The Vegan Journey of Saloni Henecha | Vegan Beings India #074

 

Since childhood, my family taught me how morally bad it is to eat non-vegetarian food. That built empathy for animals in me. In 2018, I came across a documentary about dairy that left me in extreme shock. However, I wasn't aware of veganism so I continued consuming dairy with a lot of guilt.

There was a classroom discussion once, over the beef ban. In that, I had said, "Cow is considered godmother, how can we eat them!" to which the teacher replied, "Then why do you consume dairy, it also leads to a lot of beef exports." I got to know the term veganism then and explored it thoroughly.

Then in 2020, I came across a peepal farm Instagram account. The first time, I found something other than PETA. It was more relatable, being Indian with Indian food habits. Robin Sharma brought out my real compassion for animals. 💚

First I started by stopping the consumption of unhealthy and rare foods like cheese, butter, cake etc. Then stopped most frequently consumed foods like Dahi and ghee. I was left with only masala chai. At first, it brought happiness about how I am sacrificing for animals. But later on, I realised that it's not a sacrifice but till now I was stealing other innocents' right to nutrition.

Going vegan somewhat solved my skin problems and my mild thyroid. Made me more compassionate and aware of my food habits and their impact on other beings and the environment. Overall, my whole perspective on life has changed and I am so happy and fulfilled about it!. I have started practising yoga regularly for a year now, to be more fit and healthy to prove the point of nutritional fulfilment with a vegan diet even if you indulge in any kind of physical activities.

Being vegan itself brings a lot of attention from non-vegan friends and relatives, which in turn brings their questions. It brings a lot of awareness among really clueless people. I strive to donate around 2 percent of my overall income to animal welfare, shelters, etc. 💚🌸

To anyone who wants to be vegan, the very first step is to have empathy. Once you can imagine yourself in the place of an animal standing in a queue getting his/her head chopped off for fulfilling someone's taste buds or nutrition, you will come halfway on the path of harmless life. 

Then, whatever hurdles you have right from nutritional requirements to family pressure to peer pressure to cravings (which usually go away with empathy) you can take one step at a time. Start exploring, reading about other vegans and food habits, facts about plant-based nutrition, etc. This will help you a lot.☺

Hello everyone, I’m Saloni Henecha. I am a Software Engineer at Pune. I work in the Data Science field. My hobbies are playing guitar, reading, feeding surrounding animals, dancing, cooking, nurturing house plants, going for animal rights activism, and basically everything that keeps my mind engaged in a good way.

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The Vegan Journey of Sai Krishna Anand | Vegan Beings India #072

 

Cows have been a big part of my life growing up. Ever since I was 3, I used to save food secretly and feed it to a cow that regularly showed up outside our house. You always hear that "cows need to be milked", but are never given the reason. Of course, society does not want you to know that the calves are taken away from their mothers, not given their birthright and that we use their milk instead for a 5-minute meal. Even the government subsidies dairy products in India to make them more available and profitable. All these facts drove me into a corner, with going vegan the only logical way out.

I read the word 'vegan' for the first time on a Vicco toothpaste, when I was around 16. However, being a cow lover since my childhood, I assumed that veganism is unnecessary since cows are meant to be holy in India and there would be no suffering in the dairy industry. Right? But no! 

At the beginning of 2019, I got introduced to Joey Carbstrong's (a famous activist) videos and the sheer graphic and disturbing content going around in the dairy industry shook me to my core. The fact that humans need to breastfeed off another species as a whole just sounded so wrong. I went vegan then, but regretfully, couldn't hold up in my college mess, with almost every other meal involving paneer. I decided to have vegan stints every time I came back home, but eventually, I had enough of my hypocritical lifestyle and ditched dairy for good in March 2020.

A month into my vegan journey, I saw Covid-19 put the world on brakes. This allowed me to conduct proper research into vegan diets and lifestyles in general. Having been actively going to the gym, I went deep into how to fulfill my protein requirements. As it turns out, it's almost too easy. Even before I went vegan, I used to consume plain, boiled soya chunks, and I just stuck to that alongside tofu and tempeh (And yes, soya is perfectly healthy to consume daily xD). Plant protein powders can directly substitute whey, which makes everything easier.

