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Reviews
Annam
Bahu Kurvita
Religious Studies Review, Volume 24 Number 3, July 1998
by John Grimes
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
Annam Bahu Kurvita: Recollecting the Indian Discipline
of Growing and Sharing Food in Plenty. By Jitendra Bajaj and
Mandayam Doddamane Srinivas. Madras: Centre for Policy
Studies, 1996. Pp. lvi+217, Rs.400, ISBN 81-86041-05-2.
An oft-quoted Sanskrit verse declares that “the gift of
wisdom is the most superior of all gifts; the greatest
empirical gift is food.” Human life, in order to exist,
grow, and achieve life’s ultimate goal, depends upon food.
Thus, food is not only the source of life and the condition
of life; it is the very stuff of life. Not only must one eat
to live, but all life, in any manifestation, requires one
type of food or another for its support along the way.
Physically, mentally, in all forms, food is indispensable.
This book is a wonderful gift to everyone in that it has
gathered together, in one place, scriptural references
concerning food from various Hindu scriptures. As well, the
author comments upon, presents the rationale behind, and
engenders an understanding regarding an abundance of food
and sharing or gift of food. It is truly a remarkable
exposition of the greatness of food and all that this
entails. It ought to be read by all Indians, so as to
rekindle a fast-disappearing tradition, and anyone even
remotely interested in Hindu culture. Further, since all
individuals live by food, it provides fertile thought
universally.
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