The Vegan Journey of Shruti and Jayshree | Vegan Beings India #046

 

We're a Chartered Accountant-Digital Marketer duo who turned plant-based a year ago. As time passed, we became incredibly passionate about the cause. We wanted to spread awareness about the vegan lifestyle and the journey it took to get here to make it easy for other beginners and vegan-curious people to slowly make the shift. All these ideas culminated in the birth of Vee Villy Vegan, our personal blog on Instagram. We cover everything from plant-based food recipes, vegan skincare and beauty, to various tips to help people transition and sustain this lifestyle.

We were raised as vegetarians since birth. Interestingly, though we decided to go vegan around the same time, we had different reasons for doing so. 

Shruti has wanted to try a plant-based diet since her college days but found it difficult to transition, primarily due to a lack of resources at her hostel. On the other hand, Jayashree wanted to turn vegan in 2019 after watching a couple of videos on animal cruelty online and realising how similar a cow's eyes were to that of her own adopted dog's. 

In 2020, armed with adequate information and a proper game plan, we took the plunge towards veganism and have not looked back since. Ultimately, we realised our causes aligned towards a kinder, more sustainable lifestyle. We are grateful that we could be on this journey together. We've been vegan for over a year now.

We struggled with going vegan cold turkey, so we decided to phase out our journey and make a slow shift. We started with personal care and beauty products and slowly cut down dairy from our diet. This gradual transition allowed us not to get frustrated. It gave us adequate time to make the complete shift without it being too overwhelming. We were also really patient and not too hard on ourselves.

Eating out with friends has also become more difficult as there are not many vegan-friendly restaurants in town. But we are lucky to have supportive friends who don't mind eating at the same 4 restaurants and also try our vegan food recommendations from time to time.

Finally, we would like to say that every step you take towards a kinder lifestyle is a step for the better. As we said before, we need more imperfect vegans than just a few entirely perfect ones. So if you feel intimidated in the beginning, know that you can take your time and make small changes that still count. :)

To sum up: Vegan food is yummy, plants don't feel pain, and yes, we get enough protein! :)

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The Vegan Journey of Manasa Muthukumar | VBI #045

 

I have been against animal cruelty right from childhood, but I never acted upon it. I was a vegetarian before going vegan. I used to think that by being vegetarian, I was not causing any harm to animals. At school, I called myself a 'vegetarian activist' and questioned friends and teachers who ate meat. I would hear excuses like 'Lions eat meat' and 'Plants feel pain'. I would try my best to make my friends and teachers understand, but somehow I could never convince any of them. So, I would come home and read about different arguments on the internet. I also watched videos to learn how to debunk the arguments of meat-eaters. 

One such video that I watched was Gary Yourofsky's 'The best speech you'll ever hear'. Towards the end, Gary Yourofsky speaks about the horrors of the dairy industry, which I was supporting. I researched some more about veganism and got to know about honey, silk, leather, etc. I was in 12th standard then, and I realized that my actions didn't align with my morals. That's how I went vegan! It’s been more than 3 years now.

I also look for opportunities to have conversations with people about veganism. One challenge was the mess in my college. There were vegan options, and I could easily eat well. But meat, milk and eggs were served all the time, and many of my friends ate them. It was hard to sit amidst these products of violence. 

So, I decided to do something. There was a whiteboard outside the mess on which the menu was displayed. I bought a marker and carried it to the mess every day. I would anonymously write a vegan message such as 'Meat is Murder or 'Dairy is Scary', right next to the non-vegan menu on the whiteboard. Later, when I visited the mess, I would find messages like 'But Chicken is Tasty', etc., next to my message. It's puzzling when people say that veganism is restrictive or boring because going vegan opened up so many new amazing recipes that I never knew existed before.

I don't know if my marker-activism impacted anyone, but I at least knew that people were reading my messages and hopefully thinking about their actions.

Initially, they weren't too fond of the idea of me suddenly giving up on milk, curd, etc. I have also convinced my family to become vegan as well.They tried talking me into eating them again as they were concerned about Calcium and other nutrients. I showed my family Gary Yourofsky's speech. They also read about animal agriculture, climate change, health and nutrition. After a few months, my family decided to go vegan too. My mom stopped buying milk, curd, and ghee. She started cooking vegan for all of us. My dad read a lot about veganism. He has given a few virtual talks on veganism in colleges and companies. My brother took an interest in vegan baking, and that's how we started Cloud Nine.

