Food sustains life, or so runs an old adage. It is an established fact of life that human existence cannot be imagined without food. The expressions underscoring the indispensability and vitality of food are not now merely confined to the pages of books. There is that delightful essay, ‘Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow’, Jerome K. Jerome, where it is stated that the kitchen is the temple of God and the cook, its high priest. The quotation has a more profound meaning than may appear at first sight. As a metaphor of divine concern, food is common to all major religions. Practically, the first advice that Lord Krishna extended to King Yudhisthhira, after achieving victory in the Kurukshetra battle was, “Hey Rajan, Dadaswa-Annam” (provide food). The message here is loud and clear for every ruler. It is the main duty of rulers and states to ensure that every subject gets his/her quota of food. Eminent poet Subramania Bharati, in his vision of free India, proclaimed: “We will destroy the system that allows a citizen to die of starvation.” Discernible in this assertion was the heart-felt concern for the starving population of the country. It cannot be contested that what a real poet produces happens to be a reflection of the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings — emanating from lived experience. Saint Ramanuja institutionalised the principle of sumptuous and nutritious prasad to devotees in Vaishnavite temples, a concept that the Sikh gurus expanded in the egalitarian practice of providing langar in gurdwaras. While a uniformly high quality of food is not available to all, in God’s abode all must share the same food with relish as well as humility. The Christian eucharist has an echo of a similar approach. As bread and wine are laid on the altar, the priest acknowledges God’s munificence and declares, “All things come from you and of your own do we give you”. In his quest for Brahman, the ultimate Truth, Sage Bhrigu’s first finding was Annum Brahmeti Vyajannat (be aware that food is Brahman). (The writer is a former Union minister)
