In the second episode, travel through a Christian village in Meghalaya, meet the Kolkata-based Jewish community and feast on the 56-course feast at Jagannath as India Booked talks to Varud Gupta, author of the cookbook-cum-travelouge Bhagwaan Ke Pakwaan. Listen to discover what he has to share on the connections between faith and food in the communities of India and how they are trying to preserve their culinary cultures.
Varud Gupta is an NYU graduate in Finance. He has also penned Chhotu, a coming-of-age graphic novel set against the Partition. Bhagwaan ke Pakwaan, which loosely translates to Food of the Gods, captures stories of what different cultures have to offer around their famous recipes. Listen now to find out how food, faith, and community are interwoven in India and how the stories came together in the book.
The India Booked podcast uses literature as a lever to bring multiple facets of the country alive. It's perfect for not just bibliophiles and trivia junkies but also people interested in learning more about India. Each episode focuses on a different theme, ranging from business and food, to history and politics, geography and spirituality. It unfolds as a 40-45 minute conversation between the host and a celebrated author to talk about everything India.
Varud Gupta was born and bred for business until a brusque millennial existential crisis sent him traveling through the culinary cultures of the world. He's been a NY cheesemonger, an Argentine asador, a Peruvian bartender and a spy in countless household kitchens.
His first book, Bhagwaan Ke Pakwaan or Food of The Gods, is an exploration of the intersection of food and faith in India and won the 2019 Gourmand India award for "Peace" and "First Cookbook." His recently released graphic novel, Chhotu: A Tale of Partition and Love, is a coming of age story set in 1947 Chandni Chowk. It received Comic Con India's 2020 award for "Best Writer".
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