JAINA Ahimsa Eco-Vegan Committee

Category: Ahimsa Awakening Stories

  • The side-effect of Ahimsa: How I Became Disease-Free

    As an interventional gastroenterologist, I lead a cutting-edge Third-Space Endoscopy Program at a premier U.S. healthcare institution. There, I treat complex and advanced gastrointestinal diseases—including cancers and precancerous lesions—using the latest endoscopic techniques. Alongside these high-acuity procedures, lifestyle medicine has become integral to my practice.

    My journey toward this holistic approach began with personal health struggles: chronic sinusitis, allergies, and recurrent ear infections that required three ear surgeries. Raised on a traditional Jain diet rooted in non-violence, I avoided meat, eggs, and root vegetables, but relied heavily on dairy—believing it acceptable and healthy. Despite my medical expertise, persistent health issues kept me dependent on medications until I learned about the inherent violence in dairy production and its conflict with Jainism’s core principle of compassion. Eliminating dairy and adopting a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle transformed my health, reducing allergies by over 95% and eliminating the need for medications.

    Motivated by this transformation, I pursued board certification in lifestyle medicine to bridge gaps often left by conventional medical training. Today, I integrate evidence-based diet and lifestyle interventions alongside advanced endoscopy to successfully treat both malignant and benign gastrointestinal illnesses. Many of my patients experience additional remarkable benefits: reversal of type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure; sustained weight loss; greater energy; and improved mental clarity.

    Beyond clinical care, I have authored and presented research at national and international conferences, including two articles examining the role of diet and lifestyle in reducing the risk of gastric and pancreatic cancers. I also share these insights with Jain communities at JAINA and YJA conventions and various Jain centers, guiding them toward dietary choices more closely aligned with the principle of non-violence. Additionally, I mentor young physicians to see the power of combining modern innovation with mindful living.

    My path—from disease-focused physician to advocate for plant-based living—has shown me that true healing extends beyond procedures. It embraces prevention, compassion, and transformative diet and lifestyle change.

  • One phone call 35 years ago…

    We immigrated to the United States in 1964. Despite the unfamiliar food environment, especially in those early years, my wife, our two children, and I remained committed to our vegetarian lifestyle, often under stricter standards than what was common around us.

    For many years, I consumed dairy products – milk, butter, yogurt, paneer, lassi – without questioning their origins. Never did I imagine that these seemingly benign foods could be linked to significant violence and suffering. That realization came unexpectedly, in a phone call from Pravin K. Shah of Raleigh, North Carolina, about 35 years ago.

    Pravinbhai had just returned from visiting a nearby dairy farm. What he witnessed there – cruelty, neglect, and the systematic exploitation of cows – left him horrified. His voice trembled as he described the inhumane conditions. That conversation was a moment of awakening for me. Right then and there, decided to adopt a vegan lifestyle. As far as milk, wool, silk, silver foil, and leather are concerned, I became Vegan right away, but my forward and progressive journey continues, such as not eating figs, no use of ivory figurines, etc.

    The transition was challenging. Plant-based alternatives were scarce at that time, and vegan cooking resources were limited. But I persevered, driven by the realization that living a life aligned with Ahimsa demanded more than abstaining from meat – it required avoiding all forms of animal exploitation.

    My commitment didn’t stop at food. Gradually, I began eliminating animal-based products from every area of my life – clothing (wool, silk, leather), shoes, wallets, belts, home furnishings, even certain vitamins, and medicines. To this day, I continue seeking cruelty-free alternatives.

    Years later, during a visit to a working dairy farm in Vermont with my friend Dilipbhai Shah, I saw firsthand the same horrors that Pravinbhai had described. That experience only deepened my conviction.

    This journey to veganism has been one of profound spiritual growth and peace. Often, I reflect and wonder: Why didn’t I learn these truths earlier in life? Yet I remain deeply grateful. I salute Pravin K. Shah for opening my eyes and showing me a path that truly honors the essence of Jain values.

