Humans are always obsessed about their past, which they presume as a glorious past with less evil and more harmony. In the 21st century internet driven world, stories of 'Glory' are one of the popular features that serves as a vital channel to feed the big data machines. Have we lived in a more harmonious past? I think this is more of an anthropological question, rather a sociological view. Also, we may have to answer the objective nature of the word ‘harmony’ like almost every other things exists in nature – the word harmony (of course the word did not exist in nature – which, again is an another different discussion that can be answered by a linguist whether the words are innate or not) is also relative to our existential identities. What might be harmonious to me might not be harmonious to another. Let us put all these questions aside and try to touch upon a topic which places the prime role in our story of glory, i.e., lost native diet.
Cyberspace is filled with the stories of the lost nativity. The term nativity is much broader which includes lifestyle, diet, language, warfare, art, and everything together. Out of all, the lost diet is a little exciting for me personally. It’s because of the reason ‘food’ – one of the very basic order of nature on which the conflict of survival is based on or i would say the prime focus of existence is directly or indirectly on food for every organism existing in nature.
Cyberspace is filled with the stories of the lost nativity. The term nativity is much broader which includes lifestyle, diet, language, warfare, art, and everything together. Out of all, the lost diet is a little exciting for me personally. It’s because of the reason ‘food’ – one of the very basic order of nature on which the conflict of survival is based on or i would say the prime focus of existence is directly or indirectly on food for every organism existing in nature.
Most of the discussions happening around the lost glory of diet is between pre and post colonial era of the Indian state or we may say the pre-industrial and post-industrial societies or feudal society vs capitalist society. As we all know – even without much of knowledge of history, that migration of everything was/is super-fast in the industrial societies – from food to capital to culture to language to art to crime; everything in a nutshell.
Thus, migration of industrial diet or ‘capital’ diet with backup from industrialized imperialism and science helped in dodging the feudal diets. The historical context of affirmation of science and capitalist society is bit of an interesting discussion. The feudal structure that is entangled with faith institutions across the globe and in Europe left scientific rationales to co-operate with capitalists which believed to be a radical economic structure of 14th century Europe.
Thus, migration of industrial diet or ‘capital’ diet with backup from industrialized imperialism and science helped in dodging the feudal diets. The historical context of affirmation of science and capitalist society is bit of an interesting discussion. The feudal structure that is entangled with faith institutions across the globe and in Europe left scientific rationales to co-operate with capitalists which believed to be a radical economic structure of 14th century Europe.
Industrialization/Capitalization/Colonialization conceived a route to industrial diet from the feudal diet. Historically speaking the data comparison between the feudal diet and capital diet reveals a hard-hitting fact that 'capital diet at least for ‘surplus’ greed, has equalized the dietary choices in Indian state. Say for example ghee - supposed to be a diet of so called ‘upper caste’ Indians, has expanded its scope to everyone due to its capital importance.
Such comparison is not to boost the effectiveness of capitalism, rather if we compare capitalism with feudal structure it proved to be radical in its own ways. Insofar this is the main reason why most of the pro-capital economist are vocal against crony-capitalism which is turning out to be a new form of economic system that binds feudal values and capitalism.
We may have to understand the lost glory of diet from the conflict of feudal diet and capital diet – in 21st century capital diet has evolved into Americanized junk diet. Because the lost glory analogy is related to the nutritional values and health. We have been told always that the native species always have more relevance and nutritional values than the capital diet. The relevance of the diet to a particular geographical context is technically a valuable discussion. But the idea of nativity must be evaluated under the apparatus of skepticism. Because the keyword ‘native’ is a bit absurd or relative.
We may have to understand the lost glory of diet from the conflict of feudal diet and capital diet – in 21st century capital diet has evolved into Americanized junk diet. Because the lost glory analogy is related to the nutritional values and health. We have been told always that the native species always have more relevance and nutritional values than the capital diet. The relevance of the diet to a particular geographical context is technically a valuable discussion. But the idea of nativity must be evaluated under the apparatus of skepticism. Because the keyword ‘native’ is a bit absurd or relative.
Anthropological genetics reveals us that there is nothing called ‘pure’ or ‘native’. Almost everything that we know or co-exist together with, are not ‘pure’ as per our cultural values. Also, as many of the pro-capitalist says, we may have to also consider the arithmetic trends to understand the availability of feudal diet to growing population and the migration of eating habits toward the capital diet which aided the growing population needs - again to note, this is not to promote the positive face of capitalism, rather just an arithmetic data worth considering in before the feudal diet.
