Nico Slate - Gandhis Search for the Perfect Diet

EATING WITH THE WORLD IN MIND

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON PRESS

Seattle

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Copyright 2019 by the University of Washington Press

Printed and bound in the United States of America

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Composed in Cala, typeface designed by Dieter Hofrichter

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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

Names: Slate, Nico, author.

Title: Gandhis search for the perfect diet : eating with the world in mind / Nico Slate.

Description: Seattle : University of Washington Press, [2019] | Series: Global South Asia | Includes bibliographical references and index. |

Identifiers: LCCN 2018026828 (print) | LCCN 2018047384 (ebook) | ISBN 9780295744971 (ebook) | ISBN 9780295744957 (hardcover : alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH : Food preferences. | FoodQuality. | DietHistory. | Public health.

Classification: LCC TX353 (ebook) | LCC TX353 .S53 2019 (print) | DDC 613.2dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018026828

FRONTISPIECE : Mahatma Gandhi, a.k.a. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (18691948), photographed in Gujarat, India, on April 6, 1930. Sueddeutsche Zeitung Photo / Alamy Stock Photo.

The paper used in this publication is acid free and meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI z39.481984.

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit.

MATTHEW 7:15

My mother, Karena Slate, worked late. A single mother who commuted sixty miles to teach in a public school, she did not have much time to cook. Around the age of twelve, I began to prepare meals for my mom and for myself. No matter how simple the meala spaghetti sauce spiced only with salt and pepper, a soup that was nothing but water and boiled vegetablesmy mom always raved about my culinary genius. My love for cooking owes everything to her kindness.

Therese Tardio, Matt Coffman, and Jonathan Nassim all spent hours discussing Gandhis diet with me. My colleagues and students at Carnegie Mellon University challenged me to think more critically about Gandhis struggles with food. Several anonymous readers offered sharp and insightful comments. John Soluri read the manuscript and suggested dozens of improvements. Lorri Hagman of the University of Washington Press was generous and supportive throughout the process, and offered thoughtful suggestions on nearly every page of the manuscript. Anne Mathews copyedited the manuscript with great care and skill, and Julie Van Pelt guided me (and the book) through the production process. Apoorv Bajaj, Haribhai Mori, Mahendra Phate, and all my friends at the Kamalnayan Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation offered hospitality and inspiration. My brother, Peter Slate, taught me to believe in myself. Emily Mohn-Slate read the manuscript, offered critical insights into its arguments, heroically put up with my cooking, and filled my days with poetry. Kai Slate and Lucia Slate helped me make pumpkin pudding, ate my gorilla munch, and sometimes even asked for more. My deepest thanks to all.