Mumbai: Rahul Gandhi recently traveled to Kolhapur, Maharashtra, and stopped by a “Dalit kitchen”. His curiosity into “what they eat, how they cook, and its social and political significance” led him to uncover the Dalit cuisine.
Rahul Gandhi had meal with a Dalit family in Kolhapur
On Saturday, he went to the Unchaon village in Kolhapur to see the home of Ajay Tukaram Sanade, a Dalit farmer. While there, he helped in cooking a substantial and “spicy” meal for the family. Shahu Patole, the author of “Dalit Kitchens of Marathwada,” was also with the Leader of the Opposition.
“Nobody knows what we Dalits eat,” Mr. Patole remarked.
It’s interesting that you mentioned that nobody is aware of what you eat or how it’s prepared. This is the reason I’m here today,” Mr. Gandhi remarked.
Heading to the kitchen, the 54-year-old informs the author, “I don’t eat a lot of spice”.
The topic of discrimination against Dalits is then brought up. “In my village, they (the upper caste village) won’t even have water or a cup of tea at my home,” stated Patole.
“They respect my rank now, but not my caste,” he said, adding, “People hide their caste and surname (due to the discrimination).”
For lunch, Mr. Gandhi and Mr. Patole prepared ‘harbharyanchi bhaji,’ a vegetable consisting of chickpea greens, ‘tuvar dal’ paired with brinjals, and a spring onion dish. They served the food with jowar bhakris prepared in the Maharashtrian way.
According to the Sanade family, they “were totally unprepared for his sudden arrival”. “First, we offered him water and tea, and later he said he was feeling hungry and volunteered to prepare something for all of us in our kitchen,” they told IANS.
“Drawing on Patole and the Sanade family’s personal experiences with caste and discrimination, we discussed the lack of awareness about Dalit cuisine and the importance of documenting this culture,” the Congress politician wrote on X today.
He declared that Bahujans have rights and a share under the Constitution, which we would uphold.
However, Mr. Gandhi stated that genuine equality and inclusion for all members of the Indian community will only come about when each and every Indian endeavors with a sense of brotherhood in their hearts.