India has just had its freedom fries moment — and this time, it’s dipped in syrup.
A Jaipur-based sweet shop, Tyohaar Sweets, has renamed ‘Moti Pak’ and ‘Mysore Pak’ to ‘Moti Shree’ and ‘Mysore Shree’, citing patriotic sentiment. Owner Anjali Jain claimed the term ‘Pak’ was removed to make the sweets more “culturally resonant and patriotic.”
But the backlash was quick and informed. Scholars and culinary historians pointed out that ‘Pak’ has nothing to do with Pakistan. In fact, it has Sanskrit roots, describing the process of thickening sugar syrup — a technique intrinsic to many Indian desserts. In Kannada, ‘pak’ denotes a cooking method, not a political entity.
The move echoes previous linguistic-political food renaming stunts, like “freedom fries” in the US after France opposed the Iraq War, or “liberty cabbage” and “liberty dogs” during World War I. Renaming Danish pastries in Iran as “Roses of the Prophet Muhammad” or Americanos as Canadianos during Trump’s trade war with Canada are similar examples of food-based nationalism.
Critics argue that symbolic name changes misplace nationalism, especially when rooted in misunderstanding etymology and culture. A descendant of Madappa, the royal cook credited with inventing Mysore Pak, also expressed dismay over altering a name with deep regional and historical ties.
Renaming sweets may offer momentary emotional satisfaction, but it does little to truly reflect patriotism or cultural integrity — especially when the original term predates modern geopolitical boundaries.
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