A.t.

dabbas with clips were easy too open. some round steel dabbas could be opened easily too. but some round steel dabbas HAD to be hit, holding it horizontally, to the edge of the table, in order to open. and it was a skill to not spill the contents!

keep dropping by and take care
rk

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If you ever wondered what that large school-bag that weighed us down comprised of, the contents could be broken down into three zones:
The Book Zone – comprising of bulky texts for each subject and the respective class-work / home-work books (60% of Volume)
The Instrument Zone – Intially comprising of pencils and rubbers (aka erasers) and then later with compass, divider and scented rubbers (aka scented erasers) (5% of Volume)
The Food Zone – the unsung matinee hero: the venerable Lunch Dabba (Priceless)
Lunch, was and is still, a key social, mid-day event that holds the promise of a day getting better. With modern civilization and modern work hours thrust upon them, Indians have refused to give in and lo behold, the Lunch Dabba was invented. Also known as the tiffin-carrier, it came in myriad forms. There was the ubiquitous, indestructible round, steel, lunch box. Another was a rectangular, aluminum box with clips on the side to hold the precious contents in. Some lunch boxes had a smaller boxes that would sit within each other like a babushka doll. Other lunch boxes came in 2, 3 or magnificient 4 tiers which were efficiently held in place by an aluminum/ steel straps. And for some who were paranoid, these multi-tiered carriers of carbs could be securely locked.

Whether moms worked or stayed at home, they were not delinquent in showering their love for their children. More often than not, the size of this unrequited love equated the amount packed into the lunch box. They firmly believed that a growing child should not be denied the lunch (s)he would have had if they were at home. As there was never a lunch box large enough for mom, the laws of physics would be severly tested as food was slowly compressed into the uncomplaining lunch boxes. As the taste of food fought with the shape of food, the lunch boxes would diligently hold the contents until lunch time. There were occasional mini-disasters when the seams of an over-worked lunch dabba gave way and the delicious food would complete its lifecycle prematurely. One kid’s tragedy would serve as a relief for several others to shower their mothers’ love on this hapless kid.

The transportation of the lunch-dabba from home to school may seem trivial, mundane activity but I believe it taught many a kid important life-lessons such as awareness and applied physics. Some kids tried to optimize the load of carrying their schoolbags by putting the lunch box inside the schoolbag. If one was not aware of the contents of the lunch box or familiar with the laws of fluid dynamics, (s)he would be learn it by the time (s)he opened the bag in the class. Not only would you be horrified by the fluid seepage from the lunch dabba, so would be your teachers as they see the beautifully wrapped assignment books now soaked with mom’s culinary creations. Sometimes, horizontal is the best position for the lunch dabba. Sometimes, horizontal is the best position for you.

Like it or hate it, the lunch dabba was an integral part of the school bag and of growing up. Whether the dabbas, in a subtle way, indicated the social status of the student was never a question. We learnt,very early, not to judge by the carrier but by the contents. Little did we know that grudging evaluation of our mom’s cooking would be of great help in maintaining marital harmony many decades later. Lunch Dabbas were not only carriers of culinary delights, they were instructional in the value of planning and of delayed gratification. They helped teach that while you could always enjoy what you have, the pleasure is greatly enhanced by just sharing a little.

All this wonderous emotions and experiences, brought to you by the unsung, venerable, Lunch Dabba.

keep dropping by!

tk care
rk