TCN- Unmasking the Prejudice and Politics of Food in Northeast India- Aditya Kiran Kakati

The Chicken-Neck Podcast

We would like to start by thanking the International Institute for Asian Studies (Leiden, Netherlands) and Mr. Benjamin Linder for helping us with the recording of this podcast episode.

In this 8th episode, we are joined by Dr. Aditya Kiran Kakati, who is a Visiting Scholar, at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and an Affiliate Research Fellow, at the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) and at The Highland Institute, Kohima, Nagaland. Aditya works as an Associate Editor for The Highlander Journal, which seeks to promote conversations on global highlands to push the boundaries of traditional area studies. Aditya’s MA thesis was an ethnographic project titled "Eating Ethnic Enclaves: Cultural Encounters in Liminal Spaces of Eating in the Context of Migrations from the Eastern Himalayan Region". The research was on the emergence of ethnic cuisine, restaurant and labour cultures, identity politics, and socio-cultural relations arising from minority community migration from borderland conflict zones within India. He keenly maintains his culinary pursuits, mostly in the home kitchen and occasionally in public forums.

In this episode, we delve deep into the intricate and diverse food cultures of Northeast India, exposing the stigma and politics that often overshadow this rich culinary heritage. Join us as we uncover how ignorance about this region gives rise to racism and prejudice, leading to the downplaying of vital issues.

We explore the unsettling disgust directed at the food consumed by Northeastern communities, revealing the intricate web of caste authority, privilege, and politics of purity that underlie these sentiments. Discover how everyday food choices in India intersect with complex issues such as caste violence, ultra-nationalism, and the quest for purity.

Our episode also spotlights the recent ban on dog meat in Nagaland and the passionate debate it has ignited. We examine this issue from multiple angles, including the clash between indigenous practices and animal rights concerns. Join us on a journey that uncovers the flavors, emotions, and politics that are an integral part of Northeast India's eclectic food culture.

You can read more about his work : http://journals.ed.ac.uk/himalaya/article/view/8044

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