Parag Agarwal, Founder, India Animal Fund
Parag Agarwal
Founder
India Animal Fund
Why do you give to end factory farming?
I grew up in a small town in India and was exposed to human suffering quite early. When I started my career, I decided to do something for the under-privileged kids who used to beg on the streets while my son used to sit next to me in the car. This realization of inequality and the role that education plays in one's growth led me to start a foundation to bring under-privileged kids into the schooling system - from my first stock grant in 2013. I always wanted to do something significant to make some impact in the lives of these vulnerable kids.
However, in 2017 I happened to see some undercover videos of dairy farms, sent to me by my niece. Though we have always been a vegetarian family (I tried meat a couple of times as a teenager out of curiosity), at the time I still consumed milk and milk products like most Indians.
When I learned how milk is produced, I was shocked. As I learned more about the use of animals in our society, I discovered more disturbing facts. It became clear to me that I needed to do my bit for the defenseless animals who are the most vulnerable. First I changed my habits, and became a strict vegan, and then I started to explore how my advocacy and donations could help end factory farming.
As a family, we have been lucky to have financial abundance. In 2020, we decided to take a giving pledge to allocate 90% of our capital to helping animals, as it is a hugely neglected cause.
“One of the best things about advocating for farmed animals is the humans one gets to meet - people who are full of compassion, who have resilience. ”
How has membership in Farmed Animal Funders helped you?
I joined FAF because the movement in the US is far more mature and there is a lot to learn from the other FAF members and from their connections. They have experimented with various levers, and there is a great deal of wisdom and compassion in this group. I attended my first FAF retreat in 2024, and really enjoyed interacting with the group.
One of the best things about advocating for farmed animals is the humans one gets to meet - people who are full of compassion, who have resilience.
Is there anything else that you would say to funders?
There is a lot of human suffering in the world and in India too. It is not appropriate to compare the suffering of different species, but animal suffering is tragic because it is perpetrated by humans, and has become systemic. At the same time, I believe the problem is tractable: look at how far human rights have come in the last 150 years. I think we humans are gradually accepting that non-human animals are also sentient beings, and the systemic exploitation needs to end. It will take a generation or more, but we must do what we can as some of the actions will lead to a ripple effect in the years to come. We need to pull all the levers - awareness-building, technology, policy, and capital.
May all beings be happy.
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