Star Street Teamer: Tajinder Singh
Street Teamer Tajinder follows his passion and finds his destiny by fighting for the creatures he calls God's best creations.
Name: Tajinder Singh
Age: 22
Hometown: Jagadhri (Haryana)
Tell us something about yourself.
I am a sensitive and optimistic person who thinks that life is full of uncertainties. Nothing is permanent in this world, so live and let live. I graduated with a degree in commerce with computer awareness and am now working on an MBA in marketing. Recently, I took my second semester exams. My passion … is writing. I have written various articles and two religious books on Hanuman Chalisa and Guru Granth Sahib. I am very committed to my destiny, whether it involves animals or studies.
What are your goals?
I want to be a scriptwriter for films. Soon I am going to do a telefilm about animals. Doing something for innocent animals makes me feel very humble and modest. Animals have no voice of their own, so I want to be a voice for them.
Tell us why you are vegetarian. What made you decide to go vegetarian?
I have been a vegetarian for the last 14 years. Every year in India alone, more than 1 billion chickens are slaughtered for food. Shy and sensitive animals, chickens spend their unnaturally short, miserable lives crammed together in tiny windowless sheds on poultry farms. I remember when I was 8 years old, I went to Ludhiana with my dad and saw thousands of chickens being mercilessly slaughtered in the open markets and on the road. It made me so depressed that I decided to go vegetarian from then on.
Which animal do you relate to the most? Why?
Usually, whenever I see any animal in trouble, I start feeling the pain which he or she feels. This makes me anxious to do something for that animal. Personally, I really relate to dogs. Maybe it's because I have a dog who is a real sweetheart. His name is Buzzo, and he is 7 months old now.
How long have you been helping animals? What got you interested in animal rights?
For the last six years, I have devoted myself to this humble cause. I think animals are the best creation of God. If we love them, we will make God happy. I have gotten great responses to the many presentations about cruelty to animals that I have done for the local cable channel. Animals are living beings; they have just as much right to live as you or I do. I don't know why people are so cruel towards these innocent beings. I want to do something to raise a revolution.
What do you think of PETA's KFC campaign?
PETA's KFC campaign is a masterpiece that educates others about the cruelty that innocent chickens face. PETA has done a great job with this campaign. They have taken action for chickens, who are inquisitive and friendly animals who form social hierarchies, build nests, dust-bathe and care for their young.
What excited you most about petaDishoom?
I really am in love with the petaDishoom site! This site, which I found a year ago, is the best platform for youngsters. The colourful, interactive site is designed to help teens and twenty-somethings by letting them know what their favourite stars are doing to help animals, while offering them amazing prizes for showing compassion to animals. What excites me most about petaDishoom is its missions and contests. I have participated in several missions and won some cool prizes and goodies. I must say, anyone who loves animals must visit petaDishoom.com.
What message do you have for other petaDishoom Street Teamers?
Getting involved with petaDishoom is a luminous path that all animal lovers can take to stop animal abuse and imprisonment. That is why everyone who loves animals must be a part of this site. Being a part of petaDishoom enables you to be a true voice for animals. Young people will also be able to communicate with others who share their interest in animal rights through the website's message boards. Plus, "only real men are kind to animals".
Do you think environmental issues and animal rights issues are related? How?
Of course, environmental issues and animals rights are related. Both are sides of the same coin. If we want to improve the lives of animals, we have to take care of our environment. Meat, egg and milk production consumes vast amounts of raw materials and creates lots of waste. Thus, mainstream environmental groups around the world should be lining up to condemn wasteful and polluting animal agriculture.
What do you plan to do in the future?
Soon I am going to show PETA's movies "Meet Your Meat" and "Compassionate Citizen" to the schools in my area. I will also organise a seminar where I can distribute PETA leaflets and display PETA posters. I want to use the media and newspapers to publicise PETA's mission and goals all around my town, and I will continue to do my part to spread the word about vegetarianism.