Cloud Nine is a small vegan food business that my brother and I started close to a year ago. We sell vegan cupcakes, doughnuts, cookies, ice cream and pizza. In a place like Trichy, where most people haven't heard of the word vegan at all, we try to create awareness through our business. It is heartwarming that people find our food great.

Finally, I would like to give a message to non-vegans. Going vegan is not hard at all. It is hard if we worry about taste and what we'd be missing. It is effortless when we think about the animals because a life full of torture and gruesome death (which is what they face) is more challenging than not eating ice creams or biryani. With vegan alternatives becoming available everywhere, the transition is easy. There is absolutely no reason for us to stay non-vegan.

Hello, I am Manasa, an engineering student at NIT Trichy. I enjoy drawing, designing and photography. I speak up for animal liberation and I use art to spread the message of veganism. With my brother, I run Cloud Nine, a small venture through which we sell vegan food to the people of Trichy.

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The Vegan Journey of Richa Annie Thomas | Vegan Beings India #044

One early morning in September 2015, I heard the sound of what I thought was a baby bird calling out to his/her mother. I awoke only to realise that my neighbours had rescued a kitten who was about to be attacked by dogs on the street. After much pleading, my mother allowed me to bring the kitten home. Until then, I'd never really interacted with animals that much. We ended up adopting her, and that changed everything! 

I noticed that my kitten's behaviour was very similar to the behaviour of other animals. Street dogs and cows would fold their limbs the same way Mynx (my kitten) would, and when they were feeling sleepy, they looked a lot like Mynx did when she was tired. It then struck me that these animals are sentient, just like my cat. 

Then, one day, I came across two graphic videos on Facebook - one of the poultry industry and the other of a cow being slaughtered. That was one of the saddest days that I have ever experienced. I looked into the eyes of the animals who were being killed, and I couldn't believe that I had participated in this madness for 19 years of my life. At the time, I didn't yet know the horrors of the dairy industry, but I was outspoken about animal rights. In January 2016, during my college fest, there was an animal rights stall. I was so excited to visit the booth because I wanted to talk to people who spoke out against animal abuse as vehemently as I did. When I went there, the activists there told me about the dairy industry, and at that point, I had had enough. I went vegan immediately, and I haven't looked back since.

Going vegan wasn't hard for me once I faced the truth behind animal agriculture and looked at everything from the animals' point of view. However, what was hard was that otherwise caring and intelligent people couldn't understand veganism and weren't ready to go vegan. Seeing the people you love and respect participating in the massacre was the most difficult part. Additionally, living in a non-vegan world where we're reminded every second that animals have been reduced to commodities is painful. However, I focus on channelling the anger and frustration into my activism, which has helped a lot. 

Additionally, connecting with other activists really helps! Community building is essential to ensure sustained activism, so reach out to vegans in your city and work together to accelerate animal liberation. Also, hang out after activism events so that the team gets closer because this really boosts morale. 😄

My message to non-vegans is the following: I'd ask them if they agree that animals should not be put through unnecessary suffering. I'm sure they'd say yes. I would then explain that even though we've been conditioned to believe that we need to eat animals and animal products for health and survival, it simply isn't true since we can get all our nutrients from plants. I'd urge them to watch Food Choices 2016 to understand that notion in more detail. I'd explain that since we can get our nutrients from plants, it logically follows that killing animals for food or consuming other animal products classifies them as putting them through unnecessary suffering, which they are against. 

It's simply a matter of cognitive dissonance, which we've all experienced since we grew up in a society that made us see animals as commodities. Finally, I would advise them to watch 'The Best Speech You Will Ever Hear by Gary Yourofsky and visit slaughterhouses, dairy farms, and hatcheries. I'd also explain to them that one doesn't have to be an animal lover to be vegan and that veganism is a matter of justice and not kindness. Once our conviction is solid through the above methods, then figuring out how to go vegan becomes easy! Also, there is a huge vegan community in India. People can always feel free to reach out to me for any support they require. 😄

In 2018, I co-founded the 'Vegan India Movement' and 'Bengaluru Brigade for Animal Liberation' as I firmly believe that animals are sentient beings who deserve justice. We undertake various initiatives through these two organizations.

