harlowpoet - I think it's natural to be asked why you're a vegan... because the fact IS that veganism is relatively rare! Here in India, almost no one knows what the word means! The nice thing, though, is that vegetarianism here is totally normal - it's the easiest thing to be veggie. It's definitely cheaper than eating meat. And you almost NEVER (you might even be able to cut out the almost) go somewhere, and find that there isn't anything you can eat. Veganism is a different matter though.
I love soymilk and tofu and ragi... and one reason I'm healthier is because now I watch what I eat; I never did bother much about nutrition, etc.
There are almost no nice, humane family farms here in India, or at least, I haven't come across many. So it's almost inevitable that if you consume animal products, you cause lots of suffering. Sad.