Online edition of Sunday Observer

ANCL's National Jak Development Project (NJDP) has had a positive and a significant response from all parts of the country. Many have written in commenting on various aspects of jak, its history and other significant developments of this wonderfruit.

While all comments are greatly appreciated, we present a letter on the place of jak in folk literature sent by Bandula R. Gulawatte that will be of interest to you...

The jak tree, has occupied a place in the life of Sri Lankans since time immemorial. However, with the advent of commercialisation and its negative impacts, the existence of this topical tree has also been threatened greatly. It is commendable that some effort is being taken to draw attention to jak and its significance in the lives of Sri Lankans. And in this context it is topical to talk about Sri Lankan literature and the significance of jak in folk tales.

Getting to know the wonders of the jak fruit... a student pledging to protect a jak sapling to be planted in her school grounds.

Many a myth, story, poem and riddle is coloured by the reference to jak-fruit. The villager, in harmony with nature used the different parts of the jak tree, from its tender leaves, bark, sap, the fruit in its many forms - tender, mature and ripe; the seeds, the pericarp and the segments to convey specific meanings. Showing the honesty and the observant qualities of the villager, these sayings turned out to be 'gems' of folk literature.

Myth and folk tales associated with the origins of jak-fruit are many. The villager believed that it was God Sakra, who introduced jak-fruit to the humans. Needless to say it is not only in the present day that jak-fruit goes to waste, rotting under the very trees. The humans not knowing the good qualities of jak-fruit, did not even dream of eating it.

They believed it was poisonous. Many were crying and dying of hunger while heaps of jak-fruit were rotting under trees. Moved by pity for these starving humans God Sakra came down from heaven in the guise of an old man. Stepping into a household with many a hungry mouth, in a remote village, this old man asked for food stating that he was hungry. Getting the expected answer that there were no provisions, he requested the lady of the house to boil some of the fruit from the many trees surrounding the plot. His request was flatly refused since she believed the fruit was poisonous. Persistent and convincing, the old man somehow talked the woman into boiling some of the fruit.

Obeying his instructions, the woman finally cleaned the jak-fruit and kept a pot of segments on fire. The boiling fruit sent an aroma so appetising that the woman could not resist sneaking a segment for taste. Seeing the woman eating the jak segment the old man pronounced her a "heraliya" (sneaky woman). From then on, humans started consuming jak-fruit in its many forms. And it is the practice of the villagers to call jak-fruit as 'herali'. The hungry and the needy started worshipping this wonder tree which bears fruit throughout the year.

In plenty but still sought after... people clamouring to buy jak from street vendors.

Another story is woven around Andare - the comedian, and the King reigning in his times. It is said that both the King and Andare were noted for their greed for waraka, the ripe jak-fruit. The king had many a jak tree in his garden and once the best waraka tree in his garden the 'peni waraka' was in fruit. But, the problem was that there was only one fruit on the tree and the king, wanting to hide this fact from everyone, covered the fruit and appointed a guard to protect it day and night.

Andare, getting wind of the peni waraka tricked the guard away, enjoyed half of the fruit and hung a huge stone of equal weight to the fruit to cover his sins. But, alas, the peni waraka is the last fruit to uncover and hide because of its strong aroma. Soon, the smell alerted the guard who discovered he was tricked and arrested Andare. He took him before the King.

Furious, because he lost half of the fruit from his best 'peni waraka' the King ordered that Andare be beheaded. Andare, playing another trick on his march to death started crying and laughing at the same time. Bewildered by his behaviour the guards took him again before the King who questioned him as to the meaning of his behaviour. Andare's reply was that he was laughing because it is an honour for him to die under king's orders but he was crying because the posterity will dishonour the King calling him a "murderer" who ordered death for a mere jak-fruit. The King realising his folly pardoned Andare.

Jak-fruit saplings about 2 1/2 - 4 months old are sought from the public. Individuals and organisations interested in supplying jak-fruit saplings are requested to contact the Secretary, NJDP, Sarath Amarakoon, Chief Administrative Officer ANCL - 429201 or Coordinating Secretary NJDP, Nihal Abeysinghe - 429268 or write to National Jak Development Project, C/o Silumina, Lake House, Colombo 10.

Here are some more tasty and uncommon food items from Mrs. Lorna Wright's collection of recipies.

Ingredients:
Tender jak-fruit (about 500g)
Flour (250g)
Half a coconut (scraped)
Red onions (chopped) - 3 bulbs
Green chillies (chopped) - 4
Pinch of salt to taste

Clean the tender jak-fruit removing the thorny skin and cut into pieces. Boil. Crush the boiled jak and mix with scraped coconut. Gradually add flour, chopped onions, chillies, and seasoning and kneed well. Roll the paste into small balls and turn out into rotty shapes. Bake until golden.

Tender jak-fruit - 500g
Cowpea - 150g
Dried chillies (ground) - 20g
Curry leaves (chopped) -2-3 sprigs
Green chillies (chopped) - 4
Red onions (chopped) - 6 bulbs
A pinch of salt to taste
For frying: 1/2 bottle of coconut or vegetable oil

Wash cowpea, soak in water and keep aside for about one hour. Drain well and grind to a paste. Skin and clean the tender jak-fruit. Cut into small pieces and grind. Mix cowpea with jak-fruit adding ground chillies, curry leaves, green chillies, onions and seasoning. Make the pulp into small balls and deep fry.