I worked for an Indian vegan publication for over a year. And the main discourse was about how the concept of "ahimsa" or non-violence is tied into Indian culture, and we shouldn't kill and eat animals. I left after a while for personal reasons - but what I don't like about veganism/vegetarianism in India is the argument around ahimsa and the mindset that eating meat is "dirty," that "satvic" foods are better (foods in the Hindu context are defined as Rajasic, Tamasic and Satvic), with the latter being considered the "purest" and lighter on the stomach and mind. My issue with this manner of thinking is - it comes with so much caste and class privilege attached to it. Minorities in India, tribals and the lowest in the sad caste hierarchy, the Dalits, have been kept out of the food system and forced to survive on scraps for centuries. They are beaten and killed for their food choices - the ahimsa argument goes out the window in these instances. Dalits, even today, are called upon to clear carcasses of cows and often, if the meat is good enough, that is their source of protein and nourishment. Yes, consuming meat, poultry and seafood is not sustainable and we're better off without animal agriculture - but I also believe food systems need to be more inclusive, especially where food is so political.
Oh absolutely! I just wanted to shed (a little) light on the movement here in India. I really appreciate how you look at food as political, and through an intersectional lens :)
Great piece. I don't get the dislike towards vegans anymore. We should be way beyond that. I enjoyed cooking for my vegan customers & staff at my cafe the most because they were so appreciative and I support their choices. I love dairy too much to be vegan (that German in me) but it's so easy not to meat when you have such a wealth of ideas from 1/2 the world.
I worked for an Indian vegan publication for over a year. And the main discourse was about how the concept of "ahimsa" or non-violence is tied into Indian culture, and we shouldn't kill and eat animals. I left after a while for personal reasons - but what I don't like about veganism/vegetarianism in India is the argument around ahimsa and the mindset that eating meat is "dirty," that "satvic" foods are better (foods in the Hindu context are defined as Rajasic, Tamasic and Satvic), with the latter being considered the "purest" and lighter on the stomach and mind. My issue with this manner of thinking is - it comes with so much caste and class privilege attached to it. Minorities in India, tribals and the lowest in the sad caste hierarchy, the Dalits, have been kept out of the food system and forced to survive on scraps for centuries. They are beaten and killed for their food choices - the ahimsa argument goes out the window in these instances. Dalits, even today, are called upon to clear carcasses of cows and often, if the meat is good enough, that is their source of protein and nourishment. Yes, consuming meat, poultry and seafood is not sustainable and we're better off without animal agriculture - but I also believe food systems need to be more inclusive, especially where food is so political.
Oh absolutely! I just wanted to shed (a little) light on the movement here in India. I really appreciate how you look at food as political, and through an intersectional lens :)
Great piece. I don't get the dislike towards vegans anymore. We should be way beyond that. I enjoyed cooking for my vegan customers & staff at my cafe the most because they were so appreciative and I support their choices. I love dairy too much to be vegan (that German in me) but it's so easy not to meat when you have such a wealth of ideas from 1/2 the world.