Kuntal Joisher turned vegan almost 20 years ago when veganism wasn’t even fashionable or a term that was heard of in India. Luckily for him, Joisher, who was a student at the time in the US, was living in Los Angeles which was one of the cities where veganism was a known lifestyle and it was easier to get vegan food alternatives. However, that wasn’t so much the case when he came back to Mumbai in 2007. The Ghatkopar resident eased into the process, starting by making soy milk himself at home. Within a year, he says he found everything he needed around him – all he had to do was ask for it. 

Every year, January is celebrated as Veganuary, a challenge started by a UK-based not-for-profit organisation in 2014 to promote and educate people about veganism. While the change has been happening the world over, India is not far behind and according to insiders, the community is growing faster than ever before. Still, brands that tout this lifestyle can often seem aspirational or prohibitively expensive. However, Mumbaikars like Joisher who have lived this way for two decades believe one doesn’t have to loosen their purse strings too much to become vegan if they believe in the cause against cruelty to animals.