Eat, Pray and Love

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We are sentimental fellows, and are proud to be so. Food, apart from being a need for survival or a delicacy to satisfy or pamper our taste buds, is an emotional indulgence. We attach foods of different kinds to uncommon situations, and numerous memories. That is why it is said that certain flavors, certain tastes are potent enough to bring back the days past, brew a recipe of nostalgia, and refresh the old pages of life. Some dishes remind you of an old pal, and some, your native land. As the competitive world has made us too busy to stand and stare, or to make a call, we take the liberty of missing our near and dears while eating. Deny it as much as you will, but food is a part of our reminiscences and recollections- be it savoring a friend’s treat or trying a new cuisine.


Cotton candy and lollipops define childhood, as ‘makke di roti’, ‘sarsoon da saag’, ‘idli aur dosa’, ‘pakhala au macha bhaja’ relate to home and a mother’s handmade finger-licking-worthy items. A steaming bowl of veg hot n sour soup, and a plate-full of 'pakodas' can be identified with chilling winter evenings, while ‘pithas’ smell of festivities and celebration. The newlywed Indian bride is expected to cook well in order to win hearts of her in-laws through food. Be it a birthday surprise, a date, or an anniversary special romantic candle light dinner, food is a top priority. And again, for a day out with friends one is spoilt for choices- Dominoes, KFC, Pizza Hut, Subway, and many more.

For years, even TV shows have lured our emotional halves towards food. Be it Sanjeev Kapur’s Khana Khazana, or the Tarla Dalal show, cooking shows and food tourism has been a hit among the audiences comprising of almost three generations. Now a total channel is dedicated to food- Food & Food. Thousands of people tune in to watch the various grills, bakes, and fries in the channel with some of the really good hosts. I like the one show where the chef breaks into a singsong ‘namak shamak, namak shamak, daal dete hein…’ Cooking competitions now-a-days have passionate participants. Master Chef Series makes sure people give food the due value and reverence it deserves.


So let’s eat and make memories this winter. December brings with it a lot of occasions. There’s merry Christmas and a happy new year coming up too.

I am taking part in The Write Tribe Festival of Words 8th-14th December,2013.

Write Tribe

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Queeristan by Parmesh Sahani

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  Queeristan (Amazon Link) Thanks to Audible Free Trial I listened to this amazing non-fiction on LGBTQ inclusion in Indian workplaces. Author Parmesh Sahani identifies as gay Indian, working closely with Godrej higher management and employees for years to create an inclusive workplace, both legally and in spirit. This book is a result of those years of experience, research, collaboration with individuals from difference spectrum of the society and organizations who has successfully transitioned into a queer friendly one.   Indian history is inclusive. From the Khajuraho temple architectures, to Konark to the Rig Veda, there is existing proofs even 2000 years ago of Indian inclusiveness of queer. It’s the draconian British law that criminalised it, which was scraped in 2009, came into effect once again following a sad judgement in 2013 and eventually was scraped off for good in 2018. I am in awe of the lawyers who fought this legal battle- colleagues and partners – Arundh...
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