  • Around the world – the vegan way!

    Around the world – the vegan way!

    I am a Sindhi-Hindu married into a Gujarati-Jain family. As a child, I was fed meat and dairy, but became a vegetarian at 6 when I realized that the birds and chickens on the streets were the same ones I was eating. At that age and over the years, I was very vocal with family and friends about the importance of vegetarianism.

    Years later, at the age of nineteen, when I was trying to encourage an omnivore friend to adopt vegetarianism, he shocked me by asking, “If you care about animal abuse, why are you only vegetarian and not vegan? How would you feel if someone squeezed your breasts and took your milk without consent?”

    Until that day, I had not heard of the word “vegan” and never questioned how cows produced milk. My friend’s question stuck with me, leading me to explore the cruelty of the dairy industry. I tried to argue that “I’m not killing cows by taking their milk,” but after everything I learned about the dairy industry, the argument just didn’t hold true.

    Although I agreed with the principles of veganism from the very beginning, I’m embarrassed to admit that I didn’t make the switch until I was twenty-nine, after a decade of living in guilt.

    The turning point came when I was living in London and saw my younger cousin, a meat-eater, go vegan overnight after watching a documentary on the meat and dairy industry. I felt ashamed that someone so much younger than me could make the change so quickly, while I still hadn’t.

    In 2017, I finally adopted a vegan lifestyle, which remains the best decision I’ve ever made. For the first time, I felt truly aligned with my values. My husband, mother, and sister followed suit as well. The running joke with my Jain in-laws is that I’m more Jain than them, because I truly practice ahimsa through my vegan lifestyle.

    Embracing our passion for food and travel, my husband and I launched @theveganglobetrotters to raise awareness about veganism in different countries, support local vegan businesses, and share our vegan experiences worldwide and from our own kitchen.

    Looking back, I only wish I had gone vegan sooner. But today, I’m grateful for the journey that brought me here – and for the chance to live each day in alignment with my values.

  • Mothers: Understood one when I become one

    Perhaps my vegan journey began unknowingly in childhood, when I wondered how Jains could use silk, leather, pearls, or even idols carved from ivory. Whenever I wore leather or silk, I felt an inner conflict—a quiet voice inside me whispering that my choices did not align with my values.

    Growing up in a Jain family, I avoided roots, eggs, and meat, but dairy was sacred and unquestioned. I believed the stories I’d been told— “the cow gives milk, she is our mother,” and she is treated with love in India. I never stopped asking the most straightforward question: Why does she give milk?

    That belief was shattered when I met my in-laws, Gurudev Chitrabhanu and Pramoda Chitrabhanu, lifelong advocates of Ahimsa and veganism. Their words planted seeds, but my attachment to dairy and fears about nutrition held me back. In 2001, PETA India released a video exposing the Indian dairy industry. The truth was brutal calves taken from mothers, cows exploited until they were spent, and finally sent to slaughter. Their suffering was hidden behind tradition.

    The moment it truly became personal was while I was breastfeeding my daughter. My milk looked just like a cow’s milk, and just as my body produced it for my baby, hers was meant for her calf. I could feel the pain of a mother losing her child so that humans could take her milk. At that moment, the cruelty of dairy became undeniable, and giving up was effortless. For years before, I had tried and failed to go vegan, but this maternal connection finally helped me connect the dots.

    It’s been over 18 years since I turned vegan. Back then, soy milk was the only alternative, yet the transition felt freeing—I no longer had to defend a lie.

    My journey has since expanded into advocacy. I co-founded Ahimsafest, India’s largest vegan festival, and later started The Earthen One, a non-profit hosting over one hundred events to help people make small, compassionate lifestyle changes.

    Veganism has been my liberation—rooted in empathy, sustained by truth, and inspired by the simple conviction that a mother’s milk belongs only to her child.

