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 Jayalaxmi Rai | Vegan Beings India #066

                                                            

I was a hardcore non-vegetarian. My brother Annand and a friend Melina had gone vegan and they were nagging me to watch Earthlings for a while. After stalling for some time, I finally relented and watched Earthlings. I was stunned as I watched it. I could not complete the documentary in one sitting. I was sobbing away as I watched it. I am not someone who would be moved to tears easily. But watching animals being abused like this was horrific, especially when I considered myself an animal lover. 

I gave up eating meat for a while but desensitised myself after a while and got back to consuming meat occasionally. After a few months, I had moved back to Dubai and attended a yoga & meditation course called SSY, where one of the interpreters spoke about the horrors in the dairy industry. They also spoke about the meat industry and one fast-food chain in particular which I used to love. He said that they were now producing headless and featherless chickens.

That was the turning point for me. I decided to give up meat that instant. I was also introduced to the concept of consuming raw foods at this institute. I had given up all dairy too except for cheese which took me a year to give up. I later learned that there was a reason I took so long to give up cheese (dairy) primarily because it has addictive properties. So on the 14th of September 2014, I finally went vegan and never looked back. It’s been more than seven years and as any vegan will tell you: I wish I was born Vegan. It is one of the best decisions of my life.

I have learned an incredible lot in the past 5 years and keep learning so much more each day. These have been valuable and fantastic years. I loved every moment of it! I feel super energetic after going vegan and keep getting better by the day. I also think if you incorporate a lot of raw foods and whole foods into your diet you will always be in your element. Walking for miles or being on my feet all day is not a task at all. So if you want to thrive rather than just survive try this lifestyle for yourself and see.

My journey after going vegan has been nothing short of fantastic. I researched for 3 years about all things vegan and experimented a lot. During this time I also decided to open a small little restaurant in Pune. I dedicated it to my grandmother and named it Granny's Bowl in 2016.

Granny's Bowl had an ever-changing menu with different days dedicated to different cuisines. I had got a lot of support from my own family, friends, and especially my lovely aunt Nirmala Shetty. It was financially a roller coaster. I had no experience at that time running a restaurant with no idea how much of an investment it would take. I also was crazy enough to cook, clean & run operations all on my own. I shut shop in 2 years & operated from home for 2 years. I had the energy to cook & cater for 100+ people too. However, it was financially difficult to operate. I shut down the cloud kitchen too. I got into Vegan Food Consultancy and Activism (The Save Movement).

I now work for The Save Movement ~ Health Save Chapter, called Pune Health Save, and share a lot of recipes, information and so much more. If you want us to do an outreach and vegan food tasting in your area in Pune, just DM us. We will make it happen.

To non-vegans I have this to say: I used to have eggs for breakfast, fish for lunch, and chicken for dinner. If I can go vegan, anyone can. Also, it's not a deprivation diet at all. Instead of dairy-based milk, you can have coconut milk, cashew milk, almond milk, soy milk, rice milk, hazelnut milk, mung milk, millet milk, sesame milk. I can go on 😁. Also, instead of eating the flesh of sheep and goat, there are a vast array of vegan meats, mushrooms, yams, jackfruits and so much more. Vegan butter, cheese, yoghourt, ghee, and ice cream are all now available at our fingertips. So, go vegan! You will enjoy it and we are here to help you. Besides, it will give you abundant energy. You will be blessed by the animals at large and the planet.

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The Vegan Journey of Ananya Jain | Vegan Beings India #065

 

Hello everyone! I am Ananya. I'm 15 years old and I love animals! Since childhood animals have been a major part of my life. I am an animal feeder, rescuer, and animal rights activist. I feed about 80 - 100 animals (mostly dogs) every day. 

Back then, I had just started using Instagram. Since I have always been keen on learning about animals, I used to scroll through animal-related pages. Suddenly, I landed upon a page where I saw how a cow is treated for me to have a glass of milk and other dairy products. I was just horribly shocked and did not know I was contributing to so much cruelty. As I scrolled more through the page, I got to know more about the cruelty that happens within the dairy industry. I wasn't able to admit the reality that as a vegetarian, I was contributing to animal cruelty. I was paying for those innocent animals to get tortured, abused, and slaughtered.

