Chennai: The alleged absence of beef during the initial stages of this year’s food festival in Chennai, held by the Tamil Nadu Urban Livelihoods Mission (TNULM), has sparked a row. City-based activists have said the beef dishes were introduced at the event only after the unavailability was flagged.
Author and Dalit rights activist Shalin Maria Lawrence said that although beef is widely consumed in the state by everyone, it has been projected as a point of shame as Dalits and Muslims among lower castes also eat the meat. She told ThePrint that beef dishes were added to the festival menus only Sunday evening, following the uproar.
Lawrence said that many districts, including Nagercoil and Kanyakumari, have popular beef dishes, and including them is important to ensure their representation. “When the government—the Dravidian government, which boasts of promoting social justice—conducts a festival, we want it to showcase these dishes. Only then will everyone accept them.”
Joel Shelton Terrance, another social activist, also said that he decided to bring the issue to public notice through social media platforms as he couldn’t find beef dishes at the event Friday, the first day of the festival.
A one of a kind festival, the event showcased food prepared by over 150 women, representing 65 self-help groups, from across the state. The festival was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin Friday evening and is set to conclude Tuesday. According to TNULM officials, the festival saw a footfall of over 3 lakh people until Monday.
Lawrence said even during the Mega food festival conducted by the food security department in the city in 2022, beef was not included in the menu at first, but was added after the wide outrage. “It’s as if the state wants to showcase itself as Brahminical. It’s a casteist mentality.”
However, a TNULM official, who did not wish to be named, told ThePrint that there was no discrimination against beef at the festival and that it was served from the first day itself. “They might have missed it.”
The official added they served beef chukka and beef gravy Sunday, but the dishes did not have many takers. However, he said that he does not remember what beef items were on Friday and Saturday’s menu.
However, Terrance posted the festival menus from 21 December and 22 December on X. The image corresponding to 21 December did not list a beef dish.
Finally, the #Beef has been served in #ChennaiFoodFestival checkout at Stall No 17
After pointing out yesterday, necessary steps has been taken. #Beef is officially added to the menu card at 18.05 pm @TheBluePen25 @Neelam_Culture @leninbharathi1 @beemji @TncdwH @shreya_psingh https://t.co/Di6Ng56u86 pic.twitter.com/w313wSynIe
— Joel Shelton Terrance F | ஜோயல் செல்டன் டெரன்ஸ் பி (@jterrancef16) December 22, 2024
Salem Dharanidharan, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s spokesperson, did not respond to ThePrint’s queries on the matter.
Biryani the most popular dish
Among the 285 vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes at the festival, Biryani has been the most popular one so far, the TNULM Official said. He added that varieties like Arcot biryani and Coimbatore Kongu mutton biriyani have had the highest demand, followed by Karur thol roti and Madurai mutton curry dosa.
The said initiative, proposed by Udhayanidhi Stalin, was to engage women SHGs in more public events. Three of the 45 stalls at the event are also dedicated to packed food products, such as snacks, pickles and chocolates.
Mallika, 47, a participant at the festival and a member of Chennai-based SHG Sakthi Magalir Kuzhu, selling varieties of dosas, tea and coffee, said that the initiative has helped change the perception of women’s self-help groups among the public.
“Earlier, everyone used to think that we just get together to fight among ourselves, but now they respect us.”
Nagercoil is the Kanyakumari district capital town. Nagercoil is not a district. Contrary to what is stated, beef and pork are widely available everywhere in Tamilnadu and eaten by a wide section of people, not just by ‘minorities’. Muslims shun pork and some Hindus shun beef. Some people shun all forms of non vegetarian dishes. It does not make the state government ‘brahminical’ if that is reflected in the dishes provided. Will these activists make a fuss if pork dishes are not provided? Or will they eat beef dishes if they are provided side by side pork dishes?
Ellala Raja Chozha gave life ending penalty to his own son for accidentally killing a calf. Since that era, the people of Tamil Nadu and Keralam have fallen so far down this rabbit hole it is unacceptable. I think southern states should be given economic freedoms, in exchange of preventing this unconstitutional anti-DPSP behaviour in our states!
Nothing could be more misleading than the laim put up by Shalin that beef is widely consumed in the state by everyone.
Beef gets consumed only by a miniscule of population in TN mostly from Minorities although tolerance of beef is higher than other states. You’ll find a lot of beef shops inn some localities like: Dadashamakan of Chennai where people from minority resides at large
The economy of TN has asignificant chunk coming from agriculture & hence people have their emotional values attached with cattles to an extent that Mattu Pongal is still celebrated widely where cattles are worshipped. It’s not Kerala
Good Lord! The Print thought this is front-page worthy news, to be printed topmost on the website?