Another misconception I had before turning vegan was that the whole lifestyle would be more expensive. I could not have been more wrong! The fact is that you start getting creative with what you eat, and most of the creativity lies in the process, not the ingredients.

The South Indian diet is almost entirely vegan, as ghee, butter, and curd are mostly used as sides and not the main dish itself. Once I realised this, transitioning became much more comfortable. Moreover, I got to know that plenty of junk foods are unintentionally vegan. I was pleasantly surprised when I found out Oreos are vegan xD. Even though I don't have a lot of junk, it's always nice to have a secret last resort :).

Of course, there are expensive vegan mock-meats and processed foods, but that remains the case for non-vegan food too. There are always different tiers of prices based on whether the food is an easily accessible grain when compared to factory-processed goods. At the root, whole foods like grains, fruits, and veggies are still the cheapest and healthiest options, so there's not much truth in the "veganism is expensive" debate.

Thinking about going vegan for the rest of your life can be daunting at the start. Of course, once you make the connection between the food on your plate and the life of an animal, everything simplifies very easily. But it's easier to think about just trying to make your next meal vegan, one meal at a time. 

I've gotten used to eating much healthier once I turned vegan, and my endurance and recovery have improved a ton. Having plenty of water is very important to not just keep your body heat in check, but to shut down junk cravings. Personally, having alternative sources of hydration like watermelon, cucumber, tender coconut water, etc is a must-do for me, because it makes me think that I've eaten something rather than just hydrated myself. Either way, the end goal is to keep your body cool, and based on preference and availability, anything works well.

If you're passionate about vegan activism, the best tool in your hand is social media. Even if one in 100 react to some content and change, that's one less person harming animals. Try to constantly build up your knowledge in both industrial and health topics regarding veganism. It helps in convincing a person to take that leap. Every small bit is useful to plant a seed in someone's mind even without your knowledge!

Hey folks! I'm Sai Krishna, a native of Tamil Nadu. I just finished my CS degree at NITK and aspire to own an animal sanctuary sometime in the future :) I'm attracted to most outdoor sports, and I'm mainly a football fanatic :P Other than football, I actively enjoy going to the gym, running and cycling. I also play computer games in my spare time.

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The Vegan Journey of Anusha Unni | Vegan Beings India #070

I was a non-vegetarian. I was an animal lover.

I used to feel bad about animals enslaved in circuses, zoos, rides, aquariums, birdcages, etc. I used to feel sad when any street dog or bird was mistreated and used to help as much as possible.

I used to avoid eating mutton because I love goats, and whenever I see mutton, I used to think of that baby white goat.

I used to admire animals and birds, and how they are such nice species and bad about how humans are making their lives hard. I have cats and kittens and used to have multiple pets.

BUT I used to love eating chicken, fish, egg, and all dairy products. I didn't know the complete truth. Although I love animals, I was conditioned to think of chicken and egg as food.

I used to not go to chicken shops because I felt sad seeing the hens' cages. But I still thought these were just food and hens were born for us to eat.

Once, when I was reading a book, I saw a quote "Consider your body as a temple, not as a graveyard." i.e. when it struck me that chicken and fish were dead bodies. I immediately stopped consuming. I was still not aware of the cruelty in the food industry.

Slowly, my younger brother (then 18) followed me and stopped consuming meat.

On one fine day, my brother, since he is also an animal lover, started going to dog rescues. And he met a vegan activist Ravi Keerthi from Vijayawada, and he got to know about veganism, came home, and told him his decision that he is going to be vegan.

I remember arguing with him and Ravi Keerthi, that veganism is just another cult, and asked multiple questions, not being ready to agree with the truth.

Two months down the line, I wanted to know if there was any truth. So on August 15, which was a holiday for me, I decided to research veganism and the truths behind egg and diary. I was shocked and was in tears. I didn't know so much was happening around. And even I was responsible for all the cruelty for all these years.