Hence, I went vegan in June 2020 after knowing this cruel reality of the dairy industry. To be honest, I feel my journey was a roller coaster. After knowing the cruel reality, I decided to go vegan but there was no one to guide me on how to go about things. I didn't know what plant-based milk was! So, it took me some days to research and know what I could use instead of dairy products. 

Today, I can proudly say that I have improved my athletic performance without killing or abusing animals. I have seen a drastic difference in my activity levels and my physical ability. I feel more strong & energetic.

When I told my parents about veganism, they didn't believe in it. I showed them everything and finally, a time came when my parents were supportive towards me being a vegan. But as I moved to talk to them about them transitioning to being a vegan... BOOM! I would get busted with so many myths, excuses and they argue with me. Then, I did not know how to answer them, but now I can have a debate with them.

I've come across a lot of people who hate animals for some reason. I don't know why! It's just that they are always behind hurting animals. While feeding specifically, many people come, oppose and mistreat stray animals such as dogs, puppies, or a cow! They would hit that innocent animal with a stick and that poor animal goes through a lot of pain. Please don't do that. They are too scared and traumatised. They just want some love and compassion. 

When I have no one with me, I have animals by my side who are always there to give you so much love, no matter what happens. And the fact is that in case you provide 1% love to them, they'll be there for life and provide 100% love back. And please step out for animals! Unless & until we don't, we are not going to make a change in the lives of animals.

I often have people saying to me "I can't be vegan because I love the taste of cheese, milk, or any other dairy products." I have one question for you all: How can you define anything above killing an animal & eating them? They are sentient beings just like you who can feel pain, suffering, misery. They are living beings just like you. 

"If your religion includes killing animals, It's not a religion. How can you justify killing an animal just for a religion?"

THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR ANIMAL ABUSE.

Apart from the above things, I have always been interested in contributing my part to our Earth by participating in community services which include waste segregation, environmental conservation organisations, animal organisations, etc. I also am passionate about photography, sketching, cooking, trekking and fitness, writing, and business. I am still exploring. :)

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The Vegan Journey of Selvi Selvakumar | Vegan Beings India #064

I was always concerned about the cruel treatment meted out to other non-human animals. On my own, I had become a vegetarian from being a meat-eater, about five years ago. But I was not very happy about it because I thought that avoiding meat did not eliminate cruelty one bit. This happened a few times earlier too. I would become a vegetarian and then would revert. I was always researching humane ways to kill an animal, like maybe under anaesthesia? Anyways, I decided to stop eating meat five years ago. Eggs were on and off. Funnily, silk, leather, and honey were off for nearly two decades.

Then I came across this youtube post by Arvind Animal Activist. That made me go vegan and also become a vegan online activist overnight. Earlier, I used to write about the environment though my mind was on animal rights. I was always concerned about peer reaction and social stigma if I talked about animals and their rights. Then Arvind's video gave me clarity of mind. I realised that others like me were there. I am always grateful to social media for this support
.

After turning vegan, I got many negative reactions from friends and relatives. Some took it positively too. But as far as I am concerned this is one of the best decisions I took. I wish I had done it earlier.

Being an activist, I have printed pamphlets explaining cruelty to animals, and how to avoid this. Nowadays, I take them every time I step out of the house, talk for a minute or two to anyone whom I meet, and give it to them. I request them to read it and think about the content. I aim to make people think because our attitude towards animals is the basic reason for this callous behaviour. Once we stop seeing animals as commodities, the cruelty will change.

Most of us humans like to be just and fair in our dealings with others. So why are we not so towards animals? It is an age-old conditioning, and it remains on us to think about this. We need to accept the truth that they are just like us in all that matters. They have all the emotions of love, affection, mother-child bond, and grief on separation. Whenever we kill an animal or bird, it is not much different from killing a human being.

_________________

Hello everyone! I’m Selvi Selvakumar. I’m an ophthalmologist who took early retirement chiefly to voice for animal rights. I love watching movies and reading books in my free time. I turned vegan in September 2020. Whenever I went out for street outreach people have always listened to me which was surprising. Then I realised that it could be because I am a senior citizen and a doctor. 

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The Vegan Journey of Vaibhavi Lonkar | Vegan Beings India #063

I have had cats since my birth. So, it was easy for me to connect with other animals. I always rejected when I was offered meat. I knew that meat is nothing but a dead animal who wanted to live. But unfortunately, I didn't know about dairy. I turned vegan overnight. The moment I got to know what happens inside the dairy industry, I decided. I was a heavy dairy and dairy products consumer, but trust me, going vegan was easy for me. I wake up every morning with a smile because I know that I am living my life without harming any sentient being.

