Gums secreted by trees are a treasure trove of nutrition and have been used by communities in making seasonal delicacies
BACK IN the 1970s, the visits to my grandparents’ village in eastern Uttar Pradesh during summer holidays were always fascinating. In the orchards, we would collect gummy “tears”, or gond, from mango and neem trees and return home with sticky fingers. For us curious kids, the cues to what the gum was being used for were in the kitchen pantries, medicine boxes and dressing drawers. There used to be a couple of dibiyas (small brass boxes with lids) in which the gums were stored. Women used the mango gum to stick tikuli (dot, or bindi made of gold, silver and mother of pearl) on their forehead, while the neem gum was mixed with beeswax and smeared on cracked feet. People also used gum from the bael fruit to coat bamboo soop (a winnowing device) to prevent it from cracking and from weevil (a type of beetle) infestation. The village haat would have at least one vendor with a few dibiyas of gum for sale.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara