Chapati: The History You Never Knew

Chapati(Chah-pa-tee), a delicious North Indian type of bread paired with curries,dal(lentil stew)or sabzis(vegetable dishes)somehow managed to find its way into the Indian 1857 British revolt. 

Chapati(a thick refined bread) originated in Persia and was later adapted in India (particularly in Uttar Pradesh)with some connections to Harappan culture.

In 1857, the chapati movement started in Mathura, near Arga. During Britain's rule in India, thousands of chapatis were distributed by local policemen which usually took place at night or early morning along the lengths and breadths of north India. The British interpreted it as a defiance against British governance, while many Indians believed it was a British operation.British officers suspected chapati transfers were a rebellion and hid secret messages so they investigated the chapatis, but no messages were found. A theory suggests that the cholera outbreak was linked to the British army movement.

In the present day, chapati is widely enjoyed by people across the globe. 

Did you know :

• Generally, chapati is considered a healthier option than rice(particularly white rice).

• Chapati has been a staple in Indian households for many centuries. It was eaten by the Indus Valley Civilization which was told to have existed from 3300-1300 BCE. It is even mentioned in old Sanskrit texts.

• The traditional way of making chapati involves slapping the dough between the palms before rolling it out. "chapat" means "slap" in the language Urdu. 

• Chapati originated in the Indus Valley Civilization and later spread to Southeast, Central Asia, East Africa, and the Caribbean, where it still remains part of their everyday diet.

This is the end of the history of one of my favourite Indian foods. I hope you now know the history behind chapati.