I believe that we can easily live without harming any sentient being. Moreover, there are vegan alternatives for animal products out there. Then why choose cruelty? Are our taste buds more important than the life of an animal? Is it okay to artificially inseminate a cow, take her baby away and consume her milk? All this for 2 minutes of pleasure on our tongue? Animals have a right to live as much as we have. They're individuals, just like us.

Before the pandemic, I used to participate in vegan activism events but I wasn't able to do that during the lockdown. I learned how to cook during the lockdown. This combination made me start my blog, Vguide. It has blog posts related to recipes, activism, vegan food reviews, and general veganism. Here’s the link to Vguide. Also, I was a national coordinator for the Vegan India Movement campaign.

After going vegan, I started losing friends. However, I knew that the universe has some good plans for me. Gradually, I met like-minded people. I think that's the reason why I lost my old friends and found new ones who are way way better. I am glad I found such amazing people. We go for treks, movies, vegan activism, and potlucks together. We even visit shelters and spend time with animals. I wouldn't have been able to do this with other friends. Going vegan was a turning point in my life. I made friends all over India. Whenever I visit any city, I always have friends there. This sense of belongingness is very beautiful.

I felt better both physically and mentally. I felt mentally better because I started living a guilt-free and cruelty-free lifestyle and made like-minded friends. I felt physically better because a plant-based diet is one of the healthiest diets on this planet provided you don't eat vegan junk food. I used to fall ill thrice a year but it all stopped. Now I hardly fall ill.

Hello! I am Vaibhavi. I have completed my post-graduation in management and currently, I'm working as a digital marketer in a small start-up. I love sketching, painting and cooking when it comes to veganising non-vegan recipes. I run a blog named Vguide which has blog posts related to veganism. Apart from that, I volunteer for vegan outreach events, animal adoption camps, and animal rescues.

I've been a vegan for seven years.

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The Vegan Journey of Ahana Dasgupta | Vegan Beings India #062

 

Being someone in the locality who helps ailing dogs, I receive calls from multiple people. In 2017, one such call led me to an ailing calf. Unfortunately, I was late to arrive there. I kept thinking about this unusual incident because I had hardly seen a calf lying on the road. After a few days, I witnessed the most horrible incident of a cow crying and chasing a rickshaw. I could not figure out the reason. I was at a nearby shop when I saw that. Then I saw the rickshaw where that cow's calf was tied to the place where we generally keep our feet. Baffled at such an incident happening in broad daylight nearby a police station, I was left with many questions. Later, I found out that such is the procedure in many dairy farms. As a person who feels for animals, the agony of the mother cow kept bothering me. That is how I became vegan overnight.

I had heard about veganism in 2015, while participating in a march organised to protest against the use of glass-coated manja used for flying kites on a specific festival. I had used the same excuses a non-vegans give until 2017, when I decided to go vegan after the above incident.

Being born as a human is in itself a privilege. The power to reason and choose is what differentiates us from the rest of the species on the planet. As humans, we have come a long way, creating artificial intelligence to discover ways to combat deadly diseases. Having such powers necessitates helping those who cannot help themselves and animals are the most underprivileged of all. They depend on us for everything but unfortunately, we take everything from them. We often ask for justice for ourselves while being so horribly unjust to those species who have no evil intentions, no voice, and no choice. Instead of being saviors we torture and kill them.

Coming to activism, outreach doesn't always have to be planned. A vegan for whom the cause matters will take every opportunity to make others aware. However, in the past few years, awareness through street outreach and social media has made people aware of veganism to a greater extent. Making people feel what we felt while changing into a vegan requires them to be in the same position as we were. Engaging in constant dialogues, helping people by showing alternatives not just in the food sector but all such sectors which exploit animals, helps people understand the urgency of the cause without being hesitant. The factual discussion has a better impact than becoming emotional while speaking.

In my case, I have always tried to understand the thought process of the person I'm speaking to instead of just stating what I feel is right. Since the aim is to make people capable of establishing a connection with all animals, it is important to give primacy to how a person thinks over what I think, whether or not it's correct. And then gradually show facts and carry on with the debate. I believe the aim isn't to convert people into vegans but to make them feel for all animals equally. Then veganism becomes the most obvious outcome.

