The Rajasthan board’s new class X, XI and XII books. Education experts are calling the revisions in history as ‘Hinduisation’ of India’s freedom struggle. (HT File)

Rajasthan board’s revised physical health and education textbook for Class 10 says that eating meat causes a lot of harm to the human body.

Under the subhead of ‘Meat consumption and Health’, a chapter on effects of modern lifestyle on health says, “Due to lack of social values and virtues in modern life, the dietary habits of people are changing and meat consumption causes a lot of harm to the body.”

Commenting on the changes, Rajasthan education minister Vasudev Devnani said meat can be beneficial for some and harmful to others. “It may be beneficial for people in some areas. Fish is beneficial for people in coastal areas. But it cannot be beneficial for all the people at all the places,” said the minister.

He said Rajasthani people had different dietary habits.

A preceding chapter on balanced diet tells the students about the mantra that should be chanted before meal. The chapter also carries the six-line mantra under the subhead ‘Bhojan se poorv bolne ka mantra’.

The chapter also has a number of guidelines as to when a meal should be partaken. They say that meal, if possible, should be taken while sitting on floor in aasana. In addition, food should be consumed with full reverence and while eating one should think as if it is “God’s prasad”.

Further, the chapter says that “when we consume food offered by someone else, our heart becomes somewhat like them, which implies that our love for that person or the family grows”.

The chapter also says that meal should only be taken when one is hungry as it is the right time.

Regarding the guidelines, the chapter also says that if the guidelines are not followed then the very food that is vital to keep the body fit and healthy, will start working as poison.