Roti Archaeology
By Nandini Subramanian
This menu is the result of research
on reconstructions of multi-diasporic communities in the United States through their rotis. It centers the restaurant as a place where these reconstructions occur within the confines of colonialism and capitalism. This menu recenters roti dishes from South and Southeast Asia through the narratives of Tamil migration, colonialism, and shared history that brought these foods together. The goal is to answer the question “How are reconstructions of Sri Lankan, Indian and Malaysian roti informed by the history and migration of Tamil diasporas across these regions?”
Diasporic restaurants face cultural homogenization and redefinition of their authenticity by Western capitalism. To balance preserving food practices while assimilating to a distilled version of their culture, certain practices end up sidelined. But food across South Asian diasporas is a key way of knowing and preserving culture. These layered practices enable us to view the histories of Tamil migration through multiple perspectives.
About Nandani
- Hamilton College ’23
- Major:
- What is he doing now:
- Why did he choose this topic?
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The Roti Collective 