Connect with us

National

In search of lost flavours

Published

on

In search of lost flavours

New Delhi, Feb 14 (IANS) She talks about food like it is living and defines wafting aromas with the intensity of a lover. There is talk of the magical ‘adrak halwa’ and the lost art of making dishes that her ancestors relished. Also, the grief that most have not been lucky to know what they did to the pallet.

Author and food historian Tarana Khan, who recently co-edited the book ‘Forgotten Foods: Memories and Recipes from Muslim South Asia’ (Picador India) makes it clear that food cannot be narrowed down to just sustenance.

“While eating, all senses come into play. And it is also the associated memories that transport a dish into a different realm — like how your mother would prepare and feed you a particular dish. All these senses create a sense of identity. So when we lose a dish, it is a major cultural loss. When we lost the heritage rice, we lost the aroma, the feel of the khichdi in winters and things that were a part of our cultural language because hybrids have taken over,” she told IANS during the recent Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival,

ALSO READ:  I do not oppose Maratha quota, working closely with Maha CM: Devendra Fadnavis

‘Forgotten foods’, focuses on the fact that while heritage foods still abound in the streets and kitchens of South Asia, it may just be a matter of time before many of these historic dishes and culinary traditions, especially of Muslim provenance, pass into oblivion. In Forgotten Foods, historians, literary scholars, plant scientists, heritage practitioners, writers and chefs come together to document precious stories and memories, histories and recipes in a valiant endeavour to stem this lamentable tide.

Initially, the idea was not to do a book. During the Pandemic, we were doing forgotten food projects but it came to a halt. So we connected with other food writers and we started doing a series for a digital platform, which became quite popular and went on for two years. Then I decided to publish these articles, in the form of an anthology and also connected with other writers, asking them to write for the anthology. When we started out, it was a very north India based but when I connected with others, much diversity emerged and our culinary knowledge expanded,” says the author who has written three articles for the book.

ALSO READ:  'What has Didi done to Bengal', JP Nadda slams Mamata govt over Sandeshkhali issue

Khan, who has to her credit books like ‘The Begum and The Dastan’ and ‘ Degh to Dastarkhwan agrees that India does not really have a great history of archiving in its character. While one can archive recipes and now even pictures and videos, she adds, “But what about the taste, feel and smell? It is just like music. Two singers can perform the same raag, but what they achieve can be extremely different, no? How do you define that? Archiving is extremely important. Food cultures and subcultures are fast disappearing. And we should start taking the practice of archiving very seriously.”

Currently working on a coffee table cookbook and a project that aims to support the Khansamas by getting them employment, she adds, “I am also thinking of food festivals, organising food and heritage tours to Rampur from the Capital,” she concludes.

–IANS

sukant/prw

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

National

Defence Ministry: Year 2025 will be year of reforms

Published

on

rajnath singh with armed forces chief

On Wednesday, the Defence Ministry announced that 2025 will be designated as the “Year of Reforms,” with a primary focus on establishing integrated theatre commands to enhance collaboration among the three branches of the military.

These reforms are aimed at transforming the armed forces into a technologically advanced, combat-ready force capable of executing multi-domain integrated operations, the ministry stated.

The initiative will emphasize emerging domains such as cyber and space, alongside cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, hypersonics, and robotics.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the “Year of Reforms” as a pivotal milestone in the modernization of the armed forces.

“It will set the stage for significant advancements in the nation’s defense capabilities, ensuring the security and sovereignty of India in the face of 21st-century challenges,” he said.

ALSO READ:  'What has Didi done to Bengal', JP Nadda slams Mamata govt over Sandeshkhali issue
Continue Reading

National

A 3.2 magnitude tremor struck Gujarat’s Kutch district on Wednesday morning

Published

on

A 3.2 magnitude tremor struck Gujarat’s Kutch district on Wednesday morning, according to the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR).

The district administration reported no casualties or property damage following the quake.

The tremor occurred at 10:24 am, with its epicenter located 23 kilometers north-northeast (NNE) of Bhachau, as per the Gandhinagar-based ISR.

Last month, the region experienced four seismic events exceeding a magnitude of 3, including a 3.2 magnitude tremor just three days ago, with its epicenter also near Bhachau.

Earlier tremors in the area included a 3.7 magnitude earthquake on December 23 and a 3.2 magnitude event on December 7, according to ISR reports.

Kutch was also jolted by a 4.0 magnitude earthquake on November 18, 2024. On November 15, a 4.2 magnitude quake hit Patan in north Gujarat, based on ISR data.

