<p>The discussion on the park bench that evening was about jack fruits and bananas. ‘Which is better? Jackfruit or banana?’<br /><br />“It is jack fruit, “Siva said with conviction. “ Look at its size, portly but majestic when opened, yielding tiers of smooth yellow, tasty, pods enough for the whole family for days. <br /><br />Do bananas have such august appearance? Critics may uncharitably assert that a jackfruit is prickly, looking like a porcupine. Rubbish. Look at a banana. <br /><br />Small, that too curved, looking like a servile party worker bending before his political leader. Furthermore, bananas may prove to be dangerous.<br /><br /> It is customary-rather a ritual-for a banana eater to throw the peeled skin carelessly, making people who happen to tread on that slippery skin skid and have their hands or legs in POP for weeks. </p>.<p> On a literary plane, what is banana’s star contribution to the idioms of English? The derogatory one: ‘to go bananas’. Compare it with ‘jack of all trades’. </p>.<p>How complimentary! Haven’t you all tasted chakkai pradhaman, Kerala’s payasam, fit for gods? Can you put it together without a jack fruit?”<br /><br />Banana votary Ram cleared his throat. “Listen! A fruit must be easy to eat. Take a banana. You can remove the skin with a swift movement of the wrist as if working down a zip.<br /><br /> And the tasty fruit is ready in all its glory to delight you. Is the jack fruit that user-friendly? No. That monster of a fruit has to be cracked. </p>.<p>Operation jack fruit requires a sharp, thick knife, a cup of gingili oil, first aid kit and oodles of patience, besides technical expertise. <br /><br />Furthermore, if not careful you may have to spend packets of detergents to remove the stains from the clothes. <br /><br />A banana is hygienic, with an easily removable insulation. An ape can do it. But the culled jack pods if not protected will invite a swarm of the ghastly flies. <br /><br />The plebian banana aids digestion--ready to move the bowels with ease.</p>.<p> On the contrary, a jack fruit indulgence may compel frequent trips to the smallest room in the residence. Huh!”<br /><br />We turned to Sammy for his cryptic comments: “Agreed. But Jack fruit symbolises hard work. Banana the opposite. Pleasure lies in enjoying the fruits of labour after strenuous work. Besides, as a man who values national prosperity I dislike a banana because of its contemptuous collocation with republic! Period.”<br /></p>
<p>The discussion on the park bench that evening was about jack fruits and bananas. ‘Which is better? Jackfruit or banana?’<br /><br />“It is jack fruit, “Siva said with conviction. “ Look at its size, portly but majestic when opened, yielding tiers of smooth yellow, tasty, pods enough for the whole family for days. <br /><br />Do bananas have such august appearance? Critics may uncharitably assert that a jackfruit is prickly, looking like a porcupine. Rubbish. Look at a banana. <br /><br />Small, that too curved, looking like a servile party worker bending before his political leader. Furthermore, bananas may prove to be dangerous.<br /><br /> It is customary-rather a ritual-for a banana eater to throw the peeled skin carelessly, making people who happen to tread on that slippery skin skid and have their hands or legs in POP for weeks. </p>.<p> On a literary plane, what is banana’s star contribution to the idioms of English? The derogatory one: ‘to go bananas’. Compare it with ‘jack of all trades’. </p>.<p>How complimentary! Haven’t you all tasted chakkai pradhaman, Kerala’s payasam, fit for gods? Can you put it together without a jack fruit?”<br /><br />Banana votary Ram cleared his throat. “Listen! A fruit must be easy to eat. Take a banana. You can remove the skin with a swift movement of the wrist as if working down a zip.<br /><br /> And the tasty fruit is ready in all its glory to delight you. Is the jack fruit that user-friendly? No. That monster of a fruit has to be cracked. </p>.<p>Operation jack fruit requires a sharp, thick knife, a cup of gingili oil, first aid kit and oodles of patience, besides technical expertise. <br /><br />Furthermore, if not careful you may have to spend packets of detergents to remove the stains from the clothes. <br /><br />A banana is hygienic, with an easily removable insulation. An ape can do it. But the culled jack pods if not protected will invite a swarm of the ghastly flies. <br /><br />The plebian banana aids digestion--ready to move the bowels with ease.</p>.<p> On the contrary, a jack fruit indulgence may compel frequent trips to the smallest room in the residence. Huh!”<br /><br />We turned to Sammy for his cryptic comments: “Agreed. But Jack fruit symbolises hard work. Banana the opposite. Pleasure lies in enjoying the fruits of labour after strenuous work. Besides, as a man who values national prosperity I dislike a banana because of its contemptuous collocation with republic! Period.”<br /></p>
