The Journey of Kishwar Chowdhury

 

The Journey of Kishwar Chowdhury

Introduction

Bangladesh and its culture have a long history. Geography and, climate and different political conditions create a rich heritage with distinct difference between Bangladesh and its neighbors.   Over the century, Bangladesh cultural has evolved; it has influences of different religion such as Hinduism, Buddhism as well as Christianity. Bangladesh cultural is rich as its history and its cuisine. Bangladeshi cuisine is unique because it’s outstanding mix of influence of different of the others.

Modern Bangladesh was born in 1971 after the bloody independence war. However, Bangladeshi culture and historical roots go deeper as the recorded history spans for a millennium and a half. The history of Bangladesh closely connected with the India and Bengal. However the Bangladesh food culture is very rich but many way the culture did not showcase in the world. The way Kishwar Chowdhury open Bangladeshi pop culture to world. Basically, many country did not about Bangladeshi food and they also did know the Bangladesh have unique food culture. In this discussion I will discussion about the journey of Kishwar Chowdhury and how she promote our Bangladeshi food cuisine through her unique representation and technique.

Food and Culture of Bangladesh

Bangladesh have own culture and its long history. In this region, many emperor and different cultural combination and different political condition create a rich heritage and culture. Modern Bangladesh was born in 1971 but its cultural and historical roots very deep.

The early history of the region feature the ruling Indiana emperor and a conflict of dominance Between Hinduism and Buddhism.

The battle was stooped when the active and strongly spread of Islam at the end of 12t century. Then the territory ruled by Portuguese pirates and emperor. After the Portuguese ruling the area was become a part of British emperor. In 1757 to 1947 the Bengal was controlled by British lord. After British colonial period the modern Bengal was under East Pakistan. Years latter, the country finally fell the test of independence and the people get their own rights. After the independence of Bangladesh the culture its began to develop faster.  The culture of Bangladesh different from other because the mix of Islamic and Hindu folk tradition. Bangladesh have link with Indian language and Pakistan with religion. For that reason Bangladesh has many struggle to identify differ from neighbor country. Bangladesh face many embarrassed situation to identify its own linguistic, religious, ethnic and ideological diversity.  Bangladesh have its own culture, tradition, customs that develop through many struggle, movement, political conflict and complicated moment and finally it’s successfully reach their goal recent years.

Bangladesh ancient culture and customs mainly based on agricultural activities, such as Festival of the New Harvest and Bangla New Year.  Bangladesh Culture shaped by very complicated political situation, poverty, and such natural disasters as flooding is the factor.

However, we know the food represent the significant aspect of any culture. Food showcase the tradition, history, heritage and socio-economic state of a nation. In intercultural communication food plays a dynamic role to make relationship and connection with other culture. The food habits of any society signifies many parts of that culture. Not only food habits, how food are served and the way of their invitation and style of treating guest that creates a strong food culture. In Bangladeshi culture is well known for its delicious and wonderful cuisine and culinary tradition. Bangladesh have unique culinary tradition that include delicious food, snacks and savories. Basically, Bangladeshi food culture mix with many country’s because many emperor and conqueror and different cultural people from different country passing through the Bengali territory. The food of the country predominantly made the boiled rice.

Bangladesh people serve different types of fried curried, vegetables, mutton, chicken etc. However the Hindu Bangladeshi did not eat beef according to their religion and the Muslim Bangladeshi did not eat pork of the same reason. Bangladeshi people celebrate many festival such as Pohela Boisakh where people cock panta llish “a traditional platter of panta bath with llish fried slice, supplement with dry fish, Pickles, dal, green chills, vorta and onions.

In Bangladesh, the recipe of mixed vegetables or Masala subzi, present the great simplicity and perfectionism of Bangladeshi cuisine. The simple mixt vegetables are not simple because its include colorful ingredients, such as tomatoes, zucchinis, carrots, green beans and onion and its include Turmeric powder, cloves, ginger and garlic. In this region, people serve the Masala vegetables with rice. In the Bangladeshi culture food plays an important part at many different ceremonies and holydays. In one, many special occasions, such as weddings, polaw, kurma, spicy beef, chicken roast, egg roast is the must included menus. On the other, some distinct occasions, such as Eid holidays the Bangladeshi people prepare meals with beef, mutton and some amount of them they give their relatives and poor. Basically, in Bangladesh food is a important part of Bangladeshi culture. However, the Bangladeshi food culture and interesting cuisine poorly in the western, America, Australian and others country but now Bangladeshi immigrants promotes our wonderful cuisine in foreign country. The Kishwar Chowdhury is one of them how promote our Bangladeshi food culture in to the world.