To anyone reading this, ask questions to yourself instead of asking vegans. Try to find the answers to those questions yourself without depending on vegans. Vegans can be flawed but the reason behind the cause isn't flawed. It only aims at saving lives.

Going vegan helped me in many other ways as well: 

It revealed people around me. 

It helped me recognise injustices beyond the cause and understand the importance of every individual human on this planet. 

I understood the importance of unlearning as much as learning.

It helped me to know myself better. Being an introvert, outreaches seemed impossible. But when something matters, no barrier is a barrier.

Hello everyone, I’m Ahana Dasgupta from Kolkata. I have been an animal lover for a long time. I have been involved in rescuing and helping street animals which further lead to veganism later on. I enjoy learning and gathering knowledge. I'm aspiring for various jobs and hence preparing for them. I'm a vegan since 2017.

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The Vegan Journey of Rupbrata Das | Vegan Beings India #061

 

I have always loved dogs and cats. However, I would take pride in my ability to eat chicken and pork in great amounts. I was a ferociously carnist. When I got to know that pigs are as intelligent as dogs, I was shocked. I started watching training videos and cuddling videos of pigs. My girlfriend said she can't eat pigs again after knowing and seeing these facts. At first, I did not understand why she would still eat other animals but not pigs. Then I started to notice my hypocrisy. I would love a dog but eat a pig. Soon I started searching "Why do we need meat" to look for reasons to continue eating meat. However, I bumped into videos of Ed Winter, Mic the Vegan, Plant-Based News, etc. Well, what can I say when the logic is too clear to unsee it.

Though I know many people find it difficult, I transitioned overnight. What helped me was my love for animals. I stopped eating meat and dairy. But there was milk hidden in many products from the grocery store. After I started omitting those products, I became sad as there was not much left to eat. Here came YouTube again and showed the power of vegan cooking. Being a Bengali also helped me, as my mom is a great cook. She made tasty vegetables for lunch and dinner. But sharing the dining table with my family became difficult, as they would eat non-vegan food almost every day. At first, I could not tolerate it because I would feel tempted. However, after a few months, I started to see dead animals on the table. That was very disturbing. So I started eating separately. Apart from food, my choice of media consumption also changed. I have started watching vegan documentaries, vegan cooks, etc.

After I turned vegan my rescue work became much more frequent. As I indulged more and more into rescuing, some things became very clear :

1) Laws for protecting animals are a joke in India. Anyone can kill an animal if they are not listed as protected wildlife of that state. 

2) Donations are not a great model for someone if they want to continue rescue work, as government grants are rare. Donations are too uncertain. 

3) We lack fundamental education that can make us compassionate towards others.

That is why this year, I have started a company that can donate all of its profits towards animal rescue. I believe @dandelion_connect will become successful. It will take time for sure, but it will certainly happen. Social entrepreneurship can only save animals in this country.

Non-vegans are not so different from vegans. I was also a non-vegan once. I know why they make fun of vegans. But that is just hatred for something that puts us out of our comfort zone, takes us against the stream. I don't know why they say that vegans impose their life choices. If removing euphemism from a certain thing makes you uncomfortable then it's time you should think about it more. "Meat is Murder" is not outrageous because it is wrong. It is outrageous because it does not hide the truth. Everyone knows dead animal flesh must come from a dead animal. As we are progressing into a world where the air is unbreathable, the earth is grey and water is poisoned, you must think twice about the life choices that took us here in the first place.

There are so many things that I keep discovering every day after being vegan. I have certainly become more sensitive towards my surroundings. People say vegans are easily triggered. I guess that is not the right way to frame it. I think vegans respond towards injustice more readily than others.

Hello everyone, I am Rupbrata Das. I work as a freelance content developer. My first and foremost hobby is taking care of my non-human sons and daughters. I do some rescue work whenever I can. I wish to become a social entrepreneur with a large sanctuary where rescued animals can thrive. I have been vegan for more than one and a half years.

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The Vegan Journey of Ajay Kiradiya | Vegan Beings India #060

Around three years ago I started feeding community dogs in my locality. Each time I’d feed them I empathise with them and eventually end up loving them. Thereafter, I started to love all the animals, from cows, dogs to pigs. I would feed them, care for them and empathise with them. I could see the pain in their eyes. I could feel their pain when I saw them suffering.

