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The Melting Pot

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india-bazaar

India Bazaar is a super market in Richardson, Texas, which predominantly sells Indian food items in large quantities, from rice to specialty oils and spices. At first glance, it could be mistaken for any other market in Dallas County with its large glass windows, shiny tile floors and battery of check-out aisles. To the right of the entrance sits a small counter from which India Bazaar sells “street food” including chaat, puri, and Indian sweets.  The prices are remarkably low compared to other area grocery chains, and cater provide a space of Indian culture that is very much a part of Dallas yet retains its own identity. Arijit Sen discusses the dual role of ethnic shops in “From Curry Mahals to Chaat Cafes,” providing examples of other Indian grocery stores which make up the complex and diverse culture of urban America. While India Bazaar is far from unique, my short experience with it does demonstrate some differences compared to Sen’s examples.

               According to Sen, the crowd outside Vik’s Distributors is extremely diverse compared to the “more homogenous” make up of traditionally western shopping areas (Sen 200). India Bazaar, however, appeared populated by a homogenously Indian crowd. There are several conditions which may explain these differences, including the stores’ spatial relationship to their respective cities and the nature of their Indian populations. Vik’s finds itself in a relatively heavily populated area, drawing such a crowd that customers must engage in “consumer ballet (Sen 200)” in order to successfully navigate the throng of people.  Berkley is also home to an established Indian population spurred by its association with the University of California early in the 20th century.  The Bazaar, on the other hand, sits at the far end of a large outdoor shopping center, separated from other stores by distances that, while not considerable, are enough to stifle foot traffic. It therefore seems that people only go to the Bazaar if they already know it exists and for specific reasons, such as maintaining their cultural identity or showing their culture to outsider friends. Vik’s too began without much foot traffic, as the network of one way streets required “prior knowledge (Sen 203)” of its existence to navigate there, but has since grown significantly, expanding the availability of Indian fast food to its clients.

               A common feature of India Bazaar and many Indian cultural centers is its Chaat Café, serving food requiring little skilled preparation. The transition from curries to Chaats accompanied the expansion of Indian markets as social gathering places, enabling people to eat and congregate with others, spreading well beyond cultural boundaries (Sen 205-211). India Bazaar’s Chaat Café is rather limited compared to the massively popular Vik’s, but maintains its role as cultural hub. Thanks to my Civilization of India professor, Dr. Ball-Phillips, I was given the opportunity to experience this ethnic market and eat Aloo Tiki Chaat as well as Pani Puri. Both dishes were excellent, and prepared quickly with ease. Places like Vik’s Distributors and India Bazaar enable the diverse, ever growing urban centers of America to more effectively integrate and experience the myriad cultures comprising their populations.

 

 

Sen, Arijit. “From Curry Mahals to Chaat Cafes: Spatialities of the South Asian Culinary Landscape.” Curried Cultures-Globalization, Food, and South Asia, edited by Krishnendu Ray and Tulasi Srinivas, 2012

 

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