It was a very hot summer day in Las Vegas in 1995. My host had arranged a meeting with a few of her American women friends at a restaurant. I was introduced to this lovely group of women. We greeted one another as we were seated.

Our conversation was towards spiritual aspects of life, and they were interested in knowing about the Jain philosophy, its principles, and its belief system. I highlighted the core principles of Jain philosophy and its implications in life.

When the time came to order something from the menu, and I ordered a milkshake, they were aghast. They questioned me and asked how could I consume dairy products as a vegetarian? I was surprised with their question, and I said to them that there was nothing wrong in taking dairy as it is a vegetarian food. One of them interrupted and said, “Sorry to say, but it is not considered to be vegetarian.” Why, I asked. She went on to explain that today’s dairy industry has become a house of horrors for the cows. They are confined, separated from their families, beaten, and killed. The cruelty inflicted upon cows and calves in the dairy industry is one of agribusiness’s best-kept secrets.

She was not finished. Next, she spoke of how cows are artificially impregnated every year. This artificial insemination renders the cow useless and incapable of giving milk after 7 to 8 years after which they are sent to the slaughterhouse. Cows’ natural life span is 18 to 20 years, but at factory farms, they die young.

She continued, what many consumers aren’t aware of is that when they purchase milk, cheese, or other dairy products, they are contributing to a brutal cycle of suffering for calves. For a cow to produce milk, she must have a calf, but those calves are taken away from their mothers immediately after birth. Half of those calves are male, and within a year, they’re slaughtered for veal.

When the lady finished, I had some discomfort in my stomach, but I continued drinking my milkshake as though everything was okay. I knew that animals were abused and killed for meat, but I didn’t see anything wrong with dairy. Upon returning to my home in New York, I found myself very troubled as if someone jolted me from my sleep. Milk and yogurt were part of my diet. My cookbook, “Foods of the Earth, Tastes of Heaven” had many recipes using milk and yogurt. How can I give up these products? I was in denial. I did not want to believe what I had just learned.

It left me mulling over the sad fate of the cows and their babies and I started reflecting deeply over the subject. I had never heard or read about the atrocities of the dairy industry. I studied literature on the subject from PETA and other sources. There was a voice deep within me that said, “You have dedicated your whole life to sharing the message of non-violence, and now, when it is the question of gross violence, why are you hesitating in giving up dairy products?” The moment I realized that I could not be part of this violence, the decision was made for me.

In 1995 I was fifty when I learned facts about the dairy industry and decided to move towards “True Vegetarianism” or Veganism -thanks to my new friends. This meeting was an eye opener for me and changed my life.

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