  • For personal health, For the planet, For animals

    As a doctor, I had been frustrated with allopathic medicine’s shortcomings in addressing my health issues despite being a lifelong vegetarian. In 2014, I stumbled upon plant-based alternatives while trying to take care of my allergies and little did I know it would transform my life.

    However, adopting a plant-based lifestyle brought unexpected benefits. I experienced significant weight loss, and more importantly, a profound sense of calmness and clarity of mind emerged. As I reflected upon my youth, I came to the realization that my consumption of dairy was negligent before coming to United States. I would say – my allergies started when I left my town Godhra to go to college and started consuming milk in large quantity.

    As I delved deeper into veganism; and I discovered the harsh realities of the dairy industry and its impact on animal welfare. This realization resonated deeply with my Jain values of Ahimsa, or non-violence. I began to see veganism not just as a dietary choice but as a lifestyle that embodies compassion and kindness towards all living beings.

    My newfound passion led me to connect with like-minded individuals and explore the environmental implications of food choices. Learning about climate change, deforestation, and ocean pollution further solidified my commitment to veganism.

    Today, I see veganism as a holistic approach to life, encompassing not just food but also a mindset that values sustainability, animal welfare, and personal well-being. My journey has taught me that even small choices can have a profound impact on our lives and the world around us. By embracing veganism, I’ve found a sense of purpose and fulfillment that extends beyond personal health to encompass a broader sense of responsibility towards the planet and its inhabitants.

  • For Ahimsa, from the twin cities!

    As you know, being born in a Jain family, I ate a vegetarian diet all the time.

    However, in 1998, one of our friends’ sons, Unny Nambudiripad, co-founded Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA), a nonprofit organization in the Twin Cities to show empathy towards animals to adopt a vegetarian/Vegan diet for compassion, nonviolence, the environment, and self-control. CAA started annual Veg-Fest symposiums at the University of Minnesota, where seminars and vegan/vegetarian products were available in the marketplace. I started supporting their campaign and almost became Vegan (except milk in tea and some ghee in sweets).

    After watching many videos on cruelty done to animals by the farm industry, I decided to stand up for our Jain principle of nonviolence (Ahimsa) and I became fully Vegan in 2019. Since then, I have been campaigning for adopting vegan-plant-based food to our friends, family, and Jain organizations.

    Let me tell you that it is not an easy task to change their mindset where they have used dairy products in India from their childhood, even though they reject the cruelty and violence happening to the animals. Everyone should strive to minimize violence as much as possible. As a Jain, I believe all lives are sacred, all lives are interdependent, and we should support each other (humans, animals, and nature).

  • From meat & milk to vegan advocacy: finding Ahimsa and purpose

    Unlike many Jains, my journey to veganism began as a meat-eater, gradually transitioning to vegetarian and then vegan diets.

    Born in the UK in 1971, I moved to Western Canada at four. Despite devout Jains in our family, we were isolated. We had no Jain or vegetarian friends, and my parents had limited knowledge of Jainism.

    As a child, I ate meat, dairy, and eggs. Doctors even advised my vegetarian mother to feed me eggs for growth. I loved meat, though it was seldom purchased. My parents were unaware of plant-based protein sources, and options were limited. I worried about my low protein intake, seeing others bigger and stronger.

    At 14, moving to Toronto exposed me to many Jains and vegetarians. An IMJM Jain camp made me aware of animal suffering. It took a year to give up meat due to my attachment to its taste.

    At 16, I learned about veganism and the suffering involved in dairy and egg production. Fortified soy milk was unavailable then, and unfortified was expensive. My librarian, Mrs. Keele, Bruce Constain (Balbhadra), and classmates were early vegan promoters. Bruce’s phrase, “Milk is liquid meat,” resonated, though I initially disliked it. Veganism never left my mind, though I doubted I could commit.

    In the 1990s, I met more vegans through JAINA, and commercial soy milk became available, which was a turning point. I gave up eggs and dairy milk but struggled with yogurt and cheese.

