Abstract

This introductory essay provides an overview of the main subfields of research into the histories of foodstuffs, diet and nutrition in nineteenth- and twentieth-century South Asia, thus situating the contributions to this themed special section in wider historiographical debates and controversies. It argues that the bulk of existing research has focused either on the conflictual role of food and diet in the colonial encounter, or on the emergence of nutritional sciences in India (and in the countries providing food aid to India) during the post-colonial phase in response to the protracted recurrence of food scarcity in the subcontinent. It subsequently identifies a research lacuna by pointing to the conspicuous absence of historical studies on Dalits and food in spite of the topic’s obvious relevance for the creation and maintenance of social hierarchies. The article ends with short previews of the individual essays assembled in this collection.

摘要

本介绍性文章概述了19世纪和20世纪南亚食品，饮食和营养史研究的主要子领域，从而在更广泛的史学辩论和争论中为这一主题的特殊部分做出了贡献。它认为，现有研究的大部分都集中在殖民时期遭遇食物和饮食的冲突作用上，或者集中在后殖民时期印度（以及向印度提供粮食援助的国家）营养科学的兴起。以应对次大陆旷日持久的食物短缺问题。随后，尽管该主题与建立和维护社会等级制具有明显的相关性，但通过指出对达利特人和食品的历史研究明显缺乏，从而确定了研究空白。本文以该系列文章的简短预告结束。