The Magic of the Lost Story

Sudha Murty

Oct 2022 · Penguin Random House India Private Limited

About this ebook

Tarana was an indifferent eater and an unenthusiastic cook until a chance encounter with a nineteenth-century Persian cookbook in Rampur's fabled Raza Library started her off on a journey into the history of Rampur cuisine and the stories around it. Part food memoir and part celebration of a cuisine, Degh to Dastarkhwan answers the question-'what constitutes and distinguishes Rampur cuisine?' Each chapter represents an emotion, an observance or a celebration. The spread of Rampuri food from the grand royal cuisine to the simple daily fare becomes the arena to express love, loss, forgiveness and spirituality. Peopled with compelling characters from all walks of life, the book is a tour de force that includes recollections of a princess to the spiritual ambience of a Sufi shrine, with stories of khansamas, weddings and funerals.

Ratings and reviews

It's very good and after reading the sample it feels like buying the book right now to know about the mysteries held in this book. It also helps us to learn about the importance of tradition 😃😄. We learn to keep our curiosity and elders should always answer the questions with enthusiasm. I love this book and its author. The author is helping young people to learn about their culture and get to know about moral values from their family cultural stories. I salute the author. Jai Hind🇮🇳🇮🇳

Degh to Dastarkhwan is a beautifully crafted blend of food memoir, cultural history, and personal reflection. Through the rich culinary traditions of Rampur, the author explores stories of love, loss, celebration, faith, and family with warmth and authenticity. More than a cookbook, it is a journey into the heritage, people, and emotions that shape a unique cuisine. Vivid storytelling and historical insights make this an engaging and memorable read for food lovers and history enthusiasts alike.

I always read books of Sudha mam so I love it very much.Also I love reading.I have also read the book Magic of the Lost Temple which was exciting.

About the author

Sudha Murty was born in 1950 in Shiggaon in north Karnataka. She did her MTech in computer science, and is now the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. A prolific writer in English and Kannada, she has written novels, technical books, travelogues, collections of short stories and non-fictional pieces, and four books for children. Her books have been translated into all the major Indian languages. Sudha Murty was the recipient of the R.K. Narayan Award for Literature and the Padma Shri in 2006, and the Attimabbe Award from the government of Karnataka for excellence in Kannada literature in 2011.