When food is true, rice becomes power again.
When did India start eating white rice and what happened to the grains we once knew?
India’s history with rice is older than most civilizations. Long before the concept of ‘superfoods’ or fortified cereals, rice was already being grown, consumed, and revered across the subcontinent. Archaeological evidence shows that rice cultivation began over 4,000 to 6,500 years ago, with domesticated varieties appearing as early as the Indus Valley Civilization.
These weren’t your average white grains. They were rich, robust, and regionally diverse grains like Navara, Kavuni, Matta, and Bahurupi – each with a purpose: to build strength, heal the body, cool the gut, or support pregnancy. Some were so valued they were used as offerings. Others were prescribed in Ayurvedic texts.
Rice in India was never just food. It was a function. It was medicine. It was a memory.
Why did Indians shift from native rice to white polished rice?
The answer lies in how food systems modernised.
White rice, as we know it today is stripped of its husk, bran, and germ was a late arrival. It became popular mainly in the colonial era, when rice was polished for longer shelf life and easier trade. But it was the Green Revolution of the 1960 – 1970s that truly tipped the balance. In the name of food security, India embraced high-yielding polished rice hybrids varieties that produced more per acre but less per grain.
Polished rice stored better. It looked cleaner. It fed more people but at a price.
What we gained in volume, we lost in vitality. Nutrients like fibre, zinc, iron, and B-complex vitamins were milled away. The diverse native rice varieties carefully adapted over centuries to suit specific geographies began to vanish.
This wasn’t evolution. It was erased.
Is white rice to blame for India’s rising health problems?
Today, India holds a troubling distinction: it is widely known as the Diabetes Capital of the World. Over 101 million are diabetics, with another 136 million classified as pre-diabetic. Energy crashes, bloating, sluggish digestion, and chronic inflammation have become household issues. Many blame rice and with good reason.
Polished white rice is high on the Glycaemic Index, meaning it spikes blood sugar rapidly. It’s low in fibre, weak in micronutrients, and, more often than not, grown using synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.
But the problem isn’t rice.
The problem is the kind of rice we’ve come to accept as normal.
Why is it time to go back to native rice?
Going back to native rice isn’t a nostalgic trend, it’s a nutritional necessity. Traditional varieties are naturally low-GI, fibre-rich, and full of antioxidants. They were suited to the climate, soil, and gut of the Indian body.
In other words: they were designed by nature, not by laboratories.
As climate change worsens and gut health declines, native rice isn’t just better for people. It’s better for the planet.
And it’s this realization that gave birth to Veda Bharath.
What is Veda Bharath and why is it different?
That question is what led to the birth of Veda Bharath – India’s first curated vault of native, unpolished, chemical-free Power Grains.
Founded by Vinay Ram Nidadavolu, the visionary behind Planet Green Infra, Veda Bharath is more than a food brand. It’s a revival. A resistance. A return to roots.
After years in traditional real estate, Vinay realised that true sustainability couldn’t stop at how we build. It had to include how we farm, how we eat, and how we live. What began as a question – “What if we built in harmony with nature instead of against it?” has now become a regenerative movement across 1200+ acres of natural farming farmlands.
Veda Bharath works with over 130 farmers across 17 villages, reviving and cultivating 127+ indigenous rice varieties once on the brink of extinction. These Power Grains are grown using cow-based Jeevamrutham, rain-fed irrigation, and without a trace of synthetic input.
They are not just “organic.”
They are original – in method, in purpose, and in power.
What are Power Grains and what makes them healthier?
Every packet of Power Grains is a counter to today’s polished, soulless white rice.
Here’s what sets them apart:
- Naturally low glycaemic index(GI) for steady energy and better blood sugar control
- Unpolished and whole, retaining bran, fibre, and vital nutrients
- Rich in antioxidants, zinc, and iron which is good for gut health, immunity, and recovery
- Sourced from their native regions, grown the way nature intended
These are Power Grains that respect your time, your energy, and your biology. They’re not grown in laboratories or selected for shelf life. They’re chosen for how they serve your health.
Where can I buy native rice in India?
Veda Bharath’s Power Grains are now available on their website and you can get them delivered to your home through monthly subscriptions, curated grain boxes, and planned retail expansion.
But Veda Bharath isn’t just selling any rice. It’s building a community of conscious eaters – people who want to eat food that speaks the language of their ancestors, not just the trends of the day.
Alongside the product, Veda Bharath offers:
- Heritage recipes revived and adapted for modern kitchens
- Dietician-guided grain recommendations for families, seniors, and athletes
- Educational content on how to cook, soak, and combine grains for maximum impact
It’s not just food. It’s a cultural comeback.
Why this movement matters now more than ever
When you buy from Veda Bharath, you don’t just nourish your home, you support farmers returning to natural farming, help restore degraded soil, and protect biodiversity for future generations.
Many of the farmers working with Veda Bharath today earn up to 40% more than under conventional systems.
The brand has also been honoured as a supplier to Swamy Prasadam at Tirumala Tirupati, a sacred acknowledgment of its purity and commitment.
Founder Vinay Ram, who also leads the award-winning Farm Natura and Dates County projects, sums it up best:
“This isn’t about rice. It’s about remembering who we are and eating like it.
Rice didn’t fail us. We failed to protect the right rice.”
Veda Bharath. The grains of our soil. The power of our people.
If the food on your plate no longer gives you energy, maybe it’s time to look deeper.
Not into calories, but into origins.Not into labels, but into legacies.
Because when we bring back the right grains, we don’t just eat better.
We live better. Think better. And build stronger futures.
Welcome to Veda Bharath, where food is not a trend. It’s a truth.
