Thank you for writing this, Karthik! Loved how the essay traversed from the personal to the professional and finally reached the political, showing how interconnected it all is :)
thank you, Karthik. You have no idea about the impact of such pieces.. “It was liberating to be in a space where enjoying the meal mattered more than anything else.” I could feel it in my bones.
I remembered my school days and how the act of eating together often became politics of power. What should have been an equaliser turned into lessons in class and caste - veg vs non veg, tasty vs plain, fance vs ordinary. It's funny how one person's essay can trigger so many memories you thought you had forgotten about. Thank you for this beautiful piece on how food can conquer even the most rigid minds.
Your post took me back to days wherein it was musare,thittu,maneli illa(doora) etc, i remember my mother not even allowing to eat before bath. God! and transition to office world where even non veg person will sit with you and if you tell at home , you are roasted
Having been brought up in a strict Kannadiga Brahmin family all of the reflection on your growing up is spot on. And yes, it is not about hygiene. These are still quotidian even if many think otherwise and need to be discussed as nauseam till we are nauseated by these discriminating practices. Your brutal unflinching honesty is moving. Thank you for writing this.
Thank you so much for your response, Charulatha. And I agree we need more critical accounts of our home and kitchen spaces. I didn't even go into the separate utensils kept for 'horagade jana' (outsiders) and many such practices of maintaining caste purity.
Beautifully written, so evocative. This kind of richness in the writing is a prompt. It leaves the reader with their own memories, their own ideas, like this one has for me. Thank you!
Karthik,food is at the root of so many of our biases. And what a way to bring it out! I had this bookmarked for some time because I wanted to give it the attention it deserved.
Parhtey parhtey laptop battery died. I got so annoyed! Fauran mobile pr aa gayi....I remember reading this in OSC, Karthik. But, I had to read it again. I get so mad when my kids will drink water from the same bottle. When my husband would steal bites from our plates. It's so hard to learn a new language of love. Kudos to you for being so open to it .
I have always learnt so much for children and older people. Children question everything. And older people would have moved on from conventions and do whatever suits them.
Thanks so much, Dipali. It is indeed freeing to eat whatever or not eat if you don't feel like it.
At first, when I had difficulty adjusting to the boarding school, my father used to write letters selling me the idea of staying put in boarding school. He once invoked Shakespeare and wrote, 'At boarding, life is neither the tempest nor a midsummer night's dream, but life is as you like it!'
Thank you for writing this, Karthik! Loved how the essay traversed from the personal to the professional and finally reached the political, showing how interconnected it all is :)
This story is a masterclass in how personal writing moves into the global big picture. I had had such a 'wow' moment when I first read it at OSC!
Uff! Such high praise! Thank you, Manisha :')
I sometimes wonder if my writing is too sparse, whether it needs more meat? But this is what comes to me naturally.
Your essays are deeply humane, loaded with feelings and visual. I am always amazed by how much you pack in, without attempting to be lofty
thank you, Karthik. You have no idea about the impact of such pieces.. “It was liberating to be in a space where enjoying the meal mattered more than anything else.” I could feel it in my bones.
I remembered my school days and how the act of eating together often became politics of power. What should have been an equaliser turned into lessons in class and caste - veg vs non veg, tasty vs plain, fance vs ordinary. It's funny how one person's essay can trigger so many memories you thought you had forgotten about. Thank you for this beautiful piece on how food can conquer even the most rigid minds.
Thank you for your response, Samira.
You could write an essay and share more about the lunchbox politics at school.
I have written about it - though not with this angle. :)
Your post took me back to days wherein it was musare,thittu,maneli illa(doora) etc, i remember my mother not even allowing to eat before bath. God! and transition to office world where even non veg person will sit with you and if you tell at home , you are roasted
Having been brought up in a strict Kannadiga Brahmin family all of the reflection on your growing up is spot on. And yes, it is not about hygiene. These are still quotidian even if many think otherwise and need to be discussed as nauseam till we are nauseated by these discriminating practices. Your brutal unflinching honesty is moving. Thank you for writing this.
Thank you so much for your response, Charulatha. And I agree we need more critical accounts of our home and kitchen spaces. I didn't even go into the separate utensils kept for 'horagade jana' (outsiders) and many such practices of maintaining caste purity.
“By accepting each others food, we accept each other.” ❤️ what a poignant, charming essay!
Thank you for your response, Uthara.
Beautifully written, so evocative. This kind of richness in the writing is a prompt. It leaves the reader with their own memories, their own ideas, like this one has for me. Thank you!
Karthik,food is at the root of so many of our biases. And what a way to bring it out! I had this bookmarked for some time because I wanted to give it the attention it deserved.
Thank you, Sanket. I am so grateful for this readership of our community :)
Absolutely brilliant! Loved it.
Parhtey parhtey laptop battery died. I got so annoyed! Fauran mobile pr aa gayi....I remember reading this in OSC, Karthik. But, I had to read it again. I get so mad when my kids will drink water from the same bottle. When my husband would steal bites from our plates. It's so hard to learn a new language of love. Kudos to you for being so open to it .
Thank you, Sanobar :)
I have always learnt so much for children and older people. Children question everything. And older people would have moved on from conventions and do whatever suits them.
And, they make the best company!
Beautiful essay written in such a simple and direct way. I loved the word inter-dining! Thanks for bringing it to my attention
Hi Mukta, thanks so much for your encouraging feedback :)
Superb piece, Karthik. The way you progress the narrative is masterful. Loved this!
So liberating to break free from these rigid constraints! Beautiful post.
Thanks so much, Dipali. It is indeed freeing to eat whatever or not eat if you don't feel like it.
At first, when I had difficulty adjusting to the boarding school, my father used to write letters selling me the idea of staying put in boarding school. He once invoked Shakespeare and wrote, 'At boarding, life is neither the tempest nor a midsummer night's dream, but life is as you like it!'
Wise indeed!
Such an honest piece, Karthik.
Thank you, Binu!
And then there is 'musare'! Lol