Abstract

This article traces the transnational history of Indian Multi-Purpose Food (Indian MPF, or simply MPF) to make two contributions to the historiography of development in post-War South Asia. Firstly, it illuminates the involvement of supporters of Indian nationalism in North America, who backed the use of food supplements in India, in the process of mobilising US resources to promote Indian national development in general, and family planning in particular. Secondly, the article sheds new light on the production of development knowledge on food and nutrition in early post-colonial India and the role that food science and technology assumed in national food planning in the first decades after Independence.

摘要

本文追溯了印度多功能食品（印度MPF，简称MPF）的跨国历史，为战后南亚的发展史学做出了两点贡献。首先，它阐明了印度民族主义在北美的支持者的参与，他们支持在印度使用食品补充剂，在调动美国资源以总体上促进印度民族发展，特别是计划生育的过程中。其次，本文为在后殖民早期的印度提供有关食品和营养的发展知识，以及在独立后的最初几十年中食品科学和技术在国家食品计划中扮演的角色提供了新的启示。