Veganism in India

[Kiran]

In the south, a lot of Indians use tomatoes and coconut milk instead of milk when cooking dinner, don't they? Are there groups of Indians that are vegans by tradition?

And - how many vegetarians (including lacto-vegetarians) are there in India? I've seen various estimates.... Any idea?

Hey Korn, how do you know all such intricate stuff about Indian cooking aye? You also fancy masala dosa. Are you Indian by any chance?

[indianvegan]

Recently, whole India is also in to Bird flu. People have stopped eating birds and eggs. Sales are drastically down. In my city also...people stopped eating dead birds..instead they are enjoying plant based foods only. Cheers birds !

Soon people will realise danger of Dairy products too. Sooner the later.

Manish Jain

[Geoff]

Hey Korn, how do you know all such intricate stuff about Indian cooking aye? You also fancy masala dosa. Are you Indian by any chance?

Korn (AKA 'Dances With Vegans') is an Indian from the Osloga tribe. They live in teepee shaped igloos. :)

[Korn]

:)
I've only been there a few times (South/North + Himalayas and Nepal), Kiran... and after having tasted masala dosa, how can one NOT want more of it? :)

But I'm not Indian, and if you see the view from my window right now, you would VERY soon understand that I'm not visiting India now either.


Here's the view from my window this morning:







...which makes be realize that going to India again would be a good idea, especially in the snowy season here. I've got an email from Pushkar yesterday (where meat isn't even available in the stores or at restaurants, it is not considered food there) - in many ways I feel more at home in India than here...

[indianvegan]

You are most welcome, Mr. Korn, you can stay with me as long as you wish. I bet you will love Indian hospitality. I would be glad to be with you.

Manish

[Blueshark]

Manish - I am interested to know the origins of veganism in India.

I would think the farming there is much more traditional than in the West.

Is it a backlash against the hypocrital treatment of cows or is it (as I suspect) a lot deeper than that?

[indianvegan]

There is no existence of Veganism as such in India. Worshipping of Cow is really hypocrisy. People worship or keep them as pet only for the sake of Milk only.Now a days they are treating them as commodity. People tie them with ropes,chains.Cows have to live like it.

There are societies which provide shelter and foods for poor and diseased cows. Such type of cow shelters are more run by Jain societies/groups.

But, in all, I would say that time has changed in India also. Animals are treated very badly in transportation as well as in their shelter too. Still use of machines for milking purpose is not much common.

About 70% of Indian population is in rural areas and these people are not rich enough to buy machines for milking.

But main question always comes in to my mind, why these people are running dairy business. If there is business, people will adopt all means for earning of profit.

Why these people do not take care other animals like cows?? ofcourse, because they earn out of it. They sell weak/diseased cows.

Indian economy earns hudge foreign currency out of export of beef and leather. So, you can imagine.

Manish Jain

[indianvegan]

I do not know but may be more thousands years back, there must have been Saints who were totally Vegan. As, if you know, Jainism which is based on Ahimsa, is most close to Veganism. It has been mentioned in Jain religion that, dairy products can be avoided. There is one word " vigahi " which sounds very much similar to Veganism. Vighai includes Oil,Dairy products. But all most all Jain followers are using dairy products.There is huge importance of compassionate life in Jain religion. Jain people usually can not kill intentionally even an Ant/Mosquitto. But, there are many Jain followers in India who takes care about micro organisms in roots vegetables. So there are quite a number of Jain people in India who avoids roots vegetables for the sake of micro organisms. I too do not use any root vegetables.

You can read about compassionate life as conceived by Jain religion.

http://www.indianvegan.com/ahimsa.htm
http://www.indianvegan.com/ahimsa1.htm
http://www.indianvegan.com/Jain.htm
http://www.indianvegan.com/Jeevdaya.htm

You may read these links one by one to know more.

Manish Jain

[wacken2003vegan]

Hello all,

I am ariveing in india in new dehli on the 2nd of march for the next 3 months to travel all around the country and i was just wondering, a few things, with packaged items that are sold in shops are there ingredients listed in english on them at all? (as hear in england many food stuffs have there ingerdients listed in a few languages). and are there brands of sun lotion which do not have animal additives in them? as i burn very easily, allso i metioned this in the health forum but i have had no reply, are there any vegan sutibal anti malerial tablets? as the ones i have been perscribed have a very tiny amount of gelitain in the tablet i have to take once a week but hear there are no alternatives, allso where would be a the most vegan friendly place to visit in india? any idea?

Many Thanks
allso i must thank you let_me_view (http://www.veganforum.com/forums/member.php?u=38) as your website is very informative, many thanks :)

[indianvegan]

You are welcome. I hope, you must have gone through various threads on this vegan forum relating to India. You will come to know lot of information.

There are various tablets to save yourself from Malaria. One of such tablet is EMQUIN ( I just called my doctor brother on telephone). You can take one tablet per week. All capsules available at medical stores are of Gelatine.Try to buy Tablets format of any medicine.

Further, mostly you will be able to read ingredients in english on most of the products.

For Soya Milk you can find, Godrej's Sofit. You can get Dabur's Coconut milk branded as "Hommade". Vegan bath Soaps are "Chandrika" and "Mysore Sandal" . Vegan toothpaste brands are , Vicco, Promise,Anchor.

Do not forget to enjoy, "South Indian" meal/snacks like Idli,Dosa,Uttapam, Upma,Vada sambhar,and many more almost all are Vegan. You will find in every restaurant . When you go for North Indian menu, you have to be careful about Dairy products like Pure Ghee, Paneer,Milk,Curd, Khowa or Mawa. You can place order like dairy free and White Sugar free.

