Book Review of Food Cultures of India

Food is not just a means of subsistence. It can be considered as an artefact that embodies within it the history, culture and identity of a class or community. Of late, Food Studies has evolved as a critical lens for analyzing culture as it offers insights into the values and dynamics of culture, opening up myriads of possibilities for academic exploration across multiple disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, history, and cultural studies. Food, due to its connection to memories, rituals and identities has become a vital tool to understand human societies. Sarit K. Chaudhuri, Debarshi Prasad Nath, and Dhurjjati Sarma’s edited collection Food Cultures of India brings together academicians and scholars across multiple disciplines to investigate and interpret the multifaceted nature of food. The collection, through its five thematic sections, adeptly highlights food as a lens to explore identity, memory, gender, and power. This review evaluates the strengths and limitations of the book, reflecting on its contributions to Food Studies and its engagement with the complexities of Indian food culture.