Session 51 summary
The best way to connect with tribals is through food. Tribal food and interaction with tribals has given Ashish much about how fascinating their myth, folk and food is. Like the Lohadi tribe who celebrate the birth of girl child and cook special food made by men for the woman who gave birth. It is one of the many examples of the fascinating stories of tribals. They understand the forests, since no hospitals are there, they move to the plants which provide cure for many ailments. Ashish says that we need to document these because these are the treasures of India. The dependency and respect towards animals by the community also plays an important role in keeping the harmony. Even while hunting, they don’t hunt the female of the species because they reproduce so the tribals keep a harmonious balance. The tribals even introduced tea to the British.
There are so many tribes and have their own culture, they have feasts (a reason to get together and have food). Tribes have played a very important role in conserving nature and its preservation but did not do any documentation. Ashish says that it is our job to do that because the nature is getting destroyed, hence before everything perishes we need to document them and the best way is by travelling place to place and understanding each tribe and their culture so that the city folks understand and try to adopt them. It is a very fascinating journey that Ashish wants to share, his love for food helped him to connect with the tribals.
About the Speaker
Ashish Chopra
Culinary historian / Author / Television host
Founder
Institute for Environmental Management and Social Development
Ashish Chopra is a culinary historian, author and television host, Founder and Executive Director of The Institute for Environmental Management and Social Development. He decided after much retrospection and introspection to take permanent sabbatical to pursue his passion for food and travel. An expert in conflict management, he is also the former Advisor to the Governor of Mizoram and Assam Rifles (The oldest paramilitary force in the World). He is now dedicating his quality time to pursue his passion as a culinary historian, travel writer, photographer, author and television host teaching culinary history and lecturing. He has recently established SACA (School of Ancient Culinary Arts)which is dedicated to safeguard, promote, and teach the ancient culinary practices. He was the Senior Consulting Editor of the Food & Beverage Buzz magazine-India’s leading magazine dedicated to promoting and showcasing India’s rich culinary heritage. He is the recipient of the Coveted REX KAMVEER GLOBAL fellowship for 2013 and also the KARAMVEER JYOTI PURASKAR for 2019. He also received the Culinary Historian award for the 2020. A Tedx speaker, he organizes culinary tours and heritage food walks for food lovers and curates food festivals specializing in lost and heritage cuisines. He has partnered with The Radisson Blu, Park Plaza, CITCO and Radisson brand of the Carlson’s Riezdor Group and has organized heritage and ancient food festivals at their various properties pan India.
