There was this one Mr. Vadra who once dared the power of the mango (people). But much before him, I too was seduced by Mangoes. The story starts with my grandmother. Now 81 years old, but with a love for mangoes. When I was a toddler, I was allegedly rather naughty & my granny used to label me in Bengali as “aam paka”. I grudgingly settled into sobriety with age, but my association with mangoes continued. Mangoes of all types – Himsagar, Langra, Gulabkhas, Alphonso, Dusseri, Chausa, Benisan, Kausar are welcome. Heck, even Sutanu is shaped like a Mango. Well if the fruit is the national fruit of three countries – India, Pakistan & Philippines & the tree, the national tree of Bangladesh, I guess it’s good enough for me. Well a mango just cannot be a plebian “aam” offering, even its scientific name has an elitist touch to it – Magnifera Indica. And not to talk about Mango – the fashion line. Strictly Capitalist. But back to Saree. I’m wearing a saree from my grandmother, who had the saree in a shade of rich off-white tone. I took the saree & wanted to marry mangoes to it. But alas, when Kaniska – a rather well known saree boutique of Kolkata – dyed & printed it….they got the mild shade of Kausar right, but mixed the mango leaves to something of Chinar’s. Well I live with it. After all, I also like Kashmiri Aam ka aachar….so loved by Bengalis with Dal & Bhat, but made on a recipe which came from the land of Chinars.