Living in the affirmative food world

We have a vast world of food spread out in front of us!Thanks to the Internet the world has become more compact and Google – the most beloved Search Engine comes to help for almost every question or doubt we have.We can see various developments going on in almost all the fields and come to know various methods employed for calibrating and analysing different parameters.Being a food blogger this post is to bring about an open mindedness where food is concerned!This initiative of general optimism was bought about by Lufthansa who are a big name in travel.They asked one very pertinent question :

“How has open-mindedness changed the way you see the world? Has saying yes to the world given you a different perspective on life and the world around you? Tell us your story of why you love the world. Share your most cherished discoveries and travel experiences.”

In addition they gave a link to follow!If you have something to contribute lease do so here.You can also Pin great content if you have it on hand!

https://yestotheworld.com/in/en?utm_source=Indiblogger_contest&utm_medium=contest&utm_campaign=LH_SayYesToTheWorld_Mar18

Again,being a food blogger I thought to broach the topic based on the edible options we have,how we view them and how they are being judged – from an open perspective to completely pessimistic views which act as restrictions on our otherwise free mind,binding us in shackles which we ourselves forged link by link.

India is going through tremendous changes – they are confusing,radical and based on extremes of impulsive behaviour!The medieval society (approximately 300 years ago) had four kinds of Varnas(caste systems) which was called the Varna Vyavastha in the society.Each Varna represented the kind of food they ate and were restricted to the same.Any changes led to the individual being ostracised from the clan with punishments leading upto brutal and gruesome forms of death!The Varnas were:

Brahmins -:

The Teachers and Gurus who ate primarily vegetarian food – rice,wheat,lentils,milk and dairy products.No meat or flesh allowed and on having so would be treated as “dharam bhrashtha” or defiling the caste.Punishments were mass ostracism and public insult and banishments.

Kshatriyas -:

The warrior castes or the protectors of the soil.They could eat flesh which was also earmarked for them.Deer,pigeons,quail,ducks and game meat apart from chicken and goat.Pigs were a strict NO as they were regarded as unclean.

Vaishyas -:

They were the tillers of the soil – the Farmers.They kept herds of cattle,made sacrifices and did business as in lending money and carrying on the trade of the land.It was a duty for them to give food to all the animals of the land as well.They were primarily vegetarian though they had sub castes which partook in a rich flesh and fish diet.Some were fishermen and sold meat and fish along with the other trades they undertook.

Shudras –:

These were the lowest in the ladder and worked FOR the other castes.Their job was to work as labourers and menial workers.They used to work s servants,sweepers and public cleaners.They were free to eat anything so their diet largely consisted of meat firstly as their work was the most tiring compared to the other castes and secondly they did not have enough money to buy supplies from the Vaishya caste.They ate pigs,birds,all animals (even dogs and cats) as was seen in some cases.

However when we compare Ancient Indian diet, with the same 4 Varnas,we see that there was a common diet for all the sections of the society.They used to hunt down wild animals like the Rhinoceros and the whole village used to savour the meat.In epic wars like the Mahabharat,we had accomplished Brahmins fighting the war!They had no other choice but to eat what the Kings and Princes ate!There was no such impositions on common factors like diet and socialising but yes,apart from professions and marriages.The society was much more simpler with no big restrictions and everyone led comparatively happy and contented lives!If we see in the present day situation,the raw Jackfruit is a representation of Rhinoceros meat – fibrous,chewy and actually called Vegan Meat!The texture represents that of meat to a great extent and its the fleshy petals inside the fruit which are eaten!

This is Jackfruit Curry – Looks almost like meat!

Eminent Blogger Nivedita Subramanian who blogs at Panfusine (check out the blog link here : https://dish-a-day-panfusine.blogspot.in) has a great deal to say about the subject! These are her words :

“KT Achaya is my reference..This was done for Shardhams (effectively called Shraadh in Hindi or the mourning period observed either yearly or monthly according to the traditional Calendar)when the original feast was purely carnivorous.. After the Buddhist influence & Ahimsa, that practice of meat eating was gently subbed with vegetables of equivalent ‘texture’ . something that today has resurrected in Yuppie grocery store frozen sections.

The ‘intention’ behind was to offer the departed spirit rare feasts to appease them.

The scriptures encouraged it, the Vedic civilization revolved around Yagnas & sacrifices (those practicing this were nomadic moving from the middle & near east – todwards the khyber pass) unlike the later Bhakti/faith based aspect of religion which was a natural progression of settling down and cultivating which already cut down the dependence of hunting. The nal nail in the coffin was the buddhist practice of Ahimsa (ironically The Buddha himself was omnivorous, and multiple texts describe his last meal – boar. the loophole was that as long as they didn’t kill or see the animal being killed or it was roadkill, meat was fine”.

Nivedita Subramanian…

She also talks about the fact when Urad Dal (split white Lentils) were regarded as a meat substitute!She says :

“Urad (Masa in Sanskrit, not the similarity to the word for meat) was regarded as a meat substitute and it was a sin to mix it with yogurt – the same identical Koser law that Jews practice even today”.

