Potlucks are fun to attend because they bring variety to the table. One such potluck, organised by members of the Vegan India Movement, served up not only a host of delicious vegan dishes, but also inviting conversations on a range of topics. Vegans from all over the city, armed with at least one vegan-friendly dish, attended the culinary meet up. “We organise potlucks so that members can meet up to try new vegan preparations, have discussions and just bond with each other,” informs Raghav Venkatesh, coordinator of the Vegan India Movement — a social media based group that engages in vegan activism and serves as a platform for vegans from different corners of the country to connect with each other.
Dishes contributed by members
Since food is at the centre of this meetup, arrivals are greeted with a chocolate oreo smoothie — a rich, silky-smooth concoction made out of soymilk and oreo biscuits. As guests trickle in, conversations grow louder and more diverse. From discussing the ethical significance of the movement to debating the most influential vegan celebrities to boasting about T-shirts with vegan-friendly slogans, there isn't a dearth of topics for conversation. “People associate veganism with healthy eating and that’s because celebrities portray it that way. But, being vegan is a lot more than that. Veganism rejects the commodity status of animals. Because of social hierarchies, we consider animals to be less important than human beings. But this is discrimination on a moral level,” says Raghav, who has been practicing veganism for a year and a half. Rajeshwar Singh, who has contributed a mouth-watering mock chicken and mock mutton biryani to the melange, highlights the connection between global warming and livestock rearing. “The livestock industry produces a large percentage of greenhouse gases, but many of us aren’t aware of this fact. We consume food without thinking about how it reaches our plate,” he says with feeling.
Members help out in meal preparations
The weighty discussion is interrupted by a light-hearted question: “Which is your favourite vegan cheese?” asks Nitin Baranwal, who simultaneously informs the group that he has bought red sauce pasta for all. Options shouted out are varied, as is the case when the best vegan buttermilk, curd and milk options are discussed. “When it comes to dairy products, you get cashew, peanut, soy, flaxseed and rice-based options to choose from. There are a lot of vegan options available, so it’s not that hard to go vegan,” insists Pooja Rathor, who has been a vegan for six years and is also responsible for the delicious smoothie. Pooja once worked at a top online fashion portal as a fashion consultant, but quit her job after her work came in direct conflict with her ethics as a vegan. “When I had to design leather garments or ones that made use of animal products, I would be in tears,” she reveals.
Pooja Rathor
As the conversation shifts to the best vegan travel apps (apps that help vegans meet other vegans and even stay with them during sojourns) and top vegan restaurants, the spread is thrown open to the ravenous guests. As people dig into vegan-friendly pickles, Chinese, Indian and Continental offerings, including a refreshing peanut and rice powder based buttermilk and an assortment of fresh fruits, conversation peters out as the sounds of munching and lip smacking take over.