When I was shown the reality of dairy, at first, I couldn’t believe it. I thought it doesn’t happen in India. I did my research and got to know about various animal exploitation industries in India. I then decided to go vegan because I didn’t want to be the reason for their immense suffering, trauma, and exploitation. It took me a few months to transition and now I'm a vegan and an animal liberation activist.

My family has always been very supportive of my vegan and activism journey. After going vegan, I’ve got to know so much about the animal rights movement, and other social justice movements. I’ve made some amazing activist friends who help me sort out things. Apart from these, I feel so helpless that I can’t save all non-human animals. I can’t stop people from hurting animals, thus I can only try. 

I’ve been learning about anti-speciesism, effective activism, social change, and other important aspects of the AR movement. I’ve learned the importance of activism and why we should focus and invest our time in this. I’ve been doing offline activism since after two months I went vegan. I'm still learning effective ways of activism every day.

I document other animals’ suffering by witnessing them in butcher shops, live markets, dairy farms, pet shops, zoos, animal rides, and other unwanted uses. I’ve seen them in trauma and the torture that they have to go through. I tell people their stories by sharing them on my social media handles. I had also been a part of an online pressure campaign.

The problem is people are very disconnected from animals. All of us have been brainwashed by industries' advertisements. They don't show us the reality of what goes behind their end animal products. We are so bound by our culture to ignore the suffering of other sentient beings.

We all have been taught from childhood that animals are inferior to us. We can abuse them for our taste, pleasure, and greed. We should see beyond the culture and recognise their individuality, treat them with equal respect and dignity. Our habits, taste buds and convenience is nothing, compared to the pain and suffering other animals receive.

When it comes to the capacity to feel pain, fear, and love, we are all equal. We do not have to love animals to avoid abusing and killing them. Choose justice and equality, and be an anti-speciesist. And most importantly, be their allies.

Please get active for the animals. They are suffering and dying every day. They need us like never before. Use your privileges in ways that would help them, utilise the skills and knowledge you possess, and try to be effective in your actions. You do not have to master activism. Any action is better than no action, so keep trying it.

I've been learning about anti-speciesist language, animal-centric approach, effective activism, system change, and much more. I learned the importance of language that we use in our advocacy. It plays a huge role in the AR Movement. Because we all have been taught speciesist words and language by the society we live in and the system that normalises the exploitation of non-human animals.

I learned why we should always centre on the animals, not other factors while advocating for animal rights because they are the victims here. When we discuss health and the environment, we are not only objectifying animals but also letting people remain disconnected from animals. Eventually, they don't feel the plight of animals and keep coming up with other human-centric arguments. Yes, health and environmental factors are important but they are additional benefits. The root cause is speciesism and animal exploitation.

I learned why system change is equally important and should be emphasised as individual change and even more, because corporations, companies, industries, and governments continue to exploit animals to make money. They are the ones who operate the whole chain.

Hi, My name is Ajay Kiradiya. I'm an animal liberation activist from Indore and currently pursuing mass communication. I'm dedicated to animal rights activism.

I've been vegan for the last two years now.

 

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The Vegan Journey of Vaishnavi Dhumal | Vegan Beings India #059

 

I saw the slaughtering of chickens 4 years ago. Witnessing the way the poor animal was fighting for his life and struggling to not die for a momentary meal, made me feel sick. I instantly became vegetarian. I thought I was doing enough and now I wasn’t causing any harm to non-human animals.

I had heard of the term vegan but I was ignorant at that time. I did not understand why people go vegan in the first place. I thought it was extreme and that no cows are harmed for milk. Soon, I came across a post from an animal activist's account that was talking about the horrors that cows go through for milk. It also said to watch the documentary Dominion. I started doing my research and tried to watch the documentary. I couldn’t watch it completely, it was too rough to watch. To date, I haven’t seen it completely.

Shocked by all of this, I decided to go vegan. I started by cutting off dairy items from my daily consumption. But the wrong perception was that although I was doing it for ethical reasons, I still thought of it as a “diet”. This continued for a month, and then I started to realise it’s not a diet or my personal choice when there is a victim involved. 

