced her to fast. He also cannot believe that the family did it for luck, as some news reports suggest. "At 13, when the body is still developing, you shouldn't do something so drastic. But I feel bad the parents are being targeted; they must be grieving... No parent would want their child to die."

I believe that even if Aaradhana was not forced, she was a minor and so it was the parents' responsibility to ensure her safety and health. They failed as her legal guardians to intervene and stop a life-threatening situation. Their connivance makes them culpable.

"I don’t think you’ll find many people criticizing any gentle religion, like Jainism," said Richard Dawkins, ethologist and author of The God Delusion in a 2007 interview. Well, there are a few points of contention if Dawkins were to look closely at Jain practises like initiation of minors into austere religious orders -- bal diksha -- and drastic fasting by minors.

I remember the fast-ending ceremony (parna) of a relative -- a minor -- when I offered her a sip of sugar-water and asked, "Shaata chhe?" (Are you at peace?) My niece only giggled in response. She was glowing with pride, was being pampered and seemed generally jubilant at having survived on boiled water for eight days in spite of attempts to dissuade her from taking the oath. Like her, many children successfully and voluntarily undergo such fasting during the Jain holy month of Paryushan.

Fasting is intrinsic to Jainism but it unwittingly becomes a social symbol and a sign of prestige for some. Atthais (eight-day fasts) usually culminate with an auction where families bid large sums for religious leaders to visit their homes. Celebratory rallies, called "varghodas" in Gujarat are held after fasts: silver coins being showered as gifts off an elephant in one such grand procession is a potent childhood memory. In the backdrop of such fanfare and an intricate mix-up of communal pride, there is a high possibility that many children may also be cajoled, coaxed or even forced to observe fasts but this information is tough to get in the tight-lipped Jain community.

Another vivid memory is seeing Jain nuns clad in white robes, their mouths covered with a rectangular piece of cloth, walking bare feet come rain or scorching sun. Child nuns walked with the old with the same austere sense of purpose. If rarely, their head cover fell a bit out of place, one saw a down-feather like fuzz. Jain monks routinely pluck their hair out with their hands as a sign of penance. Such sights, though considered auspicious, invariably brought inexplicable gloom. I couldn't understand why kids so tender were allowed to take to the streets in search of religion.

The Jain community has defended the tradition of bal diksha vociferously. An excellent India Today article in 2004 by Shefali Vasudev about a court battle surrounding the diksha of an eight-year-old girl reports that there have been four failed attempts since 1955 to get a legislative bill against bal diksha passed in Parliament. In 2008, responding to the same case, the division bench of Bombay High Court observed, "No religion can allow a minor to become a sadhu. It's as bad as Sati and there should be some law to prevent minors from taking diksha." In August this year, The Supreme Court took on board a petition to declare illegal the Muslim practices of triple talaq and polygamy. If it comes to strengthening the uniform civil code (refer Law Commission of India appeal dated October 7) child rights issues in Jainism, especially bal diksha, must also come within the ambit of a legal debate.

I am stunned by the glorification of Aaradhana's death. A child died. Her parents let her die. There is no question of "no interference".