24-08-2012, 02:07 PM
Food habits among the educated youth of Tharu and Buksa tribes
Changing food habbits of indian youth.pdf (Size: 50.21 KB / Downloads: 72)
In this paper, we studied about food habits of the educated Tharu and Buksa youth. 76 Tharu and 40
Buksa (total of 116) youth were interviewed for this study. At present, some Tharu and Buksas youth
are ignoring their traditional food and accepting some fast foods rapidly. The Tharu and Buksa people
were non-vegetarians and traditionally so, maximum youth were non-vegetarians also. Maximum Tharu-
Buksa youth used non-vegetarian food after a week. They also like milk and milk-products. 92.24%
youth used non-vegetarian foods; only 7.76% youth were vegetarians. Female youth were more (15%)
than males (3.95%) in vegetarian’s category. 96.05% males and 85% females used non-vegetarian foods
normally. The Tharu and Buksas youth that is studying in the cities like to eat fast foods in market.
Chinese fast foods like Chowmin, Indian Dosa, Chat-Pakoda and other packed food were popular in
Tharu and Buksas. Maximum (64.66%) youth eat fast food one time in a week, 18.10% is two or three
times in a week and 17.24% used it sometimes. Percentage of females (57.5%) is more than male
(52.63%) in weekly and some times (7.89%), (17.5%) is use of fast foods.
INTRODUCTION
The Tharu and Buksa are tribal and indigenous communities
of the Himalayan Terai region. Tharus and Buksas
are famous for their eco-friendly culture. Four renowned
researchers Risley, Knowles, W. Crooke and Nesfield
declared that, the Tharu and Buksas are mix blood tribe
(Srivastav, 1958). According to H.R. Nevill, the Tharu and
Tharu and Buksas are an aboriginal race who claims
royal descent (Srivastav, 1958). The theory of Rajput
origin of the Tharu and Buksas could not be explained on
basis of serology because the Rajputs do not have
Mongoloid and Dravidian physical features normally
(Majumadar, 1941). At least we can say that, the Tharu
and Buksas are Mongoloid people, or predominantly so,
because they have successfully assimilated non-
Mongoloid physical features as well.
METHODOLOGY
Scientific research method has been used in this study, and
findings were presented in descriptive research design. Interview
and closed ended questionnaire have been used as research tool
for primary data collection. There are 116 Tharu and Buksa
students registered in Government Post Graduate College
Rudrapur District Udham Singh Nagar of Uttrakhand. This study
has completed “between” 21st - 25th July 2009. These Tharu-
Buksa students were taken as research universe. Details of these
students are presented in Table 1 and Figure 1. Totally 116
students (76 Tharus and 40 Buksas) were taken for this study.
Related literature also used in this study as secondary data
sources.
Vegetarian and non-vegetarian food habit
The Tharu and Buksa peoples were non-vegetarians and
traditionally so, maximum youth were non-vegetarians
also. Table 3 and Figure 3 inferred that 92.24% youth
used non-vegetarian foods and only 7.76% youth were
vegetarians. Female youth were more (15%) than males
(3.95%) in vegetarian’s category. The male and female
used non-vegetarians food of 96.05 and 85.0%
respectively. Due to some problems, religious factors and
effects of other cultures, some youth are ignoring nonvegetarian
food at present.
Habits of fast-food
As it has been stated above that, most educated Tharu-
Buksa youth are in favor of fast food culture at present.
But due to economic problem, they can not afford fast
food everyday. Table 5 showed that, maximum (64.66%)
youth fed fast food one time in a week, 18.10% is two or
three times in a week and 17.24% used it sometimes.
The Tharu and Buksas youth that is studying in cities
like to eat fast foods in market. Chinese fast foods such
as Chowmin, Indian Dosa, Chat-Pakoda and other
packed food that is popular in Tharu and Buksas. Due to
their economic problems, they do not eat fast food daily,
but maximum youth like it and want to eat everyday. They
think that, use of fast food is symbol of educated and
advanced people, this is why they are ignoring their
traditional food culture.
Use of milk and milk-products
Milk and its products were popular in the Tharu and
Buksa communities. This is why the youth of these
communities also like milk and milk-products. Table 6
revealed that, 18.97% youth used milk and its products
daily, 34.48% is two or three times in a week and 11.21%
used it sometimes. A total of 18.42% males and 20%
females daily, 34.31% male and 35% females two or
three times in a week and 13.16% males and 7.5%
females used it sometimes in use of milk and its
products. Percentage of females was more than males in
this category so we can conclude that, women were more
aware than male in use of milk and its products.
Conclusion
On the basis of description and analysis, we concluded
that, educated youth of the Tharu and Buksa
communities have both traditional and new food habits.
Some youth are ignoring their own traditional food trends,
but some youth are still respecting their culture and
traditional food trends. Effects of other cultures and
education were the main reasons of changing food
habits. Maximum Tharu-Buksa youth were nonvegetarians
and they also like milk and milk-products.
There is no major difference between male and female
about food habits. Maximum youth like fast-food culture
but they can not afford it daily. So, they used normal and
traditional food in daily life but weekly and some times
they enjoy with fast-food.