We highlight the plight of animals used for food, clothing, entertainment, experimentation, etc., in the animal agriculture industry. We aim to change the way people perceive animals - we try to get them to see animals as sentient beings instead of commodities. We do this through various education-based forms of activism: street activism, college lectures, screenings, music-based activism, wall paintings etc. In the wake of the pandemic, we are also doing Tweetathons and activism on Clubhouse.

As a part of the 'Vegan India Movement', we conduct a weekly webinar titled 'Let's Learn Activism', where people who have experience in different areas of activism share their knowledge to get better at activism. We also have Activist Meets, where activists from across the country can connect and share their ideas.

Finally, I'd like to say that the first step is going vegan. The second and more important step is to be active for the animals. The only reason any of us are vegan today is because activists decided to speak up for the animals. There are many ways to be active - join your city's Living Free group and engage in street activism, know your facts through continuous research and give college lectures. 

If you're not confident at giving lectures yet, organise them for an activist in your city. Start a blog, website or YouTube channel, and use your talent/skills in art/design/visual communication, etc., to further the goal of the animal rights movement.  You may be scared, under-confident and feel super awkward, but no matter how feeble your voice may be initially, do it! You will gain more confidence in time. The animals are counting on us!

To join us in Bangalore, DM us at @goveganwithbbal

To join grassroots activism at the national level, DM us at @veganindiamovement

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Hello, I’m Richa Annie Thomas, a vegan for more than 5 years. In 2018, I co-founded ‘Vegan India Movement’ and ‘Bengaluru Brigade for Animal Liberation’ as I firmly believe that animals are sentient beings who deserve justice. I train in mixed martial arts and I'm learning German as I love the language. I'm a huge Anime fan and also quite a nerd.

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The Vegan Journey of Dyuthi Konakalla | Vegan Beings India #043

 I started living a more low waste lifestyle in August 2019 for several reasons. It annoyed me when my parents would bring home groceries in plastic or when my dad ordered stuff online, and they would come covered in plastic. I realised that while I could not affect that, I could control what I eat. 

So, I initially avoided dairy due to environmental reasons, especially after watching Cowspiracy, which opened my mind. In January 2020, I made a new year’s resolution to eat plant-based food four times a week. This frequency slowly increased, and by April, I quit most dairy. I learned so much more about the cruelty behind dairy throughout this journey, and that was when I started animal rights and environmental activism. 

My sister went vegan with me, so it was much easier for me to eat and make vegan alternatives at home. I was always a vegetarian, so I only had to quit dairy. It surprised me that I could even do it because I couldn't finish a meal without curd rice or eat anything without pouring ghee all over it. 

Another reason I started eating plant-based is for health reasons, since dairy is difficult to digest and was a cause for my mild sinus. As soon as I quit it, my nose started feeling better than before. By the end of April 2020, I couldn't think of any reason why I would want to keep eating dairy, so within 2-3 months, I went completely vegan.

Being vegan helped me find a community that thinks alike and fights for the same reason: animal liberation. It makes me feel happy that I don't contribute to animal cruelty just for my sensory pleasure or entertainment. I learned so much through the articles on the internet, and I frequently share resources and tips on my page.

It also helped me realise how amazing plant-based food is, and it's not that hard to quit dairy if you remind yourself why you are doing it. I also learned the difference between being plant-based and being vegan: being vegan isn't enough; it needs to be paired with animal activism to achieve animal liberation.

We started my small business in March 2021 mainly to spread awareness that healthy and vegan food is super delicious. The business has received a little over 50 orders so far. I have been following a sustainable lifestyle since August 2019, which made me more conscious about many things: buying new clothes, not wasting vegetables, switching to a menstrual cup and cloth pads, which saved me so much money and are much more comfortable than plastic pads. This inspired my mom and sister to start using plastic-free menstrual products. For the past two years, we have had no menstrual waste, which I believe is my most significant achievement.

I have found that the whole vegan movement has become more about the people than the animals, resulting in fewer people making the change to veganism based on one or two negative experiences with vegans. I find it very hard not to judge people who have all the information right in front of them but choose to continue to support the meat and dairy industry. It hurts more when the people you love also continue to do it. 

