Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Is 'curry' racist?

Is 'curry' racist?

AN ASIAN food blogger’s call to cancel the word “curry” for its ties to British colonialism has sparked debate about the use of the term.

Several US-based food bloggers have argued the term “curry” should be boycotted due to its connotations with imperialism and racism.


In a viral video earlier this month, Chaheti Bansal shared a recipe but urged people to “cancel the word curry”. “There’s a saying that the food in India changes every 100km and yet we’re still using this umbrella term popularised by white people who

couldn’t be bothered to learn the actual names of our dishes,” said Bansal, who lives in California.

Fellow blogger Nisha Vedi Pawar, who has more than 38,000 followers, echoed Bansal’s sentiment. “It’s just like for American food,” she said. “You wouldn’t want everything dipped in Old Bay (a popular seasoning brand in the US).”

Enam Ali, the founder of the British Curry Awards, told Eastern Eye he was “disappointed” by the call to cancel the word. He noted the origins of the term came from the Tamil language, where it was originally referred to as ‘kari’.

P1 Enam Ali

Its first use reportedly dates to the mid-18th century when members of the British East India Trading Company were trading with Tamil merchants in southeast India.

Ali expressed doubts about how much Bansal knew about the history of curry in the UK. “Food cultures always borrow the cuisine of each other and reinterpret it – the British chicken tikka masala being the most amazing example,” the British-Bangladeshi businessman explained. “The balti dish was invented in Birmingham and there are now restaurants in India and Bangladesh serving Anglicised versions of British curry cuisine.”

He added: “You can ask anyone who is a food lover, (but) I don’t think anyone will agree with (Bansal). This is only a publicity stunt.”

Dr Subir Sinha, a senior lecturer at SOAS University of London, also expressed his disbelief at the call to cancel the word. He argued cultures regularly misuse each other’s words. “That is how languages and cultures develop,” he told Eastern Eye. “In India, you could go to a so-called Western restaurant, and they will use words such as ‘cutlets’ or ‘chops’ and these words are used differently to how we use them

in the UK.”

According to Sinha, British cookbooks from the 13th and 14th century used the

word curry. Instead, the academic described the term as a “useful shorthand”. “I don’t think there is anything in the word, that is either racist or necessarily colonial,” said Sinha, adding that he had not heard of any south Asians taking offence at the word.

LEAD Curry 1b GettyImages 91060995 The curry industry is said to contribute more than £5bn to the British economy

However, others have shown support for Bansal’s campaign. Restaurateur Cyrus Todiwala said he had been opposed to the word “curry” being used to generalise Indian food since he first arrived in the UK in the early 1990s.

He believes “curry” refers to “cheap and cheerful food laced with lots of chilli powder and oil”, instead of the “deep and meaningful cuisine” of south Asia.

The chef said he takes every opportunity to educate people on the term. “Personally, I would be most happy if the British referred to Indian food as Indian cuisine or food and dropped the use of the word curry unless it is actually a curry or ‘kari’,” he told Eastern Eye.

However, Todiwala does not believe the word has implications of racism. “It has become such a generic term now that people seem not to realise the specifics of using it,” said the owner of Café Spice Namaste. “I am convinced that it is not racial,

but rather, [comes from] a lack of knowledge and understanding.”

UK-based food blogger Chintal Patel (@drchintalskitchen) said she only partly agreed with the argument. “I don’t think we should totally boycott the word, but I think it is lazily used to describe all Indian food,” she told Eastern Eye. “Indian food is so diverse and varies so much across the country.”

Patel, who has more than 40,000 followers on her Instagram page, said bloggers should be mindful of respecting other cultures when cooking their food.

She added: “(We should be) celebrating diversity rather than clumping it [food] under one umbrella term.”

More For You

Aga Khan IV tribute: ‘His vision and impact transcended borders, faiths and generations’

His Highness the Aga Khan IV with the then Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, at the Aga Khan Centre, London, in 2019.

Aga Khan IV tribute: ‘His vision and impact transcended borders, faiths and generations’

Naushad Jivraj

WITH profound sorrow and deep gratitude, we reflect on the life and legacy of Prince Karim al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV, our beloved 49th hereditary Imam.

For nearly seven decades, His Highness Aga Khan IV dedicated his life to the spiritual and material wellbeing of the Ismaili community. He was not only our spiritual leader but also a visionary, whose work improved the lives of millions worldwide, leaving an impact that transcended borders, faiths and generations.

Keep ReadingShow less
Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey set to dazzle Brighton Pride 2025 with a show-stopping performance at Preston Park

Getty Images

Mariah Carey to headline Brighton Pride 2025: Iconic comeback set to break records

This summer, music legend Mariah Carey is set to light up the stage at Brighton Pride, marking her first UK performance since her 2019 Royal Albert Hall shows. Scheduled for August 2, 2025, at Preston Park, Carey’s highly anticipated appearance follows the cancellation of the 2020 event due to COVID-19. Known for her chart-topping hits like "Fantasy" and "Always Be My Baby," her performance is expected to draw massive crowds. Tickets go on sale February 20, and demand is expected to be high.

Paul Kemp, Brighton Pride’s Managing Director, shared his excitement, recalling the disappointment of 2020. “We’re thrilled to finally welcome Mariah this year,” Kemp said. “Pride is a celebration of love, diversity, and unity, and having a global icon like her headline makes this year’s event even more special.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Are Kanye West and Bianca Censori breaking up after the viral Grammys stunt?

Kanye West and Bianca Censori at the Marni Fall/Winter 2024 Fashion Show during Milan Fashion Week

Getty Images

Are Kanye West and Bianca Censori breaking up after the viral Grammys stunt?

Kanye West, now legally known as Ye, and his wife, Bianca Censori, are once again at the centre of divorce rumours, this time following a series of controversies surrounding Ye. Reports suggest that the couple’s relationship has been strained due to Ye’s recent actions, including allegations of antisemitism and the backlash from selling swastika-themed merchandise.

Sources claim that Censori, 30, reached a breaking point, unwilling to be associated with Ye’s controversies any longer. The tension reportedly escalated after Censori’s near-nude appearance at the 2025 Grammy Awards, which drew widespread criticism. While Ye defended her bold outfit, calling her “smart, talented, brave, and hot,” the incident allegedly deepened the rift between them.

Keep ReadingShow less
Win tickets to Mythili Prakash’s stunning dance show

Mythili Prakash

Win tickets to Mythili Prakash’s stunning dance show

Eastern Eye

EASTERN EYE readers have the chance to win a pair of tickets to watch Bharatnatyam dancer Mythili Prakash perform at Sadler’s Wells East in Stratford, London, later this month.

In the new show titled She’s auspicious, Prakash explores the relationship between femininity and purity, according to the programme website.

Keep ReadingShow less
Man found guilty of rape and murder of Irish backpacker in India

McLaughlin, 28, from County Donegal, was found dead in a field in Goa in March 2017. (Photo credit: Twitter)

Man found guilty of rape and murder of Irish backpacker in India

A COURT in India has found Vikat Bhagat guilty of the rape and murder of Irish backpacker Danielle McLaughlin.

McLaughlin, 28, from County Donegal, was found dead in a field in Goa in March 2017.

Keep ReadingShow less