Esteemed journalist and Food Historian Sharmila Basu Thakur released her much-anticipated book, Rannar Roopkatha.

Before retiring, Sharmila Basu Thakur, a versatile person with a wealth of experience in academia and media, held the position of editor at Sananda magazine. She boldly wears the label of “Food Historian” these days, setting herself apart from traditional food bloggers by providing not only recipes but also the fascinating history and cultural contexts that go along with them.

Since Sharmila’s mother’s birthday fell on the launch day, it carried extra meaning as an homage to the person who shaped her passion for cooking. “Whatever is beautiful in this world, everything I have received from my mother,” Sharmila said.

Apart from her writing endeavors, Sharmila has established a dynamic virtual community via her YouTube channel, “Food Farishta,” and a distinctive pop-up restaurant located at 549 Lake Road, Amarabati, 2nd Floor.

The book was launched over two days by celebrated personalities like Joy Goswami, Swastika Mukherjee, Sudipta Chakraborty, Sujoy Prosad Chatterjee, Bratati Bandopadhyay, Paroma Banerjee, and Alpana Habib among others.

“Rannar Roopkatha” deftly combines culinary instructions, stories from the author’s early years, and her changing relationship with food. From using toy utensils to learning about food histories from her mother, Sharmila’s culinary identity has been influenced by a variety of influences, as seen in her journey. In the chapter “Extended Family”, the book even offers a glimpse of her extended family—the merchants at the neighborhood fair.

The touching chapter “Gurudakshina” honors Sharmila’s chef daughter and delves into the heritage of three generations united by a deep love of food. Through her biography, Sharmila opens up to readers about her life and the culinary treasures that have been passed down through the years, in addition to sharing recipes.

The book is published by Mandas.

Grab your copy now.

Priyanka Dutta