Is hing casteist?

Vidya Balachander

(Sigh) Another example of injecting caste into everything. As a friend said:

Mix caste into every Indian narrative as "masala " to be served in food for western audiences... Tired of these folks who spin these theses endlessly :-(

So true. In 2021, Vidya Balachander won a writing award from the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) in the Food and Drink category for her article Asafoetida’s Lingering Legacy Goes Beyond Aroma. 

Here's what ASJA said about Balachander's article:

This is a beautifully written piece exploring the spice. The writer strikes an intriguing balance between her personal experience and history, anthropology and politics. A fantastic piece combining in-depth research and skillful writing. 

References:

American Society of Journalists and Authors. (2021). ASJA > For Writers > ASJA's Annual Writing Awards. Asja.org. Retrieved 15 July 2021, from https://asja.org/for-writers/annual-writing-awards.

Balachander, V. (2021). Asafoetida’s Lingering Legacy Goes Beyond Aroma — Whetstone Magazine. Whetstone Magazine. Retrieved 15 July 2021, from https://www.whetstonemagazine.com/journal/asafoetidas-lingering-legacy-goes-beyond-aroma.