Saving tilak chandan’s fragrance: Why a field in Rampur is growing an heirloom rice variety
Many indigenous rice varieties in India were driven to extinction by the Green Revolution. They need to be preserved, for their distinct aroma and flavour, and for their relationship with the environment. Written by Yashee | New Delhi | Updated: December 28, 2020 10:29:58 pm
The tilak chandan being threshed at Benazir Farm in Rampur, in November. (Photo: Twitter/@DrTarana)
India once grew more than 1,00,000 varieties of rice. History and mythology bear proof that rice was served to Gods, kings, and commoners across India’s geographically diverse corners, for millennia. Closer home, ask your grandparents about rice, and they will tell you of different varieties used for different dishes, one known for its fragrance, another considered healthy for pregnant women.