Farms, Feasts, Famines: web-exclusive package

The editors at Himal Southasian are excited to announce the publication of our second print quarterly: Farms, Feasts, Famines. For over 25 years, Himal has provided Southasians with food for thought. For a change, we are presenting thought on food. In critically examining what we eat, how and where we eat, and who gets to eat at all, our second paperback magazine has brought together an eclectic group of writers to reflect on various aspects of food from around the region, through the matrices of economics, politics and culture. (See the full table of contents for the print issue.)

Additionally, the Himal team is pleased to introduce a new section of web-exclusive articles which will supplement the thematic content of our print quarterlies. For this issue, our web package includes K Sandeep's critique of the National Food Security Bill's failure to address the much-needed decentralisation of the Public Distribution System in India; Abhishek Choudhary's exploration of Varanasi through the spirit of bhang, Rituparna Banerjee's documentation of the salt pan workers in Marakkanam, Tamil Nadu through photography; Madhusree Mukerjee's translation of a short story written by Manik Bandopadhyay (1908-1956) on the dehumanising hunger in Bengal; and Suman Bolar's elaboration on what it means to be a food writer. Last but not least, we are presenting a selection of recipes for readers who enjoy cooking – documenting some recipes of disappearing foods from around the region, and those relevant to the articles in the print issue. 

The aim of our first thematic web package is to give readers a taste of what volume two of the Himal quarterly is about. In the run-up to the release of Farms, Feasts, Famines, we hope to stimulate your curiosity and prepare you for our second print issue. After the positive feedback and support we have received for our first volume Are we sure about India?, we eagerly await to hear more from our readers, and hope that you enjoy the print and web-exclusive content for this issue.   

Web articles:

K Sandeep – In search of food sovereignty
Rituparna Banerjee – Behind the crystals

Abhishek Choudhary – Among the believers

Manik Bandopadhyay – Brideprice

Suman Bolar – Eat, drink, write
Disappearing foods