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A tale of American philanthropy efforts in Colonial India
American missionaries, in the hope of securing funds in India for feeding the hungry, portrayed the country as replete with evangelical opportunities and used famine relief efforts to consolidate their mission work
Published on Feb 27, 2025 07:28 AM IST
Chinmay Damle
Taste of Life: Gandhian who used charity rituals to feed kids, ignite patriotism
Lakshmibai Thuse mobilised ‘Vanarsena’ and ‘Manjarsena’ along with women to participate in social and political activities in the 1930s
Updated on Aug 15, 2024 07:20 AM IST
Chinmay Damle
Taste of Life: Forging close bonds through food
Mead, or honey wine, one of the oldest fermented drinks known to mankind, was associated with the wedding night in Ireland and Scandinavia. It was said to ensure a man’s virility and boost his strength
Updated on Jul 11, 2024 08:20 AM IST
Chinmay Damle
Taste of Life: Watermelon, most prized fruit gifted to & by Europeans in India
The watermelon was one of the pleasantest and most refreshing tropical fruits, when cooled they were like the iced fruits in Europe, and dissolved in the mouth like snow. Summer months in Poona were made tolerable by the watermelon
Updated on May 30, 2024 08:02 AM IST
Chinmay Damle
Taste of Life: How Alphonso mango became an indicator of wealth & influence in 20th century
The consumption of mango in Poona characterised this emphasis toward culinary refinement by developing an aura of sophistication around a complex hierarchy of tastes, colours, and textures
Updated on May 23, 2024 07:52 AM IST
Chinmay Damle
Taste of Life: When ice was transported to Poona from Bombay in bullock carts
A fire in Bombay had destroyed a large ice factory and disrupted bread supply of the city. Poona, Madras, Allahabad and other cities were asked by telegram to send assistance to the sufferers
Updated on May 09, 2024 05:26 PM IST
Chinmay Damle
Taste of Life: When chicken and beef essence, and beef tea was ‘too healthy’ to be consumed for enjoyment during rail travel
Surgeon-Captain WH Burke urged Indian Medical Service in the Bombay, Madras, and Bengal presidencies to request railway companies in India to set up more refreshment rooms at stations as luncheon basket containing beef tea and chicken essence was not recommended for healthy passengers
Updated on Nov 30, 2023 06:20 AM IST
Chinmay Damle
Taste of Life: When leaders in Poona agreed to disagree on cannabis laws
In 1844, “Paramahansa Mandali”, a secret socio-religious society of native young men, whose object was said to be to abolish caste and introduce various other changes in Hinduism, was established in Bombay
Updated on Sep 07, 2023 12:23 AM IST
Chinmay Damle
Taste of Life: American cottonseed oil makers faced opposition from “Swadeshi” promoters
American cottonseed oil arrived in the markets of Poona circa 1912. It immediately faced opposition from the promoters of “Swadeshi”. Nationalist leaders urged Indians to buy Indian cottonseed oil instead of the American product
Updated on Jun 22, 2023 12:21 AM IST
Chinmay Damle
Taste of Life: When Poona’s favourite drink was pomegranate juice
The pomegranate was considered sacred by the Parsees of Bombay and Poona, and among the Persians, the pomegranate was one of the holiest trees
Updated on May 18, 2023 12:34 AM IST
Chinmay Damle
Taste of Life: When lemonade and ‘John Collins’ stirred up spirits of European soldiers
During the hot summer afternoons, cool drinks like lemonade, mineral water, ginger ale, and root beer could either be made at home or purchased commercially bottled from grocers or druggists. Lemonade was many times the first choice to drink
Updated on Apr 20, 2023 04:34 PM IST
Chinmay Damle