Please understand that we are not all that different from non-human animals, and they don't deserve the cruelty they are going through just for our fleeting pleasure.

Through veganism, I have learnt to be kind and compassionate. I have understood how many people are subject to change and how many stick to their ideologies without reviewing any facts. I have felt many positive changes at the same time. Veganism changed my whole life for the better: how I think, how I eat, and how I approach people.

Go vegan and speak up for the animals. Make the change, and the rest will fall into its place.
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Hello, I'm Dyuthi who recently finished my 12th Humanities and recently started a small business which has no name yet but serves yummy healthy and vegan food. I took interest in food when I stopped eating unhealthy food from outside and had to make my own vegan versions at home and quite enjoyed it. I learned the basics from school since I had Home Science as a subject.

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The Vegan Journey of Kaivalya Kashyap | Vegan Beings India #042

 

Pravallika Nagam, who used to work at 'Blue Cross of Hyderabad', is a full-time animal rights activist and a vegan for more than 10 years. She was impressed with the sincere welfare work I do for animals, but she knew I had no idea about the dairy industry and the cruelty behind it. 

She took me for a long drive, not just for fun but to dairy farms. I wept one whole day. This, I must say, was the most significant transformation in my life, and here I am, a true animal lover now. If she didn't come into my life, I would've engaged in animal cruelty for longer. Also, she is the one who got me into sustainability as she leads a zero-waste lifestyle.

The most bitter and life-changing experience for me was that tour. We wrongly believe that cruelty happens only in commercial and large scale dairy farms, but nowadays, wherever there is dairy, there is cruelty. Calves are tied far away from their mothers. Cows and buffalos are tied such that they can't even move their heads freely and are given injections to increase the quantity of milk supply. Surprisingly, the dairy farm owners don't even know the name of the injection. They aren't fed quality food, but the remains from the local hotels. If a cow giving milk is injured, she is sent for slaughter. I saw all this with my own eyes and knew that I had to change my lifestyle.

Four years ago, when I turned vegan, I had no negative experience with my family. My entire family is into animal welfare; they were happy that I understood many more things and went a step ahead. My mother and my brother Kalyan are my pillars. My mother was a little worried about my sources of Calcium in the beginning, but it didn't take me more than an hour to show her plenty of other Calcium sources. Since going vegan, my body has become lighter. I have no constipation issues, hair fall or sleepless nights anymore. I can sleep happily without the guilt that I have harmed any animal that day.

However, many friends and family still express doubt, and when I am sick for a long time, they blame my vegan lifestyle, as if non-vegans don't get sick. I feel so disappointed that most vegans are ridiculed this way and that people close to us still don't understand what we stand for.

But despite the negativity, I see many in my circle and social media interested in my thoughts. I see people who at least took a step towards quitting meat and started doing animal welfare. A few turned vegan as well. I have been getting positive vibes from people for a year now. I also know they are stuck either because of the taste or doubts about Calcium, protein etc. Hence, my aim is to break down these barriers and introduce them to a guilt-free, ethical lifestyle. I believe that a non-vegan environmentalist doesn't exist.

Finally, I request people to see the actual side of dairy, meat, and fashion and realise the truth. Why must we opt for such a cruel lifestyle of living when we have alternatives? We are no longer early men. Bodybuilders, athletes and film stars are going vegan. Do we think we need a stronger body than those like them, who actually need it?

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Hello! I am Kaivalya, surrounded by animals and plants all the time. Digital marketer by profession and dancer by passion. I love making content to create awareness among people regarding veganism, animal rights and sustainability.

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The Vegan Journey of Arvind Krishna | Vegan Beings India #041

 

It’s been around three years been entirely vegan, meaning no whey protein either. Lol!

It was a combination of environmental, ethical, and health reasons that I turned vegan. I had a series of bad injuries, then after doing a lot of research I decided to go vegan. It was the best decision ever. I was able to recover much better than before and now I’m at the peak of my game at the age of 36.

