Remember the advertisement where Meneka Gandhi used to pop up on the television screen and urge everyone to go green, the healthy way? I always thought what is it that would drive a hardcore carnivore, like me, to give it up all and settle for a more fugral diet of 'ghaas-phoos' and limited options? But i guess that is what change is all about...it helps you become more adaptable to other person's view points and more importantly get a more positive and healthy perspective of life.

For me switching over to greens was not an easy task. At times i would skip meals because the spinach and other leafy vegetables would taste bland. All through i had to fight a constant battle of taste vs health, and im glad that i took sides with health. Thankfully i realised that chiken, pig(pork), fish and the delicious varitey of sea food might taste yummy but the benefits which cauliflower, broccoli, spinach etc, were proving my body were not to be ignored either.

The other reason why i was admant on switching over my diet was the plight of the animals. We enjoy the sight of a well served dish, which in all its glory look appetising enough to fill our stomach with its smell. But on the hindesight we often forget that the chicken that is being served to us was alive and kicking just a few minutes ago. These chickens are not given any kind of sedatives or sleep inducing medicines before being butchered, infact they are butchered in cold blood. There are about 7-8 chickens crammed together in a 2x2 box where they can barely breathe forget getting any space to atlest stand in the correct posture. They can easily sense their journey to death when they are handpicked by the butcher and placed on the gallows to be immolated for our selfish cravings. They flutter their wings, move their legs vigourously and try everthing possible to get away from the grip of the butcher... but alas! The moment they are placed on the slab they put a stop to any kind of moment because they know that this is the end for them. If you would be kind enough to ask them their last wish you can easily read it in their eyes their pleas for a painless death. But which carnivore on earth would sympathise with them?Who would give up their eating habits for a harmless and helpless chicken?...i guess no one!

I know i would receive a lot of flak from people who just swear by their love of fine dining the non-veg style, but just think for a moment aren't you creating a graveyard in your stomach of a sorts by filling it up everday with these mute and at times beautiful and cuddly animals? Their aroma may tickle your taste buds and satiate your hunger but do not forget that your stomach also happens to be the death bed or resting place of these poor souls. People have pets at home and treat them like their family members. They cannot tolerate to see them being hurt by a stranger and their favorite pooches ill health is reason enough to depress them. So, my question to all you people is that if you canot bear to see a poor voiceless pet of yours in the slightest of pain then how can you enjoy eating an equally helpless animal served to you on your dinner or lunch plate??

Trust me turning into a vegetarian not only improves your health but it also lifts up your spiritual quotient. It cleanses you of any sort of putrid emotions and makes you feel healthy. I turned into a vegetarian because if me not eating could save lives of hundreds and of thousands of animals, whom otherwise i would have enjoyed in my meals, then i would rather consider myself as a much purer human being. So, thank god i did become a vegetarian because being a vegetarian, seriously,...accha hai!!