Beauty Without Cruelty

Achievements 1981-1990

To date, every year since its inception, BWC has achieved some thing! To see ALL our Achievements please click here.

With specific goals in mind Beauty Without Cruelty has sincerely carried out its work, however kept a low profile. Most tasks undertaken have been difficult, often seemed impossible to achieve, but frustration has never made the organization give up even when implementation was stalled. Sticking to the facts, a persistent follow-up and constantly looking for new ways to achieve its aims has led BWC to success in many instances.

Our Achievements between 1981 and 1990 are:

1990

Guidelines for Animal Performances in Films
The very first guidelines for animals used in films were drafted in 1990 by BWC for the Animal Welfare Board of India. However, BWC feels all animal performances in circuses, films or on the roadside can never be achieved without training which in itself is unnatural and cruel.

BWC helped Government with vital information regarding the Performing Bear sent to France
BWC supplied the Government information and slides of the bear that had been taken to France for the Festival of India. Based on this technicality the Government won its Supreme Court case relating to the first bear confiscated in Delhi. It was proved that the animal was not the same as the one that was sent to France and which was at the time at the Taj Hotel in Jaipur.

1989

ICAR Karakul Lamb Project Scrapped
BWC was able to achieve unimaginable success after a period of 13 years when in 1989 the ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) reluctantly gave in to BWC’s pleas and scrapped their Karakul lamb project. Karakul lambs imported from the former USSR were being bred for slaughter within 48 hours of their birth. In order to forestall Karakul lamb farming in the country, BWC purchased the entire flock of sheep and shifted them to Deesa in Gujarat where they lived out their natural lifespan.

Animal Sacrifice of Humans biting Piglets to Death Stopped
In 1989 BWC persuaded the Catholic Church to stop the age old barbaric custom of teenage boys dressed in tiger-skin biting a piglet to death at Terekol, Goa, in celebration of St John’s Baptism.

Column on Animal Rights

Twice for over a year, a weekly column on Animal Rights appeared in the Gujarati newspaper Mumbai Samachar. This column (discontinued in 1989) helped in creating a great awareness of the aims and work of BWC.

1988

Greyhound Coursing

1988 BWC persuaded the Government to ban the use of live hare (wild rabbits) for greyhound coursing in Punjab. Unfortunately the law is openly broken and hare are illegally hunted by greyhounds as part of their training. BWC efforts to halt greyhound racing being legalised are on since 2011.

1987

Export of Frogs’ Legs Banned
BWC relentlessly spent over a decade convincing the Government of India to stop exporting frogs’ legs, an exotic food in the West. The ban finally came into force in 1987. Facts such as the barbaric manner in which the frogs’ hind legs were chopped off and the ecological imbalance created were stressed.

Torture to Tigeress Stopped
The old blind tigress Uma Devi’s plight for filming of Insaaf Kaun Karega was widely publicised by BWC as a result of which she (and other animals) were spared similar torture in future. For performances in films she was first starved for three days, then ten men forcibly held her down while her owner literally stitched her mouth with a needle and thread. She had been subjected to this horrifying procedure each time she had acted in a film since Haathi Mere Saathi.

1986

Lesser Birds Released therefore Saved

BWC explained to Jains who attended lectures organised by the society under the patronage of their Munis that birds bought and released from their cages outside Jain temples have been seen to fall exhausted to the ground after initially soaring into the sky. Such birds trapped from the wild a week or so earlier, brought to cities, with little or no food and water, never survive in urban areas devoid of vegetation. Therefore, by buying them for “release” a demand is created and money made available for the trade to continue. 1986 onwards due to a lesser number of birds being bought, very few bird-sellers were seen outside Jain temples in Mumbai.

1985

BWC Film

In 1980 BWC began making a 20-minute film entitled “Beauty Without Cruelty” so that people become aware of the suffering and death inflicted upon innocent animals for the luxury trades in India. As no creature was specially subjected to suffering or death during filming, it took several years to complete (was released in 1985) and it cost much more than expected, but it was well worth the effort and expense because to this day the film encourages people to use products of non-animal origin instead.

1984

Import of Animal Rennet Banned therefore Indian Cheese Vegetarian

As a result of a 7 year effort, in 1984 BWC persuaded the Government of India to impose a total ban on the import of animal rennet used in cheese-making. As this ban still exists, all Indian made cheese is free from animal rennet.

1983

Silent Valley Forest Saved

In 1983 thanks to the persistent efforts of BWC and some environmental and animal welfare organisations, the Kerala State Government finally dropped the Silent Valley hydroelectric project. This not only helped in conserving the magnificent trees, but also the wild animals inhabiting the area.

1982

Fox Tails Confiscated

In 1982 fox tails were found to be hanging in most vehicles. Investigations revealed the animals were illegally killed for their tails. The Maharashtra Forest Department was therefore alerted by BWC and in Mumbai alone they confiscated about 1000 fox tails.

Amendments to The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Act, 1960 partly accepted

In 1982 suggestions for amending The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Act, 1960, as given by BWC were partly accepted by the Government.

Ban on Use of Live Bait

In spite of new legislation (initiated by BWC) against the use of live bait, BWC found that the Government was itself using live bait as prey for carnivorous animals. Every time it occurred BWC objected… then in 1997 BWC sent a detailed study to the Government pointing out the cruelty involved even though it was rarely used for entertainment purposes. Unfortunately on several occasions a strong protest still needs to be lodged with the Government of India and State Governments resulting in an assurance given that the practice of utilizing live bait would be discontinued.

1981

Signature Campaign against Fur Farming

Although BWC had received an assurance from the Government that plans for mink farming were dropped, plans to specially breed other species of fur bearing animals were announced in 1981. A petition of over 150,000 signatures in protest (including 105 Members of Parliament) was therefore submitted by BWC in 1982 to the then Prime Minister. Although the breeding of rabbits and Karakul lambs was not stopped then, no new animals were bred to be killed under the proposed scheme of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

Satvanukampa

The Gujarati version of Compassionate Friend named Satvanukampa (a Jain word meaning compassion towards all living beings) was published. Unfortunately, it was closed down in 1990 due to lack of sufficient members opting for this Gujarati magazine.