ON A Sinagpore Airline flight from JFK to Singapore a couple weeks ago, a white woman sitting next to me read a news story from the International Herald Tribune to her husband how onion prices were rising in India.  He commented: “Expect riots soon,” a reference to the importance of onions in the cuisine and eating habits of Indians (indeed all South Asians). The comment evoked a smile on my face. As a regular visitor to India, I am aware virtually no Indian meal is served without onions and in Guyana people usually comment how the food does not taste “good” unless cooked with onions.
The news stories about onion shortage and rising prices in India which are covered in the international press, and the gentleman’s comment, in flight, brought back memories of the banning of onions in Guyana by the dictatorship – denying people an essential aspect of their cultural diet. There are many in Guyana that refused to apologise for their role in the criminalisation of the consumption of onions, split peas, potatoes, channa, etc. They are lucky as they are yet to face the law for their role in the cultural and religious genocide perpetrated on our people for two decades. Guyanese won’t forget them for they made life miserable for us and did not care for our ethnic culture. Fortunately, we got supplies of onions smuggled across the border from Suriname and bribed police to close their eyes so the item could be sold in the black-market.
With regards to the passenger’s comment about the repercussions of onion shortages, yes, there have been massive demonstrations, some approaching riot like actions all over India. Unlike during the dictatorship in Guyana, in democratic India, the politicians are shivering in fear that the voters will fire them next elections for the shortages of their favourite onions.
As papers reported, soaring onion prices have made life difficult for housewives and restaurateurs. There is rising discontent to the shortages with the poor unable to afford to eat onion and ready to take to the streets. I should note, as a reader of Indian politics, shortages and soaring onion prices have toppled governments (national, state and local) in the past in India. It happened during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s and it will happen again if elections are held soon in the states affected by shortages of onions.  When she was in the opposition, the late Indira Gandhi wore malas made from onions and campaigned against the government toppling it and making a triumphant return to power. In 1998, Sonia Gandhi wore malas made from onions and toppled the BJP government in Delhi state. But her Congress Party may now suffer the same fate if her opponents wear onion malas and campaigned against her.
It is hoped that those who championed the banning of onions in Guyana understand the cultural importance of onions in the diet of Indo-Guyanese and others.