Being vegan, in the early days, was very difficult for me. Our diet has a lot of dairy products in it. But I decided I have to stick to it if I wanna see results. Also, I strongly feel that even dairy products and how they are sourced are just as cruel as non-veg food is. Socially it’s been difficult since many don’t get it and when you go out you have to have a detailed talk with the chef etc! 

Initially, I was maybe shy to voice the reasons why I am vegan. However, now, I’m very vocal. People now listen since they see that I’m dominating on the court or looking better than before and as an actor, many take notice of that. So people are always looking for such results. Once they see that, they are more likely to listen. Then I tell them about the other reasons why I turned vegan.

After being vegan, I’ve lost fat. My skin is much better. My recovery after workouts is far better. My digestion is far better. I’ve noticed that I’m much calmer. My spiritual inclination has become clearer. My speech and diction too improved. I am not sure of the connection but non-veg and dairy do affect the thickness of the tongue I read somewhere.

I want people to see my work, my fitness, my results, and then I want to attribute a lot of that to being vegan.

To anyone up for the challenge: let’s lift, run and jump, and see who’s better! If I beat, then you turn vegan! :D

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The Vegan Journey of Ruchika Chitrabhanu | Vegan Beings India #040

I first got to know about veganism 25 years ago through my in-laws, Gurudev Chitrabhanu and Pramoda Chitrabhanu. I tried going vegan in intervals for a short period. It was only when I saw Peta's feature on Indian Dairy, it dawned on me that cows in India are treated as commodities and not as mothers anymore. 

When I was feeding my child, I realized that human milk and animal milk look the same. Just as my body produces milk for my child, so does a cow produce milk for her calf. I would be devastated if my child were taken away from me. This was the turning point to go vegan.

Finally, 15 years ago I turned vegan. The only alternative available back then was soy milk, nothing else. Restaurants didn't know what a vegan is. So, going to parties or restaurants was a challenge. But being a vegan and not being instrumental in anyone's suffering made me far more happy. So honestly, I didn't miss much. At home, it was easy to make Indian food vegan as it is not dairy-dominated.

During those times, veganism was unknown in India. I got the opportunity to explain this to people. Over the years, I have helped many people transition to a vegan lifestyle or replace a few animal products with plant-based products with empathy and respect. Today, many of them are advocating for veganism and helping others transition.

I am a co-founder of Ahimsa Fest, India's largest vegan festival and a great place for vegans, vegan-curious, and non-vegans to know more about veganism. I recently founded The Earthen One, where we do online events to spread the message to a broader audience. There has been a lot of learning we had to do, but it has been a wonderful experience so far.

Being vegan has led me to many discoveries – health-wise, product-wise, people-wise. I now meet people who are so much more alert and not bogged down by senseless traditions and read about disruptive innovations in the food and fashion space. But what matters at the end of the day is that I am so much happier.

To anyone reading this, remember: Compassion has no form and that is why it has no boundaries. You have the power to make an impact that will last forever by making small changes (by going vegan). Use it.

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Hello, I am Ruchika Chitrabhanu, an Interior Designer with a deep passion for design and art and an eye for detail. I have been an ethical vegan for 15 years, spreading awareness about veganism as a co-founder of Ahimsa Fest and founder of The Earthen One.

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The Vegan Journey of Manish Muthukumar | Vegan Beings India #039

Three years ago, when I was 12, I went vegan. I stopped eating pizzas, ice cream, etc. Vegan alternatives are not available in the place I live. I was missing the yummy food I used to eat but I was very careful in what I ate. I never consumed anything that was not vegan. Going vegan is not even half as hard as most people think, and it is the need of the hour that we go vegan.

I have always been an animal lover. I used to be a vegetarian. I had no clue about the cruelty in the dairy industry. My sister decided to go vegan after she watched Gary Yourofsky's The best speech ever. Though I was a little hesitant about the idea of veganism initially, once I got to know the facts and the truth, there was no turning back. A few minutes of taste certainly does not justify subjecting individuals to torture or death. It is shocking how we are breeding and mercilessly killing billions of animals every year. Animals are members of our ecosystem and by killing them, we are also killing our planet and ourselves. After understanding these, it was clear that going vegan is the right thing to do.

Today, I have learned how to make vegan alternatives for pizza, ice cream, donuts, and cakes. Not just that, I sell them too through our venture Cloud Nine.