Who is Kishwar Chowdhury

Kishwar Chowdhury is a native Melbourne and she was born and raised in Australia. Kishwar is Australian but her family was always Bengaliana. She is a business developer by her profession. Her father Kamrul Hossain Chowdhury, a prominent business man, social worker and freedom fighter, living in Victoria, and her mother, Laila Chowdhury. Kishwar mother and father both are Bengali. Her father is from Bangladesh and her mother is from India. Both are came to Australia in 1980s and the met in Australia and then got married. There has been many debates weather she is Bangladeshi or Indian but she hundred percent is Bangladeshi.

The way her interest in cooking grow up

In kishwar family produce everything from herbs to vegetables, peppers and Pumpkins. Chowdhury family have involved their children in this activities science childhood. Kishwar cooking habits and experience not building in a day. She has cooking habits that she inherent from his family. Her father like fish and when she grew up her seeing fresh food cooking at her home. Basically, her family environment always at home like that. First, time when she was very little she had been trained in chopping vegetables, onion, cutting fish and chicken. Some times her mother give responsibility of cooking. Overall, kishwar started her cooking at her home. Whatever, cook at home their always Bengali menu? Basically, that is the main reason for kishwar to learn cooking and grew her passion.

 

Kishwar Chowdhury Journey In Australian Masterchef

The Journey of Kishwar Chowdhury was start in 2020 darning coronaviruses pandemic. Basically, she has no desire to participate in Masterchef Australia. It was her son’s dream and her son often tell her to participate in this program. Her son is also good cook. She said her son to try for junior master chef. But her son often said her to apply. Fro that reason, she apply for Masterchef Australia.     

Challenges she Face

Bangladeshi food is always look very simple but the art of cooking is not an easy. Presenting the Bangladeshi food in international platform it was challenging. She makes some dishes that was very challenging. In one, she make some special dishes for judge and its really thoughtful situation that she was past. However, she use to with that type of cooking.  Her cooking skills already made her on the top three among the 24 countries in Masterchef Australia.

Why Kishwar Chose Bangladeshi Food

There are many Bangladeshi restaurant in Australia and other places in abroad. Kishwar realize there are not much Bangladeshi food available in those restaurant. In foreign country most of the Bangladeshi restaurant serve Indian food. In foreign country, such as America, Australia, Canada and European country’s people do not know properly about Bangladeshi food culture. In foreign country’s maximum Indian Restaurant owner are Bangladeshi but they did not promote Bangladeshi food. The matter makes Kishwar very disappointed. For that reason, she wish was to promote Bangladeshi cuisine and highlight Bengali food identity.

What Type of Food She Introduce In Masterchef Australia

In Masterchef Australia Kishwar Introduce 100% authentic ethnic Bangladeshi dishes like, Begun pora bhorta, letka khichuri, chotpoti fuchka, panta llish, alu bhorta and the desert mishti paan with ice cream she called its love from Bangladesh. When she represent the Bangladeshi she represent the country and their rich cultural heritage and own food identity. It’s not only her achievement it also our achievement. As a Bangladeshi we eat this food, we have this food, but we did not know what we are carrying whit us. We pass generation to generation to eat this food but we never understand the hidden power this food. Basically, our grandmother and father cementing our ethnic cuisine.

Conclusion

Bangladeshi culture as well as its history is very rich and its food culture really unique from other culture which have special power to influence other culture. In aboard, people don’t know properly about Bangladeshi cuisine. The Kishwar Chowdhury who highlights the Bangladeshi cuisine and food identity. Now, world know the Bangladesh have wonderful cuisine and know the power of our ethnic food.

 

 

Reference

  Parul, D. (2021, July 13). Kishwar breaking the boundaries with her ethnic cuisine. The Daily Star. https://www.thedailystar.net/entertainment/tv-film/news/kishwar-breaking-the-boundaries-her-ethnic-cuisine-2129196.

Sun, T. D. (2021, July 18). Kishwar Chowdhury Proudly Showcases Bangladeshi culture. Daily Sun. https://www.daily-sun.com/printversion/details/565308/Kishwar-Chowdhury-Proudly-Showcases-Bangladeshi-Culture.

Md. Ashequl Morsalin Ibne Kamal (Team Leader)| Niloy Saha(Sr. Web Developer)| Shohana Afroz(Web Developer)| Jobayer Hossain(Web Developer). (n.d.). Kishwar CHOWDHURY: The woman who brought Traditional bangladeshi dishes in MasterChef Australia. unb.com.bd. https://unb.com.bd/category/Lifestyle/kishwar-chowdhury-the-woman-who-brought-traditional-bangladeshi-dishes-in-masterchef-australia/75459.

Food and culture in bangladesh: Free essay. Thesisliader.com. (2020, June 9). https://thesisleader.com/essays/food-and-culture-bangladesh/.

Icsppsu. (2019, April 25). FOOD culture of Bangladesh & Portland – Anis from bangladesh. ICSP Blog. https://icsppsu.wordpress.com/2019/04/25/food-culture-of-bangladesh-portland-anis-from-bangladesh/.