It holds the fancy of children and adults too, it is a symbol of status and wealth. However, it is grateful enough to come in different varieties, and so it is available and accessible to most. It doesn’t always taste that great, but it holds the fancy of an entire nation – much like the rains and other things.

Often glorified as the “King of fruits” (some would give that mantle to the ‘Durian’ – whatever that is !!) the mango brings with it a host of complexities.

My uncle dropped off a couple of crates of mangoes which belonged to the massive yield from the farm-house owned by the organization he works for.

As I sunk my teeth into what appeared as the best, among some very good looking mangoes, I realized, that a mango is not just a fruit, but a PARADOX in so many ways.  

The very fact that it is just not an ordinary fruit gives me enough evidence to classify it as India’s official fruit. Why ?

1) The EXCESSIVE HYPE – if it is close to Indian hearts, it has to generate more hype than it deserves.

2) The ARISTROCRATIC BEHAVIOUR – eat me you shall, only during summer time.

3) The TANTRUMS – an apparently good yield always flatters to decieve.

4) The COST – considering average consumption and average costs most families dole out bundles for these PARADOXES. If it is close to Indian hearts, it has to be expensive.

And why do I keep calling mangoes – Paradoxes ?

a) The farmer – transporter – hawker / vendor nexus results in mangoes being plucked from trees before they are RIPE and then these mangoes are doused with Calcium Carbide to make sure that they reach the consumer RIPE !! – Let them grow on the trees !! I don’t want surgical and chemical warfare to be practised on the fruits I eat. Last I heard, mangoes are now being injected with colour and ripening agents using injections. 

b) I picked a gorgeous piece, it looked ripe – only looked ripe – on the inside it was rotting at some places and raw at others !!

 With all its blemishes, it still draws the attention of one and all. Still considered as a treat, a delicacy, nature’s most revered sweetdish. Hopefully we stop tampering with nature’s method of preperation and hopefully, the next time I pick a mango it lives up to its billing.

Till then I shall join the court of his highness – Emperor ‘Banana’.