Flavors of India

One of the highlights of Kusum Ji and Anshul Ji’s Hindi 101 class was a cooking class where we had the chance to make our own lunch and put into practice two important topics covered in class, namely giving instructions and vocabulary for common food items. The cooking class was held in the kitchen on the second floor of the John Hope Franklin Center, just outside the medical campus, which already provided some excitement as a chance to venture to a less-frequented part of campus. Students were also encouraged to invite their friends from outside the class.

With assistance from Kusum Ji and Anshul Ji, the students prepared pav bhaji by following instructions such as “प्याज काटें” (cut the onions), “लाल मिर्च डालें” (add red chili), and “पाव पर मक्खन लगाएं” (spread butter on the bread). On the side, the students also prepared pani puri as an appetizer, along with mango lassi and masala chai for drinks. While waiting for the food to be prepared, those students who were not cooking passed the time and entertained their guests by playing Simon Says in Hindi, using common imperatives taught in class such as “बैठिए” (sit), “उठिए” (stand), “बोलिए” (speak), and “देखिए” (look); and playing Charades, with the items to act out being Bollywood actors and movies.

Beyond the language-learning objectives, the class was also a chance to learn . Many students in the class, me included, had eaten these items many times but had rarely prepared them ourselves. The cooking class was also just a fun and relaxed environment to bond with our fellow students over the food we had just prepared. As a student who takes mostly lecture-based courses with mostly individual assignments, I have found it far too easy to go through entire semesters without ever really talking to my classmates, so even a simple chance to chitchat is much appreciated.

I am glad that Kusum Ji and Anshul Ji chose to incorporate this cooking class into the Hindi 101 course. If you know someone taking a Hindi course at Duke, and they invite you to their cooking class for the semester, don’t hesitate! 

This cooking class was supported and funded by Asian and Middle Eastern Studies