Page 81 - EW January 2025

the plucking and season- persistent religious hier- unpalatable references to outdated framework that
ing of vegetables. However archy and the practice of Dalit cuisine were linked is “not healthy for the
this is much more than democracy seems incoher- to lower caste human be- unity and integrity of the
a cookbook because it ent to the author. Though haviour, unscientific belief society.” He enumerates
captures hitherto undocu- times have changed, the embedded in the literature the pitfalls of religious
mented food, staples and reality of socio-economic of Maratha saints (Patole extremism that has
savouries. It describes deprivation is even more refers to 52 of them and intensified religion and
a belief and way of life, acute. He refers to the quotes from their writ- caste-based insensitivity
culture and language that famine of 1972 in Maha- ings). They subscribed to and intolerance that is on
played a role in keeping rashtra and the migration the varnashrama hierar- the rise. The urgency in
the community together of agricultural popula- chical structure to hold a this voice of dissent needs
— the upper castes in tions to cities in search community together. to be read and heard as
positions of power, the of work, that eroded food Society has changed it is about divisive forces
lower castes sustaining production and traditional and moved on. Therefore, that continue to disrupt
upper caste lives and the culinary practices in rural Patole critiques post- the shaping of a healthy,
environment. Marathwada. independence democracy inclusive society.
The dichotomy between For several centuries, in India, for retaining an JAYATI GUPTA

JANUARY 2025 EDUCATIONWORLD 81