The lost world of ‘kabiraji cutlets’

Frankly speaking I am still not clear in my mind about the origin of the word ‘kabiraji’ in respect of those mouth-watering food items that have a prefix of ‘kabiraji’. As far as my knowledge goes, ‘kabiraj’ is supposed to be a doctor of sorts who deals in alternate medicines. They used to thrive in the era of Sarat Chandra, Bankim Chandra and Rabindra Nath as one can know from the numerous references made to these learned members of the medical profession in their novels.
The general concept is that the ‘kabiraj’ dabbled in Ayurveda and had a vast knowledge of medicines that came from natural sources like leaves of plants or roots. A combination of a mortar and pestle was an integral part of their practice. And, their medicines were effective.

Anyway, the link between the ‘kabiraj’ and ‘kabiraji culet’ evades me. I just cannot fathom the reason why a plate of mutton cutlet or prawn cutlet or chicken cutlet carry the prefix of ‘kabiraji’ when there is no medicine involved in its preparation.
I tried to get an answer from the internet and, only one answer appeared to throw some sort of light on this mystery – ‘kabiraji’ was actually a distortion of the word ‘coverage’!
Well – that could be a plausible answer because for a cutlet to earn the prefix ‘kabiraji’ it has to be covered with egg batter. No, not the dip-in-egg-batter-and-fry type but one where the egg batter was spread on top of the cutlet. What happened is that the egg batter surrounded the cutlet from all sides and curled up and created a blister-like appearance.
The aroma from the ‘kabiraji’ cutlet can knock anyone over. Only – such extraordinary food items have vanished from the scene. Those days of ordering the ‘kabiraji cutlet’ are like dreams. The young couples (usually unmarried) occupied the cabins of restaurants for some privacy and the waiter took the order promptly and pulled the curtains as he left. But, he delayed serving the cutlets – the delay was intentional and it entitled him to a generous tip!! (to be continued ....)
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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On returning from Mumbai with the reports (on CDs) of my angiography, I had a frank meeting with my doctor and the cardiology consultant. I asked them a simple question – my age was 59-years and at that age, what sort of blockage in the heart was normal. They hemmed and hawed and none of them had any reply that satisfied me.
Moreover, I had in front of me a friend of mine who had undergone bypass surgery and, while most of such surgeries are successful, his case was one that I would never like to face. He became a sort of a vegetable. He was unable to form words, he was unable to hold a pencil in his hand and watching him struggle to speak or to write, I felt sorry for him. I therefore told my doctor that I would take a call on bypass surgery at a later date.
And, when one is in a dilemma, God shows him the way as he did for me.
There was a woman in my department – she was a dispatch clerk and one day she brought me a copy of a Marathi magazine. In that magazine there was an article on an Ayurveda based potion that could give relief from heart ailments.

The ingredients were leaves of tulsi plant, michhri (kadi shakkhar) and fresh lime juice. Ten to twelve tender leaves of the tulsi plant were to be mixed with the michhri in a mortar and pestle and the mixture, with a tablespoon of lime juice, was to be taken on an empty stomach early in the morning.
Well – the medication could not remove the blockage in the main arteries but it did open up other arteries in the heart to carry the blood. I started with this indigenous medication and began to feel relief. At the end of six months, I requested the doctor to carry out another 2D-Echo test but he went one step further. He advised me to undergo a Thallium Test in the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai. It was a non-invasive test carried out with nuclear materials.
And, believe it or not, there was an improvement in the LVEF and I did not go in for bypass surgery. (to be continued …)

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