A plateful of rice may be considered an unhealthy overindulgence for those of us with sedentary lifestyles. Yet the Bangalee spirit cannot be satisfied in any other way. Despite health warnings, we savour each morsel of that white, fluffy carbohydrate, a staple for most of the population. Rarely do we, however, think of the hands behind it all—the endless hours spent planting, cultivating, threshing, and drying before the grain finally makes its way to our kitchens.