    I attended Vegfest in Toronto, meeting more vegan friends. With Jain friends, I co-founded a Jain youth camp. I taught kids about dairy violence and drastically cut down cheese and yogurt, though I couldn’t completely let go, even helping the camp serve only vegan food.

    In 2010, at a Toronto animal rights event, I met non-Jains, including a former hockey player, who became vegan after watching “Earthlings.” Their example inspired me, who was still hesitant as a Jain. I became decidedly vegan that evening; my desire for the taste of cheese and yoghurt vanished.

    Since then, I’ve become a vegan advocate and educator, appreciating vegan alternatives that help people transition. I value the diverse high-density plant-based protein sources now available. Beyond sparing animals, I learned about the vast ecological, health, and food security implications of animal products.

  • Never been younger!

    Never been younger!

    I, Bhupen, am an 86-year-old Chemical Engineer from India and Canada, now retired in San Francisco. I was introduced to Lalit Kapoor, also a Chemical Engineer from IIT Kanpur. My wife Minal and I joined Lalit’s WhatsApp class, which led to significant improvements in our health.

    Both of us had been living with Type 2 diabetes for over 20 years, along with high blood pressure and severe obesity. We were under the care of several expert doctors and taking multiple medications. As lifelong Jains and vegetarians, adopting a plant-based, whole-food, (PBWF) lifestyle and giving up dairy was extremely difficult. Minal, an expert cook, and I went through many trials and errors to adjust to a dairy-free lifestyle. We eventually grew to love oatmilk chai, soy yogurt/buttermilk, and vegan butter. Remarkably, Minal was able to come off insulin, and we both significantly reduced our medications – surprising all our doctors. Sadly, Minal underwent several unsuccessful surgeries for her knees and eyes, and she chose Santharo in November 2023. She taught me how to live and how to die with dignity.

    Today, I feel healthy, happy, and vibrant as I continue following the PBWF lifestyle and strive hard to inspire both Jain and non-Jain communities. I am especially proud that our two sons, two daughters-in-love and four grandchildren now follow aspects of this lifestyle, contributing to environmental protection, animal welfare, and the prevention of chronic health conditions.

  • Went vegan after becoming a mother

    Went vegan after becoming a mother

    Went vegan after I delivered my baby and realized the importance of my milk for my own baby. Understood that every mammal makes milk only after delivery of their child and only for their own child. By consuming animal milk, I was doing injustice to both cows and calves.

  • Arguments with my vegan friend

    Arguments with my vegan friend

    About a year and a half ago, while having arguments with a vegan friend and trying to defend my precious dairy products on a road trip, I accidentally learned about the ill doings of the dairy industry in India.

    I ignored it, thinking it could not be true. More than that, I did not want to focus on it, because how could I ever get rid of cheese from my diet? But one day, after having an intense discussion with her, and wanting to prove her wrong, I started watching a YouTube documentary she had asked me to watch.

    I was shocked. I felt like Jim Carrey in the movie The Truman Show. It felt like I was part of a huge show and was constantly being fed lies by big corporations so they could keep printing more and more money. I felt numb. Being a Jain, I always tried to save every tiny living organism as much as I could, and here I was directly supporting an industry that was slaughtering crores of animals every year.

    So I started digging deep. I watched hundreds of videos, so many documentaries and podcasts, attended conferences, and even read a few books on the topic. I had so many amazing conversations with Jain Maharaj sahebs and amazing vegan athletes like Kuntal Joisher . I also found a lot of inspiration from @sustainableteawithshreya ,who is on a similar mission. All of this really helped me open my eyes.

    After learning all this, I felt an intense desire to tell everyone what I had discovered over the last year. So I started working on creating a book. And after four months of playing with drafts, and four sleepless days and nights of constant work, here it is.

    I urge you to read this book with an open mind so that you can become aware and make conscious decisions.

    This book, although written from a Jain philosophical point of view, is not limited to Jains. Anyone who consumes dairy thinking it is harmless should read it to find out the truth.

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