Cloud Nine is a small venture that my sister and I started ten months ago. Through Cloud Nine, we sell vegan cupcakes, birthday cakes, ice cream, cookies, donuts, and pizzas to the people of Trichy with the idea of promoting veganism and helping transitioning vegans make their transition. We began with just cupcakes on our menu, but have added many more foods along the way. Though not many people know about veganism here in Trichy, the response to our venture has been great. It is heartwarming that many people order from us, over and over again. 

We have made and sold about 500 cupcakes since we began. My sister and I work together. I take care of the baking and delivery, while my sister does the packaging and poster designing. Together, we connect with customers and manage our social media page. Through our food, we tell people that vegan food is just like non-vegan food- minus the cruelty. There are so many lessons that we learned, and we are hoping to grow our business.

Apart from Cloud Nine, I write poems and articles on veganism to express my views on why veganism is important. You can check them here @manish_the_little_poet

 

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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.

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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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The Vegan Journey of Dharini | Vegan Beings India #037

At the age of 1.5 years, we introduced cow's milk for my son, for which he started showing allergic symptoms despite removing dairy from the diet. Later, I could fix this issue by myself not consuming dairy and that worked since I was still breastfeeding him. I breastfed my son for 2.5 years on a vegan diet. 

I chose to be a vegetarian from childhood for compassion reasons. My vegan friend Divya Anandan inspired me to go Vegan from Vegetarian. 

In October 2017, initially, I went vegan to regain my health after postpartum exhaustion and fatigue symptoms. I reaped enough benefits from following a vegan diet and felt positive and determined to embrace a vegan lifestyle as well. I care about the environment and I could make a huge difference by going dairy-free and not using animal products/products tested on animals.

My very first step for going vegan was about going dairy-free. I had a strong emotional attachment with curd and coffee. I grew up eating curd rice all my life and coffee was my saviour, surviving through emotional roller coasters. Letting go of dairy wasn't just a change in diet but also was a spiritual evolution of letting go of things that don't serve me anything good. I followed a strict juicing routine, salads, smoothies, and steamed foods made to shed unwanted fat, with much less physical activity. I started regaining my health postpartum. Going vegan was a life-changing experience that made me embrace a humble lifestyle and stay positive, grounded, and as a human.

We tend to force ourselves with the conditioned practices without batting an eye on visible issues since we have been programmed that way by sticking to traditional practices.

Going Vegan made me question the existing truths of mine.

Going Vegan made me think compassionately.

Going Vegan made me embrace a humble living by mindful consumption.

Going Vegan made me consume processed foods to the minimum.

Going Vegan made me shed unwanted fat.

Going Vegan made me follow sustainable fashion.

A journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step and going vegan starts with a determination more than perfection. It is not just having compassion for animals but also for yourself.

I could never go vegan, said every vegan. If you fear not achieving the goal of going Vegan, start with baby steps: meat-free/seafood free▶️ Egg free▶️Dairy/honey-free.

✅Be kind to yourself.

✅Trust your journey.

✅Celebrate small wins.

✅ See the bigger picture.

✅Believe in the purpose.

✅Your effort matters.

I have felt the best of my health after going Vegan.

I am more positive in and out after I went Vegan.

I make my vegan milks and curds, I tweak traditional recipes that aren't Vegan. Veganism made me creative, turning me into a recipe developer.

Vanakkam! I'm Dharini from Madurai,Tamil Nadu. 

I'm a trained graduate teacher and a food Instagrammer. I am passionate about cooking, art, crafts, music, and poetry. I share my daily routine and food stories on Instagram. I believe that I can make a difference in lives in small ways that I can. I write about carrying out a simple vegan lifestyle and what it takes to be a full-time homemaker.

I would love to thank all my vegan friends who are my soul family, they backed me up all the time supporting me through the struggles of the journey. The vegan friends and followers cheer me up with positivity and hope which keeps me going.

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The Vegan Journey of Mudra Parekh | Vegan Beings India #036

 

My experience being a vegan has been a rollercoaster ride. I first watched the documentary Dominion but it was too hard for me to watch. I couldn’t watch more than 5 mins of it. So, I started researching animal cruelty in India, especially dairy in India. I also thought about how I treated my companion animal differently compared to how my actions affect other animals. Even though it wasn't an overnight decision for me, it is the best decision I ever made. 🌱

My transition phase was a bit complex because I believe that everyone has their unique vegan journey. I didn’t quit everything at once, rather, I tried to quit or reduce on cheese the first week, then curd, then buttermilk, etc. And then it seemed easier than just quitting it all.

