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The first Vegetarian Society that we know of in India was established
in 1889 in the Punjab, but it was not immediately reported in England.
From The Vegetarian Messenger (Manchester, England), December
1891, p.375:
Vegetarianism in India. - Mr. Durga Prasad, of the Virajanand Press,
Lahore, writes - "I think you will be glad to hear of the progress
our Vegetarian Society is making in the Punjab. Our secretary and I
lectured at Muradabad, Kashipur (North-west Provinces), Amritsar, Kasur,
and Dasua (Punjab). People are much pleased with our arguments, which
are taken from the literature published by your society in Manchester.
On the 13th September, 1891, a Vegetarian procession walked throughout
the city of Lahore, singing Vegetarian songs in the vernacular, and
making short speeches at the principal squares. Hundreds of people followed
us, and came to hear our lectures at the place of our ordinary meeting.
About thirty new members joined us at the conclusion.
From The Vegetarian Messenger (Manchester, England), September
1892, p.259:
The Punjab Vegetarian Society. - We are gald to record the activity
of the Punjab Vegetarian Society, which has its headquarters at Lahore.
From the hon. librarian we have received several numbers of the Harbinger
of Health, which is conducted in English and Urdu, and argues the question
of Vegetarianism from the Hindoo standpoint. There are five mottoes
on the cover - two from Pythagoras, one from Schopenhauer, and two from
the Yajur Veda, which we m,ay quote:- "I shall look upon all the
creatures with the eye of a friend," and "Protect animals."
The contents of the magazine are interesting, and show that the conductors
are well acquainted with the literature of the subject in its western
as well as its oriental development. In addition to the Harbinger of
Health, the Society issues a smaller magazine - Glad Tidings
- in the Urdu vernacular. In addition to the periodicals, we have received
"Our Food," "Wholesome Foodfor Students," "Can
the people of Cold Climates Live without Flesh?" "A Mirror
of Bravery." "Why is Flesh not the Natural Food of Man?"
"Is Flesh Eating Consistent with True Religion?" and six small
collections of Vegetarian songs. These tracts are all in Urdu, and are
written by Atma Ram, the hon. sec. of the Lahore Vegetarian Society.
We wish all success to the society and its propaganda.
From The Vegetarian Messenger (Manchester, England), February
1893, p.64:
India. - The second anniversary of the Punjab Vegetarian Society, Lahore,
was kept up on the 5th and 6th November, 1892. About forty delegates
from the Bhera and the Amritsar Vegetarian Society attended the meeting,
which was held in the Baoli Sahib, a sacred place of the Sikhs. On the
5th a Vegetarian processions passed through the big bazaars, and greatly
pleased the spectators. A lecture on "Bravery and Vegetarianism"
was delivered at 7 p.m. On the 6th Professor Osman and some educated
native gentlemen attended the meeting. In the discussion several gentlemen
took a leading part. Dr. Salger's learned lecture was read after the
discussion by the secretary, proving flesh-eating to be deleterious
to our spiritual progress. Then Mr. Atma Ram made an impressive speech,
and appealed for subscriptions towards a Vegetarian Hall. About Rs.210
was subcribed. More than fifty members were enrolled. The meeting was
altogether very successful.
From The Vegetarian Messenger (Manchester, England), February
1895, p.51:
INDIA : PUNJAB VEGETARIAN
SOCIETY. - The annual report of this society
appears in the Harbinger for Nov. 30th, 1894. During the year covered
by the report no new members joined the society, and there was no income
and no expenditure. This somewhat remarkable state of things did not
prevent meetings being held every Sunday evening at the Khatri Samachar
Press. Although few members attended, outsiders always made a good audience,
and the report specially thanks Lala Kripa Shanker Baltalvi and Lala
Bishen Das Varma for their zeal in holding the weekly meeting regularly.
The Society formerly owned the Harbinger, but was unable to continue
it, and therefore made it over to the Editor, Mr. Darga Prasad, who
has managed, by somewhat enlarging its scope, to carry it on.
