4. Explanantion of the lesson

The story is set as a comic strip style. It is about a family of four members, who are having a conversation over a meal. Mani is a small boy who's family lived in a village near Senji in Villupuram district. Mani addressed his parents as "Amma", "Appa" as known in the regional language Tamil. He also has a younger sister named Selvi. Therefore the characters in this story are Mani, his father (Appa), his mother (Amma), and his sister (Selvi).

 

 

Mani did not like all vegetables. He preferred only potatoes and ladies finger. One day when his mom served him potato curry, he stopped her. He declared that he wouldn't eat potatoes because they were foreign vegetables, meaning that it belonged to some other country. His small sister Selvi told him that it was not foreign and that amma had bought the potatoes from the vegetable shop near the bus stop.

 

  

Mani did not reply to his sister, and he said to his Appa that Selvi was too young to understand that potatoes were not originally from India. His Appa did not understand the point Mani was trying to make. He asked what if potatoes were from foreign countries. Mani explained that his teacher told them that they should buy and eat food crops that were grown locally in our neighbouring cities. Selvi became curious and asked what else his teacher told him. Mani said that his teacher asked them to use things made in India.

  

Hearing all this, Mani's Amma chipped in, and she said Mani could not eat popcorn in the theatre the next time they went to watch a movie. His Appa added that Mani could not order tomato soup or even pineapple juice.

 

 

Selvi took the opportunity to say that Mani cannot order anything hereafter. But Mani was confused, and he asked hesitatingly why he could not order his favourite items.

 

Mani's amma replied that corn, tomatoes and even his favourite ladies finger all had come from other countries. Selvi asked innocently whether the vegetables boarded an aeroplane and came to their country. Appa replied that some people who make business trade brought them to India many years back by ship.