Is India a tough place to work for meat eaters?

[Teguh Roth]

I will have to live and work in India for around 10 months.One of my friend who recently was in Mumbai said it is very difficult for meat eaters to live in India and people look upon meat eaters like they have commited a crime.

He also sent me some links.
http://www.livemint.com/Articles/2007/09/23182422/In-Mumbai-one-person8217s.html?atype=tp

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/06/01/news/reveg.php

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/09/16/india.eye.vegetarian/

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/06/18/INGQCJEDCE1.DTL



Have any non indians worked before in India.?What are the problems you encountered?

Question to Indian vegetarians Why are you guys vegetarians?Any reason behind this?
[ June 17, 2008: Message edited by: Teguh Roth ]

[Arjun Shastry]

As far as big cities like Mumbai is concerned it should not cause any problem.People eat meat(chicken/Lamb) many times on restaurants on the road.Few communities are strict veggies and won't prefer meat eater in their apartments.Law does not prohibit you from eating meat(chicken/lamb/goat).Majority of restaurants in India don't serve pork/beef.In Mumbai on some streets you will find people enjoying all meat dishes during festival.

[Arjun Shastry]

Originally posted by Teguh Roth:
Question to Indian vegetarians? Why are you guys vegetarians.What is the reason?

tradition.Historically all types of grains were available in abundance.

[Henry Wong]

As a meat-eater, I have to admit that nothing beats a perfectly aged ribeye steak. Or a southern seasoned rack of ribs. Or some carribean oxtail. Or Peking Duck. Or Ossu Buco... or... huh? ... what was I saying? ...

Seriously, 10 months would be interesting. If I was in the situation of probably being a vegetarian, I would love to give it a try. Think of it as a new experience, to try out new foods. And with no meat available to tempt you. And after all, it is only for 10 months.

Henry

[Chen Venkat]

Well,
You can find meat at almost every corner in India. Btw if you are referring to 'Beef' as meat, traditionally people do not eat beef and you wouldnot be able to find it at everyother corner while other items like lamb, chicke, fish etc can be found in every other restaurant.

[Muni Sammy]

beef is also available in major cities, i think your friend may not have good contacts to reach that...

[Sai Surya]

Originally posted by Teguh Roth:
Question to Indian vegetarians Why are you guys vegetarians?Any reason behind this?

I found very few vegerarians in India. There is no sure answer for your question, its a food habit followed from traditions in different communities.

Make sure you inform the person preparing food for you make your food less spicy! Indians like me (mostly) prefer spicy food. Indian food is speciest food.

[Rambo Prasad]

It is common to find rental ads with the clause "Vegetarians Preferred" ...

But that doesn't mean you will not get non veg food....But in predominantly vegetarian localities it is difficult to find non veg restaurants..There are plethora of choices available in vegetarian dishes..So ejoy your stay.

Question to Indian vegetarians Why are you guys vegetarians?Any reason behind this?

I am Vegetarian because of
1.Respect and compassion for all living beings and I don't want to be even a remote reason for the suffering of any creature..
2.I believe vegetarian food is more healthy

Check this Article

[Nitin Nigam]

Hey Teguh Roth,

You can easily get meat in India. It seems you are coming to Mumbai. In most of the good restraunts, you will find non-veg items in the menu.

You may not get beef everywhere. But Chicken, Mutton, Fish are available.

[shan Iyer]

Originally posted by Nitin Nigam:

You may not get beef everywhere. But Chicken, Mutton, Fish are available.

Cow is considered to be very sacred in India (and it is !).

[Pradeep bhatt]

Only 30% people are vegetarians and they are mainly located in South India. Cow slaughter is banned in some states of India like Gujarat.

[Arvind Mahendra]

I believe with most things it is possible to alter most people's behavior/ attitudes if the price is right.

[Pradeep bhatt]

Originally posted by Arvind Birla:
I believe with most things it is possible to alter most people's behavior/ attitudes if the price is right.

True only for greedy people

[Arvind Mahendra]

Originally posted by Prad Dip:


True only for greedy people

Really hard to find em these days.

[Tim Holloway]

India is a large and very diverse place with many different beliefs and customs. You can get in trouble with some people for even saying the word "egg", and not only animals, but other foods, such as onions and garlic (things grown below ground) are offensive to some.

