When Onion and Garlic Were Viewed As Foods Meant For Muslims and Dalits
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
27 June
2022
Discrimination
Is So Deep-Seated In Human Psyche That Even Something As Innocuous As Food Is
Categorised As Theirs and Ours
Main
Points:
People of
the subcontinent always considered Muslims as invaders with Tamsik (benighted)
traits.
Our food preferences
are religion-based and socio-culturally conditioned.
-----
The dietary
world is loosely divided into two halves: Vegetarians and non-vegetarians. But
in India, vegetarianism is a nuanced and extremely baffling concept as certain
vegetables are considered as Abhakshya Bhojnam (forbidden food) and to the
followers of Jainism, all root-vegetables are forbidden and religiously sinful!
Kandam pratichhanam (the roots must be avoided) is the mantra in Prakrit
(Jain aagams are written in Prakrit, which's a tributary of Sanskrit) that must
be followed in Toto by all the followers of Jainism, irrespective of its
numerous sects and sub-sects.
But did you
know, other than Jains, even many Hindus avoid onion and garlic? The reason for
not eating onion and garlic is not just religious, it has its roots in the
aversion to Muslims (mlechha) and untouchables (asprishya).The very concept of Saatvik
Bhojan ( pure and clean) in Hinduism is the absence of onion and garlic as
Hindu preachers tell their mutton-headed followers that onion and garlic are
excreta of demons (Asurasya Mal). And the followers believe without
questioning.
But the
interesting part is that despite religious texts (Manu Smriti and six Puranas)
branding onion and garlic foods fit for untouchables and Shudras, even Brahmins
and upper caste people were having onion and garlic centuries ago. Charak
Samhita advised people to have onion and garlic for overall well-being and a
healthy body. Acharya Kshitimohan Sen wrote in his Bangla essay, " Khaadyo,
Dharmo o' Jaati " ( Food, Religion and Caste) that Hindus and even
Jains were eating all edible roots despite religious prohibitions, but once
Muslims started making their presence felt on the subcontinent after 1000 CE,
onion and garlic became inedible to Hindus and Jains.
Since onion and garlic (particularly, onion)
have been integral to the food habits of Muslims, it was believed that these
two things made Muslims so cruel despotic and lascivious. In fact, old Bangla
had a proverb: Peyaji Turki, Mey Dekhe Dulki (onion-eating Turki
salivates over a woman). All Turks, early invaders prior to Mughals, were
considered lewd and their lewdness was imputed to excessive intake of onion and
garlic. Readers may be amused that northern India's slang, Tharki (a priapic
old man or Satyr) originated from the erroneously perceived ' oversexed '
Turki. An eleventh century manuscript in Sanskrit suggests that Hindus must
avoid onion and garlic or else they'll become wayward like Turks!
Slowly,
eschewing onions and garlic set in. Despite that, Hindus were still having
onions and garlic as both enhance the taste and aroma of the food. After all,
old habits die hard. So, the clever priestly folks of Hinduism made the use of
onion and garlic optional and conditioned that both the roots must at least be
avoided during fasts. So, Hindus began to avoid onion and garlic during their
fasts and some sects, like Maheswaris, totally dropped the use of both in their
cuisine.
People of
the subcontinent always considered Muslims as invaders with Tamsik (benighted)
traits. Their (Muslims) food habits and preferences were quite alien to the
eastern folks. Though Hindus and Jains were already eating onions and garlic,
Jain monks and Hindu priests were trying to dissuade their people from eating
such foods. They got an excuse when early Muslims vandalised their shrines.
Indologist
A L Basham wrote that Jain monks began to put the cruelty of Muslims down to
their excessive use of non-veg and onion/garlic. “Don’t emulate their (Muslims)
example, you too will be like them," was the common refrain to wean onion
and garlic-eating Hindus and Jains. Moreover, in all societies certain
vegetables and food items suffered from resemblance factor. Pagan Greeks avoided
aubergine or eggplant because it looked like a testicle! Greeks still call
eggplant Fenaa Apollo (the scrotum of Apollo).
A big chunk
of Chinese thought that the clove of garlic reminded them of the clitoris of
Yin (an anthromorphic female energy). So, nearly three thousand years ago, many
Chinese wouldn't eat garlic, which's integral to their culinary culture.
Humans, being inherently devolved, suffer from numerous dietary idiosyncrasies.
Our food
preferences are religion-based and socio-culturally conditioned. Instead of
trying to become good humans, our priority is, what should be eaten and what's
to be avoided to please our deities. Discrimination is so deep-seated in human
psyche that even something as innocuous as food is categorised as theirs and
ours. This is indeed so sad and irrational.
----
A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to world's premier publications in several languages
including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/onion-garlic-foods-muslims-dalits-/d/127333
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