Sharada Prasad

A week ago I watched this documentary called “Earthlings“. Since then I am deeply ashamed of myself, for several reasons. But the foremost of them is not having the enough intellectual curiosity to understand how things reach us – it could be food, electronics or jewellery.

Movies and documentaries influence me to the extent of changing my lifestyle. I am sure that any sensitive individual would change his/her lifestyle if he/she gets to know the way some of our habits and lifestyles are affecting the lives of other people and animals on this planet.

Planet Earth, Home, and 11th Hour had a deep impact on my contribution to carbon emissions. Since then I have been trying to minimise my carbon footprint.

Four years ago, movie “Blood Diamond” forced me to think and give up gold, diamond and other kinds of jewellery (I was never a jewellery person). I had a golden chain and ring for myself. I stopped wearing them and have not bought anything made of gold, silver, platinum or diamond since then.

Recent one has been “Earthings”. It questions some of my very habits which I am oblivious of, such as

1. Using food derived from animals, including milk : I am an eggitarian. I was proud that I was not harming any animal. I was OK with eating egg because no-one was killing chicken to get the egg. Same is the case with dairy product. But I never knew how cows and chickens are treated to get milk and eggs from them. Worse is the case if you eat meat.
2. Use of leather : I never wore fur. But I did buy two leather jackets from Palika Bazaar in Delhi. I have been wearing leather shoes, chappals and belts since school days. But the Indian cattle cater to the majority of the leather market and the way cows and other animals are treated for such products is just beyond imagination.
3. Entertainment : Animals are abused by the entertainment industry just to keep us amused. Rodeo, bullfighting, derby, circus, zoos are all different ways of torturing animals to entertain humans.
4. Pets: Now this industry is picking up. Animals are caged and ill-treated just for the sake of making money by selling the offspring to humans.
5. Use of animals in the name of science: Many tests of various degrees are conducted on animals in the name of science. Pure science is just the opposite of it.

The documentary lucidly presents the above issues with good narration. It has made me challenge my own lifestyle. It has succeeded in convincing me that I need to change few of my habits.

I have decided to take up the biggest challenge of my life, so far, – becoming a vegan. I have decided to give up animal derivatives, wearing leather, visiting zoos etc. I cannot become a vegan in a day. To start with, I have stopped wearing leather and have started to consume less of milk products.

It is very daunting and feels like almost impossible to become a vegan since most of the Indian sweets and chocolates are made of milk. Though I have switched to black coffee and black tea, it is hard to give up milk and its products as they are very tempting. Curd rice is such an integral part of south Indian food. From past one week I am not eating curd rice. It is a big step for me. There were times when I had survived only on curd rice.

I am not complaining about the habits of others. When changing myself itself is a huge challenge, how can I ask others to change. Above all, things like these are matters related to self-realisation.

I have met few people who are vegans. They have imbibed a sense of confidence in me. It can be done. All it takes is – time, patience and determination. I will keep you all posted about my new adventure.

BTW, if you are looking for some resource on becoming a vegan, here is a good link to start with – http://sharan-india.org