Salted Shores and Sustained Lives: Food Habits of the Parathavar Fishing Community in Joe D’Cruz’s Ocean Rimmed World

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-583-6_9How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Parathavar; Food Studies; Traditional Knowledge; local food; Sustainability; environment

Abstract

This paper examines the traditional food practices and ecological knowledge of the Parathavar fishing community as depicted in Joe D’Cruz’s novel Ocean Rimmed World. Set in the coastal region of Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu, the novel provides a rich portrayal of the lives of fisherfolk whose survival is intricately linked to the sea. Through a close reading of the text, this study examines the community’s dietary habits, food preservation methods, and cultural beliefs about food. The Parathavar community relies heavily on marine resources, consuming a wide range of fish including stingray (thirukai), tiger shark (varipulian), and maangaai chalai, which is specifically given to lactating mothers. Preservation techniques such as salting, drying, and burying fish in pits—locally known as oorai—are key to their food security during non-fishing seasons. In addition to fish, their diet includes locally grown plantains, tubers, tapioca, and foraged herbs like keelanelli, used for both food and medicine.

The paper also highlights how food is interwoven with social customs and spiritual life. Offerings of rice flour and bananas to deities, the communal act of sons dining beside their fathers on Sundays, and the distinct roles men and women play in food preparation all reflect a deeply rooted cultural identity. Trade links, such as the export of dried tiger shark to Colombo and the demand for fish liver oil among colonial settlers, further show how local food practices intersect with larger economic systems.

Positioned at the crossroads of food studies, environmental humanities, and regional cultural analysis, this paper argues that the foodways depicted in Ocean Rimmed World offer valuable insights into sustainable living. The novel serves not only as a literary representation of a community’s struggle and resilience but also as a record of ecological balance, traditional knowledge, and the intimate relationship between humans and their environment.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - M. Nandhini
AU  - Arti
AU  - G. Sadhana
AU  - S. Ragul
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/30
TI  - Salted Shores and Sustained Lives: Food Habits of the Parathavar Fishing Community in Joe D’Cruz’s Ocean Rimmed World
BT  - Proceedings of the International Conference on Emerging Food Studies: Intersections of Culture, Science and Sustainability (ICEFS 2026)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 76
EP  - 81
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-583-6_9
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-583-6_9
ID  - Nandhini2026
ER  -