We may have to consider talking about one of the viral discussions in Tamil virtual world, the native breeds - particularly the cows. Archaeology evidence tells us that domestication of cows was happened initially in the Fertile Crescent and a bit of Anatolia before 10,000 years – no need to get into archaeological studies now (obviously I am not even a beginner) rather the popular archeological texts like Early Indians or Guns, Germs and Steel, has lot of empirical evidence about this argument. People who migrated from the fertile crescent or Zagros mountains to the East (or widely addressed as Indus valley civilizations) adopted the domestications and domesticated the now extinct Indian aurochs – which evolved from aurochs which again evolved from Bos Acutifrons during one of earth’s ice age - Pliocene. Any of these mammals are not exclusive to Tamilnadu or even the Indian sub-continent.
Anthropological genetics and their DNA sequence says that Bos Acutifrons were domesticated during Holocene epoch which is suggested as an ancestor for the Aurochs. From Aurochs two distinct species evolved one towards the west and another in the east or the Indian subcontinent – the Indian Aurochs or further sub division the Zebu. We have evidence of 75 breeds of Zebus and are split into African and Indian breeds out of which the famous Kangayam cows are one such breeds. Obviously, the evolution would have happened due to hybridization of different sub species or might be a result of direct evolution.
Thus, we may say that we do not have any thing as a pure or native breed of cow which is exclusive to Tamil region rather the mitochondrial DNA sequences shows that whatever exists today are results of infinite natural/artificial hybridizations. Anything homogenous cannot survive the natural order, they are supposed to fall into the black of natural extinction.
The movement of saving the native breeds of Tamil cows are mostly a movement of saving the breeds evolved through natural hybridization or hybridization done by humans during the pre-industrial/pre-colonial societies which is obviously a feudal system of masters and slaves. Old masters who are afraid of their loosing dominance in social strata are the ones who are very much concerned about the lost heritage including the breeds. For example, we can understand this from the association of cattle and bravery. In Tamilnadu, society oxen are always associated with courage. As expected, bravery is always associated with the ones who holds the power in caste strata. Even the famous 2017 pro-jallikattu protest was linked to the lost pride of Tamil courage which made most of the young generation to occupy the streets and indeed the beaches.
Another intreating argument that we may find in virtual world as part of this lost glory is the native crops. Maybe we can talk about one of the most famous fruit that is being consumed across globe – Banana! Because domestication of banana is an equally intreating historical story.
Banana is one of the staple fruits of Tamil culture. It is vividly acknowledged with the phrase ‘மா பலா வாழை’ (Mango, Jackfruit, Banana). This phrase helped most of the Tamil speaking population to believe that Banana is part of native Tamil diet. However, the interesting fact about banana is, that it was domesticated in Papua New Guinea before the arrival of Austronesians. Later, Austronesians took it across southeast Asia and it became a part of staple diet of many southeast Asians including Tamil speaking population. Banana is not just part of Tamil diet, but it also has a lot of cultural relevance – in prayers, weddings etc.
Technically, a wild Musa plant domesticated in the jungles of a pacific archipelago waited for Austronesian arrival and then travelled nearly 7000+ miles to achieve a cultural reputation and become the part of staple diet for a group of people migrated from the zagros mountains – and hybridized along the long travel. So, if we need to consider the nativity of banana then we may have to stop consuming it or we can say the native glory is about the feudal pre-colonial world that is dominated by caste which most of the times even restricts diet based on caste.
This is applicable to another famous tree that has been widely considered as Tamil identity. The Borassus or Palmyra palm. Palmyra palm is the official state tree of Tamilnadu and even considered as the celestial tree for Tamil population. Historical and genetic studies suggest that Palmyra palm was originated from tropical Africa, brought along the spice route to the east and settled in the Indian subcontinent, where it is widely propagated throughout india and Srilanka (Pipatchartlearnwong,et.al)
We may have to consider talking about one of the viral discussions in Tamil virtual world, the native breeds - particularly the cows. Archaeology evidence tells us that domestication of cows was happened initially in the Fertile Crescent and a bit of Anatolia before 10,000 years – no need to get into archaeological studies now (obviously I am not even a beginner) rather the popular archeological texts like Early Indians or Guns, Germs and Steel, has lot of empirical evidence about this argument. People who migrated from the fertile crescent or Zagros mountains to the East (or widely addressed as Indus valley civilizations) adopted the domestications and domesticated the now extinct Indian aurochs – which evolved from aurochs which again evolved from Bos Acutifrons during one of earth’s ice age - Pliocene. Any of these mammals are not exclusive to Tamilnadu or even the Indian sub-continent.
