25/03/2025
The Community Engagement Cell and Nature Club of Southfield College in collaboration with DLR Prerna and AIWC, Darjeeling chapter successfully organized an engaging talk titled “Farmed, Foraged and Fermented: Celebrating Food Cultures of the Darjeeling Himalaya” followed by a fundraiser in which authentic local foods were for display and sell. The event aimed to highlight the rich and diverse food heritage of the Darjeeling Himalaya while emphasizing on gut health and sustainability.
The highlight of the event was a thought-provoking talk by Mr Roshan Rai of DLR Prerna. The session focused on the unique food culture of the Darjeeling Himalaya, emphasizing traditional farming methods, foraging practices, and the art of fermentation that have sustained the hill community for generations. The talk was followed by an interactive session in which the students and the faculty members actively engaged with the speaker, sharing personal experiences.
A variety of local delicacies from the Darjeeling Himalayan region were prepared and sold by students and faculty. Locally crafted products such as bamboo items, native plants, local seeds were also for sale.
The main aim of the event was to encourage the students to reconnect with their heritage, adopt local food and culture with pride and take active steps towards sustainability.
Southfield College was founded as Loreto College, in Darjeeling in August, 1961 as a women’s college. At the request of the Government of West Bengal, the Irish Branch of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Darjeeling Loreto Educational Society agreed to take care of its management. However, due to the lack of personnel the Loreto nuns were compelled to hand over the college to the Government of West Bengal, hence to be run as Southfield College.