A Historian of Technology Watches "The King, His Kitchen, and Other Stories"

Abstract

abstract: Public representation of Indian cuisine is important for historians of technology. It shows how progress, modernity, and innovation pervade the general public's understanding of South Asian food history. Based on a popular documentary series, this review shows that technology is an elusive category when discussing food in relation to colonialism, religion, and national identity. Analyzing various dimensions of culinary history gives us an opportunity to rethink research and teaching methodologies by foregrounding indigenous technologies and the role of nonelite actors in shaping technological history and practices.