Autobiography of a school tiffin box lunches

Across the country, Indian parents lovingly prepare nourishing meals for their children, packed in the very same lunchboxes that once accompanied them to school.

These ‘tiffin’ carriers blend nostalgia and practicality, ensuring hot and satisfying lunches for workers and schoolchildren alike. 

Around the world, many countries from Malaysia to Hungary have taken inspiration from the stacked lunchboxes and traditional Indian restaurants in cities from London to New York serve up their specialities in those iconic metal bowls. 

With roots in colonial times, the tale of the ‘tiffin’ lunchbox dates back to the 19th century, and remains a staple of Indian culture.

‘A spot of tiffin’

When the British first arrived in India, they were confronted with balmy, languorous days entirely unlike what they were used to back home.

They soon realized they needed to adjust their eating rituals to fit in with this altered way