when did Hindus start being vegetarians?!

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I can't tell you an exact time period, but as you know India was mostly filled with Hindus. As Muslims invaded the country and Christian missionaries started to spring over all the place, people were curious about new religions and Hinduism was threatened in a way, if not majorly. At this time, there was "cleaning" of the religion that set forth righteous rules to live by. Being vegetarian was one among them which came about as an off shoot of kindness to animals. If you look closely, many animals are "vahana" or vehicles of traditional Gods, this helps you respect animals if you are religious.

Btw, upper class or whatever you meant does not hold good anymore in India, today's upper class is the so called low class of yesteryears who are unashamedly enjoying reservation benefits without merit.

Hindus have been following the vegetarian diet for thousands of years. You can find teachings and references to the vegetarian way of life and the concept of ahimsa in very ancient scriptures and teachings of very ancient saints. There are references in the Vedas, Mahabharat, and Manu Smriti to not eating meat. Hope this helps a little. I have included a few quotations from scriptures below (although there are many more).

He who desires to augment his own flesh by eating the flesh of other creatures lives in misery in whatever species he may take his birth. Mahabharat 115.47

Those high-souled persons who desire beauty, faultlessness of limbs, long life, understanding, mental and physical strength and memory should abstain fromacts of injury. Mahabharat 18.115.8

The very name of cow is Aghnya ["not to be killed"], indicating that they should never be slaughtered. Who, then could slay them? Surely, one who kills a cow or abull commits a heinous crime. Mahabharat Shantiparv 262.47

The purchaser of flesh performs Hinsa (violence) by his wealth; he who eats flesh does so by enjoying its taste; the killer does Hinsa by actually tying and killing the animal. Thus, there are three forms of killing: he who brings flesh or sends for it, he who cuts off the limbs of an animal, and he who purchases, sells or cooks flesh and eats it -- all of these are to be considered meat-eaters. Mahabharat Anu 115.40

He who sees that the Lord of all is ever the same in all that is -- immortal in the field of mortality -- he sees the truth. And when a man sees that the God in himself is the same God in all that is, he hurts not himself by hurting others. Then he goes, indeed, to the highest path. Bhagavad Geeta 13.27-28

Ahinsa is the highest Dharm. Ahinsa is the best Tapas. Ahinsa is the greatest gift. Ahinsa is the highest self-control. Ahinsa is the highest sacrifice. Ahinsa is the highest power. Ahinsa is the highest friend. Ahinsa is the highest truth. Ahinsa is the highest teaching. Mahabharat 18.116.37-41

What is the good way? It is the path that reflects on how it may avoid killing any creature. Tirukural 324

All that lives will press palms together in prayerful adoration of those who refuse to slaughter and savor meat. Tirukural 260

What is virtuous conduct? It is never destroying life, for killing leads to every other sin. Tirukural 312, 321

Goodness is never one with the minds of these two: one who wields a weapon and one who feasts on a creature's flesh. Tirukural 253

Yajurveds XIII-42 and XIII-49 forbids killing of cows:

" AVIM.... MAA HIMSIIHI..."

Yajurveda XVI-41 , and Yajurveda xvi-48 say that horse should not be killed

a) " ASVAM .... MAA HIMSIIHI"

(b) " IMAM MAA HIMSIIHI ... VAJINAM"

In Rigveda VIII-56-17 cow slaughter has been declared a heinous crime equal to human murder and it has been said that one who commits this crime should be given capital punishment.
"AARE GOHAA NRHAA VADHO VO ASTU".

Well, not all Hindus abstain from meat. I don't believe it's against their religion, if they do practice Hinduism. I know that they hold cows to a sacred status and so they might not eat them, but they do eat lamb, chicken...etc. Some Buddhists might also eat meat. However, Buddhists also practice the philosophy of not causing suffering to another creature, so eating meat might be conflicting to their beliefs.

Actually (see link), most Hindus are NOT vegetarian. According to the link, most were vegetarians until they were invaded by outsiders.

http://hinduism.about.com/cs/vegetariani…

I hv no idea..bt try WWW>WIKIPEDIA.COM