It gives me great pleasure to mark the public launch of the website and YouTube channel created as part of the project “Rediscovering Tribal Cuisine of Goa: An Action Research Proposal in Two Districts of Goa”, a project which was funded by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, through the “Support to Tribal Research Institute” scheme.This moment represents an important step in taking the knowledge documented through this project beyond reports and books and into the everyday lives of people.
Food traditions live through practice and storytelling. By making this knowledge accessible through digital platforms, the project creates a space where traditional recipes, cooking methods, and food-related wisdom of Goa’s tribal communities can be seen, heard, and appreciated by a wider audience. The website and YouTube channel allow these traditions to travel from village kitchens to classrooms, homes, and public spaceswhile retaining the voices and contexts of the communities themselves. The videos and digital content do more than demonstrate cooking; they tell stories of place, people, and belonging. For younger generations, these platforms offer a way to reconnect with traditions that may otherwise fade amidst changing lifestyles.
I deeply value the care the research team has taken in translating field-based knowledge into digital content. The visuals, narratives, and demonstrations presented here reflect respect for community knowledge holders and acknowledge them as custodians of living traditions. Importantly, these platforms also create opportunities for younger generations—both within and outside the communitiesto reconnect with indigenous food practices in meaningful ways.
At a time when food choices are increasingly shaped by speed and standardisation, these digital initiatives remind us of slower, more sustainable, and more locally rooted food cultures that are deeply connected to the land, seasons, and collective memory. They also open up possibilities for dialogue, learning, and continued documentation.
I congratulate the entire project team on this thoughtful and timely initiative, and I thank the tribal communities whose generosity and trust made this possible. I invite the public to engage with these platforms not merely as viewers, but as learners, so that the wisdom embedded in tribal cuisine is valued, respected, and carried forward.
Shri. Pritidas Gaonkar
Director
Tribal Research Institute (TRI), GOA