But now we are 18 years into the Millennium and the country has seen tremendous changes – such changes which would not have been thought of a century back!Among the other social,cultural,economical and societal changes,we have a great renaissance as regards food!Many myths,styles,tastes,migrations and opinions occur every day and there is a change in the way we used to view food – from a source to curb our hunger pangs to something which is an art – you see,smell and then taste food so that each sense is satisfied before the food finally reaches the stomach to begin the digestive process!

There also has been a paradigm shift in the Varnas and the food they eat.There is no restriction on eating and every caste savours all the kinds of food under both vegetarian and non vegetarian groups.Maybe it was the restrictions,or the frustration associated with them,or the human thirst to experiment and try out everything,or the childish instincts which force us to do exactly that which is forbidden that mankind is breaking all the bonds and shackles which bound them to a fixed lifestyle and adopting a “more modern” way of living life.Brahmins are automatically turning into voracious meat eaters,some meat eaters turning vegetarian and almost all the strata of society drinking alcohol and viewing it as a status symbol rather than perceiving it as a poison to destroy our Liver if taken in excess!

The best part is that though the society is changing,the horror of being found out and criticised still lurks in the minds of many.So everything is done behind closed doors most of the times.The Globalisation and Liberalisation strategy started in 1991 in India bought with it a host of pros and cons and it is in your hands how you view it but this was one of the changes which came along with it!Pork and Beef which was consumed by other religious groups came to be relished by everyone.It is my opinion (many of you may differ and many of you might chastise me based on my ethnic group) that everyone has a freedom to experience the taste of anything edible in the world,provided it is not poisonous or harmful to their bodies.

We criticise others based on their choice of food,which leads to everything including their religion and caste come under the nasty knife of public intolerance.Why cannot we let others make their own choices and not impose our discretions on their mode of life and living?Thanks to all the social evils in the society individuals are going through great pressure and apprehensions!If they feel that they want to taste something they should do so.

This is Saying Yes To The World!

Accepting change,accepting the ways of the world,knowing tastes and preferences,being able to give an accurate description of how things are,how they look,how they taste and personal opinions of whether we like it or not!

Here I reiterate my words – being a food blogger I have tasted varied food as much as I could and I have no qualms about it!I have cooked meat,tasted meat and served it to willing friends who respect my tastes and did not give a hoot about my ethnicity and caste.This is how I came to know various tastes associated with the culinary world and I came more open minded and optimistic and could guide people better.I have never made meat a part of my daily diet as I love to eat clean and detoxify as and when I can.It is dead flesh so it is either limited to once a while or when I am having guests who demand a non vegetarian item.I have been however prescribed fish for some medical conditions I have and I have it as a medicine and a healing food for health!

By opening up my mind about food I have become more at peace and highly satisfied with many questions I had in mind!I have tasted all kinds of drinks and sometimes use them for cooking.I prepare Christmas Fruit Cakes by steeping dried fruits in Rum and Brandy,I make my own wine,I use whiskey for cooking certain pastas which adds colour and flavour to the recipes.I however never go above the limit and use them in moderation.I have seen that there is no such thing as “bad”!Excess usage of anything and misusing anything apart from what it was meant is bad!Forming notions of things which we have not even experienced and touting them in the negative is bad.

With the open minded attitude I have for food,I have given honest feedbacks,done my bit as regards party planning and fitted in perfectly for a food advisor’s role on many occasions!I do this for friends and love the feedback they give.There were some negative feedbacks initially which were fixed to the learning curve and good use made of them!

I have travelled places and had many items which made me realise the vast arena the area of food encompasses!In Canada they have a very special street food called Poutine where I got a cardboard cup of very delicious French Fries topped with tasty cheese curds and drizzled over with a brown gravy!I loved this so much that I got another cardboard cup full of Poutine and came to know the next day that it was a meat broth gravy but was extremely tasty!I went to Cuba for a lovely vacation and could not get the “only vegetarian” items except salads.I foraged around and saw a very inviting looking mixed vegetable rice.One spoonful of the delicious rice and I knew it had meat.However it was utterly awesome and I polished it off with complements to the Chef!I tasted many more meat items there and realised that these countries did not have the great climate,fertile soil and varied conditions like India which is what makes them eat meat in the first place!So we should not be judgemental of cuisines from other regions as they also have a history and also depending on the situation and conditions of people there!

I have accepted the fact that human beings are the topmost in the ladder and can have anything from the wide variety of options they have of all the species in the world!On certain occasions they have no choice.During the two World Wars,the soldiers used to hunt and eat almost anything which came in front of their muskets including Skunk,Anteaters and even Snakes.We cannot twitch our nose in this case and say “aren’t they ashamed to eat these creatures knowing that killing animals would give them a place in Hell?”They did not have any other option folks!

I have never been so positive after I destroyed every restriction and inhibition in my mind regarding food.This has inspired me to do the same on other fronts as I know it would make me even better and more optimistic in life!I would advise the younger generation to go out,see the world,learn from experiences and speak your mind.You will be better off this way and communicate effectively which will surely have an effect on the negative sentiments sooner or later!Let us rid the world of all the caustic matter and pessimism once and for all!

Lufthansa’s beautiful video illustrating “Say YES to the World”!