That day I became vegan. That Independence day is the day I became free of all the sins.

My family is fully supportive. My brother and I are vegans. I married a vegan, and we had vegan weddings.

 I started learning about a product before buying if it is cruelty-free or vegan. I started understanding the ingredients list in food products, and extended this to other utilities like makeup and clothing. I started choosing vegan products.

The major takeaway was that I can live without that favourite dish of mine or favourite skincare product which is non-vegan. I can't be in control of those products. But I have a choice. Whether to pay for cruelty or cruelty-free, I decided to always choose the latter. Over time, I came to know more about other broader concepts like sustainable living and ethical consumption.

And yes, I managed to pull off a vegan and eco-friendly engagement, marriage, and reception!💚🥳

These were small changes we made, which surely had a large impact.

1) We didn't use any banners to welcome our guests, instead used reusable boards and paper and cloth. A marriage banner was painted on cloth, by myself with the help of my family.

2) We never compromised on the taste of our lunch, which was purely vegan. We made raita and curd rice with peanut curd.

3) We chose vegan sweets like laddoo and jalebi (made from Vanaspati ghee) which are easily available in the market. We didn't include ghee in any of them.

4) We ordered a vegan cake, and whoever thought vegans don't have fun, they are wrong!!

5) We chose the hotel that provides fibre glasses and cutlery which are reusable rather than using one-time plastics.

6) We got beautiful synthetic sarees and dresses, rather than silk.

To anyone reading this:

Just be mindful of your actions. If an innocent victim is paying for your actions, then you have a choice to either continue or take the right path. Take a minute to be mindful of what you eat, wear and use.

We are all conditioned (culturally) and brought up as non-vegan, but that doesn't mean we continue to be so. And we all need change, a world with prosperity and peace, but are our actions in line with that?

The vegan world is not difficult. Are you ready to change? Because we are ready to welcome you.

Be the change.

Choose compassion.

____

Leading vegan life is normal for me now. I don't do anything extra for it. I know exactly what to avoid. I say no, if someone offers anything non-vegan. Being vegan is not expensive. I don't use those exotic things like cashew cheese, maple syrup, or soya milk daily.

I prefer black tea or lemon tea and occasionally have soya milk coffee. I don't have a compulsion to have curd in every meal. Sometimes, I make peanut curd. Ghee isn't mandatory for me anymore. I use coconut oil when needed.

I love icecreams, but I don't feel bad when I cannot eat them now. Because I know it costs an animal's life. Instead, I enjoy vegan ice creams. I go for fruit juices instead of milkshakes.

I don't choose expensive silk sarees, wool, or leather, rather go for synthetic. I celebrate birthdays with vegan cakes. I veganise all dishes or discard any dish which cannot be vegan at festivals. I never felt bad for it. My skincare, haircare, and makeup are vegan.

Life may not be completely the same as before, but I am sure, turning vegan could be the best decision ever.

Vegan is pure love. Love for animals, earth, and yourself.

I am guilt free, my body and soul are light. My carbon footprint is low. I know I am not supporting animal cruelty in any of my daily activities, and am one less person hurting the animals.

I try my best to spread this word and am always vocal about how easy it is to go vegan and why one should go vegan.

 

Hello everyone! I am Anusha Unni, a cloud developer by profession. I love my job because it's creative and I love providing solutions. Not just that, it also pays my bills, pays for my travelling, and gives me financial freedom.

I am vocal about gender equality, caste or colour discrimination, ethical consumption, saving water, reducing plastic usage, and being minimalistic.

I love learning. I am always into learning something which is why I have so many hobbies, 

I am a jack of all trades, but master of none. So I am into art, gardening, solving Rubix cube puzzles, cooking, Instagramming, dancing, and travelling.

And after being a vegan, I am into vegan activism and outreaches.

