Relearning How to Eat – An Unexpected Journey in India

Before I came to India, I had heard one strict Indian etiquette: never eat with your left hand! Growing up in Germany, where using cutlery is the norm and the fork always stays in the left hand and the knife in the right, I was a bit nervous. Would I unknowingly break a cultural norm? Would I fumble my way through meals, unsure of what to do?

But like so many things in India, I soon realized, it’s never just one answer. Yes, many Indians eat with their right hand when using their hands, but when using a knife and fork, the fork still rests in the left hand, just as I was used to. The mix of tradition and adaptation fascinated me.

And then came the adventure of eating with my hands. It felt like being a child again, relearning etiquette, embracing the sensory experience of food beyond taste. I quickly understood why people say food tastes better when eaten this way. There is an intimacy, an intentionality, a connection to the meal that cutlery somehow distances us from.

One of my favorite rituals? The tradition of feeding each other cake on birthdays. In the picture, you’ll see Jill Sheldekar feeding me my birthday cake with her hands, a small but beautiful gesture of love and celebration that I have come to adore.

At StrengthMiner® Consulting LLP Pratha Shetty Jill Sheldekar and I help individuals and teams become culturally agile. Reach out to either one of us to know more about our intercultural mobility workshops.