Star Street Teamer: Arka Prava Bhar
A dedicated activist full of animal-friendly advice, Arka can’t stop singing the praises of a vegan lifestyle.
Name: Arka Prava Bhar
Age: 21
Hometown: Kolkata, India
Q: Tell us something about yourself.
A: I am very energetic and fun-loving. I feel very strongly for animals and their well-being. I just graduated with a degree in geography. Currently I am in the animation industry.
Q: What are your goals?
A: My primary goal in life is to do all that I can to help animals and to make this world a better place for them. Another goal that is very important to me is to be well established in my life.
Q: Tell us why you are vegan. What made you decide to go vegan?
A: Adopting a vegan lifestyle is the easiest thing to do to help animals. I realised that without eating any animal products, I was just as healthy as before, so I decided against consuming them.
Q: What is your advice to young people trying to go vegetarian or vegan?
A: My advice to young people would be to adopt a vegan lifestyle. Initially it might seem a little difficult, so it might be easier if you first go vegetarian and then go vegan. Most people eat meat or fish or any other animal for the taste, not for the nutritional value. It should be known that consumption of animal products is not healthy and certainly not tasty.
Q: How long have you been helping animals? What got you interested in animal rights?
A: I have been helping animals since I was in class one. My father is a veterinary doctor, so that influenced my interest in helping animals. It came instinctively to me.
Q: Tell us about the PETA demonstrations and other events you’ve been a part of.
A: I have participated in PETA demonstrations including the KFC boycotts staged in Kolkata and a bird flu demonstration. I have also tabled at college festivals through petaDishoom and circulated “Save #99” petition sheets, which demand the end of experimentation on primates.
Q: What excited you most about petaDishoom?
A: The most exciting aspect of petaDishoom is that there are no fees to become a member. All those interested in helping animals can easily do so through this programme.
Q: What message do you have for petaDishoom Street Teamers?
A: My message to petaDishoom Street Teamers is to help the animals as much as they can, especially since animals need our voices to protect them and help them survive. Street Teamers should encourage all their friends and relatives to become a part of the activist network.
Q: What do you plan to do in the future?
A: I want to help animals as much as I can. I want to organise a group of people who will work together and educate people about the importance of animals to us and our future generations. They will spread the message that animals should be treated as living beings, not as products or food. I would also like to make an animated movie like Finding Nemo and dedicate it to animals.
