The Vegan Journey of Mohan Shiva | VBI #004

Mohan Shiva is an architect by profession, who is passionate about earthen architecture, the art of building structures that are ecologically sensitive. Buildings are one of the major contributors to global warming and there's a dire need today to look at alternatives. 

He has a keen interest in Indian classical music and plays the violin. Most of his free time goes into Football, Tennis and Cycling.

What inspired you to become vegan?

I turned vegan at the beginning of 2016. It was a New Year's resolution. I'm from a Brahmin family. So, by default, I have been a vegetarian since birth. When I joined the college in 2010, we had a poster design competition in the first year. The theme was to depict something that is personal to you in a poster. My poster was about vegetarianism. Gradually, I started discussing more about what you see on your plate and what goes behind your plate. 

Once I started talking about why we should say no to meat, people started questioning me about other things: “Why do you drink milk?” and “Why do you eat eggs?”. I tried to get a deeper understanding of the questions. For example, people used to convince me that getting an egg does not harm the chicken because nowadays, eggs are incubated, so they don't trouble the chicken much and it is not as cruel. I came to the conclusion of becoming vegan because of a conversation with a guy from Belgium, whom I met at Auroville in Pondicherry.

After my graduation, I went to Auroville. It was a casual conversation during lunch time. We were talking about cruelty in the milk industry. I argued that in traditional Indian families, the cows are part of the household and are taken care of. I was explaining a particular dairy industry in Germany, on which I had watched a documentary on National Geographic. They showed a fully mechanised way of taking milk. I asked him why he is vegan and all he had to say was that because no other mammal in the entire world drinks the milk of another mammal, because biologically, milk is only meant for infants and any mother will be able to produce milk only during that period. However, we want to take that mother’s milk and drink it every day. It doesn't even make sense biologically. I was speechless!!

When you started it, how was the transition?

The moment I heard this way of thinking, it became very clear to me that I have to become vegan. The problem was how I was going to tell this at home! Also, in terms of taste, you start to think “How will I quit chocolate, coffee etc?”.The moment you stop looking at it as food, you don't feel the necessity to eat it. Taste is acquired gradually, it’s not like you can’t do without it. Of course, it took time for me.

The first thing was my love for coffee. I switched to black coffee immediately and drank this whenever required. But, once I quit I never thought of substitutes. For almost three years, I didn't know there were substitutes for everything. I wanted to quit and I quit it. Recently, people have started talking more about alternatives. There are new dishes coming out which can be replacements. For me, it was never a big problem. Over time, I realised that we need a few substitutes because of the kind of lifestyle we lead, especially vegan curd and vegan milk. Since I like cooking, I do try out things. Initially, I made vegan milk myself, however, now my mom makes it. Curd is something I consume a lot because it brings the body temperature down.

How was your approach/conversation with your family regarding your decision?

Actually, it was quite a bad conversation with my family. My father had a very stern reaction when I told him about my decision to turn vegan on New Year's Eve. He was furious that I was listening to a third person and questioning age-old practices. He was pissed off. But I knew that something had struck inside me. But because of that conversation, I was a little careful with my family in saying that I don't want certain foods. At home, it was a slow process to eliminate certain things. I realised that we use butter in almost everything just because of habit and taste. We can also cook without butter. The moment you stop, you start thinking.

Did your family stop using butter then?

Basic things like rasam, chapati etc were done without butter or with oil but certain things were not. Over time, they have grown to believe in what I am trying to do. In the four years since I became vegan, I've never asked anyone to become one as well. Now, my mom has accepted me as a vegan. She cooks things for me separately even though I don’t demand it.

How did your social life change?

Initially, there were a lot of questions. In our country, a major part of social life is sitting and eating together. In the initial phase, you might feel awkward because you aren't sure what you're doing. However, once you become clear about your intent, I believe it becomes quite easy. You shouldn't worry too much about what others think. It's something personal that you believe in.

Do you still face any difficulty in your daily life due to veganism?

Only one difficulty that I have faced is maintaining my body temperature. However, this is a personal issue and depends on the kind of diet one is following. In a south Indian diet, we probably eat a lot of spicy things at home, and outside as well. When you eat a lot of spices, you need to eat something which cools down your body temperature like buttermilk or curd. For that, we need to find an alternative. There are alternatives like basil seed drinks, tender coconut, jaggery or vegan curd. I don't think it's difficult; it's about making wiser choices.

After turning vegan, what new things did you discover?

The biggest thing I discovered is the number of products in the market which have milk or milk solids. It is being mass-produced, and more than what is required. All this milk can't be consumed at the same time, so it is converted to milk powder.

As a positive learning, I would say once you become vegan you get to explore the plant kingdom in a much more holistic way. You realise there are hundreds of things you can include in your diet, which you had no clue of earlier.

What do you think is the best thing about being vegan? Do you convey it to non-vegans as well?

Generally, I don't talk to other people about me being vegan. For 2-3 years, people didn't even know that I was vegan, apart from my family and a few close friends. What I feel good about is that now, I'm more aware of what I eat. Earlier, people used to question how one person can bring about a change. But today,  you can see that the number of vegans is growing worldwide. It's about making a decision which you feel is right. For me, it's a personal decision and gives me a sense of satisfaction that I am doing the right thing.

Was quitting animal products a personal choice, or do you look at it as a global need?

For me, when man became 'civilized', started agriculture, moved away from hunting, he was no longer a part of the animal life cycle. In my opinion, hunting for survival vs slaving for your cravings is poles apart. One might ask agriculture vs cattle farming, what's the difference? It's pretty clear that you invest much much more in terms of resources to raise cattle as compared to farming. Even the UN has clearly pointed out how veganism can impact climate change.

Have you noticed any health benefits as a result of becoming vegan?

Definitely. The greatest sportsmen, including Novak Djokovic, are vegan. I think that says enough!

What message would you like to give to a non-vegan?

You shouldn't do things just because other people are doing them. If you feel something is right, just go for it. Try to know more about what you're doing. In today's world, you can find a solution to everything. While making a decision, be very clear about it and make others know why you're doing it. You need not get into arguments. Over time, people will realise it by themselves. You don't have to be hard on them. Be conscious of your decisions. At the same time, don't depend on someone else for your decisions and disturb their routine.