Growing Debate Over Food Choices in India
India has experienced a growing debate about what people eat in the past ten years. Since Narendra Modi became prime minister in 2014, measures to restrict meat consumption have increased, especially in the Hindi-language states of northern India.
Restrictions on Meat Consumption
The authorities in some places have occasionally issued rules that prevent or prohibit meat-based food from schools, near worship, and at religious festivals. In India, Kashmir’s Doda district recently banned meat, seafood, and eggs in all educational institutions, citing the need to maintain "secular principles," "social harmony," and to avoid "complaints" about dietary differences.
Impact on Individual Freedom
The order caused criticism and raised concerns about individual freedom, inclusivity, and religious sensitivity. In cities all over India, similar food restrictions affect people’s daily lives. ABHEEPSITA Purkayastha, a company lawyer based in Mumbai, faces many challenges due to her nutritional preferences. She recalled how landlords rejected her as soon as they learned that she ate meat.
Connection to Hindu Cultural Identity
Nabanipa Bhattachharjee, a university professor, noted how a neighbor asked her to close her windows and complained about the aroma of her food. The connection of vegetarianism to Hindu cultural identity and national pride shapes social norms in terms of food in India. Hindu-nationalist groups actively promote vegetarianism as a marker for "traditional" Hindu values, often ignoring the diverse food practices across India.
Stigmatization of Meat Consumption
Targeting meat consumption leads to stigmatization and segregation based on religious and caste lines, reinforcing social limits. Kiranmayi Bhushi, an author, said that meat meals, especially beef, are stigmatized in India and associated with Dalits and Adivasis, who rely on affordable diets and strengthen social hierarchies and exclusion.
Food Habits in India
Many Hindus, the majority of the religious community, also eat meat, although eating habits vary by region and caste. While northern Hindi-speaking states are largely vegetarian, people in southern and northeastern states are mostly meat-eaters. According to a 2021 survey, around 40% of Indian adults identify as vegetarian, and a report by the National Family Health Survey showed that 80% of Indians between the ages of 15 and 49 consumed a form of meat.
Food, Purity, and Social Hierarchy
Scientists have long examined the connection between the Indian caste system and food practices, which are rooted in concepts of "purity" and "pollution." Bhushi said that the image of India as a vegetarian country is largely shaped by Hindus’ dietary standards of the upper castes, especially Brahmins and Baniyas, who historically had vegetarian diets as a marker for ritual purity and social status.
Urbanization and Dietary Changes
Food habits in India have changed in recent years as more young people move to big cities in search of a better life. They are increasingly consuming a variety of food, including meat. This shift is driven by urbanization and rising income, which are diversifying food choices beyond traditionally dominant vegetarian norms. A new trend is also emerging among urban youth, with many adopting veganism as a lifestyle choice and a statement against traditional caste-based vegetarianism.
Veganism as a Visible, Ethical Decision
For many, veganism is more than just a lifestyle decision – it is a statement against the caste-based vegetarianism. Social media influencers and activists are making veganism a visible, ethical decision that questions vegetarian norms based on caste. Veganism in India is still new and often confused with caste-based vegetarianism, but it is about environmental responsibility, not about caste identity.
