MEAT-EATING OF THE GLUTTONOUS BENGALIS: A DISCOURSE ON THE ROLE OF CULINARY SYMBOLISM INFLUENCING THE SOCIO-POLITICAL DYNAMICS OF ALIMENTARY PRACTICES

Abstract (English)

The study will explore the multifaceted role of food as a symbol of socio-cultural identity and political dynamics, focusing on the Indian context, and elaborating on the Bengali alimentary practices. It will delve into how culinary practices serve as determinants and expressions of self-awareness and group identity, reflecting collective nationalist sentiments. In India, diverse cuisines across states symbolize specific cultural identities, fostering unity through shared commensality. However, culinary diversity can also create societal divides, as seen in the dichotomy between vegetarianism and non-vegetarianism, where vegetarianism has always been politicized and propagated as to be pure and thus superior. The recent politicization of food, especially the promotion of vegetarianism and the enforcement of cow protection laws by specific political parties and activist groups in India, illustrates how dietary choices can become instruments of social hierarchy, reinforcing the dominance of upper-caste Hindus and marginalizing meat-eating communities, including Muslims and certain lower-caste groups. This is turn de-mobilizes and secludes different groups within the country for whom practicing non-vegetarianism and meat-eating is not only a choice but a necessity.
The study will mainly focus on the Bengali community as a case study to highlight the contrasting cultural meanings of meat consumption. For Bengalis, meat holds significant socio-cultural and religious value, transcending its nutritional purpose. The community’s inclusive approach to meat-eating, prevalent in both joyous and mournful occasions, and its ritualistic animal sacrifices and meat-eating during festivals like Durga and Kali Puja, underscore a dichotomy of ‘sacred’ and the ‘profane’ within Hindu dietary norms. While some Hindu groups view animal sacrifice and meat consumption as sinful, Bengali Hindus regard these practices as sanctimonious, illustrating the complex interplay between food, religion, and cultural identity.
Through the analysis, it will be argued that Bengali commensality, with its inclusive meat-eating traditions, can potentially integrate diverse community segments, counteracting broader societal divides. By examining the symbolic interpretations and socio-political implications of food practices, the presentation will shed light on how culinary traditions both unify and segregate communities, reflecting and shaping broader social and political landscapes in India.