Anthropological genetics and their DNA sequence says that Bos Acutifrons were domesticated during Holocene epoch which is suggested as an ancestor for the Aurochs. From Aurochs two distinct species evolved one towards the west and another in the east or the Indian subcontinent – the Indian Aurochs or further sub division the Zebu. We have evidence of 75 breeds of Zebus and are split into African and Indian breeds out of which the famous Kangayam cows are one such breeds. Obviously, the evolution would have happened due to hybridization of different sub species or might be a result of direct evolution.
Thus, we may say that we do not have any thing as a pure or native breed of cow which is exclusive to Tamil region rather the mitochondrial DNA sequences shows that whatever exists today are results of infinite natural/artificial hybridizations. Anything homogenous cannot survive the natural order, they are supposed to fall into the black of natural extinction.
The movement of saving the native breeds of Tamil cows are mostly a movement of saving the breeds evolved through natural hybridization or hybridization done by humans during the pre-industrial/pre-colonial societies which is obviously a feudal system of masters and slaves. Old masters who are afraid of their loosing dominance in social strata are the ones who are very much concerned about the lost heritage including the breeds. For example, we can understand this from the association of cattle and bravery. In Tamilnadu, society oxen are always associated with courage. As expected, bravery is always associated with the ones who holds the power in caste strata. Even the famous 2017 pro-jallikattu protest was linked to the lost pride of Tamil courage which made most of the young generation to occupy the streets and indeed the beaches.
Another intreating argument that we may find in virtual world as part of this lost glory is the native crops. Maybe we can talk about one of the most famous fruit that is being consumed across globe – Banana! Because domestication of banana is an equally intreating historical story.
Banana is one of the staple fruits of Tamil culture. It is vividly acknowledged with the phrase ‘மா பலா வாழை’ (Mango, Jackfruit, Banana). This phrase helped most of the Tamil speaking population to believe that Banana is part of native Tamil diet. However, the interesting fact about banana is, that it was domesticated in Papua New Guinea before the arrival of Austronesians. Later, Austronesians took it across southeast Asia and it became a part of staple diet of many southeast Asians including Tamil speaking population. Banana is not just part of Tamil diet, but it also has a lot of cultural relevance – in prayers, weddings etc.
Technically, a wild Musa plant domesticated in the jungles of a pacific archipelago waited for Austronesian arrival and then travelled nearly 7000+ miles to achieve a cultural reputation and become the part of staple diet for a group of people migrated from the zagros mountains – and hybridized along the long travel. So, if we need to consider the nativity of banana then we may have to stop consuming it or we can say the native glory is about the feudal pre-colonial world that is dominated by caste which most of the times even restricts diet based on caste.
This is applicable to another famous tree that has been widely considered as Tamil identity. The Borassus or Palmyra palm. Palmyra palm is the official state tree of Tamilnadu and even considered as the celestial tree for Tamil population. Historical and genetic studies suggest that Palmyra palm was originated from tropical Africa, brought along the spice route to the east and settled in the Indian subcontinent, where it is widely propagated throughout india and Srilanka (Pipatchartlearnwong,et.al)
It has been widely acknowledged across Tamil speaking communities that the conservation of the species is very much important to prolong the Tamil identity. Of course, conservation of any endangered species is a part and parcel of fight against climate change, but connecting it to Tamil identity might not be relevant or rather we can connect it with African identify (is that a sub-Saharan identity in particular?)
These are just a quantum of examples that we can produce about the glory of the past, which is mostly anti-scientific. Of course, pride or glory always concentrated on homogeneity can never be a scientific record, after all nature is very much heterogenous. Heterogeneity is the order of nature, without being heterogenous nothing can survive in nature from the atoms to the whole cosmic itself. The glorious hegemony in which epic centered in homogeneity is about the recent past of feudalism which again is the age-old fight of feudalism and capitalism.
The capitalistic modern world made transportation much simpler and faster through innumerable exclusive scientific research dedicated to transport of humans and goods. Thus, the movement of crops, breeds, diets is much easier in the 20th and 21st century rather than the glorious past. the extensive delays in the transportation and hybridization (natural/human made) of certain breeds and crops made them look authentically native and anything 'native' holds the homogeneous idea of cultural/social pride attached by default.