The 4th anniversary meeting of the Society was held on the 1st and
2nd of December 1894. On the first day the members went in procession
through the principal markets of Lahore, preceded by bands of music.
At intervals addresses were delivered and hymns sung. After the procession
the society returned to its headquarters, where Lala Prabhu Ram and
Durga Prasad spoke on bravery and its causes. On the following day the
proceedings began at noon. There was a discussion on flesh-eating in
India, after which the annual report was read. Speeches from Durga Prasad,
Lala Atma Ram, and Lala Jamma Das followed, and a paper by Mrs. Gostling
was read. The meetings closed with exhibitions of games and magic, for
which the Hindus are famous.
From The Vegetarian Messenger (Manchester, England), February
1896, p.131:
Punjab Vegetarian Society. - The fifth annual report of the Punjab
Vegetarian Society, Lahore, records an improved financial position.
The Society's former place of meeting being inconvenient, a hall was
hired in the Gumti Bazar, where Sunday preachings have since been held
regularly. Addresses have been given at the Dayanand High School and
elsewhere, and the Society has been affiliated with the Vegetarian Federal
Union.
From The Vegetarian Messenger (Manchester, England), September
1896, p.303:
From the Harbinger we learn that the Punjab Vegetarian Society
has been inactive since its last anniversary meeting. In order to bring
about a revival of the work Lala Jagat Ram Khannah, B.A., who is in
the Maharajah's service at Jammoo, has been appointed secretary of the
society, Lala Prabhu Ram, assistant secretary and Durga Prasad, editor
of the Harbinger, chairman of the executive committee at Lahore.
Each officer will, with the help he can best obtain, work by lectures,
discussions, talks and the distribution of pamphlets. Lala Prabhu Ram
writes from Karachi that as a vegetarian society is already in existence
in Hyderabad he intends to start one at Karachi to be called the Railway
Vegetarian Society. The Harbinger has great hopes of Lala Prahbu
Ram, as he is a capital speaker and a lving example, which qualities
are necessary requisites for the officers of a new society.
From The Vegetarian Messenger (Manchester, England), June 1897,
p.203:
India. - The Harbinger, which has hitherto been issued
fortnightly, will henceforth be published weekly. The Harbinger, which
is edited by Durga Prasad, is published at Lahore, and advocates vegetarianism,
temperance, philanthropy and the study of the Vedas.
From The Vegetarian Messenger and Review (Manchester, England),
June 1898, p.238:
Punjab Vegetarian Society. - We learn from the Harbinger
that the meetings of the Punjab Vegetarian Society which have been in
abeyance for some time, have been resumed. The opening meeting was held
on 19th Feb., when a speech in favour of Vegetarianism was delivered,
and literature was distributed gratis.
From The Vegetarian Messenger and Review (Manchester, England),
March 1900, p.102:
The "Harbinger." - of Lahore, which for many years
has been a staunch advocate of vegetarianism, education, and other movements
for the amelioration of the condition of the inhabitants of India, has
been reduced in size. The editor, Mr. Durga Prasad, explains that having
had to pay a large sum in law costs he is constrained to cut off even
his necessary expenses to bare animal living. Under the circumstances
it is almost impossible for him to continue the Harbinger. He
has, however, decided to reduce it to 12 pages fortnightly. "The
paper being published in the interest of the Punjab Vegetarian Society
and the Vedic Mahavidyalaya, cannot be stopped as long as I can write,
and have a pice in my purse."
From The Vegetarian Messenger and Review (Manchester, England),
November 1900, p.355:
Punjab Vegetarian Society. - This Society, originally established
in 1889, and which became dormant in 1895, was revived last year, and
has issued its 10th annual report which is printed in the Harbinger
of August 1st. Meetings and discussions have been held during the year,
each enlivened by music. Mr. Durga Prasad continues his labors for the
Society, publishing at his own risk its two organs, the Harbinger
(in English), and the Rahnuma (in Urdu). The Harbinger
is about 10 years old, the Rahnuma was started in July, 1889.
In order to spread vegetarian principles to every nook and corner of
the Punjab or other provinces of India where Urdu is the vernacular.
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