Your Face in the Mirror: The Great Indian Kitchen

Dear Men

Please don’t watch The Great Indian Kitchen.

I, for once, can’t understand the hype behind the film – The Great Indian Kitchen. The story is as old as our civilization. The woman comes as a bride, all sparkles and flowers, and soon enough, the spangles are gone. She is busy scrubbing the floor, wringing the lower garment of an older in-law, cleaning, and cooking. More cooking. And much more cleaning… Till the next meal, which comes sooner than she would have liked. Is this even a story befitting to be filmed? Its only life, why watch it on screen?

The only difference is that the camera bothers to stay with the woman this time. When you are done eating, and you are out fiddling with your phone, or relaxing after a heavy meal, the woman is wrapping the kitchen. She is getting things prepared for the next “shift”.  She gingerly picks your leftovers and tosses them in the giant rotting bin, which may resemble her life. As you inundate yourself in the lingering aroma of wholesome homemade food, the fresh tadka of asafoetida infused daal, or the tangy goodness of chole, the toasty smell of parathas; she deals with the stench and the rot. The same food that takes you back to your happy childhood is the reality of the rest of her life. Your mother fed you with so much love, no matter how much your wife tries, it is not the same, is it? Blame her inexperience. But in some time, she will get there, you smile and tell yourself.

While she is answering her emails, she is planning the next day’s meal in her head. She is folding the laundry but wondering if she has kept milk in the fridge. While bathing, she panics that she has forgotten to soak rice for idlis. While you have had a tough week and looking forward to the weekend, she buys extra vegetables to make pakoras for you. Won’t you expect an evening snack that you are home? You look forward to unwinding in the holidays, she is busy cleaning, making more dishes than you can eat. Oh yes, you should exercise of course, while she is running around to hand out a glass of freshly squeezed lemonade to you. 

Where are your keys? Ask her. 

Don’t know where your other sock is? She will find that out from right in front of your drawer. 

While reading your newspaper, shout for her. But shout loudly, you see, she is in the kitchen making rotis. So shout till she gets you a glass of water. 

If you are reading something amusing, call for her again and share the joke. She will certainly appreciate that you are the kind of man who shares light moments with her, relieving her from the drudgery of her work. You know that women like mild-mannered men with tepid sense of humour.

When you both come back from office, freshen up and wait on the sofa. The tea will be served. On working days, she will be up and will pack dabbas, and your kids’, and hers. Of course, you are an understanding husband; you will never throw a tantrum. You will mention, only very gently, that you were served bhindi fry twice within a week! It feels repetitive, doesn’t it?

So, dear men, don’t watch that much-hyped vicious feminist propaganda,  The Great Indian Kitchen. Instead, stop what you are doing, and look at your wife. I mean, really look hard. Follow her with your eyes. Pay attention to what she does. Don’t watch the film. Just watch your wife. Your mother. Your domestic help. And then look into the mirror.