In India, food transcends hunger, embodying history, identity, pride, and pain. Each dish reveals one’s origins, affiliations, and struggles. Take biryani: from Hyderabad’s bustling lanes to wedding halls, it’s beloved. Yet, mention beef, and politics, terror, and scrutiny arise. Food, a universal language, can also divide.More Than Just FoodIndian cuisine intertwines with caste and class. Some dishes are deemed “pure,” others “impure,” dictating who cooks and shares meals. For Dalits and Muslims, food choice is defiance, not just preference. Kancha Ilaiah notes, “What Brahmins eat differs from what Dalits must eat.” This divide persists—domestic helpers often eat separately, their meals treated as sacrosanct. On Instagram, quinoa lattes and veg quiches signal a new elite glamour, sidelining indigenous millets and wild greens, now “superfoods” for the wealthy.Food as ConflictBeef bans fuel violence, restricting marginalized communities’ access to affordable protein. Such laws and aggression highlight control, not unity. The 2017 JNU beef festival celebrated unapologetic defiance, reclaiming food as resistance. In Kerala and Tamil Nadu, beef and pork festivals honor suppressed customs. Sharing meals across caste or religion is a quiet revolt.Food and RegionNorth’s soft rotis, South’s steaming rice, East’s fish curries, and Northeast’s fermented foods reflect unique histories, migrations, and climates. Biryani comforts Indians abroad, while Punjab’s langar kitchens serve all, breaking caste and class barriers, proving food can equalize.The Politics of Your PlateFood is political yet personal. Your choices reflect roots, values, and defiance. Eating with someone different dismantles barriers. Preserving recipes keeps identities alive. Arundhati Roy says, “Every bite is a choice—for justice, dignity, change.” Next time you eat, consider the story your plate tells. What story will you share?Written by Katravath Rahul, University of Hyderabad, Intern.
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