TANGENTSBy Ihtisham Kabir
A Special <i>Tree</i>
A special fruit from a special tree. Photo: Ihtisham Kabir
Where would we be without the bounties of the amazing jackfruit tree? My long and happy association with Artocarpus Heterophyllus began when I was five. In the yard of our Sylhet home, next to my parents' bedroom, was a large jackfruit tree. One day, my father swung a rope around a branch and fitted it with a wooden seat. This became my first swing and led to endless hours of entertainment. Since then I have admired the jackfruit tree, which originates in India - showing up in archaeological digs from 5000-6000 years ago - but now grows in all tropical countries. The tree grows fast, in some cases reaching fruit-bearing maturity in four years. The branches grow laterally from the trunk before reaching skyward. Its dark-grained wood is exceptionally strong and is useful for making doors, windows and furniture. Some jackfruit trees live for over a hundred years, but from what I have seen, its average lifespan is closer to fifty. My appreciation of this tree deepened during the 1971 Liberation War, when my family took refuge with relatives in a remote village for several months. We were grateful just to be alive, but any food beyond the basics- rice, dal and potatoes - was scarce. Summer, however, brought abundance in the form of the jackfruit. I spent many happy afternoons with friends indulging in its messy delight. The fruit grows from a tiny pod, called muji, to the large brown spiky fruit weighing several kilograms in three short months. At first the muji is sheathed in a shiny green cover which it sheds as the spikes develop. Not all mujis make it to maturity; most drop while still small. Many villagers can predict the survivors by inspection. A big tree can produce a hundred or more ripe jackfruits in a season. All parts of the fruit are useful, starting with its sweet and flavourful bulbs. Afficionados argue endlessly over the merits of mushy versus crunchy varieties. Unripe fruits are cooked into curries. The seeds, with a sweet, nutty taste, are boiled or grilled, then cooked. Cows eat the portions of the fruit that humans cannot. The jackfruit tree gives us many aesthetic pleasures. The dark green canopy of a fully grown tree provides a home for birds, squirrels and other wildlife. Its bark often sports colourful patterns. It has beautiful leaves. These leaves, articulated by bold veins, are thick, heavy and roughly oval. Old leaves turn a bright reddish orange before dropping. New leaves take their place year-round, bright green at first before turning darker. Cows will go to great lengths to eat jackfruit leaves, so young trees must be protected. I read somewhere that creepers, particularly black pepper vines, can be grown on the jackfruit trunk. But seriously, why would you let a creeper deprive this friend from its nourishment? I say feed it well, protect it, and nurture it, and it will return the favour many times over.
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