I have always believed that papad unites India. Gujaratis like myself will not eat rice unless we have papad to eat with it. Sindhis are known for their papad. The fried papads of South India are justly famous for their flavour and their texture.
But papad also unites India and the UK. The Brits call it poppadom (with various different spellings) a corruption of the South Indian name. Way back in the 1970s, my father used to joke that soon, a typical English meal would consist of curry and rice with crushed pappadom sprinkled on it. I was only a child at the time and thought this was ridiculous, but now I think the old boy may have had a point.
One measure of how much poppadoms have been embraced by British popular culture is that they are often used for racial abuse. There has been criticism of a hit song called the Poppadom Song which, it is alleged, promotes racial stereotyping. (But not as much as it promotes crap music.)
For Brits, their poppadom (as distinct from our papad) is an all-day, anytime snack. They make it in all kinds of sizes. And one popular version (industrially produced and ready-to-eat) is made by Walkers, the company most famous for its potato crisps (what we call wafers). It is made in the same size and sold in the same kind of packet.
This is not surprising because a British poppadom, it now turns out is - hold your breath! actually a potato crisp.
Bu hikaye Brunch dergisinin February 10, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Brunch dergisinin February 10, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Rohit Chawla
Photographer, artist, @RohitChawlaPhotography_
Congratulations, it's a goal
Lakeside vows, pastel palettes, bayous, backyards and boats. These celeb weddings are what modern fairytales are made of
Rail against the machine
Valay Shende's Virar Fast depicts more than Mumbai's constant state of rush. Despite the struggle, there's empathy too
No need for soirée excuses
Not all party guests are created equal. Make sure you have an escape plan, in case you're stuck with someone dull
100 years, one epic dinner
How did the Hindustan Times celebrate its centenary in Delhi? With a lavish, ambitious dinner served by a top chef, in a magical garden. It can never be done again
Sauce and sorcery
Video projections on your plate, holograms dancing at the table, customised tunes with every course. Tech's coming to dinner. Will you reorder or reboot?
Who hates the haters now?
Online trolls used to terrify influencers. Now, hate is hardly a surprise. It's a sign of engagement, real viewers; a chance to clap back and wield power. Take a look
Are you earring this?
Don't put the heavy jewellery back in storage after the festivities. Stylists offer tips on how to wear them all year and still look chic
Clash of clans: Festive edit
Set boundaries, ask your own questions, prep for the prying moments. Here's how to survive the family gathering without going nuts
Krutika
Content creator, @TheMermaidScales