“Shatamanam Bhavati” or a perfect photo-op
Recently there was a big furor over a mundane menu card on Twitter. Rocky & Mayur the foodies handle tweeted a photo of what looked like a Masal Vada calling it a Medu Vada. Those who knew the difference called it out. But the television hosts were a bit belligerent to either enquire into the truth or take it as correct if they believed the so called Tamilians who suspected were behind the onslaught to know the truth. But, it dragged on for days, and the first aggressive assault came from the foodies handle, asking if Tamil culture is all lost if a Masal Vadu is to be called Medu Vada. What is there in the name as long as one got the taste right? Well, that is not the issue. The issue is if food is part of one’s culture or not? Madarasi might call it Masal Vadai, Malayali might call them paruppu vadas, they may be different things to different people. Yet, to each of them it might part of their cultural identity. Similar fight erupted last week over a magazine cove...