The Vegan Movement: Concern or Fashion?

Today, as we try to avoid non-veg dishes due to the ongoing COVID-19 scare, the tummy of a hardcore foodie like myself, yearns for that smoky roast as my nose recalls that all too familiar smell of spices emanating from chicken curry. But having survived on a strictly vegetarian diet for almost an entire month now, I began thinking that may be being a vegan couldn't be all that bad, could it? For that matter my family is rich in diet variety as it not only has vegetarians and non-vegetarians but eggetarians too somewhere in between. But what's with all the animal rights activism stuff going around these days?? Let's get to the heart of the matter...

Advocates of abolition of non-veg food argue that it is cruel for animals to be killed for consumption. But the same forms the basis of the natural food chain... Would the activists stop lions from killing buffaloes too? Yes, one can argue that wild carnivores don't have an option of going vegan as their digestive tracts are designed to process only meat. Humans like many species of apes on the other hand, are omnivores and can make do without meat. But does that mean we can get all the proteins and nutrients needed to make us strong and fit from plants alone? Although legumes, nuts and grains have varying amounts of protein, they do not contain all the essential amino acids that animal proteins do. Similarly, many studies have highlighted the various downsides of being a strict vegan, including choline crisis which affects brain health, and increased hair loss due to difficulty in absorbing iron from a pure vegetarian diet. So, no... Humans don't have the option to eliminate meat completely from their diet if they want to lead a well-rounded healthy lifestyle.

But all the science apart, in my opinion killing an animal for food, especially when it is specifically poultry bred for consumption, is not at all cruel, but the natural order of things. Everyone and everything has an expiry date and eventual death, whether natural or accidental, is more often than not, a less than pleasant experience. We only wish that no one or nothing goes before their time is due, and in case of poultry animals that time comes when we show up at the meat shop. Another scenario where killing of animals becomes necessary is on account of self-defense when we may be attacked once in a while, or run the risk of infection due to an infestation.

But that said, I do condemn hunting or injuring of animals for sport, like that in bull-fighting, still prevalent in many parts of the world including countries like Spain, Portugal, France and others, which forms the basis of the 2017 flick 'Ferdinand'. Same is the case with skinning of live snakes in the US and shooting of birds for fun in many regions of the globe. Causing unnecessary pain to anything or anyone is surely uncalled for and can form a valid point for protests. Keeping that in mind, I guess it is up to the audience to decide whether the modern day vegan movement is a genuine point for concern or a fashion statement for a certain section of society.