 

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The Vegan Journey of Anurag R | Vegan Beings India #068

I stopped eating meat at the age of four when I witnessed the slaughter of a chicken at my friend's house. I used to love chicken meat. But after that incident, I was horrified even at the thought of eating other animals. I had even stopped consuming cow milk for a brief period because I felt it was wrong to drink the milk of another animal. But, due to social conditioning and in the name of nutrition, I was forced to eat eggs and milk.

I first read about veganism in 2015 after I googled 'does vegetarian diet make you fat?'. My friends made fun of my size and blamed it on the vegetarian diet. They gave examples like tigers are so muscular and fast but elephants are fat and slow. I was surprised to know that there were people who didn't consume any animal products and were healthy, fit, and lean. I was not aware of the ethical reasons at that point.

In 2018, I saw Instagram posts showing the horrors of factory farming. That got me interested in Veganism. I started researching online which led me to the YouTube documentary 'Unholy Cattle of India'. I then decided to cut out all animal-based food which took me a while. I finally did it in 2019, but I was silent about it.

It was hard at first to give up dairy products and my mother was worried that I wouldn't get proper nutrition by cutting out dairy and eggs. I had to get active in the kitchen and make my plant milk since my mother was reluctant to give up on milk and ghee. Sometimes I had to cook for myself. Some of my friends and family have criticised and questioned me for cutting all animal products. But my motivation has always been the animals. The journey has been fantastic. The only regret I have is that I didn't do it sooner. I have become more aware of my choices and now know that I don't pay animals to suffer in my name.

In 2020, I started working for an agri-based company where I had to design machines for farmers. I had to frequently visit poultry and dairy farmers to get their reviews. There I witnessed firsthand how the animals were bred. They were considered as mere products rather than seeing them as living conscious beings.

These are the incidents that made me go Vegan and further strengthened my stand against animal exploitation. I also observed that the number of meat stalls near my house was also increasing. I was so fed up with all the mistreatment of animals that in 2021 I created a Facebook and Instagram Account called 'Vegans of Mysuru' in the hope of meeting other fellow vegans in my city. 

In November 2021, we did our first vegan outreach with the help of BBAL and Vegan India Movement. Now we are a team of 18, conducting outreaches frequently in Mysuru. During one of our outreaches, we met Dr. Khader Vali a.k.a Millet Man of India who was excited about what we were doing and offered to provide any support. He does not use or consume any animal products and educates people on the harmful impacts of animal products, rice, and wheat on the health of the planet.

Right from childhood, we are taught that meat, milk, and eggs are good foods and are essential for us. That some animals can be pets and some others can be eaten. Wake up! Remove the blindfolds and see them for who they are, not as products but as beings who deserve to live freely just like you and me. Given the state of the world we are living in today, it becomes our responsibility to make better choices. To live a life that is kind towards other species and the planet.

Hi, I'm Anurag. I'm from Mysuru. I'm a Product Engineer working for an Agri based company.

I'm also a freelance graphic artist. I like to play guitar and computer games in my free time. Nowadays, I create online content for the Vegans of Mysuru Instagram page.

 

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The Vegan Journey of Bhairavi Giridharan | Vegan Beings India #067

I was introduced to veganism as a concept early on in life by a cousin. At that time, I thought that animals were only treated cruelly abroad, as most of the short documentaries I was able to watch back then were not based on the Indian context. Moreover, dairy consumption is deeply ingrained in every culture in India, so I assumed the animals would be treated well here. However, I was horrified when I learned that the same treatment, if not worse, is meted out to cattle in India as well. That minute, I decided to take the plunge into veganism.

Another major factor led me to believe that veganism is 100% logical. Any mammal lactates only for a fixed period after childbirth. And how could dairy cows be producing milk non-stop? It sickened me to even think about what could be happening. Moreover, I wasn't very comfortable with the idea of a mother's milk going to any other baby than her own, let alone another species. And let's not mention the fact that adults who can consume solid food, do not need to depend on milk for nourishment.

