In banning the export of onions the Indian government has yet again come face to face with the politically destabilizing power of the bulb. With the rising prices of onions stinking up the political debate the government does not have much choice but to rein them in. After all the country has a long history of the price of onions setting off collective political rebellion.
If salt is the sauce of the poor, as Cervantes said, then onions are equally the only affordable base flavor for them. It is not without reason that the expression “Aloo, pyaaz ke daam pata chal jayenge (You will discover the prices of potatoes and onions)” is used as an effective reality check. The price of onions has been touching eighty rupees (about $1.75) a kilo which may not sound like a lot in dollars but it is, in fact, greatly disruptive for a vast number of Indians. It is still not uncommon to see a considerable number of poor Indians making do with one roti and half an onion as their staple.
Onions have long been a powerful culinary element as much as they have been a potent political symbol in India. It is never good politics to mess around with them. In politics they do indeed bring tears without even cutting them. No wonder the prime minister’s office feels compelled to monitor onions.
Along with banning their exports the government has also allowed their imports at no duty at all. Not a bad going for something that grows underground with only a tiny shoot above it.