Chutney Magazine
Founded by graphic designer and writer Osman Bari, Chutney is a new publication devoted to sharing everyday stories on culture and identity.
A note from the Editor, Osman Bari:
I can’t count the number of times my mother has used the word ‘chutney’ outside of a culinary context. It’s a staple feature in one of her iconic retorts, which has remained practically unchanged over the years and is uttered in sharp Urdu:
“Meray dimagh ki chatni mat banao.”
“Don’t make chutney with my brain.”
A phrase that is at once bizarre but oddly perfect. It evokes a sense of calculated motion - of chopping, mixing, preserving. Add in the part about my mother’s brain and you’re left with an image, which I have to admit, is grotesquely poetic yet highly effective in conveying a simple warning: don’t annoy me. Whenever I come across the word now, I am immediately transported to her voice, disapproving of my bothersome behaviour that could turn her brain to flavourful mush.
That chutney warrants its own idiom is a testament to the influence and versatility of this edible condiment. Despite its presence in households and on dinner plates worldwide, chutney’s origins are simple and domestic, undoubtedly rooted in the Indian subcontinent. It was British colonialism that took its Hindi etymology - chatni (‘to lick’) - and transformed chutney into the form we are most familiar with today: bottled, preserved and anglicised.
When it came to naming this publication, Chutney felt like the right fit. The food’s rich origins, colonial evolution and different varieties around the world complete the story of an everyday food that plays a part in people’s lives. The core steps to make it - Chop, Mix and Preserve - have served as curated, yet open-ended prompts for the wonderful and important stories that contributors have shared in this issue. I am deeply grateful for their support, enthusiasm and honesty.
It’s stories like these that Chutney hopes to continue to share – of nuanced histories and evolving influences that shape the everyday experiences of marginalised and misrepresented voices. I think back to my mother’s classic line and can’t help but feel excited at the potential of a diverse and compelling set of narratives, all combined together to challenge monolithic attitudes, and to ultimately enrich our understanding of one another.
— Osman Bari, Editor
Osman Bari
My name is Osman ( @ozmiumbarium ) and I edit and design Chutney. I'm a graphic designer and a writer, and started this mag two years ago. I was born in Lahore, Pakistan and now live as an immigrant-settler on Turtle Island (Canada). Currently, I'm working on the upcoming second issue, which will be out in May/June!