I distinctly recall a friend of mine, who took offense whenever she saw people eating with their hands. According to her, it was primitive of people like me to eat food, especially rice, with their fingers. This baffled me. I was brought up or shall I say "trained" to eat neatly with my fingers, like many of my fellow countrymen. How could a person even look down upon this age-long culinary practice?
Isn't the choice of cutlery solely dependent on the local cuisine? For us Indians, our cuisine mainly comprises of food that is best enjoyed when eaten by hand. How do these "modern-cutlery-obsessed" people intend to eat chapatis or dosas with their forks and spoons?Oprah Winfrey's "Do Indian's still eat with their hands?"comment on her India visit was pretty controversial too. So, tell me Oprah, how do Americans eat their Big Macs, if not with their hands? The food in the west widely comprises of meat, and that is why their forks and knives come in picture, in the first place. Our food could just simply be devoured by using our fingers, that is why our forefathers never found the necessity for this cutlery.
These people consider eating food with their hands unhygienic, but do not shy away from shaking their hands with a stranger. Isn't shaking a stranger's hand upon meeting them more unhygienic, given the fact,you don't even know where that hand had been a while before? That is a shameful "double-standard".
Why are we even refrained from eating with our hands in public, categorizing it as a "not-so-gauche" table etiquette. Our culture has encouraged us to eat with our hands, then why does this foreign etiquette even define what is more respectable and what is not? I find it really graceful to eat with my hand, and enjoy every bit of that experience. I refuse to let go of my roots, owing to the grievous misconception of some "sophisticated" people.
Isn't the choice of cutlery solely dependent on the local cuisine? For us Indians, our cuisine mainly comprises of food that is best enjoyed when eaten by hand. How do these "modern-cutlery-obsessed" people intend to eat chapatis or dosas with their forks and spoons?Oprah Winfrey's "Do Indian's still eat with their hands?"comment on her India visit was pretty controversial too. So, tell me Oprah, how do Americans eat their Big Macs, if not with their hands? The food in the west widely comprises of meat, and that is why their forks and knives come in picture, in the first place. Our food could just simply be devoured by using our fingers, that is why our forefathers never found the necessity for this cutlery.
These people consider eating food with their hands unhygienic, but do not shy away from shaking their hands with a stranger. Isn't shaking a stranger's hand upon meeting them more unhygienic, given the fact,you don't even know where that hand had been a while before? That is a shameful "double-standard".
Why are we even refrained from eating with our hands in public, categorizing it as a "not-so-gauche" table etiquette. Our culture has encouraged us to eat with our hands, then why does this foreign etiquette even define what is more respectable and what is not? I find it really graceful to eat with my hand, and enjoy every bit of that experience. I refuse to let go of my roots, owing to the grievous misconception of some "sophisticated" people.
WE INDIANS EAT WITH OUR FIRST HAND(GENERALLY RIGHT HAND) ONLY, NOT WITH BOTH HANDS-COZ THAT'S JUST PRIMITIVE.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good point you've noted there! Actually I've used 'hands' in a plural context everywhere. But, I forgot to mention the right hand. No wonder you're a true Sherlockian! :D
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ReplyDeleteHey Manu, I want you to know that I really enjoy your blog! As an American, I can say that this article has been enlightening. It can be difficult to understand other cultures, but you're right - we eat many foods with our hands! Thanks for the beautiful words and the insight into your ancient culinary practice.
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