This book examines the complex relationship between food, culture, and identity in contemporary India, focusing on the contentious issue of beef consumption. Through extensive ethnographic research, it explores the daily lives of cattle owners, butchers, and meat-eaters in South India. The authors navigate the charged political climate, offering a nuanced perspective that moves beyond simplistic binaries to reveal how ordinary people grapple with the evolving definition of 'Indianness' in the 21st century.