Fasting and health

Fasting and health

Indonesian users of the English language should avoid using the English word "fasting" to translate the meaning of the Bahasa Indonesia word puasa. Going without food or drink for 12 hours, is a regular occurrence for many of the city's poor and for those who take a long night's rest. To shift the time of day one eats, from the daylight hours to the darkness, can hardly be referred to as a fast or fasting. What would Mahatma Gandhi's fast have been if it was known that he, actually, had three square meals each night? In plain English: It would have been a 40 day puasa and no where near the example of self-denial and risk to life that the word "fasting" really means!

Oddly, the word "fasting" to the English speaking world carries the connotation of passive resistance and disobedience to authority or law. Here we see it presented as a display of piety and a recommended weight loss plan. The puasa does not adversely effect one's health condition as is aptly pointed out by Dian Utami Soekanto (The Jakarta Post, Sunday, Feb. 5, 1995). In fact, the "effect" of puasa can truly be said to be neutral, in all aspects.

Many practitioners of puasa gain personal satisfaction from their brief periods of self-denial but please don't try to tell us how tough it is! Or, infinitely worse, don't think of forcing the concept on the general public by the closure of eating places catering to those of different faiths. (See SOEROSO, "Your Letters," Sunday, Feb. 5, 1995). There is, definitely, no democracy in that direction!

LINK LUCKETT

Jakarta