A Review Study on Food Identity, Security and Caste Politics among Brahmins, Dalits and Adivasis of India

*Corresponding Author: Samiksha Dave
Department of Anthropology, Dr Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar (M.P).
Email:  samiksha041095@gmail.com

KEYWORDS Culinary identity, caste politics, structural hierarchy, Food security and culture

ABSTRACT
Background: Food is a fundamental human necessity, yet its role transcends mere biological sustenance to encompass cultural, political, social, and economic dimensions. This review explores food as a dynamic and multifaceted phenomenon, focusing on its symbolic meaning, social significance, and its deep entanglement with identity, caste, and power structures in India.
Materials and Methods: Drawing on literature from anthropology, sociology, and political science, the study reviews 58 peer-reviewed research papers and articles published between 1962 and 2023. Through thematic analysis, it examines the intersection of food with identity formation, caste-based exclusion, and food politics, with particular emphasis on the dietary practices and culinary identities of Brahmins, Dalits, and Adivasis. 
Results: The findings underscore the need for culturally sensitive food security frameworks and policies that acknowledge historical marginalisation, community-specific foodways, and socio-political hierarchies. The review highlights how food operates as a medium of social differentiation, a marker of status, and a tool of both cultural expression and oppression. It also addresses the structural and cultural roots of food insecurity in India, showing how caste-based discrimination, cultural taboos, and exclusionary policies impact equitable access to food.
Conclusion: This review calls for a holistic, intersectional approach to food studies that integrates cultural knowledge with political and economic strategies to promote food justice and equity.

Samiksha Dave¹* and A. Bijayasundari Devi²

¹Research Scholar, Department of Anthropology, Dr Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar (M.P).
²Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, Dr Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar (M.P).

DOI-DS:
DOI Link ::

Frontier Anthropology, 2026, 15: 25-38
©Anthropological Society of Manipur

Review Article

Manuscript Timeline
Submitted: February 12, 2026
Accepted: July 10, 2026
Published: August 12, 2026

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