Author Nemat Sadat encounters 'vegan troubles' in Mumbai

In a recent visit to Mumbai, US-based Afghani vegan author, Nemat Sadat had a very unpleasant experience at a popular 5-star hotel in the city.  He was assured that his food preferences would not be compromised but this was reportedly overlooked and soon extended into an ordeal. Although veganism is gradually gaining popularity in our country popular for dahi and desi ghee, vegan alternatives to traditional foods (of varied cuisines) are still not common. 

Never shy to voice his opinions, Nemat took to his social media media to talk about his experience. Upon asking for “vegan griddle or pancakes” for breakfast, he was told that it wouldn't be possible to make those dishes. We couldn't empathize with Nemat more! It's a pity that one still needs to stick to a plain simple orange juice or idli for plant-based breakfast, even in established hotels that take great pride in serving international cuisines! (Check out some easy vegan breakfast recipes here.)

The author of the book, 'The Carpet Weaver' took the chance to spread awareness on ‘speciesism’ (the discrimination on the basis of species, arising from the belief that one species is more important than another) after which he decided to leave the hotel and move to a new one.

In his facebook post, he mentioned, 

"During the time that I waited for my Uber driver to pick-me up several managers on-duty at the Hyatt hotel tried to persuade me not complain about them and demanded that I delete the photos I took of them after they refused to give their names. I fired back by telling them about my horrible experience and how backwards India was for having no empathy for animal family separation and how sad it was for cow mothers to cry for their baby calves to be taken away from them and used for dairy and never seen together again."

Before he could leave, the police arrived at the hotel, and he was taken to the nearby police station where he was allegedly accused of being "anti-Indian" by one of the hotel staff. On finding out that the root of the whole matter was "pure veg food", the police, hotel staff and in the end, Nemat, all had a good laugh.
Finally, he posted a picture of a dairy-free french toast that he had at the new hotel he stayed at and posted pictured with the staff too, concluding by saying, "Meet the honorable Indians who embrace even a die-hard vegan vagabond like me and honor me in my celebration and passion for animal liberation."

He showered praises on the hotel that served him with his choice of vegan options via multiple posts on social media and highlighted the fact that 5-star hotels around the world AND India "offer all kinds of griddle and a wide array of pastries for their non-vegan guests. Isn’t it discriminatory, hostile, and unequal not to cater the same to vegans?"

He left with a strong message, "I’ve written a letter to Hyatt Regency Mumbai and major hotels across India to demand that they make vegan options available on their restaurant and room service menus and at their buffet counters. PETA India has endorsed my vegan activism on Twitter. I will ask PETA India to incentivize hotels to compete for vegan branding and inclusivity by awarding annually the best hotel for vegans in India. I’ll make sure no hotel in India (or any country in the world for that matter) takes vegan dollars, euros, and rupees for granted."

Nemat went vegan in 2016. In an interview with the 'vegan rainbow project', he said "After being a vegetarian for several years, it was a natural next step for me to evolve as a vegan. As a persecuted minority whose life was threatened in Afghanistan and who has suffered discrimination and marginalization in the United States, I empathize for the plight of animals who are slaughtered with impunity and consumed as clothes and foods." 

What do you think about hotels offering more vegan options, of all cuisines? Let us know in the comments!

All Images: Nemat's Social Media

Read: French Vegan Masterchef Sebastien Kardinal On Cuisine, Cooking And His Love For Pani Puri
Read More: Hyatt Regency Ahmedabad Introduces Vegan, Crulety-free Toiletries