An incident today reminded one my teachers from my engineering first year. The title of this post "There is nectar in the last bite" is his statement. I have to curse my bad memory, I am not able to recollect the name of the teacher. If he is reading this post, I seek for his forgiveness. During my BTech, he taught us engineering drawing. He was pretty senior professor and a very noble man.
He used to come to our hostel mess for lunch everyday. Each and everyday he saw huge amount of food being wasted by most of inmates of the hostel. Twice a week we used to have his class, one of them were on Wednesday after lunch. He came to class as usual, with all drafter, ruler, compass ... on one hand and colour chalk pieces on the other hand. By the way, his drawings were amazing, we couldn't draw on paper, he used to draw on board!
First statement of his that day, "All of you people should understand that there is nectar in the last bite. Because, that bite contains, the remains of everything you ate, chapati, palle (sabji), rice, sambar, pickle, curd, chutney, everything. If you leave that on the plate, you just missed the Amrit!... ".
This is a story of 2007, now it's 12 years passed, but still I remember this. It is possible that the words I have written are not exactly matching what he said though, but the philosophy was definitely that.
Obvious question is why this story now? Here's the plot. Try to be with me, savour the taste of the culture of my people.
Today (7 sept), holiday!! My maid was also on leave. So after spending a lot of time watching Chandrayan-2 descent into moon with the heavy heart, sleepy mind and teary eyes, I watched prime minister's address and slept around 9am. Next round of waking up took place at10am.
So I decided to have my native food. To all who don't know about my whereabouts, I trace my roots to northern part of Karnataka, which is one of the southern states of India. Presently staying in the Telugu and Tamil dominant areas of Bengaluru. Old Bangalore has some really nice dining places, most of them are near Majestic and surrounding areas.
For people who wish to have Jowar Roti meals you should visit Basaveshwara Khanawali (Khanawali is hotel like, with limited menu). Just to put things into perspective, Lord Basava was a Finance/Chief Minister in Bijjala Kingdom in 12th century. Because of his karma, he attained god-hood. This is unique to India isn't it? "नर करनी करे तो नर का नारायण हो जाये". Today he is our guiding light, he comes from my place! Or, I come from his place!
Anyways, the point is Basaveshwara Khanawali serves authentic North Karnataka food. So, I went to Majestic, there is one, named as "Bagalkoteyavara (people from Bagalkot's) Basaveshwara Khanawali". Now don't ask me what's Bagalkot, it's my home!!! I had to pay ₹80 for the meal get a token and be seated. I was asked to sit at the inside most table, next to kitchen. This is also unique about my people, they want less serving distance.
It was a 4 seater table. To understand the authenticity of the place, the table will have groundnut chutney power, pickle and salt kept, we eat a lot of it... If you don't eat lot of spice, don't even touch the chutney, it will ruin your apatite for sure. A nice big clean looking steal plate was kept in front of me, it contained Chiili Chutney, curd and salad. It's not American salad, it's Indian Salad, it contained cucumber, onion and radish, 2 pieces each. No salad dressings, we eat original.
I was to wait for sabji Roti to be served, one mid aged man in white Nehru-shirt and Dhothi (typical dressing of my place) came and sat in front of me. Please note it's a 4 seater table, me and my bag occupied 2, he and his bag occupied 2. He took the same meal, same token!
Hot, handmade thin, perfectly baked Jowar Roti was served for both of us. He got a call, he said he would call later after lunch. Still sabji was not served, he got one more call. This time he received and said "I spoke to minister, he was hopeful to get the work done.." oh man, this simple looking man has links of ministers! (This was to give his intro, that I wasn't sitting with an idiot).
Sabji arrived, bhendi (okra/ladies finger), Daal (lentils) and Batani (matar/peas). Don't worry these won't be spicy. We started eating, I was keenly observing the man sitting in front of me. First bite, he made namaste and ate, next went on. Next came the turn for rice sambar, what a lovely sambar it was!.
Now comes the main part of this story, at the end of lunch, 3 pieces of bhendi were remaining in my plate and none in his. He washed his hand in the plate. (Believe me, in these Khanawalis, there is a clear instructions on notice board saying don't wash your hands in the plate). I was surprised, how could the sanskari person of his stature don't respect the rules?
In the very next moment, he lifted the plate and drank all the water! That didn't surprise me, neither it was awkward. I tried looking at other people if someone is giving a strange look. Not one person gave a damn! This is because the culture of this place teach this. Next moment, he put more water in the plate and drank that too. Again did namaste to the plate and he smoothly walked out.
The philosophy is simple, every grain of food that made it to the plate bears the the name of the person who eats it. One grain has the effort of farmers to sow and grow it. Effort of engineers to provide water, corporates to provide pesticides and fertilizers. Dalals for distribution, sellers for retails, and lastly the cook and the hotel management to prepare and serve the food.
No one has a right to waste the food. If you don't want, don't take it. If you are doubtful of something, take little. If you like something, be comfortable. Afterall the food is essential, respect the food, respect the effort.
Anna Dato Sukhi Bhava!
