By Kyla Laquian
Courier Staff Reporter
Striding through the Logan hallways towards the curriculum center, a uniquely aromatic scent tickled my nose, one that is warmly familiar and I had grown accustomed. No, it is not the scent of the highly exhausted and preoccupied teenager hurrying to classes pondering the last exam, or of the exuberant rusty smell of Logan lockers, but of a cultural cuisine I had grown to love throughout the years, Indian food. I arrived at the Curriculum Center, and spotted the eye of my affections, Indian food, with teachers congregated in tables feasting on it. Hosted by Punjabi Club, and specifically prepared by volunteers of the Punjabi Sikh Community, it is not just a simple sharing of cultural dishes, but a heartwarming and unifying way in support of the teacher’s Work to Rule Protest advocating for better health care and salary for teachers, and the teachers made ABC 7 news for what they have done.
The soul of this gesture, the teacher advisor of Punjabi Club Mr. Rana, explained the deeper religious and cultural meaning behind serving Indian food in support of the protest, as I sat with him at a lunch table while the other teachers feasted around me. Food is a huge part of Indian culture, and it is a way for bringing together loved ones and showing kindness to strangers. Even if the Sikh does not necessarily know the person, but they are hungry, then they are allowed to share in the meal. According to Mr. Rana, the Gurdwara which is the temple of worship for Sikhs, welcomes people to eat free food for this reason. It spreads the sense of unity and generosity, and when he explained this I knew this to be true; it was evident in the atmosphere in the room. Through the simple gesture of bringing together teachers through Indian food, united them towards a common cause to fight for teacher’s benefits.
However this great feast is the result of a very meticulous process by the Sikh community in preparing the food, making sure everything was right in proportion, and packing it at the right time so the food was served perfectly freshed and unspoiled. The Monday before, they spent 4 hours cutting the ingredients, then the day before the event, took out the ingredients and put everything in the oven by 4 in the morning so it will be ready in the morning. By 10:30 they packed the food and served it by 11:30 for 4th and 5th period lunch. I had the lovely opportunity to try the vegetarian dishes, such as the matar peas which had flavorful curry masala mixed in, the peneer, which also was a vegetable dish and was tofu and cream mixed in curry, and the rice pudding. All of the food was not too spicy but extremely flavorful. Also served there was Roti, which is crispy Indian bread dipped in curry sauce, Chipati bread, soda, fruit and ice cream. The food was served by the Punjabi club members of Logan, cafeteria style down a line and they were all very kind and welcoming.
Punjabi Club and Mr. Rana should be very proud of how they took an integral part of their culture, Indian cuisine, to project kindness unto others in support of a greater cause. This showed me the power that simple deeds can do in other people’s lives, and we can learn from this.
