"Hindu meal" in a home-bound flight

Recently, I was flying from London to Kolkata in one of the well known global airlines. I had opted for Hindu meal. Now, I'm not a very religious person and there was no religious intention behind this choice. I was simply curious.

So, there I was sitting in my preferred aisle seat and the flight attendant arrives with my Hindu meal. Curious, I unwrap the little plates and bowls and uncover some pulao rice, paneer with peas, bread, salad, sweets - a sumptuous meal but all veg. Fair enough.

It just dawned on me how we always related Hindu meal with vegetarianism. And how flawed that stereotyped thinking is. Can I not be a Hindu if I eat non-veg? There is no mandate on food habits in our holy Gita. Then why the presumption? I have spoken to many friends of mine from different parts of the world and they are also victims of this misconception. Hindus are believed to be vegetarians all over the world. But Hindus in different parts of India eat meat and fish everyday. These are even treated as bearers of good luck and used in multiple religious occasions. Then how come we Indians (or someone else) are spreading wrong notions?

Its like when we know only a little bit of the big picture and breed a global misconception that gets reflected in silliest manners.

Maybe the option in the food chart should read - Hindu meal (veg) / Hindu meal (non veg). 

I agree, I'm a bit over the top but I do have a point.

I'm a born Hindu and this thought in my over-critical mind makes me chuckle whilst I sit with my family and crunch on a fish head and chew the last chicken leg on my plate.