A new feature-length documentary aims to restore the meaning of ahimsa - respect and non-violence towards all living beings - across India. The Land of Ahimsa, which will launch on the Plant Based News YouTube channel on November 17, looks closely at the meaning of the word, which dates back roughly 4,000 years, and is inspired by the notion that all living beings share a spiritual energy. And therefore, to harm another is to harm oneself. Ahimsa is a central part of the Dharmic religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. But India has become disconnected from its meaning, according to vegan activist and filmmaker Dolly Vyas-Ahuja. Instead, the South Asian country has seen a rise in the mistreatment of and violence towards animals, especially those in the food system. Once I found out about the cruelty of dairy and animal agriculture, I started to see the world through their lens. Their baby being taken away was my baby, their milk being stolen was my milk being stolen, their anxiety, fear and pain became a part of me, says Dolly Vyas-Ahuja, granddaughter of freedom fighter Chhaganlal Joshi. “I had to take action and share my truth with the rest of India. Teaming up with director Aryeman Ramsay, son of the late Bollywood film producer Keshu Ramsay, The Land of Ahimsa sees Dolly Vyas-Ahuja journeying across India and the US. There, she speaks to physicians, environmentalists, philanthropists, and experts in nutrition, spirituality, and advocacy about the importance of ahimsa and its role in modern-day India. The country's growing health crisis, for example (India is known as the diabetes capital of the world), has strong ties to the population's rising consumption of dairy, meat, and other animal products. Dr. Neal Barnard, who appears in the film, states that more and more vegetarians are suffering from diabetes due to increased consumption of dairy and oils. Meanwhile, the planet as a whole is seeing the effects of climate breakdown, largely driven by unsustainable animal farming practices. The Land of Ahimsa is a call to action, and a demonstration of how reconnecting India with the meaning of ahimsa, along with veganism, can bring us closer to a non-violent world and ease the suffering of all living beings.