What's so strange? I think this is more a comment on how *we* view the world, rather than on the food preferences of Tiruvarur workers or the Kunbis of Goa.
We tend to judge *others* unfavourable and as being 'strange'. But sometimes the shoe is on the other foot. Brahmins from other parts of India have difficulty in appreciating that their counterparts in Goa (and other places like West Bengal) actually eat fish. The Goan Hindu finds it difficult to come to terms with the fact that the Goan Catholic actually eats pork. Add to that the religious 'clash of civilisation' preferences over the eating of beef, which has religious connotations in India. Researchers recently caused a row, however, by suggesting that the cow wasn't always sacred in India, and anthropologists say the majority of Indians are not vegetarians. Some time back, on the Usenet newsgroups (http://groups.google.com), I actually came across a reference which suggested that 'sorpatel' from Goa -- with all its bloody ingredients -- was one of the most disguisting recipes from across the planet. Moral of the story: we judge the world through what *we* see as appropriate behaviour. FN PS: Thanks for the information on the rats. Roban used to work in the past, but apparently now has the rats dying in the house itself. Would anyone know what is the best type of rat-traps available? In India, of course... Read of something on the Net which induces the rats just to flee from the home, because of the scent it lets out. Or so they claim. On Tue, 24 Feb 2004, domnic fernandes wrote: > Jose Colaco mentioned the following in his article yesterday under subject > �Rat Problem�: > > �They do eat rats in TN: Govt tells SC > > Tuesday, 19 August , 2003, 10:28 > > The Tamil Nadu Government told the Supreme Court that > it was common for labourers in Tiruvarur district to > eat 'robust rats' even as it denied that they have > been forced to adopt such eating habits due to > starvation.� > > Did you know that our Goan �KUNBIS� eat robust rats (Kolundir)? I know this > for a fact because I personally witnessed them eating one. In my article of > January 3, I wrote about a group of Kunbis from Assagao who took up a > contract at my place to dig water well in the early fifties. Since my house ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
