3 weeks ago
'The Orissan' book explores Odisha's food, history, and memories
A woman named Pallavi Das was born into a family from Odisha, a place in India, but she grew up in faraway cities.
She always wondered about the home her family came from.
When her grandparents got old, she wanted to learn about her history.
So she wrote a book called 'The Orissan' with her dad and a chef.
The book is about Odisha's tasty food, old traditions, and family stories.
It shows how food can tell us how people lived and celebrated.
The writers read old books and talked to people who keep traditions alive.
They wanted to share the secret stories behind famous temples.
Pallavi hopes kids will feel proud of Odisha and tell its stories too.
'The Orissan,' co-authored by Pallavi Das, Sandip Das, and Chef Alka Jena, explores Odisha's food, history, and memory.
Pallavi Das, born into an Odia family, grew up across Mumbai, Malaysia, and New York before researching her heritage.
The book seeks the stories behind Odisha's landmarks, including folklore, myths, rituals, and family memories.
The authors drew on historical texts, scholarly research, archival material, and oral narratives.
Das hopes the book sparks pride and new storytelling about Odisha among younger generations.
- Who
- Pallavi Das, a scholar and researcher, together with her father Sandip Das and Odia cuisine authority Chef Alka Jena.
- What
- Created 'The Orissan,' a book weaving together Odisha's food, history, memory, rituals, and traditions.
- Where
- Odisha, India; Das grew up in Mumbai, Malaysia, and New York.
- When
- Not specified in the article.
- Why
- To help readers discover Odisha beyond its famous landmarks and understand the stories, people, and civilisation behind its culture.
Key facts
- Book
- The Orissan
- Authors
- Pallavi Das, Sandip Das, Chef Alka Jena
- Theme
- Odisha's food, history, rituals, memory and traditions
- Inspiration
- Losing grandparents to old age; questions of identity and heritage
- Author background
- Grew up in Mumbai, Malaysia and New York in an Odia family
- Research sources
- Historical texts, scholarly research, archival material, oral narratives
- Goal
- Move beyond familiar landmarks to intimate stories that shape Odisha
Quotes
Pallavi Das
Author, scholar, co‑author of ‘The Orissan’
“‘The Orissan’ is, at its heart, for anyone who has ever gone searching for identity, for the simple yet profound questions of ‘Who am I?’ and ‘Where do I come from?’”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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