Tibetan food Vs Chinese food

                                      Intro of  Tibetan food

As on today, the popular junk food that is being sold under the “tag” of ” Chinese Food” or “Manchurian” which has got multiple varieties. The same food, had had a different “processing” name at the inception, for some decades. D’ you know? How this junk food got introduced and circulated into Indian society, and with what title it got spread over? What was the initiative option of the food and its history?

With certitude I can claim, majority of people are not aware of that! Have you ever given a thought, a nation like India, where anti-China sentiments ever fostered and prevailed, how come “Chinese food” gained the popularity? May be, today’s generation has got a conception, Chinese made its introduction in the Indian market as they introduced their other products in the market. If you follow this line, you are wrong.

                                       The Historical back drop

 People, who are well informed about the back drop historical circumstances of Indo-Sino war of 1962.  They can recall that in the year of 1959, when Tibetan spiritual teacher His Highness Dalai Lama took political asylum in India. This asylum he took, to evade the persecution of the Chinese government. Along with him, a multitude of Tibetan refugees got influx into India.

Thence Nehru led government, made them stay at Delhi, Dehra Dun (now a part of Utterakhand province) and Dharmshala (old name Bhagsu) of Himanchal Pradesh (province) etc. The government, allocated appropriate lands to them for settlement and business purposes. the Tibetan refugees who got settled here, had with them their own culture, food habits etc., that was natural thing. It was an ethnic transition.

                       Quenching appetite for Tibetans refugees 

The places allocated for business purposes, made them to open some food outlets in shape of mini-restaurants or kiosks. These were basically for quenching the appetite of their own community people. They used to sell their own recipe, like Thuppa, momos and chow min etc. Besides, they happened to vend home brew, like “chhaang” (an under proof liquor like beer) . I properly remember that in the year of 1983-84, a full mug of “Chaang” liquor had a cost of rupee three only in my city. This mug helped provide ecstasy of a bottle of beer, and non-veg Tibetan food was available at a throw away price.

                          Spreading of Tibetan food culture

  So… that was the beginning of “Tibetan food” in the Indian society. Gradually, this food occupied a stand-by meal among people. Later on some Indian denizens learnt the food recipe from them, and started their own small outlets. In the decade of nineteen eighty and up to the year of 2000 was the flourishing era of Tibetan food. The varieties were limited and refined. Still the same is in vogue in old restaurants, being run by Tibetan people.

                                 Blunder of Indian regime

 Round about the year of 2000, our thence sitting government blundered to accept the “Tibetan land” as the part of the “China Mainland.” Besides, that was the time, when China with her all spurious, cheap products of daily use was to engulf the entire global market and succeeded too. In India, another young generation was booming, that in their sentiments began to call “Tibetan food” as “Chinese food.” And the Tibetan issue was engulfed by the storm of the mighty Chinese food ,with certain bombastic food names as Manchurian, spring roll etc . A proverb is there.”Might is always right.”…..penned by– Vinay Pharasi.