Almost all sweet deserts are made up of dairy products and white sugar. There is no bone chare free sugar in India. Though, you can find Jaggery( in some area it is called as Gur or Gud). In metros, you can find dairy free, sugar free sweet stuffs. Mostly you will have to rely on fruits. Don't miss fresh Sugar cane juice, just find out a clean cart owner.

You must have read about Sadhana Forest,in Auroville closed to Pondicherry( 3 hrs journey from Chennai) in the State of Tamilnadu. On this forum you can search about Auroville. It is ecofriendly,vegan and very cheap. You can stay there as Volunteer.

In India, there is custom to put green dot on vegetarian stuffs.

Always use branded Mineral drinking water. Use it as much as possible, as it would be Summer months. Tought to bear heat waves and humidity.


I hope it will solves your queries than more. Wish you good time in India.

Manish Jain (manish202@hotmail.com)

[wacken2003vegan]

Thank you for your reply all very helpfull information, i cant get those anti malerial tablets in the uk i will have to change when i get to india. and that Auroville place looks interesting, can you just turn up?

Many Thanks, Andrew Garrison

[Korn]

You are most welcome, Mr. Korn, you can stay with me as long as you wish. I bet you will love Indian hospitality. I would be glad to be with you.

Manish
Don't be surprised if I knock your door one day, Mr. Manish - thanks a lot! :)

[indianvegan]

can you just turn up?

Andrew Garrison

What do you mean? sorry


Manish Jain

[maya]

I have family from East India on my fathers side. I know I should learn more about the culture. We cook a lot with coconut milk. Also we stir fry a lot. My great grand father use to make something called. Baigun Bhaja which is fried eggplant. Yum! He did not speak any english. I never knew what he was trying to say to me.

[indianvegan]

Maya, it is called Baigan Bhurta. Baigan bhurta or baigan bhaji is cooked one. did he talk to you in Hindi or Bengali ( regional language of East).
Baigan bhajia are deep fried.

How do you look like mixed or Indian or White ?:confused:

Manish Jain

[maya]

Bengali. I posted my picture on the The Real People's "Sexiest Vegan" Poll (http://veganforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5381) thread :o page 48 or 49 I cant remember.




Maya, it is called Baigan Bhurta. Baigan bhurta or baigan bhaji is cooked one. did he talk to you in Hindi or Bengali ( regional language of East).
Baigan bhajia are deep fried.

How do you look like mixed or Indian or White ?:confused:

Manish Jain

[indianvegan]

Oh yes, I finds it at 49. Thanks. You are awesome. You appears to be as mixed one. Black hair, back eyes.

[Blueshark]

There is an interesting article about Veganism in India in the latest issue of the UK Vegan Soc magazine.

Mentions how Gandhi supported the values of the Vegetarian movement when he studied in England.

[indianvegan]

Blueshark, I have not subscribed it, can you summarise it??

I would be obliged if you can scan that article and mail me.


Manish Jain

[shannade]

I too am from Udupi, a brahmin by birth, and a vegan from south India. Though I am living in Goa and Kiran in UK, we have common roots!

Best wishes,
Shankar Narayan.

[friend]

Further to Blueshark,s entry above. Gandhi was fundamental to the UK vegetarian movement from 1888 to 1891. He was friends with Henry Salt and many other prominent vegetarians.As for veganism in India, i feel that its very easy to live vegan in india, even to find vegan food. Its just that there are many folk who simply don,t see it as too big a deal. Thus, vegan food will be seen by the vendors as just vegetarian.India is great.

[Kiran]

Wow!! Shannade!! Glad to meet another Bhramin priest from Udupi. :D :D I hope you are strict to your priestly duties. I still follow my rituals after coming to the UK. I try to do my best. I still have my holy thread on me, unlike many Bhramin priests who are already here.

I would love to visit Krishna Mutt when I come to India in summer. Looking forward to it.


I too am from Udupi, a brahmin by birth, and a vegan from south India. Though I am living in Goa and Kiran in UK, we have common roots!

[indianvegan]

Dear All,


We have organised a "Exhibition on Vegan life" at Indore one who is
interested, can share joy of spreading Compassionate life style by
attending it -

Date:- 11th April,2006.

Timing:- 10 am to 3pm

Venue: Gandhi Hall ( within walking distance from Indore Rly Station)
M.G.Road,
Indore.
Contact: 098270-71824
E-mail : manish@indianvegan.com

Program : Display of colorful posters in Hindi and English,
Distribution of leaflets,exhibition of movies. followed by
Vegan lunch

Expected gathering: Min.1000 Maximum 4000-7000

Occassion: Celeberation of Mahaveer Jayanti


Regards.


Manish Jain.

[Kiran]

Hi Manish,

Looks like an exciting event. Hope you manage to convert many omnis into veggies and veggies into vegans. A vegan fayre in India seems very new and an outstanding attempt to educate people. I am quite sure that many Indians can make the transition from vegetarianism to veganism quite easily as long as they have the required learning resources. I think the fayre will be an effective point to learn about ethical living.

Does this have any media coverage, and is this an annual thing?

All the best and let us know how it goes. Any photos and excerpts from interviews will be much appreciated.

Thanks
Kiran

[friend]

I agree with Kiran.Indeed many Indians are already eating vegan most or all of the time, of that i am certain.Many people just simply don,t see it as such a big deal. India seems to me to be a land where the distinction between vegetarian and vegan often blurs, much more so than in the western world. Heres wishing you well for the exhibition.And if a little man hailing from Dharamsala arrives, touting a vegan holiday where the hosts eat meat..tell him to clear off please. Somehow i doubt you,ll hear of him.