A Few Thoughts On "Extreme" Veganism And Ghee After The Vegan India Conference

A senior editor at a national daily recently shared an opinion piece on her experiences at the Vegan India Conference. The article in question looked at the conference and the vegan movement in general through the (rather simplistic) lens of “is it right to tell people what to eat and what not to?”

While we understand that most discussions around veganism begin with what is on one’s plate – and that the writer here was exposed to several experts and activists who spoke at length about food – the larger discussion at the conference was the impact our food choices and current food systems have on our health, the animals and the environment.

She seemed none too pleased when an American panellist offered to “convert” her to veganism, quoting the panellist as saying “The problem with India, is all this ghee.” Her rebuttal was that the West was being ignorant and hypocritical with statements like these, causing them to “trample upon many centuries of food habits, culture, medicine (Ayurveda uses ghee in some medication)?” 

But here's where we feel differently. Veganism is very much a movement that has roots in India, simply because we are a nation that has been oriented with ahimsa (non-violence) since ancient times. Our scriptures - Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and beyond - all speak of ahimsa and living in harmony with nature, without harming other living beings, and to not take what isn't ours. ?

The beauty of veganism is that it stands for equality of ALL living beings, and extends beyond country, caste and creed. Sure, the West may have more vegan cheeses and beauty products than our country does at the moment - but the intention and motivation is universal, to live a kinder life without causing animals pain and suffering.

Ghee? Let’s Stop Right There

The statement about ghee is a common one for many non-vegans. We all know how ghee is intrinsic to Indian culture, in the guise of it being beneficial for us – which is why people are quick to defend its use in Ayurveda or religious rituals.

But ghee isn’t all it’s marketed to be – and here's why we feel it’s best avoided, rituals and Ayurveda notwithstanding.

• It’s high in saturated fat: Ghee is more concentrated than butter and contains more saturated fat than butter – and we all know that saturated fats spell trouble for the heart. 
• It contains oxidized cholesterol: Ghee is touted to be better than vegetable oil and butter because it has a high smoking point. But another point to be noted is that since ghee is produced at very high heat, its cholesterol may become oxidized - and oxidized cholesterol is linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
• It’s cruel: All of us are well aware of the cruelty that takes place in the dairy industry – but we’ll say it again. Cows are forcefully impregnated, their calves are taken away from them at birth, their udders are hooked up to electronic milking machines till they bleed, they suffer from mastitis and endure a lifetime of impregnation, being torn from their young ones and extreme pain.

Compassion Is Key

Ghee and the West vs East finger-pointing aside, the piece went on to call veganism “extreme” – which we here at Vegan First don’t believe is the case. Veganism is a movement centred around causing no harm and pain to other creatures and making more compassionate choices – and there’s nothing extreme about being kind! The vegan movement is about what’s best for the animals, our health and the planet – and leaving behind a habitable Earth for future generations.

We understand that everyone is on their own journey. For some, it happens overnight, while for others, it takes a while. Some people may choose to flirt with flexitarianism, others may be sceptical, and still more, downright dismissive – and it’s all ok. We are all here to offer support, information and advice; and to continue to spread the message of compassion. Remember - we’re all in it together. Onward!