The beginning of the new century which is supposed to be more democratic and inclusive with the abounded reserves of connecting human beings through the technological evolution, rather makes us more individualistic (trying to be homogeneous) and believers of the glorious past in the forms of fake news, factoids, conspiracies, hoax etc. These stories help us to hold on to pride that is soothing to our ego, also it is much simpler to believe rather than the complications of rationalism. For example, how simple it is to believe in a solution that a soup made with ginger, turmeric, clove, lemon etc., can cure covid-19 instead of seeing ourselves in ventilators. I have personally witnessed number of such patients who believed in home remedies and later end up in intensive care units – some returned home and few reached the long queues of crematoriums.
These worrying voices of glorious past can be correlated to the dominance of the capitalism in every minuscule of human lives. For example, GMO chemical fertilizers etc. Also, the disadvantages of the capital diets which is greedy about surplus, thus resulting in evolving diseases or climate change which threatens our very existence. It is another big topic about the growing greed of crony capitalism which has been discussed in detail from the days of Friedrich Engels, Karl Marx, Rosa Luxemburg, Antonio Gramsci to the latest episodes of David Grabber, Yanis Varoufakis, Esther Duflo, Thomas Piketty etc.
Addressing the sins of capital economy is not about going back to the glorious (!) Feudal days or discussing the comic sides of the glorious past is not about ignoring the capitalist lust for surplus which are the triggering factor for most of the threats related to climate or poverty or famine or hunger or never-ending wars or escalating inequalities.
Rather the discussions or ideas should be about a rational inclusive society – which should address equity, equality, climate change and everything put together. Of course, i am not looking for a one pot solution and we cannot conclude any of the natural or artificial events as white and black. So obviously there are high chances that this discussion would stick between the ethical affinity towards humans or the rest of nature.
These are just a quantum of examples that we can produce about the glory of the past, which is mostly anti-scientific. Of course, pride or glory always concentrated on homogeneity can never be a scientific record, after all nature is very much heterogenous. Heterogeneity is the order of nature, without being heterogenous nothing can survive in nature from the atoms to the whole cosmic itself. The glorious hegemony in which epic centered in homogeneity is about the recent past of feudalism which again is the age-old fight of feudalism and capitalism.
The capitalistic modern world made transportation much simpler and faster through innumerable exclusive scientific research dedicated to transport of humans and goods. Thus, the movement of crops, breeds, diets is much easier in the 20th and 21st century rather than the glorious past. the extensive delays in the transportation and hybridization (natural/human made) of certain breeds and crops made them look authentically native and anything 'native' holds the homogeneous idea of cultural/social pride attached by default.
The beginning of the new century which is supposed to be more democratic and inclusive with the abounded reserves of connecting human beings through the technological evolution, rather makes us more individualistic (trying to be homogeneous) and believers of the glorious past in the forms of fake news, factoids, conspiracies, hoax etc. These stories help us to hold on to pride that is soothing to our ego, also it is much simpler to believe rather than the complications of rationalism. For example, how simple it is to believe in a solution that a soup made with ginger, turmeric, clove, lemon etc., can cure covid-19 instead of seeing ourselves in ventilators. I have personally witnessed number of such patients who believed in home remedies and later end up in intensive care units – some returned home and few reached the long queues of crematoriums.
These worrying voices of glorious past can be correlated to the dominance of the capitalism in every minuscule of human lives. For example, GMO chemical fertilizers etc. Also, the disadvantages of the capital diets which is greedy about surplus, thus resulting in evolving diseases or climate change which threatens our very existence. It is another big topic about the growing greed of crony capitalism which has been discussed in detail from the days of Friedrich Engels, Karl Marx, Rosa Luxemburg, Antonio Gramsci to the latest episodes of David Grabber, Yanis Varoufakis, Esther Duflo, Thomas Piketty etc.
Addressing the sins of capital economy is not about going back to the glorious (!) Feudal days or discussing the comic sides of the glorious past is not about ignoring the capitalist lust for surplus which are the triggering factor for most of the threats related to climate or poverty or famine or hunger or never-ending wars or escalating inequalities.
Rather the discussions or ideas should be about a rational inclusive society – which should address equity, equality, climate change and everything put together. Of course, i am not looking for a one pot solution and we cannot conclude any of the natural or artificial events as white and black. So obviously there are high chances that this discussion would stick between the ethical affinity towards humans or the rest of nature.
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