An ode to the roti

To the rotis that puff

I have no idea what technique I need to use to get you to puff. I have tried all and I have no consensus. But I know that you do not perform under pressure, do you puffed roti? Any time I need to prove that I know how to make rotis, there you are, lying on the gas, like a dead piece of flour.

To the rotis that puff halfway and let go

I feel you. Sometimes I donโ€™t feel like putting more than 50% effort too. Why should I? The roti is going to get digested at the end of the day: puffed, or not puffed.

To the rotis that donโ€™t puff at all

Problem kya hai? I gave you heat, I gave you dry flour, I made you round, I made sure you werenโ€™t too thinโ€ฆthen why, why donโ€™t you puff? What, am I not good enough for you?

To the rotis that come round

Do you know I finally found the purpose of learning geometry? Not that I didnโ€™t enjoy math. I loved math. But I donโ€™t think I have ever tried to find the value of x in the โ€œrealโ€ world but I have told 2 people to use geometry to make round rotis and lo and beholdโ€ฆit has worked!

To the rotis that get a little burnt

Iโ€™m sorry I wasnโ€™t paying attention to you. I was too busy thinking of what post I could write on my blog that would prove how witty and hilarious I am.

To the warm rotis

You reminded me of home when I ate you, for the first time in 2 months, in a foreign land, grappling with coursework, classmates and a foreign palate.

To the ghee-waali rotis

Bachpan mein ghee roti used to mean someone important is coming to the house. You remind me of times when the table in my house was filled with people and the most important question used to be: who will eat ghee-waali and who will eat bina-ghee waali roti.

To the non-conformist roti

The tedhi-medhi roti, the moti-patli roti, the kachi-pakki rotiโ€ฆgood for you to not conform. Why should only round, puffed rotis be eaten? What is wrong with rotis that look like a map or are so hard they break into pieces? You do you.

To the haath waali roti

Jo sirf mummy can make. That once puffed, still has her hand and finger prints on it. Youโ€™re no different, yet you taste like a different species of โ€œIndian bread.โ€

To the humble roti

When all else failed, when the stomach protested, when it growled in hunger, you roti, always came through.


This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon.


26 responses to “An ode to the roti”

  1. seethlakshmi Avatar
    seethlakshmi

    Hi Suchita, you got me right on the topic-an ode to the roti…quite hilarious and insightful too if I may say ๐Ÿ™‚

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    1. Thank you ๐Ÿ˜Š

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  2. Anjalie Sharma Avatar
    Anjalie Sharma

    Hahaha, lovely ode to the roti Suchita. My son rolls a mini haath ki roti everyday with me and it huffs and puffs and turns out yummy. The only cooking I ever learnt in my college days was rolling a roti so it puffs, my grandma taught me the way. Roti is love ๐Ÿ™‚

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh wow that’s so cool! I remember my grandma chasing me out of the kitchen because I was ruining her rotis ๐Ÿคฃ

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  3. Unishta Avatar

    What a delightful piece . I can totally relate to all your rotis particularly the gheewala ones . When I want to feel special I slather my roti with home made ghee .
    My dad always used to say that a good humble roti is the sign of a great cook .
    Sadly, I never made the grade according to his standards ๐Ÿ˜ฆ

    Liked by 1 person

    1. So happy you enjoyed it!

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  4. Rotis have a mind of their own; this has been proved beyond doubt. Loved reading this post. It is time that odes were written to rotis. You, probably, are a forerunner, Suchita! ๐Ÿ˜Š

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  5. Such a fun piece to read. And reassuring that other people too, fail at their roti making too! Thanks for the assurance that I can care less next time the roti does not listen to me! ๐Ÿ˜€

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    1. Hahaha oh yes. Rotis have a mind of their own ๐Ÿ˜€

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  6. I always struggle with making Rotis and this post is unique, relatable, funny all bundled up in one. I enjoyed reading it totally

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    1. So glad to hear that!

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  7. ‘The roti is going to get digested at the end of the day: puffed, or not puffed.’: one of my aunts used to say that. (So what if it’s a little burnt or map shaped! :))

    Such a lovely, unique and funny post! And so relatable.

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    1. Thank you Tarang!

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  8. This was hilarious, Suchita, so brilliant. All the reasons I don’t make rotis, they do so much natak ๐Ÿ˜› But the non-conformist roti is the best. I love how rotis can be so much like people!

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    1. Yesssss they have as many moods as people ๐Ÿ˜

      Liked by 1 person

  9. SO relatable! I absolutely loved this post. I haven’t been cooking on my own for a long time but I have come across all these types of rotis especially the ones that puff halfway and give up, ones that lie flat, the ones that aren’t round, the burnt ones, and ones that are too thick or too thin, even ones that get torn! Glad to know I am not the only one!

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    1. Ooo I missed torn rotis LOL! Thank you Shweta. You’re definitely not the only one.

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      1. Haha! And I thought I was the only one clumsy enough to tear rotis while rolling them out and even while tossing them in the pan! ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚

        Liked by 1 person

  10. I had a hearty laugh reading this super amazing and unique post. I could relate to all of these. Even after 16 years of marriage, when my mom comes home and make roties, my kids take dig on me saying, oh to yeh gol roti hoti hai…nani ke haath hi roti..hahaha

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    1. Hahaha! My nani and mom used to compete on kheer – kiski better bani hai ๐Ÿ˜€ Thank you Swati.

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  11. Radhika Acharya Avatar
    Radhika Acharya

    Only Suchita can come up with such a cool post! On a roti!
    I would love to hear the roti’s reply! Another post please?? ๐Ÿค—๐Ÿค—

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Awe thanks! Now a roti’s reply may be beyond my skill ๐Ÿ˜›

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  12. Such a unique blog post, Suchita. Time and again you have proved your wit with your words. Loved it.

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    1. Awe that’s very sweet Aesha – thank you!

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  13. Shilpa Bindlish Avatar
    Shilpa Bindlish

    Thoroughly enjoyed reading this piece. Each one of us has questioned rotis why they don’t behave well on certain days n show attitude. ๐Ÿ˜…

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    1. Thank you Shilpa ๐Ÿ™‚

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