Books Unpack India's Deeply Political Relationship with Food

Electric Literature recently featured seven books exploring the intricate and often contentious role of food in Indian society. The selection highlights how culinary practices are inextricably linked to identity, caste, religion, and national politics. From personal narratives detailing everyday discrimination based on dietary choices to broader historical analyses of food as a tool for social control and assertion, these works delve into the complex layers behind Indian meals. They reveal how seemingly simple food preferences can reflect profound societal divisions, challenging the notion of a homogenous Indian cuisine and emphasizing the political implications of what, where, and with whom one eats.