- SHARAN/Passion for compassion
Passion for compassion
Shagufta Abdi, a 26 year old vet attended a SHARAN workshop three years ago and went vegan instantly. She believes turning vegan is the best investment in one’s health and well-being in the long run.
“I always had a compassionate feeling towards animals, which also made me choose my profession when I was 8 years old, so eating animals never felt right even as a child. At the age of thirteen, I finally put an end to eating meat after reading about how badly animals are transported, on their way to the slaughterhouse. Since then, the Eid menu moved to mushroom biryani and vegetable kebabs!
Honestly, I wasn’t really convinced of veganism. I thought it was extreme and I was also under the impression that Indian dairies are not as cruel as the dairies abroad. However, when I attended a workshop by SHARAN in 2015 and saw a video about the way the cows were treated in Indian dairies, I was disheartened. I then realised that if I could not even watch it, how could I expect the cows to endure so much cruelty, just so that I can have my milkshakes, paneer, ice cream and cheese.
Since then, I am completely on a plant-based diet. I feel fitter and have become more active and stronger. I even look younger and eat without any guilt. I have never had a day without a pimple since I was 16, and now it’s all gone. I used to also get frequent cold and cough which has disappeared. My mom who had IBS is totally cured and my father who had frequent sinus attacks, which we thought was due to Mumbai pollution, just stopped having them by changing the diet.
It does involve a little effort but it’s worth it in the long run, for it is for your health. Since Indian and Far Eastern cuisines are mostly vegan, it’s easy to eat out too.” – Shagufta Abdi
