MEMSAHIB’S INDIA: MEMSAHIB’S RELATIONSHIP WITH INDIAN FOOD AND SERVANT

Abstract

This article mainly focuses on the life and food habits of the memshahibs in India. It also tells about the innovation of recipes and dishes of the European ladies who came to India during the 19^th century. The relationship between the memsahib and her servants is discussed here. The article depicts how the memsahibs dealt with their Indian servants in spite of so many barriers like communication problem, availability and scarcity of ingredients and supplies and the cook’s inefficiency towards what was instructed by the memsahib. It further tells about the memsahib’s problems and traumas, her socio-psychological shock after her arrival to this unknown land where nothing was according to ‘their’ land. Some of them created a bond with the natives of this land and others remained aloof complaining about the weather and food, all these are mentioned here. There are list of some fruits, vegetables and other consuming articles and names of memsahib’s invented recipes. The article talks about the fears of the memsahibs regarding their cooks- their cleanliness and their habit of stealing. Apart from this the memsahibs liked about Indian food and what they learnt from here before returning to England has been penned down here.