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Pakistanis and Indians are now going to war over who owns Chicken Manchurian

An online discourse began when New York Times claimed that the dish was 'stalwart of Pakistani Chinese cooking'

Entertainment Desk March 28, 2023

Who loves a Twitter discourse? We do! An online war began Monday after New York Times posted an article about Chicken Manchurian and attributed it to be a “stalwart of Pakistani Chinese cooking.” The tweet quickly saw Indian nationalists turn into keyboard warriors and flood the micro-blogging app with justifications and “proofs” of how chicken Manchurian is “originally an Indian dish.” Several blamed the publication for being pro-Pakistan and anti-Indian.

The outlet shared their article on Twitter and wrote, “A stalwart of Pakistani Chinese cooking, chicken Manchurian is immensely popular at Chinese restaurants across South Asia.” The article claimed that the recipe came from “attempts at recreating the version served at Hsin Kuang in Lahore, Pakistan, in the late ’90s.”

A stalwart of Pakistani Chinese cooking, chicken Manchurian is immensely popular at Chinese restaurants across South Asia. https://t.co/jorY16XePW pic.twitter.com/79hv3URnTm
— The New York Times (@nytimes) March 26, 2023

Many users personally attacked the Pakistani author for her biases and asked the publication to “fact-check” before publishing such news.

“Just because your writer Zainab Shah is a Pakistani, it doesn't mean that you get to appropriate a dish, that (along with its multiple vegetarian variations using cottage cheese and cauliflower) was invented across the border in India. Please use some basic fact-checking. And Ms Shah, why do you keep making a fool out of innocent white people?” read the tweet.

Just because your writer @zainabshah is a Pakistani, it doesn't mean that you get to appropriate a dish, that (alongwith with its multiple vegetarian variations using cottage cheese & cauliflower) was invented across the border in India. Please use some basic fact-checking. And…
— мαηιsн (@_manishkapoor) March 27, 2023

Another user used the new AI platform Chatgpt to correct the American publication. “It is believed to have been created by the Chinese community that lived in Kolkata, India, during the 19th century. The dish is said to be a fusion of Indian and Chinese cooking styles, with Chinese flavours adapted to suit the Indian palate. ChatGPT fact check,” they wrote.

A tweep even found out the name of the chef who apparently invented the dish. “It was invented by an Indian Chinese chef called Nelson Wang, who was born in Calcutta. His restaurants are in Mumbai. "This is an Indian Chinese recipe,” they wrote.

Hi, it was invented by an Indian Chinese chef called Nelson Wang, he was born in Calcutta. His restaurants are in Mumbai. This is an Indian Chinese recipe.
— Nayanika (@nayanikaaa) March 27, 2023

Enjoying the envious Indians in the replies and quote tweets, Pakistanis also jibed in. Comedian and actor Ali Gul Pir also weighed in on the matter. “Love me some Pakistani Chinese! I think Chef Lin Chaudry invented this Manchurian, shop on Tariq road near Zahid Nihari,” he wrote.

Love me some Pakistani Chinese! I think Chef Lin Chaudry invented this Manchurian, shop on Tariq road near Zahid Nihari
— Ali Gul Pir (@Aligulpir) March 27, 2023

This user tried to explain that the article primarily just recreated a dish that has been cooked a certain way in Pakistan, and not labelling it as an invention of that country. “The stalwart of Pakistani Chinese Cooking means Pakistani chefs are cooking this dish for decades too,” read a tweet. Another exclaimed how the dish might have been invented elsewhere but has been adapted to a Pakistani taste palette over decades.

The stalwart of Pakistani Chinese Cooking means PAKISTANI CHEFS are cooking this dish for decades too.
By this logic hamain you Biryani ka bhi credit na dou tum log. Pakistani version of Chinese is pretty cool. Accept it.
— Elections Loading (@hinasafi) March 27, 2023

And then came some jibes from Pakistanis as well. “Indians talking about the appropriation of cuisine when literally Tikka masala was invented by a Pakistani in Scotland! You won’t find Pakistanis crying over comment sections,” a user wrote.

Indians talking about appropriation of cuisine when literally Tikka masala was invented by a Pakistani in Scotland! You won’t find Pakistanis crying over comment sections 😒
— Ravale Mohydin | ravale.eth (@Ravale_Mohydin) March 27, 2023

Another jibed, “In a way, Pakistanis invented India itself, otherwise it would have remained a bunch of petty principalities. And chicken Manchurian, of course.”

In a way, Pakistanis invented India itself, otherwise it would have remained a bunch of petty principalities. And chicken manchurian, of course.
— Ziyad Faisal Ismaili ~ زیاد فیصل اسماعیلی (@Ziyad_F_I) March 27, 2023

Looking at how “possessive” Indians were in the replies on the post, a user wrote, “By this logic, you wouldn’t even give us credit for Biryani even then. The Pakistani version of Chinese is pretty cool. Accept it.” One tweep made things political. “If you want to find out why India ranks lower than Pakistan on the happiness index despite having a better economy than Pakistan, just check out the replies.”

Lastly, a user found the real reason behind the paranoia of Indians. “The real reason behind Indians going haywire in the replies is how dare a western publication mention Pakistan and South Asia in the same sentence. Only India is synonymous with South Asia - from academia to culture to food and beyond,” they wrote.