CAMOUFLAGED CUISINE (പ്റച്ഛന്നവേഷത്തിലെ ഭോജ്യം)

A prelude is indispensible prior to my narration and the anecdote is incomplete with out it. The prelude pertains to the unbroken link among agriculture, Malankara Catholic Archdiocese and Archbishop, Mar Gregorios, who is one of the pioneer promoters of agriculture and tree farming in Kerala.The Archdiocese threw the stone before the running dog by procuring barren land in olden days when unproductive hills and jungles were unexplored burden for people. The Maharajas of Travancore were pleased to sell out these wide spread land for nominal prize to enterprising subjects for development.

Three hundred acres of Mar Ivanios nagar, Benedict Nagar and Pattom Archdiocese nagar were procured by Archbishop Mar Ivanios and necessary buildings were constructed.The rest of the large area of property was cleared by ground work and excavation and various cultivation of rubber, tuber crop, banana plants, piggery farm, poultry farm, horticulture etc. were executed. That became a model for integrated farming in Kerala. The renowned Non governmental organisation, " Friends of Trees" took its origin from this environment.

Now ,let me come with my thirty year old experience in Archbishop's house ,Pattom. I wanted an admission for my son in St. Mary's higher secondary school in sixth standard by a lateral entry. It was a difficult task at that time. My colleague in Sree Chitra Medical Center, late sri. Zacharias Panicker, a cousin of Archbishop Mar Ivanios, was the physiotherapist, taking care of all physiotherapy needs of Archbishop's house. He assured me a seat by his influence with the school manager, Monsignor, Kumpukat. We called on the monsignor(Msgr) at his bishop's house office and got my job done . My colleague's affinity with the school manager facilitated an invitation for a coffee and snacks with the manager. My colleague was called ' Kunjumon' by priests by his petname . Monsignor said, " Kunjumon, We will have a coffee, call your friend also." My gratitude for my son's admission was overwhelming. So I considered his invitation for evening coffee was as an added gesture shown to me.

We were led to a large dining hall where a large oval shaped table and twenty five chairs were placed around.All the chairs except three were seated by junior priests. There was a half plate covered by another half plate and a quarter plate covered by another quarter plate on the table in front of each chair. Of course, coffee in cups and saucers were also there. It looked like an oval ring on the oval table. We entered with the monsignor ,when all the junior priests stood up and wished. The monsignor introduced us to them and initiated a small prayer before coffee. All sat down and started removing the cover plates.There were spoons and forks also. The half plates contained clear cut half inch white cubes like ivory cubes.The quarter plates contained crimson red colloidal sauce like thing. I was bit perplexed as I had no idea what it was and how it should be consumed.I waited for some announcement from the monsignor, as he did it at every occasion or follow what others were doing. Meanwhile, as all others had previous experience, including my colleague, Zacharia, they picked up the fork , pierced the ivory cubes and dipped in to the crimson red gel. I was holding the fork in my hand and waiting for the monsignor to do some thing. Simultaneously, monsignor also picked up the fork and affectionately said, " Kunjumon, let us have a few pieces of Kachil ( കാച്ചിൽ, yam) with red chilly paste ".

I took a deep breath of solace for the discovery. Multiple thoughts haunted me causing obsession before this revelation.I thought the white cubes could be cheese cut in cubes as a part of western cuisine as the priests often go to foreign countries . But what could be the crimson paste? Cheese is not compatible with sauce but may compromise with that. How simple way the eating culture was solved. There is none to win me over in boild Kachil eating as I am brought up in tuber crop. I felt suddenly at home leaving behind the camouflaged English culture.

I recalled the Yam (Kachil) cultivation over a large area inside the Mar Ivanios campus near Engineering college and Santhi theeram all around the rubber estate of ten acres. The yam creepers made an air tight fencing over the barbed wire making an additional crop in the rubber estate. The priests are expert farmers in Kerala and Missionary priests and nuns all over India. Where ever they pitch their tent as base that will be turned to paradise on earth.