We live in a free country and every year on 15th August we look back at the past, then at the present and perhaps even at the future, reflecting on how far we have come as a nation and where we are headed. While these ideas and perspectives are extremely important, for any Tom, Dick and Harry (or maybe Tanmay, Deepak and Harshit) the idea of freedom really comes from the perspective of their lives. Tell us, what is ‘freedom’ to you? Where do you find it every day? And why do you need it, or rather, why do you need it?
Interestingly, freedom can be found in our relationships, the space we use, our work, and other little things in life that seem normal when seen from a distance, but when we delve deeper into our mind and heart, we will find that it is these little things that actually provide freedom in our lives.
it independence day 2024NDTV Food decided to use the kitchen as a space of freedom and self-reliance. The kitchen is much more than just that small room in the house where food is prepared every day. Come to think of it, the kitchen can be a very special place that really adds meaning to many people’s lives, giving them a sense of liberation and a private space for self-expression and creation. We spoke to a few cooking enthusiasts about what ‘freedom in the kitchen’ means to them, and how something as simple as cooking your own food is essential to call yourself truly independent in today’s times.
Also read: Why is eating with your hands more than just a tradition?
Relief from all stress and worries
“As far back as I can remember, I’ve always felt comfortable in the kitchen.”
Freedom in the kitchen can mean different things to different people. For 28-year-old Mayank, the kitchen is a place for both control and free-flow. While studying in Delhi, away from his parents in Lucknow, Mayank discovered the power of cooking to escape the noise and chaos of the outside world. Living alone, he often finds himself seeking help from multiple people to figure things out. But if there is one thing he is confident of taking care of himself, it is that he can cook whatever he wants for himself, whenever he wants and actually finds the process relaxing. A long and tiring day melts away in the evening under his cup of tea, with the amount of ginger and cardamom exactly the way he likes it. The kitchen is a place of zen for him – where there is no one to judge him, where his creative energy is at the forefront, and a place from where he always leaves with a sense of satisfaction and a plate full of aromatic, delicious food.
Cooking to give your mom more independence
“I used to see my mother working all the time and I decided to take on the responsibility of cooking dinner.”
62-year-old Sheelu has been cooking for the past 49 years. She was 13 when she realised her mother was overburdened, having to handle multiple household chores and raise five children. Being the eldest daughter, she felt the least she could do was take on the responsibility of making dinner. Her cooking journey began with cooking dinner every day and giving her hardworking mother a break from at least one chore. Fast forward to today, Sheelu has found a new kind of freedom in cooking. Although she has the resources to hire a cook and no longer has to ‘work’ in the kitchen, she finds this attitude too restrictive. Instead, cooking in her own way using wholesome ingredients and a dose of love for her family feels truly powerful to her. Sheelu believes a sense of balance is essential to finding any kind of freedom, including your relationship with the kitchen. Although she loves cooking and experimenting with her recipes, on days when she needs a break from the kitchen, she doesn’t hesitate to do so.
Freedom to cook peacefully in a clean and positive space
“I wanted a kitchen that was clean and uncluttered so I could cook in peace.”
Akanksha, 31, is an architect and interior designer who knows how to create functional and aesthetically pleasing kitchens for clients, even when their home is not big enough for a grand kitchen. Apart from her work, Akanksha also loves to cook, but for a long time, she avoided cooking most of the time. Why? The kitchen in the house she lived in was very dirty – old walls, a sink always full of dirty utensils and lack of hygienic cooking practices. Although she loved to cook and had a lot of ideas and inspirations, she wanted a kitchen that she could call her own, designed the way she wanted and most importantly, always clean. Now that she has recently moved to a new house, she is really celebrating the freedom in her new kitchen.
Also read: I tried Navratri fasting for a week for the first time and here are my two takeaways
Freedom from unhealthy, junk food sold outside
“All the food prepared in our kitchen is fresh, nutritious and delicious.”
Vijay, 64, who runs a clothing store in Delhi, started cooking a few years ago. He was bored of eating the same dal, roti and sabzi every day for so many years. He didn’t like ordering food from outside, so most of his meals were limited to his wife’s homemade food. One day, he finally decided to step into the kitchen and cook something different from the usual food prepared in his house. Though he faced some difficulties initially, he soon got the hang of cooking and started enjoying the process. From sweets to mocktails and salads, he started experimenting with food beyond dal and sabzi and the delicious food attracted other family members as well. By learning to cook at the age of 60, Vijay has finally gained the power to cook what he wants to eat and experiment like no one in his family has ever done before. They ensure that the food they cook is fresh, nutritious and delicious, so that their family remains free from the growing culture of ordering junk food at the touch of a button.
Freedom to experiment and unleash your creativity
“Living on my own has given me the freedom to experiment with cooking the way I like it.”
25-year-old Mayanka is an English professor who lives in Ujjain for work, away from her family and home. Creativity is Mayanka’s middle name – you’ll find her paper crafts hanging on the walls, paintings on any blank paper and lots of quirky doodling next to her notes. When she recently stepped out of the house for work and started cooking for herself, she channelled all her creativity into her cooking. Though she was always fed by her mother at home, she never found cooking on her own a lonely or burdensome affair. Her small but efficient kitchen is like an art gallery, the food she cooks is nothing short of a work of art and she becomes an artist the moment she steps into the kitchen. While she loves to feed her friends who often come over for dinner, her priority is to cook to impress no one but her own taste buds. The freedom to experiment, have breakfast for dinner and whip up a 5-star style dish at 2 am makes her feel incredibly happy and liberated.
Also read: Why should you preserve and recreate your family recipes?
If you haven’t tried cooking yet or you think there is nothing exciting in the kitchen, this Independence Day 2024, we encourage you to give it a try and may your new-found ability to cook open up a whole new level of freedom you’ve never felt before. Happy Cooking and Happy Independence Day 2024!
Image: Mayank Kumar, Sheelu Batra, Vijay Kumar
