Spices of Memory: A Literary Journey through Indian Cuisine

Abstract

Food and spices constitute an essential component of any human society and history. With the dawn of civilization sufficient production and proper consumption of various food items / types has been a serious concern for researchers, farmers, scholars and governments across the world. In fact, food and human existence go together and no human endeavour is possible without sufficient food for it satisfies the basic need and provides the required energy. It comprises grains, pulses, vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, cheese, poultry, eggs, etc. Since the days of yore, food and literature form a significant part of any society or culture. Food is essential equally for survival and social function, and is interrelated to creative writing and artistic works. Food in literature has been powerful tool for expressing individual and cultural memories, metaphorizing physical and psychological hunger, and presenting complex ideas. In this paper, an attempt will be made to explore the cultural richness and culinary tapestry in Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake and Arundhati Roy’s The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, focusing on Lahiri’s culinary narrative and characters’ evolving sense of self across continents, and Roy’s street food scene in India examining happiness, sorrow, and resilience through the lens of the nation's culinary landscape.

This paper will also invite readers to savor the rich narrative offerings of Indian literature, where the act of cooking and sharing meals or food becomes a vessel for cultural preservation, a metaphor for identity, and a means to explore the complex narratives of a diverse and ever-evolving region. In this literary feast, each page resonates with the essence of a dynamic cultural heritage, leaving a lingering taste of tradition and innovation.