Yesteryear's Memories
- Ebenpoki Chaobi-Chaak -

By SaNaTomBi Angomcha*

(Yet another trip down memory lane ....Well, this time I am with a different theme…'Ebenpoki Chaobi-Chaak')

Born and brought up in a traditional Meitei Emung (family) none of my siblings luckily didn't miss the ideal dose of cultural mannerism during our happy childhood days.

And today, when I have become a full-fledged Ningol (lady) I can still flick upon an innocent smile remembering the reminiscence of those best days of my childhood.

Bubok (grandma) hardly used to serve us 'Chaobi Chaak' not because she didn't want to, but because this particular custom was no more prevalent during our childhood days.

We had our daily breakfast with either hotelgi tann, kingbon, toast, dabooti—the Manipuri accent of double-roti (bread) etc. In every sense we used to enjoy standard breakfast like every civilized region or area across the nation or the world. However, once in a blue moon me and my siblings were envisaged to the aged-old custom of serving 'Chaobi-Chaak'.

In ancient Manipur, Chaobi Chaak was more or less breakfast for every kid. My bubok used to relate me many 'Chaobi-Chaak' tales.

Since then, I got so much fascinated with this particular custom. I still host some fresh memories about how I would continue the 'ningai touba session' (ningai touba means being stubborn) until and unless it was served.

If I have to admit, 'Chaobi-chaak' didn't taste yummy at all like hotelgi tan or dabooti. I could not even gulp down a scoop of the same but I used to pretend as if I liked it in case that would avoid my baba from scolding me for my big time melodrama.

Hmm, time has drastically and dramatically changed. However, I wish some things in life never change at all. And I do wish I may one day able to make 'Chaobi-Chaak' for my grandchildren even when it would be something very odd and out of the trend during that time.