Gujarat is considered a high-risk earthquake zone, having experienced nine major earthquakes over the past 200 years, according to the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA). The 2001 earthquake in Kutch, which occurred on January 26, was the third-largest and second-most destructive in India in the last two centuries, according to the GSDMA.

ALSO READ:  Tourists in UP to get rural homestay experience
Continue Reading

National

Diljit Dosanjh faces legal action over concert songs

Published

on

Singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh’s much-anticipated New Year’s Eve concert in Ludhiana faced legal hurdles after a complaint was filed by Punditrao Dharenavar, an assistant professor from Chandigarh.

Following the complaint, the Deputy Director of the Women and Child Department, Government of Punjab, issued a formal notice to Ludhiana’s District Commissioner, urging them to prohibit Dosanjh from performing specific songs during his live show on December 31, 2024.

The notice specifically targets songs accused of promoting alcohol, including Patiala Peg, 5 Tara Theke, and Case (Jeeb Vicho Feem Labbiya), even if the lyrics are slightly modified. The complaint points to previous warnings issued to Dosanjh by various commissions advising against performing these controversial tracks.

Despite these warnings, the singer allegedly continues to perform the songs with minor alterations. Dharenavar raised serious concerns about the influence of such music on young audiences, especially when minors are present at live events.

Adding to the controversy, Dharenavar referenced a 2019 Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling, which directed law enforcement to ensure that songs promoting alcohol, drugs, or violence are not played at public events, including concerts. This ruling underscores the legal basis for the complaint and has further intensified the scrutiny surrounding the event.

ALSO READ:  Number of unorganised workers registered on eShram portal rises to 29.79 crore
Continue Reading

National

UP Minister’s convoy overturns, 5 person injured

Published

on

UP Minister’s convoy overturns, 5 person injured

Five people sustained injuries when a vehicle in the convoy of Uttar Pradesh Minister and Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad overturned into a ditch near Januan village in the Khejuri Police Station area of Ballia district late last night.

Sanjay Nishad shared details of the incident, stating that the accident injured five party workers, including four women.

“I was traveling with the convoy to participate in the Constitutional Rights Yatra organized by the party on Tuesday night. Near Januan village in the Khejuri area, one of the vehicles following the convoy lost control while trying to avoid an animal and overturned into a ditch,” Nishad explained.

The injured individuals have been identified as Rakesh Nishad, Ramrati, Usha, Geeta, and Iravati Nishad.

Senior police and administrative officials quickly arrived at the scene following the incident to oversee the situation.

ALSO READ:  'Who can avoid the inevitable', says Bhole Baba on Hathras tragedy; claims conspiracy
Continue Reading

National

Suchir Balaji’s mother alleges Murder

Published

on

Suchir Balaji’s mother alleges Murder

The mother of Suchir Balaji, a 26-year-old former OpenAI researcher found dead after accusing the company of copyright violations, has alleged that her son was “murdered” and called for a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe.

Poornima Rao, Suchir’s mother, claimed her son’s death was a “cold-blooded murder” that authorities wrongly ruled as suicide. She further disclosed that a private autopsy report conflicted with the findings of the initial police investigation.

Rao alleged that her son’s apartment had been “ransacked” and cited evidence of a struggle in the bathroom, including bloodstains that suggested he had been assaulted.

“We hired a private investigator and conducted a second autopsy to uncover the truth. The private autopsy does not confirm the cause of death stated by the police. Suchir’s apartment was ransacked, there were signs of a struggle in the bathroom, and it appears he was hit based on blood spots. This is a cold-blooded murder being misclassified as a suicide. Lobbying in San Francisco won’t deter us from seeking justice. We demand an FBI investigation,” Rao wrote on X.

ALSO READ:  Bengal PDS scam: ED to submit second charge sheet next week

Elon Musk reacted to Rao’s post, commenting, “This doesn’t seem like a suicide.”

Balaji was discovered dead in his San Francisco apartment months after accusing OpenAI of violating copyright laws during the development of ChatGPT, as reported by Fox News. Despite these claims, the San Francisco Police Department found no evidence of foul play and ruled the death a suicide.

On October 24, shortly before his death, Balaji voiced doubts about the “fair use” defense in generative artificial intelligence. “I recently participated in a NYT story about fair use and generative AI, and why I’m skeptical ‘fair use’ would be a plausible defense for a lot of generative AI products,” he wrote on X.

Continue Reading

Trending