Lunch Box

 

"Food brings people together on many different levels. Its nourishment of the soul and body; its true love."

The current pandemic has made us realize many small pleasures of life. Among the many things we all are missing, one important sight am sure all are missing is that of school buses plying early in the morning and  lively students and pretty teachers boarding the same tugging along with them heavy bags. But, the weight of the bags does not bother the students nor the teachers because apart from the books it also contains their lunch boxes which has witnessed the best stories of a school.

Some parents demand that a school should have a canteen and must serve nutritious hot food to its students on a daily basis. Somehow, this concept never appealed to me. The joy of sharing lunch from each other's lunch box is probably one of the best memories of school life we all have. Students unconsciously imitate their teachers. So, when they witness the fun and laughter that teachers have in the staffroom during lunch time, they imitate this too learning a lot in the process.

The sharing of lunch in high school is one of the most important life lesson that students learn. They bond as a class; they share each other's life stories; all get a sneak peak into the kitchens of every classmate. When a student refuses to eat on a particular day due to a bad mood there will be someone who would cheer them up by getting them their favorite food, thus exhibiting empathy and expressing genuine care. Lunch boxes have witnessed several moments of joy and tears; fights and making up. Anwar's mother will always pack extra biryani for every friend of his and so will Swaminathan's mother prepare extra dosas for the rest of the classmates. Thus the families are involved in this circle of love.

The staffroom comes alive during the lunch time. Ms. Desai's thepla is devoured by Ms. Basu and everyone else not because it is tasty but due to the fact that extra theplas were prepared early in the morning for all those who love it in the staffroom. Ms. Oberoi's dahi vada is food for the stomach and the soul for the ever hungry pregnant ladies of the staffroom. Every food craving of a pregnant lady in the staffroom is fulfilled by her extra loving colleagues. Big birthday cakes are always ordered in every house because the cake has to be shared with the members of the staffroom the next day.

Sharing of lunch box in a school is the best time for unwinding, heart to heart communication, discussing important issues, collaborating and gossiping. It fosters team spirit and teaches all to truly accept unity in diversity. In most academic institutions there is a lot of warmth and this is due to the fact that all carry a part of their home culture with them to share generously. The joy that teachers experience when their students bake a cake for the first time and bring it for them is unmatched with any other material gift that anyone can give them. Students too forever remember the small class parties teachers host for them annually.  

Corporatizing academic institutions should be avoided because on doing so the values that young minds should learn will be lost. Corporatizing will introduce a swanky canteen where all will be served the same food robbing the joy of variety. The thrill of forming a circle with close friends and sitting under the shade of a tree in the school ground will be lost if food will be served in the school canteen only. Introducing a canteen in the school will mean teachers will be given canteen duties taking away their precious time to bond. In fact corporate India must introduce home cooked shared lunches as a part of team bonding on a regular basis.

So, the next time while a lunch box is being packed for kids or for ourselves remember it is not just a nutrition rich box but it is a treasure box that add memories to it everyday which makes life more beautiful.

I want all of you to share your fondest lunch box memory in the comment section because  by doing so it will put a big smile on your face and on mine too. 

Note: This post is specially dedicated to all my dear friends with whom I have shared many lunches over the years and have created some of the best memories of my life.