Vegetarianism as India’s ‘Soft Power
- India International Center
- 50(3&4), Winter 2023 Spring 2024: p.33-44
This article highlights vegetarianism—defined as the avoidance of meat and fish, and sometimes eggs—as one of India’s significant contributions to global food culture. Rooted in religious, ethical, and cultural traditions, vegetarianism has shaped dietary practices both within India and abroad. The study notes that countries with the largest share of vegetarians or people who mainly follow a vegetarian diet range from 12 to 19 percent, including Mexico, Brazil, Taiwan, Israel, Sweden, and Finland. These figures reflect the growing global acceptance of plant-based diets, influenced by health concerns, environmental sustainability, and ethical considerations. By situating vegetarianism within broader sociological debates on food culture, globalization, and identity, the paper underscores how India’s longstanding tradition of meat avoidance has contributed to shaping global dietary trends and cultural exchange. Vegetarianism the avoidance of meat and fish, and sometimes eggs is one of India’s significant contributions to the world. Countries with the largest share of vegetarians or people who eat mainly a vegetarian diet ranging from 12 to 19 per cent include Mexico, Brazil, Taiwan, Israel, Sweden and Finland. – Reproduced
Sociology, Vegetarianism, India, Food Culture, Global Diets, Meat Avoidance, Fish Avoidance, Eggs, Mexico, Brazil, Taiwan, Israel, Sweden, Finland