TOMATO

TOMATO

I am afraid some friends may fear of the write-up for its potential  rain of technicalities, though I do not mean any disturbing display of such ‘un-nerving’data/details. So, friends be at peace with the assurance of  some light presentation though it may not be ‘enlightening’.

Tomato has acquired a place of indispensability in our culinary efforts that one has to necessarily acquire the skill of buying , by naming it at any shop in India. Curiously, except the Tamils and the Malayalees ,all others have been rather casual about naming the item in that ‘Thakkaali’ is the name in Tamil /Malayalam while it is a simple variation of the name ‘TOMATO’ in most other languages ; Tamaatar [Hindi] , Tameto[ Telugu] Tamato [Kannada ,though many call it ‘Thamtae hannu’] Even in this, Tamils insist on their being distinct though not of any excellence. It could be that Malayalam adopted the Tamil version without scratching the scalp for naming it.

Why does  it draw attention ?

In India’s electoral politics – three things can turn  abrupt weapons  in swinging political fortunes of members of either faction –the ruling and the opposition. When these vegetables reach  a high priced  status ‘beyond’ the common man’s power of purchase. any power of purchase exhbited by political outfits  cannot help return to power; instead it can  place the ruling outfit on the opposituion  and help the opposition to corner power. Such is the  power of volatile price line for certain vegetables in major segments of North India causing a swing in political fortunes. Incuidentally, the ‘fortune brokers’ [ or are they fortune breakers?] are Potato, Onion and Tomato --in that order. Does it mean that these vegetables do not evoke similar voter-responses in South. South –especially  those in the lower extremity of  of geographic map, rarely react to price line. They neither seem to buy the vegetable nor do they buy the theory of  price-line being more emotional to political slogeneering over Language or to ideology of left even if nothing is left for survival. So far as Northern segment is concerned next to Wheat , Potato, Onion and Tomato occupy places of importance for making side-dish or subjee. No such place of pride exists for P/ O/T in South India.

I remember an angry declaration by a man in Trichy [1979] that India will have no salvation . unless our womenfolk muster the skill of making ‘RASAM’  without  Tomato. The provocation for the hefty proclamation on that day was that the price of Tomato soared to Re1/-per Kg in sharp contrast to its general Rate  per Kg at 0.30 to 0.40 Re . I shudder to think of how that man would  jump between heaven and earth  at  today’s price .

Tomato in India is broadly divisible into native [Country type- ideal for Rasam-making] and the hybrid variety  [Salad variety]. The hybrid variety  has a long shelf life , bright red colur as against short shelf life and yellowish red of the country type. Other than politics, Tomatos come under merciless ‘throw-away’ trends by farmers for want of attractive price when the stuff is over produced. Also, some farmer –politics is known for tomato. Suddenly a runour is spread that Tomato from a region can cause cancer if consumed. Such a rumour can seal the fate of Tomatos and that of Tomato growers in one stroke. As a Nation we look for grapevine for the sheer thrill of it; many are inclined to ‘air’ it faster than air itself/lest should feel deprived of an opportunity though it is a depraved act by itself.

Prof. K. Raman