So this one day when I was sitting in my canteen waiting for my oreo shake to come, it just hit me that I cannot keep expanding that I would take “small steps to cut off animal products from my diet” to adopt Veganism. Either way, the animal would still be abused while I was still making the baby steps. So, I went to the counter and cancelled my order, and turned vegan that day. 

Through these past 3 years, it has evolved me to learn more about animal rights, from thinking of veganism as a mere diet. I came to an understanding that this is a social justice movement for animal rights.

Also, the fact that animal rights activism is extremely important because I never went up and searched on the internet about veganism and Animal rights. I got educated about it through an animal activist's post. So I feel, being active for the animals is a key to keep educating people and speaking out for the animals.

Nobody is born a bad person, no sane person wants animals to be killed. I know you wouldn’t want to hurt animals. I know you also love your companion animal. You probably feed your community animals too, or do some other kind things in your life, which I acknowledge and make me feel that you are a compassionate person.

However, please understand that society has conditioned us into thinking of animals as a product and not as an individual. We grow up and unlearn so many things. It’s time we unlearn speciesism. We need you in this fight for animal rights. Please expand your compassion to all the non-human animals because I know you can.

My vegan journey has been great. On the positive side, I got to know so much about animal rights, got into activism, got out of my comfort zone, made connections with non-human animals, and looked at them as individuals, being more compassionate and understanding other beings.

On the negative experience, in the early months, I had lots of arguments with family and friends. I did not have the right approach to convey the message to them so it was stressful, but that only made me find the right approach, so I am glad.

In 2017, I came across this documentary called “The true cost” which showed me the horrors of the Fast Fashion industry and also the unethical treatment of their workers. Being a designer and a consumer of the fast fashion industry, it was a shocker. Sometimes there are so many things that we don’t question and things we don’t know, but I’m glad I saw that documentary and got to know about this.

That acted as a catalyst for me to learn more about sustainable fashion and I started working with natural dyes. I knew that I wanted to start my sustainable clothing brand sooner or later.

So when I graduated this year, I finally started up with my clothing brand by the name “Nyoro”, a sustainable, vegan, ethical, and slow fashion.

After going vegan I discovered a lot of new things. Getting educated about my choices, understanding how important the words we use are, I learned that most of the words we use are also speciesist and will objectify non-human animals, so I’m slowly unlearning it.

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The Vegan Journey of Radha G | Vegan Beings India #058

 

It has been 8 years since I've been vegan. Compassion for cows inspired me to go vegan. The movie Earthlings and Nandita Shah's Program, Peas vs pills made me more aware. All this led me to a lifestyle that avoids cruelty to other animals. Checking what my needs are and ensuring I don't meet them by "unfair means", at the cost of other sentient beings on earth became my motto.

Being a vegetarian from birth, I imagined that I was living a fairly compassionate life - causing minimal harm to other animals. As I was an avid baker, when I heard about the vegan cake the first time, I was positively scornful - about how folks could dream about replacing dairy products like butter, milk in an eggless cake!

It took a while to consider the perspective that the milk that is sold is often obtained by depriving calves of their mother's milk. Just as the (human) mother's milk is ideal for the baby, nature had intended cow's milk for the calf!  What hit hard was the realisation that my consumption of milk involved impregnating the female of another species and keeping her lactating for as long a time as possible during her life. 

Initially, family social gatherings were embarrassing as hosts would be confused about what to offer me. I would find it embarrassing to be a "fussy" guest. At times I would feel frustrated to find nothing vegan at all in the desserts section. 

However, turning vegan has made me more aware of what comes on my plate and what is the journey the food has made? Has it been made with zero pain to other earthlings? Am I consuming something that was not intended for me in the first place?

The journey has led to more awareness. It has made me pause whenever I have used something or eaten... to check in my mind how this product was made or sourced. Is there any cruelty involved?

My daughter turned vegan out of her own choice. She is 19 now and is into vegan activism. 

These 8 years have led to greater awareness and a sense of responsibility to make choices that don't harm other living beings on earth. I have had debates with colleagues who are from agrarian families saying cows are like their family members so there is no question of exploitation. They find the idea of veganism alien. However, I have felt lighter and my conscience feels clear about what I consume. Ahimsa life, at least as much as possible. 

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Hello everyone, I’m Radha G. I teach Chemistry in senior secondary school. I am also a past life regression therapist, breathwork therapist, and Life Coach. I play the sitar, enjoy reading, and being in nature.

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