Hindu vegetarians in India seem very proud of their diet. When asked they seem to puff out their chests when proclaiming loudly that they are pure vegetarians and would not touch meat or fish. Their pride comes from a feeling of being purer than non vegetarians and being somehow holy. They will indignantly deny drinking any form of alcohol but admit to drinking lots of milk and eating milk products. Unfortunately alcoholic drinks are pure vegetarian products and all bottles carry the green dot certifying them as such while milk comes from cows and has cow protein in it which means drinking milk is similar to eating beef. When we invite a vegatarian we make extra vegetarian dishes and make a special effort to avoid any contact with animal products but when we are invited by vegetarians we are served some leaves and paneer which I do not like. They can easily get a caterer to serve chicken or fish separately but this would cost money. Of course they never serve alcoholic drinks which means that I have to come home and eat. Would I be wrong in thinking that vegetarianism is a cover for mean minded misers?