Understanding Yongchak
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: 25th September, 2008 -

Each season has its own unique taste and flavour and this does not necessarily need to be only about the change in temperature but more about the culture of a people, which encompasses religion, food habit and all the other aspects of human civilisation.

So while winter in the Western world or countries with an overwhelming Christian majority means the coming of Christmas, carol singing, midnight service, Thanks Giving and New Year's eve and New Year itself, to the other parts of the country it may mean the time for harvesting the year's crop, the festivities that follow the harvest season and of course the merriment that comes along during this period.

Ditto too for Summer which in some European countries may mean Sun shine and pleasant days to take the dog out for a walk or organise barbecues.

In fact so irrevocably linked are seasons to the culture of a people, there are certain period in a year which is deemed auspicious for marriages to be solemnised.

In Manipur the onset of Winter means pulling out the woolens, the blankets, and of course solemnising marriages and there is something very unique about the long line of vehicles and traffic jams during the marriage processions.

Apart from this what makes Winter special to the people of Manipur is the availability of vegetables which may not be found on the dining tables of other parts of the country and this may range from Hangam Thongba (Cooked mustard leaves), Chagem Pomba with the highly pungent fermented soya beans lending its own unique taste and the ultimate favourites of almost all true blooded Manipuri, Yongchak Singju (Tree beans sliced thinly, and mixed with chilli sauce along with fermented fish and taken in the raw) and Yongchak Iromba (Tree beans with mashed potatoes, chilli sauce and fermented fish).

Yongchak is something closely connected to the culture of the people of Manipur just as the Ilish is with the people of Bengal.

A picture of a Yongchak tree

Just as there are debates over the quality of the fish which come from two different river system and region, there are also culinary debates on which Yongchak is more delectable to the taste bud, the ones from Kangchup side or Kanpokpi or Ukhrul side.

Apart from the apprehension of drastic changes in the climatic conditions of the land and the level of air pollution, the other very important reason why apprehensions have been raised over the withering of a large number of Yongchak trees is due to the umbilical cord that the Yongchak share with the culture of the land and the people.

The seminar held some days back on the withering and dying of a large number of Yongchak trees, has more or less pointed out that the large scale destruction caused to this tree is due to fungus and some harmful insects.

These are the indications given by the experts and it is heartening to note that samples have been sent to the CMI, London for further studies.

Saving the Yongchak is therefore not only about ensuring the survival of one of the favourite culinary delights of the people of Manipur, but also about preserving an important aspect of the culture of the land. Come to think about it.

Would Winter be the same in Manipur, if there were no Yongchaks ?



Also read on Yongchak in news on 28th September 2008 here .
and on 22nd September news on TSE here .

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