Gimme Eat??

Tehseen Sahib/Sahiba,

Brilliant article. I have seen such disgusting habbits among Muslims in India where people come to eat in the dead persons houseold. And amongst Hindus wher no food is cooked for 4 days but provided by friends and relatives, people make it up on the Chautha/Tehrveen by gobbling like there is no tomorrow.

Sad this stae of Human affairs.

Regards
Sanatani

Re: # 2
I dont mean to offend anyone who supports the uncivilized callous behavior of inconsiderate individuals who lack morale and self discipline...
but seriously. how can one bring themselves to eat or indulge in anything knowing the setting. It is pathetic and to some point vulgar. How can someone eat knowing that they are sitting in the house of someone who has lost an important part of their life? especially if its his/her friend.
I understand that its only human to be selfish. Yet it is only human to feel the loss of others. and if one is inapable of doing that. they seirously are deprived of necessities for living a fulfilling life.

Re: # 2
I dont mean to offend anyone who supports the uncivilized callous behavior of inconsiderate individuals who lack morale and self discipline...
but seriously. how can one bring themselves to eat or indulge in anything knowing the setting. It is pathetic and to some point vulgar. How can someone eat knowing that they are sitting in the house of someone who has lost an important part of their life? especially if its his/her friend.
I understand that its only human to be selfish. Yet it is only human to feel the loss of others. and if one is inapable of doing that. they seirously are deprived of necessities for living a fulfilling life.

Thanks for reading everyone.

#1 and # 2
I understand the importance of Biryani in one`s life and food is a good symbol of `moving on` , but at such a time, shouldn`t one worry for the family members instead of filling their bellies.

#6
I kind of disgaree that morality goes into toilet. I mean if we give into hunger, sleep and sex everytime they come up, than there is literally no difference at all between us and our chimpanzee brothers :P
Just like you kill your desire to eat and sleep when you have a final exam in 10 minutes; you can kill it for a few minutes on someone`s death as well.

this is just a case of plain bad upbringing - culprits aka parents should be shot !!

You are not over-reacting. The behaviour you have described is shocking and despicable.

I am not very religious but I love the concept of fasting. Of all the Ibadaa, I find it to be the most rewarding.

On one hand it reminds us that we humans are still very much animals. Despite our status, our resumes, and our egos, a few hours of hunger can make us weak and takes all the life out of us.

On the other hand it reminds us how strong our will-power and self-control can be. Despite being extremely hungry if we want to, we can resist the most delicious and inviting goodies.

Nicely written!

Funeral being followed by mandatory meal in most cultures is symbolic gesture of saying that life has to go on while accepting death`s inevitability.How people behave at such a time is expression of their own personalities and as Malik sahib said,there are differences at that level and we have to live with them.

Bajwa,

You gotta understand two things. First that food is one of the very basic needs of humans and morality goes into toilet if somebody is really hungry, that would probably apply to you at least at a reasonably high hunger level. The second thing is that the world works on probability. The few chaps who stoop down to the level of animals in revealing their hunger are just there to balance the laws of chance that dictate that the whole society cannot exhibit the high morals which we find inside our minds. But then, there are poeple like you to balance the balance.

You should ask yourself a question, that is, what are the high morals that you wish to see in all humans? Are they really necessary? If yes, then why? What is the point? Hunger is justified for the exact same reasons why grielf on somebody`s death is justified. Isn`t it?

Sorry pal, I don`t really mean that you were wrong but just wanted to register a reply. :-)

Forget about funerals, just check people`s behavior during marriages or festivals. People behave as if they have never eaten in their lives. This is true even in the US. The desis living here are all well off and presumable well fed. Still they forget everything about their Ph.D. and M.D. degrees and fight like dogs for getting food during marriages/religious events etc.

These people you write about are like the horse in the picture below. They eat like horses. I dont blame you for being shocked - like the woman in the picture.

When my uncle`s father died. They threw a brunch after the `bhog` ceremony. They boasted for several months that the brunch was better than most marriage parties and luncheons. On two instances, there wa a party thrown with whisky and meat delicacies. In this case, the deceased were old fellows so it is pretty normal.

Food is good.It helps one overcome all emotions.I would die for a plate of hyderabadi biryani with onion raita and eggplant curry on the side right now.I had `bangkok chicken rice` for dinner.Doesn`t cut it.There`s an empty void in my stomach waiting to be filled.I shall endeavour to get myself a plate of hyderabadi biryani tomorrow.

really such attitude is enough to make someone anorexic. still sweets!! u gotta understand at heart we are all animals. see the violence around you and biryani will become delectable again