Conversely, pork vindaloo is a signature dish for Goa, and my favorite Indian cookbook is loaded with recipes for sheep, goat, chicken and fish. Some people consider fish to be vegetarian, but my rule is if it tries to get away when you're attempting to kill it, it's not vegetarian. You might even be able to get New Delhi-style BBQ beef ribs, but I'd be [i]very[/] careful about asking.

As to why vegetarianism is so prevalent in India, there are many reasons. Some consider life to be sacred. Some believe in re-incarnation and would consider it impolite to be snacking on their favorite grandmother. Some consider killing to be an act that pollutes the soul, even when it's done by proxy (assuming you don't do you own butchering). One of the people quoted in the livemint article even mentioned the supposed adverse effects of consuming blood - not mentioning what he might think of those who eat their meat kosher or halal - customs that themselves are based on the consideration that "the blood is the life".

Then there's simple economics. Grains, dals, and other vegetables are cheap. Chicken costs more, sheep/goat even more, and pigs and cows take a significant investment in care, time, and land.

The meat-heavy American diet isn't typical even for Western civilization. One of my favorite cooking show hosts often mentions that they slaughtered a single pig each autumn back in the land of her youth. It was all the pork they needed for the entire family for the entire Winter.

In India, the prevalence of vegetarian food is compensated by an incredibly diverse number of dishes. There are many types of grains and dals available and the use of spices exceeds any other cuisine I know of. Not just hot spices, but sweet and savory ones as well. You can perk up a bland porridge of mung dal with a sizzling spicy tarka, and if that's not enough, top it off with a dab of pickle or some chutney.

Unlike cats, which must have meat to survive, human beings are quite capable of thriving on a meatless diet, and no few of us would certainly do better cutting back on the Big Macs. My own personal bent is that animals don't like to be killed any more than I would, so I try to oblige them. I can't classify myself as vegetarian, but I do prefer to keep the body count down. And frankly, this idea that people crave meat is purely psychological. While I can enjoy the occasional well-prepared meat dish, if I never had meat again it wouldn't ruin my gustatory life. Plus, I don't have to work as hard to keep my cholesterol down.

So, in short, don't let your diet constrain you. If you try, you'll probably find enough meat, and who knows - you might even discover you like the vegetarian life.

[Arjun Shastry]

and if you lke sweets India is heaven!(Second largest sugar producer in world!)

[Chetan Parekh]

Teguh Roth, let me know if you are coming to Mumbai. I will bring you to various outlets famous for typical Indian cousins.

[Rambo Prasad]

A sample of the vegetarian choices you have for breakfast and lunch in India...




[ June 18, 2008: Message edited by: Rambo Prasad ]

[Ram kovis]

Arjun and Rambo..

nie pictures.. I am hungry now...

[Chetan Parekh]

Originally posted by Ram kovis:
Arjun and Rambo..

nie pictures.. I am hungry now...

Teguh Roth must be very eager to land in India now.

[Sunil Kumar Gupta]

Is India a tough place to work for meat eaters?

Good question. I am an Indian and vegetarian and living in Japan from more than a year.

For me, the question will be opposite

Is Japan a tough place to work for vegetables eaters?

By the way, meat is easily available anywhere in India.

[arulk pillai]

I am feeling very hungry now

[Sai Surya]

Originally posted by Sunil Kumar Gupta:
Is India a tough place to work for meat eaters?

Good question. I am an Indian and vegetarian and living in Japan from more than a year.

For me, the question will be opposite

Is Japan a tough place to work for vegetables eaters?

By the way, meat is easily available anywhere in India.

good catch up bro!

[John King]

Is it illegal to eat pork and beef in India?

[Arvind Mahendra]

Originally posted by John King:
Is it illegal to eat pork and beef in India?

Well the Hindus steer clear of Beef an the Muslims don't eat pork. Chicken, lamb, fish are all okay. If you really really want beef or pork, there are some shady parts of town you can visit after hours and maybe a dealer will hook you up but it might cost a bomb and no guarantee its not like dog meat or something. I would advise against this as its better to source it from someone in the know. You may find the above funny but I'm being serious.

[Arjun Shastry]

Originally posted by John King:
Is it illegal to eat pork and beef in India?

I am not sure on pork.It should be legal.But cow slaughter is legal only in two among 30 states.Goa is one state where beef is served.Eating beef will be differnt than cow slaughter .
Pork curry
[ June 20, 2008: Message edited by: Arjun Shastry ]

[John King]

Originally posted by Arvind Birla:

Well the Hindus steer clear of Beef an the Muslims don't eat pork.

