This covid lockdown was a period of reflection as far as I am concerned. One of the household chores I dislike very much is cooking. My dislike has nothing to do with gender. But, it has everything to do with my limited fondness for food. I am not a foodie – so minimal food that satisfies my hunger is fine with me. 

So when moved in with my father – who loves tasty food – it was quite a challenge for both of us to see eye-to-eye on the issue. To put the matter at rest, we chose to hire a cook who cooked as per my Dad’s demands. Life went on smoothly – till COVID broke out and the lockdown started.

Not an avid cook, I had to surrender myself in the kitchen. I love my study and honestly, dislike cooking and kitchen. I have no regrets and no qualms about it. Anyways, coming back to where I left – I had to cook. Initially, I felt I should master everything and get accolades for my culinary skills. Eventually, I had to admit that whatever I tried I didn’t love the job. It was burdensome. So I sought to seek help from my family.

I left the job of cutting veggies to my Dad. He gladly obliged. When it came to getting my son to engage in cooking – I found a strange, unwanted resistance – not from my son but my father. Flummoxed at first, I put my foot down. I made it clear that he better quip himself with some basic cooking skills – which he did with least resistance.

He cooks one dish everyday with clear and elaborate instructions from me. I do not supervise his cooking, which he is fine with. I still find my father subtly discouraging him from entering the kitchen, which I chose to ignore and so does my son.

Probably, my father comes from a time period when women took care of the family and men worked. He graduated into an era where he had seen my mother work outside and take care of the family too. He probably wants me to replicate the same. Well, my thinking does not agree with him. I believe, when hunger is a universal issues, then cooking and maintaining kitchen is an essential life-skill to be learnt by everyone. Kitchen is never a woman’s bastion alone.

• G.Meena

Economics Faculty