A video featuring Laxmidhar Behera, the director of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, has garnered widespread attention on social media. In this video, Behera posits a theory connecting meat consumption and the ensuing impact on the environment, including landslides and cloudbursts occurring in Himachal Pradesh. The video, whose exact date of recording is unknown but is available on YouTube, gained virality after being shared on X (formerly Twitter) by an internet user.
Addressing a gathering of students in an auditorium, Behera expressed his viewpoint, contending that the slaughter of animals for meat consumption bears a symbiotic relationship with environmental degradation. He stressed that although the consequences of meat consumption on the environment might not be readily apparent to people at present, these effects would become increasingly evident over time.
Behera made a direct link between animal cruelty and the natural phenomena of landslides and cloudbursts that have occurred repeatedly. His statements, however, are unconventional and have generated significant discussion.
Before delving into the topic of meat consumption and its environmental repercussions, Behera engaged the students by asking them about the actions required to become better individuals. He posed the question, "To become a good human being, what do you have to do? No to meat-eating! Yes or no?" during his speech. He encouraged the students to participate by chanting "no meat-eating" before continuing with his discourse.
Himachal Pradesh, a hilly state, experienced severe devastation due to cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides during the monsoon season, primarily from July to August. These natural disasters resulted in substantial loss of life and property. The Public Works Department alone reported losses amounting to Rs 2,913 crore. This context adds significance to Behera's statements, as they attempt to draw a link between the environment and dietary choices.
