The tango of mango, a bounty of nature
Mango days are here again. The king of fruits brings melodious moods and memories. The very thought of devouring a lush Alphonso mango beings a smile to the face. If you want to win any heart, present the person a gift-wrapped basket of mangoes. Even the prime ministers of Pakistan and India exchange baskets of mangoes to break the ice in relationships between the neighbouring countries. If a relationship is souring and you want it to blossom, offer the person a plateful of fresh-cut mangoes.
As children in the 1960s, we used to visit Company Bagh in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar where trees were laden with ripe and luscious mangoes. Though gardeners forbade us to pluck the fruit, we looked for opportunities to shoot down some mangoes with stones and gobble them quickly. A free mango is infinitely sweeter and more delicious!
As we had no refrigerators at that time, my mother cooled the mangoes by keeping them in a small brass bucket laden with ice. As the prices of mangoes have soared over the years, my consumption has also declined. From relishing two to three mangoes a day in my childhood, I make do with only one now.
One of the reasons I liked living in the Middle East was that mangoes were available there throughout the year. When Indian mangoes ran out, the fruit from Egypt arrived, then from Pakistan followed by Morocco. The sweetest mangoes in the world come from Zambales in the Philippines. No wonder mango is the national fruit of India, Pakistan, Philippines and the national tree of Bangladesh.
There are a range of mangoes to choose from in India. The pack is led by the globally renowned Alphonso, which was first introduced to Goa by a Portuguese General, Afonso de Albuquerque, circa 1510. Then there is Badami from Karnataka, Chaunsa from north India, Dasheri from UP, Kesar from Gujarat, Langda from UP and Mulgoba from Tamil Nadu.
Mangoes are an absolute treat in any form, warm or chilled, juiced or pureed. I love them best when I freeze pieces in ice trays with some cream. This is my own homemade rich and creamy mango ice cream.
Mangoes have also been immortalised by Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan in the iconic movie, Deewar, which propelled him into stardom. In a dialogue with the villain of the film, Bachchan advises him: “Aap aam khao, gutliya kyu ginte ho” (relish mangoes, why are you counting seeds). So, the mango became a teacher. Devour it. Do not bother about the seed. It taught do not fret about small things.
Hawkers use an idiom to sell their mangoes at cheap prices: “Aam lelo aam, gutliyo ke daam” (buy mangoes at the price of seeds). However, the seed is normally free when you devour the mango. Presumably, the hawker is broadcasting that the mangoes are almost free.
Now, the seed is from where the mango, a South Asian native, begins its journey into our hearts and mouths. As I grew older, I realised that growing a business is akin to managing a mango seedling. Select a good breed of seed like the Alfonso. Then plant it in an open area with ample free space where the tree can grow unfettered. You have to water and fertilise the sapling. In a few years, the community can enjoy lush yellow, red colour delicious mangoes.
Similarly, select a good business project and nourish it well so that future generations can reap the harvest of profits, shelters, homes, bonuses and livelihoods. Every garden owner would be wise to plant a mango tree, a bounty of nature. The mango tree takes three to four years to flower and fruit. Then for over decades, successive generations can relish the sweet, lush, creamy fruit.
MANGOES ARE AN ABSOLUTE TREAT IN ANY FORM, WARM OR CHILLED, JUICED OR PUREED. I LOVE THEM BEST WHEN I FREEZE PIECES IN ICE TRAYS WITH SOME CREAM