Firstly, when I turned vegan I lost a lot of weight. I was really happy with the result. Then, I started researching the options available in my city itself. The research gave me the stats that either there were no alternatives available or those that were available were extremely expensive. So I started meals.with.mudra, my plant-based dairy business. The basic idea behind the business was to make affordable alternatives available and also to remove the taboo of vegan food being expensive. Providing options will attract more people towards the idea. Otherwise, people will be like "if not dairy then what"? It's been a great journey so far and I am happy that I can help people as well as the animals.

Being vegan has connected me to so many new and interesting people. It has opened me up to a whole new community. It has got me to talk about veganism on different platforms like Instagram live sessions or zoom sessions. Being animal friend-ly brought me to a world of living beings. My perspective towards animals changed drastically once I made the connection.

To anyone reading this, I would say: Put yourself in their shoes and think from that perspective. It won't seem so hard. Also, instead of thinking of quitting on meat or dairy, look for the alternatives, plenty of them are available. I hope, then it won't seem that difficult. 

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Hi, I am Mudra Parekh, 20 yrs old. I started my vegan journey about 1.5 yrs back and my plant-based dairy alternatives business started around 6 months back.

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The Vegan Journey of Jeganraj | VBI #035

There was a time when I was arguing against the hypocrisy of vegetarians who were calling out carnivores for their food habits. I had given up eating meat for about six months at that point. I realised, first I had to reconcile my love for other beings in the world myself and I knew becoming Vegan was the only option.

I was aware of veganism 15 years before and had tried it out for six months until succumbing to taste buds on a hungry night. This time the choice was made more rationally and it felt like a choice made for a lifetime. After 30+ months, I'm glad I had made that choice and while there is still so much scope to be more compassionate, becoming a vegan was an important step in the journey.

I have had a great time learning to be a vegan. One of the main positives has been a better understanding of food and which then translated into confidence to cook more. I think I'm well on my way to watching 10000 hours of recipe videos and that should automatically upgrade me to an expert chef :D

I live and work out of Bengaluru in the IT industry. I love playing racquet sports and at present Squash is one thing that drives my life. I enjoy being involved with Squash as a player, administrating tournaments, and refereeing as well. Apart from that I love stories and hoping to share a few stories from my imagination with the world through a book.

For now, I'm working on a story that can seed veganism in the minds of people. I also try to popularise the plant-based options that are available in Bengaluru by gifting those to non-vegans. I'm also planning on switching to wearing only T-shirts that have messages to seed the idea about Veganism so that it stays in the collective conscience of the people I connect with.

As a non-vegan in the past, I know how social conditioning has put a patch over our eyes for the cruelty towards animals. I'm sure all human beings have innate compassion and it's only a matter of time before the realisation hits each one of us to do our bit to reduce intentional cruelty in the world and join the fight against oppression.

After turning vegan, there have been some nice discoveries:

1. Fruits and Vegetables exist beyond Banana and Potatoes

2. Cooking is magic and fun

3. Vegan food didn't mean fewer options and in fact because of the change in perception, the variety of food I have had is mind-boggling

The one challenge I have faced is the understanding of protein consumption. I did lose a lot of muscle mass when I transitioned from non-vegetarian to vegetarian and then vegan because of my lack of knowledge. Now with the help of the community and further reading, I'm more comfortable in getting my proteins (For being an athlete). I have never had issues with playing Squash after becoming vegan. In fact, I probably had my peak as a player since turning Vegan and I can see the improvement has the scope to be exponential soon. The COVID has put a break to Squash training and I'm hoping to continue after this covid induced break.

In the end, I would like to share what Rumi, a 13th-century Muslim poet, and Sufi mystic, wrote: 

"I have existence and I value it so much,

So have all the beings on the earth and they

too, try to preserve it

Then, how can I kill the tiniest creature

just to satiate my palate

To me, even milk is forbidden"

---

Jeganraj

 

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