'Together we made ... ': Rahul Gandhi’s heartfelt cooking session with Dalit man, his family; watch video

NEW DELHI: Congress MP and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday shared a video that showcased his experience of sharing a meal with Ajay Tukaram Sanade and his wife Anjana Tukaram Sanade, who belong to the Dalit community.

The video showed Rahul participating in cooking traditional dishes alongside the couple and learning more about "Dalit cuisine".

During the cooking session, the Congress leader expressed his interest in understanding Dalit cuisine and its social and political significance. In a post on X, Rahul quoted activist Shahu Patole: "No one knows what Dalits eat."

Gandhi spent time in the Sanade family's kitchen, learning and preparing dishes such as 'Harbharyachi Bhaji' and 'tuvar dal' with brinjal.


"He invited me to his home in Kolhapur, Maharashtra with great respect and gave me a chance to help him in the kitchen. Together we made 'Harbharyachi Bhaji', a vegetable of chickpea greens and 'tuvar dal' with brinjal," Rahul said in a post.

"Talking about Patole ji and the Sanade family’s personal experiences with caste and discrimination, we discussed the lack of awareness about Dalit cuisine and the importance of documentation of this culture," he added.

As they cooked together, Rahul listened to the Sanade family's personal experiences with caste-based discrimination and discussed the lack of awareness about Dalit food culture and the importance of documenting it. The Congress leader also engaged in a discussion about Dalit issues with Sahu Patole Ji, a Dalit community member who is currently writing a book titled 'Dalit Kitchen of Marathwada'.

Rahul pointed out the need to preserve Dalit culture while addressing the broader issue of caste discrimination. He said, "The constitution grants participation and rights to the Bahujans, and we will protect that constitution. But true inclusion and equality in society will only be achieved when every Indian fosters a sense of brotherhood in their heart."


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