Indian Homes Aping American Practice Of Doing Away With Kitchens!

A few decades back we used to be amused listening to a variety of stories on the social situation prevailing in the United States of America. At that period they appeared to be too intriguing, and difficult to digest, and forget believing the same. But, over a period of time, the hitherto unbelievable things have almost become part and parcel of our lives making the developments in the US very easy to understand.

Appointment to meet friends and relatives: Earlier one used to feel very uneasy hearing that one had to make prior appointments with friends and relatives to pay courtesy visits in the States. These days, one is compelled to make it a point to have confirmation of the known people, kith and kin to call them in our own country as well. In that way now we can boast that we are also on par with a super powerful country. 

Impact of entry of TV into the drawing-room: The drawing room of ancestral homes used to be a centre of fun-filled activities for the whole family, friends, guests and relatives throughout the day and evening. However, the tenure of all this bonhomie and traditional fervour had its limitations following the entry of Television sets. The TV set which later came to be known as the idiot box grabbed all the attention and importance.

Visit, view TV and return Late Dr C Sitaram, a veteran journalist of his times who used to make fun of the prevailing piquant predicament once shared his experiences like this-"After the advent of the Television sets into the drawing hall of the homes in the early eighties it became an annoying experience to visit any friend or relative's house. Even after paying a visit on request, you ended up being a witness to the host watching the TV program and returning without any interaction".

Now the turn of kitchens: Those who admire America unreasonably must read this article. Prominent American economists of the 1980s warned Americans. Kitchens have been handed over to private companies, and if the government also takes care of the elderly and children, family responsibilities and their relevance will be lost. But very few people headed that advice. 

Ordering destroyed the family system: Home cooking ceased and the habit of ordering out destroyed much of the American family system! Cooking at home means keeping the family together, and connecting with affection. Cooking is not just an art...! So it is a centre of family culture and contentment! If there is no kitchen in the house and only a bedroom, then it is not a family, it has to be called a hostel or a hotel. What happened to American families who shut off the kitchen and thought one bedroom was enough?

19% of households are owned only by a father or mother: In 1971, 71 per cent of US families had spouses with children, but today, fifty years later, that number has dropped to 20 per cent, with families now living in nursing homes. 15% of women in America live alone. 12% of men live alone in the family. 19% of households are owned only by a father or mother. 

No such thing as virginity left in America: Only 6% of households have men and women together. It is a very serious fact that 41% of the babies born in recent times are born to unmarried women out of which half of them are school-going girls. 41% is a very large figure. That means there is no such thing as virginity left in America.

The United States is an example of a broken marriage: As a result, about 50 per cent of first marriages in America end in divorce. 67 per cent of second marriages and 74 per cent of third marriages are problematic. Just a bedroom is not a family. If there is no kitchen. The United States is an example of a broken marriage.

The family system here will be destroyed like in America: If the citizens of our country get into the habit of buying food from the store permanently, the family system here will be destroyed like in America, when families are destroyed, mental and physical health deteriorates. By eating foreign food, the body becomes fat and unhealthy, then problems such as minor diseases, infections and expenses also increase.

Eating with family members is good for the family system: Cooking at home and eating with family members is good for the family system! Physical health and mental health are also essential to the economy. That is why our ancestors advised us not to eat outside but...Today we eat at restaurants with our families...order online from food service companies like Swiggy, Zomato, and Uber at any time of the day or night to eat food that can cause minor ailments to the body...Even among highly educated, middle-class people, it has become fashionable now.

Online companies dictate what we eat: In the future, this habit will be a big disaster for society...Online companies dictate what we eat...so that doctors and drug companies can earn more. Our ancestors used to take home-cooked food with them before travelling or going on pilgrimage. So cook at home And...
Live happily...!
Use social media not to influence people but to change people's behaviour and thinking.

Inputs courtesy on the American situation: Krishna Itnal, retired Administrative Officer, LIC. A septuagenarian Gandhian settled in Pune.