Former Senior Editor of India Today and Indian Express, Govindan Kutty, after witnessing a mango fest in Bangalore generously wrote to us sparking a few ecological thoughts. Mango is an icon, an article of food and faith says Mr. Govindan Kutty who believes that ecology is more than a matter of health or heritage. In a tropical nation like ours, where mango trees are born, his faith should get more supporters.
How much secure are mango trees in the yards of Kerala? Ever burgeoning consumerism has become a sharpened axe to break the indelible affinity that existed for a long time between the people of Kerala and trees.
In this State, everything is commercial and nothing is sustainable. Paddy fields now earn more than before – not by way of sowing and reaping, but by filling and building villas. Courtyards are more green – not due to mango and Neem trees, but with carpet grass and croton plants. Avenues have more shades – not that of trees, but of electric posts.
How much secure are mango trees in the yards of Kerala? Ever burgeoning consumerism has become a sharpened axe to break the indelible affinity that existed for a long time between the people of Kerala and trees.
In this State, everything is commercial and nothing is sustainable. Paddy fields now earn more than before – not by way of sowing and reaping, but by filling and building villas. Courtyards are more green – not due to mango and Neem trees, but with carpet grass and croton plants. Avenues have more shades – not that of trees, but of electric posts.
While in Kerala, do not expect a mango fair to be held in a traditional farm yard. Rustic market places are devoid of any gathering of peasants who arduously earned their fruits. Instead, what you see in abundance today, even in villages, are expanding chains of super markets. Go to the nearest branch of a supermarket giant. There you find plastic signboards with attractive images of mangoes. On one corner of the state-of-the art mall, you find mangoes of different kinds displayed as valuable commodities. Never doubt on the quality or price – each mango bears a sticker denoting OK and its price. You purchase these juicy 'artifacts' in plastic carry bags. The glass doors of the super shop automatically open wide showing you the way out. While eating slices of mangoes never forget that you are proudly gulping pieces of an up-to-the minute culture.
Affectionate grandmas who insisted to offer slices of mangoes to grandchildren and serve delicious pickles for our feasts are still alive. They do not walk beyond the boundaries of mushrooming old-age homes. Even in the premises of such twilight's homes, you rarely find a mango tree. When nostalgia pricks his inflated sentiments, a Keralite vents his emotions by going to the next super market to find if there are still more mangoes to buy.
- Prepared by K.P.Sivakumar, inspired by a message received from Govindan Kutty, former senior editor, India Today and Indian Express.
2 comments:
so sad...we Keralites are degrading day by day...running out for making money, ignoring our traditions and customs. I think it is time to plant at least one mango tree or other ones in our compound rather than anuthuriams and orchids
I can't believe that anyone who had a place to plant a mango would choose to do without it! In the north-central regions of North America, we import mangos from al over the world - they are not part of our traditional culture, but we have been fortunate to have immigrants bring us these fruits - the first time I saw a mango tree I had traveled for a day to Costa Rica - they lie on the ground like apples and plums do, here in Minnesota.
Here, we have a problem with people cutting down and burning orchards of apples and plums, peaches and pears -- for huge poorly build but expensive houses, for golf courses, for parking lots, for no reason other than they do not know how to care for the tree or how to hire someone who knows. Instead, we plant ornamental trees that are not well-suited to this climate.
It seems that false sophistication and plain ignorance are not the sole property of any one culture or locale.
Tell your children to plant a mango tree - because some child in North America would give an apple to be able to have all the mangos she wanted....
Thank you for providing this information to readers around the world -
Elizabth.
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