The ultimate push was just because I was at a very low point in my life. I decided that if I could make a difference in another's life, if not my own, then why not? Ever since, I've been vegan. It's been over two and a half year now! ( since Oct 2nd,2019 ;) )

My initial days of going vegan were difficult. Being a huge ice cream lover, it wasn't easy for me to give it up. Given that I was living in a hostel in a hot place like Mangalore, curd and buttermilk were everyday essentials before I went vegan. Learning to cool my body after I went vegan took a while but I'm glad I did it. 

Stay hydrated! I cannot stress this enough. Trust me, it solved most of my non-vegan cravings with regards to curd and buttermilk.

I was a total junk-food vegan at the start. It was unintentional, but when I realised it later, I immediately took steps to change that. I would recommend trying to keep your diet under a watch. Don't eat anything and everything that's vegan. Make sure your meals are balanced until you can get comfortable with them.

Once I shifted back to a more wholesome diet, I realised why people swear by veganism for health reasons.

Also, soon after I went vegan, I found myself constantly having to read labels to check whether certain packaged foods were vegan. There are ready guides for this online and lists curated with off-the-shelf products that are vegan by default, but I always preferred to double-check. Dairy does make its way into the most unsuspecting dishes like chips (milk powder in seasonings) and some seemingly vegan Indian sides (due to the addition of curd/butter).

But once I got used to it, it became second nature for me to check the ingredients before consumption.

To anyone reading this, try going vegan for 30 days! And who knows, you may like it. Maybe because of the variety of new flavours and ingredients you are introduced to, maybe because of the health benefits you noticed, or maybe just because you realise how pocket-friendly it is!

I would like to share a message for transitioning vegans: It's a myth that veganism is expensive. If you're always looking for meat and dairy alternatives, of course, it might be a bit expensive. However, if you learn to cook wholesome meals with whole foods, it's cheaper, healthier, and heartier!

Also, it's easier if you learn how to cook. I'm thankful for my transition to veganism, not just because it did good for my health and the animals, but also because that was the only reason I learned how to cook. And it definitely made me an extremely creative cook. It’s true when they say, constraints promote creativity!

Hello everyone! I’m Bhairavi, an engineer by qualification and profession, but all things creative is what fuels me daily. I'm a Veena enthusiast, undertaking formal training. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking for my family and friends, drawing, and painting. I'm always curious to learn anything new.

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The Vegan Journey of Vidhi Pala | Vegan Beings India #038

 

I have had thyroid since childhood (hereditary). Within two months of turning vegan, I got my thyroid normal. This gave me a boost to deal with people who were asking me about my nutrition and health. Moreover, I have lost almost 25 kg weight, from which I have lost 12-13 kg after adapting to a healthy vegan lifestyle. 

It was around 14-15 months back that I watched a video about cruelty in the dairy industry. I couldn't watch it for more than 20-30 seconds. Instantly, I decided to go vegan and I always regret why I didn't know this sooner.

Initially, I had to struggle to explain to everyone why I turned vegan, but my family supported me, so it became quite easy. It was going smoothly till I was at home. I had quit dairy within a moment, and I was so sure that nothing could change my mind, and my transition phase was much easier. The struggle started again when I had to go to the hostel after the first lockdown. Not only about food on campus, but I had to deal with so many questions from the friends over there. However, debating with them made me stronger about the concept of animal rights and veganism.

I was trying to live a sustainable lifestyle, but after turning vegan I got to learn many things about how animal agriculture is related to the environment. I make healthy vegan dishes and through my page @veggiieveganfit , I share how vegan dishes are delicious and we don't need any animal products just for our 5 minutes of taste. I am vegan for animals, health, and the environment. Currently, I am not much into activism but will start soon with more enthusiasm.

I have learned, unlearned, and relearned so many things, connected with many people over social media and all these things made me confident about veganism/animal rights. To anyone reading this, I would say just try to look into the eyes of the animal, whose product or who is going to be eaten by you. It's all about conscious choices.

__________

Hi, I am Vidhi, about to complete my post-graduation (M.Tech.) in VLSI domain and looking for placements. I am a classical dancer and completed my graduation in Kathak. Apart from that, I like to sketch, skate, write and cook. You can follow my work at @veggiieveganfit 

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