The Language of Memory,
Identity, and Power in Food Anthropology across Indian
Landscapes
Subhashree A.¹, Susmitha S.², and Dr.
S. Sumy³
ABSTRACT
This study explores food as a cultural narrative
through the lens of Food Anthropology, examining how food practices
and culinary experiences shape identity, memory, belonging and power
in Indian culture. The study draws on Khalid Jawed’s The Paradise of
Food and Amitav Ghosh’s Ghost-Eye to examine the cultural meanings
embedded in food and its representation in literature. The study
establishes a theoretical framework for understanding food as a
social, cultural and symbolic practice. It examines foodways,
sensory experiences, rituals and shared meals as carriers of
personal and collective memory. It further analyses culinary labour,
domestic practices, dietary restrictions and kitchen spaces to
understand gender roles, hierarchy and resistance. Finally, the
study considers the impact of globalisation and changing lifestyles
on traditional food practices, cultural memory and identity,
highlighting food as a medium through which culture and power are
continually negotiated.
Keywords: Food Anthropology, Cultural Memory, Foodways, Sensory
Experience, Cultural Identity.
