Soya Bean and Mahatma Gandhi

[Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav]

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Gandhian Scholar

Gandhi Research Foundation Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

Contact No. – 09404955338, 09415777229

[e-mail]; [e-mail]

 

Soya Bean and Mahatma Gandhi

 

Soya bean-belongs to the family of legumes. It may be one of the earliest cultivated crops by man. It was the staple food of China. It was first brought into Chinas Kitchen during C.1700-1100 BC. Soya bean traveled ancient trade routes to Korea, Japan Southeast Asia, Nepal and India. It was popularly known as Yellow Jewel. Mahatma Gandhi called it food of the pen and it covered major portion of the food of the daily consumption of the Sabarmati Ashram residents. Proteins are important for tissue growth as well as for combating diseases. The diet of millions of people in different parts of the world is deficient in protein. In India due to religion and economic reasons even the very best food has been found lacking in proteins. Soya bean is the one source of complete protein for vegetarians. It contains all amino acids, best of all vegetable proteins. Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “One thing seems to me to be clear from the dietetic literature that has come under my notice, namely, that polished rice is unfit for consumption and a grain which requires so much delicate handling as rice need hardly be taken when other cereals are at hand. Wheat, milk or curds, uncooked green vegetables and fruits seem to be just now a workable proposition. That the plant world does hold an absolute substitute for milk I have no doubt but the secret is still to be found. American friends as also English friends have suggested the Soya Bean milk. I am trying to secure the Soya Bean.”1

100 grams of Soya bean contains 43 grams of Protein, 240 mg of Calcium, 690 mg of phosphorous and 10 mg of iron. Soya beans are highly rich contents of Vitamin A, E, K and some B complex Vitamins. They also have abundant contents of good minerals like Potassium, iron, phosphorous and Calcium. Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I must confess that I have not yet found the substitute for milk. I have been recommended soya bean milk which I have not yet tried, soya bean not easily procurable in India. I am trying, however, to procure it. There is no difficulty about living healthily without milk but there is considerable difficulty in becoming strong after having lost it by protracted illness.”2

Soya products tofu, tempeh and soy milk are very rich in protein. This has very high biological quality as it contains all essential amino acids. In addition, the amino acids of soy combine very well with those of cereals, such as wheat, rice and corn. Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Dr. Aykroyd is made to say that among other things the dietary requirements of an adult man per day were 16 ounces of soya bean. Please read there 16 ounces of ragi and two ounces of soya bean.”3

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Our menu has cost us a little more than six pice. It was a full meal and the other meals need not be as heavy as this. They, therefore, need not cost more than an anna or so. Milk may be omitted for the other meals. Wheat bhakhari, soya bean and chutney should be quite enough.”4 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Inquiries are being made as to where soya beans are to be had and how they are to be sown and in what ways they are to be cooked. The leaflet published by the Bombay Health Association was condensed in these columns only recently. I now give below a free translation of the main parts of a Gujarati leaflet published by the Baroda State Food Survey Office. Its cost is one pice: Soya beans grow on a plant from one foot to fifteen inches in height. Every pod has on an average three beans. The plant has many varieties. The bean may be white, yellow, blackish, variegated, etc. The yellow variety has the largest percentage of protein and fat. This variety is more nutritious than meat or eggs. The Chinese eat beans with rice. Soya bean flour may be mixed with ordinary flour in the proportion of one to five parts of wheat and turned into chapatis. Soya bean crop improves the soil. Instead of deriving nitrogen like other plants from the soil, soya bean derives it from the air and thus enriches the soil. Soya bean grows in practically all soils. It thrives most in soils favourable to cotton or grain crops. Slat soil improves if soya bean is sown in it. In such soil more manure should be used. Fermented cow dung, grass, leaves and dung heap manure are quite serviceable for this crop. Temperate climate suits the bean. It thrives where the rainfall is not more than 40 inches. It should not be sown in water-logged soil. The bean is generally sown after the frist rains, but it can be sown during any season. In the dry season it requires to be watered once a week or twice if the soil is inclined to dry quickly. The soil is best prepared in summer. It should be ploughed up and exposed to the sun’s rays. Then the clods should be broken up and pulverized. The seed should be sown in rows twenty-four to thirty-six inches apart. The plants should be three to four inches apart in their rows. There should be frequent weeding. One acre would take from 20 to 30 lb. of seeds. They should not be sown deeper than two inches. One acre will require about 10 cartloads of manure. After the sprouting of the seeds there shoud be proper weeding with a light plough.

All crust should be broken up. The pods are ready for picking in 120 days after sowing. They should be picked as soon as the leaves begin to turn yellow and drop off. They should not be allowed to be on the plants till they open, or else the seeds will drop out and be lost in the soil So much for the crop. Now a word as to the results of the experiment being made in Maganwadi. It is too early to draw deductions as yet. It may be said that the weight of the inmates has kept constant. In a few cases there has been a decided increase in one case as much as 41/2 lb. in a fortnight. Ghee has been stopped since the close of the first week. The absence of it has yet made no impression on the weight. One ounce of oil is being issued instead. The ration of beans has been increased for the current week from two ounces to three per head. The bean is served both morning and evening. They are soaked for some hours and then cooked well. Water in which it is steamed is strained out and tamarind and salt added to it. It makes a very popular soup. To the bean after straining are added linseed or till oil and salt making a tasty dish. In the morning the bean is served with chapatti or bhakhari and in the evening with rice. The bean requires to be chewed well. No ill effect has yet been reported. The bean is obtainable in Bombay and Baroda. Negotiations are being carried on for a reduction in the price. Meanwhile small quantities can be had from Maganwadi at three annas per pound, rail age extra. This price is prohibitive. By some mistake our beans were received from Baroda by passenger train instead of goods. My advice to senders is not yet to order the beans from Maganwadi. Godrej and Co. (Parel, Bombay) supply the beans in Bombay and the Baroda Food Survey Office in Baroda.”5 In many countries with high soya intake the rates of cardiovascular diseases is relatively low. Soya may help to prevent heart disease by reducing total cholesterol and preventing plaque buildup in the arteries, which could lead to stroke or heart attack.

 

 

References:

 

1. VOL. 47: 1 SEPTEMBER, 1929 - 20 NOVEMBER, 1929 95
2. VOL. 47: 1 SEPTEMBER, 1929 - 20 NOVEMBER, 1929 188
3. Harijan, 19-10-1935
4. VOL. 68: 23 SEPTEMBER, 1935 - 15 MAY, 1936 85
5. Harijan, 9-11-1935