Chhaunk on Food, Economics and Society
Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee serves up something rather unusual here: a collection of essays that fuses culinary curiosity with economic insight. The title refers to chhaunk, that fragrant tempering of oil and spices that transforms a dish in mere moments. Banerjee applies the same principle to his writing, scattering observations across food, society and economics to create something altogether more intriguing than the sum of its parts. The book oscillates between memoir and gastronomic exploration, drawing unexpected parallels between everyday ingredients and broader questions about how we live. You'll encounter musings on savings via shami kebab, contemplations on gender and autonomy through the lens of Bengali ghanto. It's part intellectual provocation, part love letter to the kitchen. Banerjee's prose remains refreshingly light despite tackling weightier themes, making this feel less like an academic exercise and more like a conversation with someone who thinks deeply about both soup and society. For anyone curious about how our choices around the dinner table mirror our choices as a nation, this collection offers plenty to savour.
- Author: Abhijit Banerjee
- Publisher: Juggernaut
- Genre: Cooking & Culinary Arts
- ISBN: 978-9353452421
- Pages: 352 pages