Revanche

Revanche

Reviewed by Aiman Khan - March 27, 2024

Health conscious, fitness freak and similar terms have found their way into our daily vocabulary. We tend to scan the labels and are inclined to purchase ‘organic’ and ‘natural’ items. We cut off on certain food items and prioritize others to ensure we’re leading a healthy lifestyle. Loading our diet with fresh fruits, and an adequate amount of protein, we believe our choices are making a difference. But, have the recent advances left our food safe for consumption? Are we eating healthy or is the food industry only using ‘healthy’ as a marketing tool?
I’ve often noticed people giving thought to food in terms of sugar content and calories.
Most people know how much sugar they should consume and how many calories they need to burn to stay fit.
They know the portions they should consume but the essence of ‘freshness’ isn’t as it was in the years gone by. I felt part of the problem may be population growth, the rise of the food industry, or the lack of patience in preparing food items. However, after reading Revanche by Rajathi Prem, I couldn’t stop thinking about the food we consume daily. From coming across statements like ‘We are what we eat’ to reading ‘Don’t kill us with our food, which we pay for’ – Revanche is a bold attempt to expose the power dynamics and politics involved in the food industry.
When I started reading this book, I felt it was only about genetically engineered organisms, plants, etc. However, this book is not confined to what we eat but it gives you a wide perspective of what’s happening and what goes unnoticed. The suspense, plot twists, and the way scenes unfolded kept me hooked on this book. I was on my toes to find out ‘what-next’. And on top of that, it made me question how safe the agri-produce and the chicken and mutton we consume to nourish our bodies. I have often heard how fruits, vegetables, chicken, and other items are pumped with vaccines to make them ready for early consumption but this book articulated it with immense clarity.
What stood out to me about this book is how it was not limited to a region but highlights food adulteration as a global issue, which it actually is. The other commendable aspect of this book is how it illustrates the horse racing market across the globe. It was shattering to read how horses suffer so much at the hands of humans who only think of them in terms of profits and sales. Are we heading towards being unbothered about animals to such an extent that we only think of them in terms of numbers?
This is not a monotonous read, bombarded with data and preachy stuff. Rather, it shows how food unites and influences the people across the globe. It also highlights the influence of power, corruption, and money. I also found themes like betrayal, corporate plotting, and exploitation relevant to the current times being placed neatly amidst the elaborate mention of genetically engineered stuff.
At one point, it’s scary to think that DNA alteration and genes are the practices involved in enhancing the speed of the horses and accelerating food processing. At the same time, the mention of all these practices and the awareness in the food industry ignites a glimmer of hope that the food we eat won’t do us more harm than good.
This book is relevant to the current times and it’s crafted with attention and concern. Speaking to the author, I felt this book has a purpose and it’s meant to help us think about the relationship between food and technological shifts.

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