Why?

[Arvind Mahendra]

Originally posted by John King:

Why?

Cows are Holy and Pigs are Haraam. I like both(in moderation) which probably makes me sort of unholy and a haraami.

[John King]

Originally posted by Arvind Birla:


Cows are Holy and Pigs are Haraam.

Because ?

[Arvind Mahendra]

Originally posted by John King:

Because ?

Because they are sacred

[Arjun Shastry]

Originally posted by John King:

Because ?

Cows used to(and even today too) are found to be useful than pigs.
Hence killing of any type of cattle is forbidden.Pigs(Indians) on other hand supposed to play in mud,dirt hence no eating.
[The Khastriyas,Warriors used to have pork in their diet]
Heat-acid Coagulated Products
Introduction � aneer; Chhana; Rasogolla, Rasmalai, Rajbhog, Khirmohan; Sandesh; Chhana-Murki; Cham-cham; Chhana Podo; Surti Paneer; Bandel Cheese/Paneer.

Regional Products � Ksheer Sagar; Sita Bhog; Chhana Gaja; Chhana Jhele; Chhana Kheer; Chhana Pakora; Rasaballi; Shosim; Kalari.

Cultured/Fermented Products
Dahi & Yogurt; Mishti Doi; Shrikhand; Chakka Powder; Shrikhand Wadi; Lassi; Mattha/Chhach/Chhas; Kadhi; Raita; Dahi Vada.

Fat-rich Products
Ghee � Ghee Residue; Ghee-Residue Chocolate/Burfi Confection
Makkhan
Malai

Milk-based Puddings/Desserts
Kheer; Payasam; Phirni, Sevian, Sabodana Kheer, Lauki Kheer; Sohan Halwa; Gajar-ka-halwa; Kaju Burfi.
Regional Products � Ghevar; Lauki Halwa; Padusha; Jilli; Mohandas.
[ June 23, 2008: Message edited by: Arjun Shastry ]

[Tim Holloway]

Originally posted by John King:

Because ?

Sacred cows are a uniquely Indian concept as far as I know. Pigs, on the other hand get their taboo from the Torah - the first 5 books of what Christians refer to as the Old Testament and Muslims would call the Tawrat. Specifically, what is known as "kosher" or "halal". Islamic dietary rules are similar, though not identical to Jewish ones, and although details vary even within subgroups of those religions, the forbidding of pork (haram literally means "forbidden" in Arabic) is pretty much absolute.

Why pork?

1. Because God said so. Or, if you prefer,
2. Because pigs and humans are remarkably similar and people can therefore catch a wide array of diseases from them such as swine flu and trichinosis.
3. Or because the flesh of the swine is reported to taste like human flesh (sometimes known as "long pig") and cannibalism is generally not considered acceptable in civilized society - excluding Christian Communion, which most sects consider more symbolic than literal.
4. Because while pigs aren't actually as fond of filth as they're reputed to be, they can be found wallowing in it; pigs don't have sweat glands and they can't pant like dogs, so they cool their skin with mud.
5. Failing that, because pigs are fairly smart, and it's preferable to kill dumb animals - not that even the lowliest creature won't actively try and avoid being killed, given a choice.

[John King]

Any other animals are holy or forbidden so we should not touch them in India?

[Pradeep bhatt]

You are free to take as many cockroaches as you want.

[Rambo Prasad]

Because

It had been so for ages..Hindus don't eat beef as a mark of gratitude..India was primarily an agrarian country and agriculture was the primary occupation..The bull was used in every household to plough the fields and the cow was considered as the wealth of the household because milk and milk products are extensively used..The milk is given by the mother to feed its young ones..So we are actually drinking the milk which was meant for its young ones..Since it nourishes the people with its milk just like a mother would do it is called Go Matha(Mother cow) by the hindus.
Will you kill your pet dog for food..?I suppose you wouldn't ...The same emotiona drives the people not to eat beef...
For more info watch this vide0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpqG5peA2dk

Hinduism and Cow
[ June 24, 2008: Message edited by: Rambo Prasad ]

[Pradeep bhatt]

There is no post from OP.

[David O'Meara]

There is a line that is about to be crossed. I'm just saying.

[Pradeep bhatt]

Originally posted by David O'Meara:
There is a line that is about to be crossed. I'm just saying.

[Arjun Shastry]

[Vikas Kapoor]

So 'Trash Can' might have started to wait for this thread to come.