WEEK 9- Pavitra Naidu
DALIT FOOD
Just like all other aspects of our lives, caste also penetrates our food. There exists a prominent caste hierarchy in food and ingredients. The food habits are an extension of one's position in society. Another interesting aspect if the representation of food in the cinema. While we might have progressed enough to portray Dalit characters (which are still heavily stereotyped) the filmmakers still haven't been able to portray the food of Dalits. Movies like Newton try by telling the protagonist the red-ant chutney. But Dalit food is still to gain its fair share. Much like a lot of Dalit cultural practices, their food habits also offend the upper castes, who time and again try to thrust upon them their food habits. One such incidence is the ban on cow slaughter by the central government which comprises of Hindu Upper Caste Men. A simple calculation of food items and their cost tells us that beef was the only available item of protein for the lower caste. This further pushes the Dalits into impoverished situations and hinder their development.
Just like all other aspects of our lives, caste also penetrates our food. There exists a prominent caste hierarchy in food and ingredients. The food habits are an extension of one's position in society. Another interesting aspect if the representation of food in the cinema. While we might have progressed enough to portray Dalit characters (which are still heavily stereotyped) the filmmakers still haven't been able to portray the food of Dalits. Movies like Newton try by telling the protagonist the red-ant chutney. But Dalit food is still to gain its fair share. Much like a lot of Dalit cultural practices, their food habits also offend the upper castes, who time and again try to thrust upon them their food habits. One such incidence is the ban on cow slaughter by the central government which comprises of Hindu Upper Caste Men. A simple calculation of food items and their cost tells us that beef was the only available item of protein for the lower caste. This further pushes the Dalits into impoverished situations and hinder their development.
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