I was shamed a few days ago, not once but twice. It began with my one-year-old daughter – with the gap teeth and sticky insistence – who wanted to eat herself. Before an embarrassing and ear-splitting tantrum could ensue, I plopped her on a chair and set a plate of pulao on the table. Little Zainab,...

It cost just three rupees. Squashed between a doughy naan and seasoned with a splash of green chutney of dubious provenance, the ‘samosa-naan’ was sold for three bucks a pop at my college. With the triple dose of carbs – potatoes, pastry and naan – it was obviously filling. Less obvious is how...