How important is an onion kachauri in life?

18 January, 2013

Last Sunday, Captain Smriti Trehan made a different kind of history in the world of food and cuisines. We used to hear the proverb that 'someone died for want of lobster sauce' for a person who sacrifices very big in order to gain very small. For the sake of an onion kachauri this food connoisseur put her job at stake.

She was destined to captain a Mumbai-Jodhpur-Delhi flight. The airline administration had made some changes in schedule and asked her to fly Mumbai-Delhi flight. But this determined lady had placed an order for onion kachuri with some expert cook of Jodhpur. For the object of her love and devotion she defied the order of her seniors to switch her earlier Mumbai-Jodhpur-Delhi flight to a direct flight. Consequently, Mumbai-Delhi passengers were forced to wait for one hour when the new pilot came in.

Our hell-bent lady took up the flight of her choice and landed at Jodhpur, picked up her snack and flew for Delhi. That was love for food. Never before in airlines history a strong commitment like this for a snack has been recorded. Airlines administration is making an inquiry and the lady is going to face the music for her indiscipline.

This brings us to a question – why seemingly intelligent people often make silly decisions? In normal life people often demonstrate abnormal attitude. We get unexpected hot-button reactions from them. They act on strong emotional biases. Some show the herding mentality which is nothing but simply copying of others. Some smart people get stupid when they are overwhelmed. Financial and family stress often generate this reaction. Common fears of fluid life and uncertainties overwhelm an otherwise cool and intelligent person.

People are often underwhelmed if they feel they are underutilized. The guilt of redundancy takes away the power of rational thinking. I feel this lady needs help!

It sounds strange that eating itself is a disease though we all are born with it. Is it not mind-boggling to believe that we have to heal this disease everyday to protect us from the formidable discomfitures such as hatred, greed, delusion, and envy.

Empty stomach is never conducive for prayer. Some eat when they can afford and some eat when it is absolutely necessary for them. There are people who only live to eat and there are those who eat to live. Some crave for food of any type and any kind. Some never miss an opportunity to eat and some search to eat. All humans like to eat; all humans tend to like the food from their own culture.

We all have different eating habits and psychological and emotional issues are often the root cause of them. Eating is also an adventure for many of us. Some of us eat for sheer joy and joy is, after all, the end of life. However, an emaciated body blowing down the street like a pile of autumn leaves makes a powerful commentary on life and society of a country. It often brings down powerful politicians and gives birth to a new powerful politics. It creates history.