Eastside Story

By Navjyoti Dalal

In this column, Home Is Where The Hearth Is, we shine the spotlight on the immigrant experience. And, as a cultural exchange, get them to share food recipes they hold dear. This week, let’s take a peek into the lives of Amit and Misty Mondal. The Bangladeshi couple is happy to raise family in Ireland, for reasons the first world takes for granted.

At a time when Bangladesh is in headlines for political coups and communal tensions, we meet a couple from the country whose journey belies the narrative. In fact, their story is a shining example of community and culture over religious divide.

Community At Service

There's more to Bangladesh than being the world's seamstress. For Amit and Misty Mondal, Bangladesh has the aroma of steamed hilsa fish, delicately laced in mustard paste.

The two grew up in Khulna division, a South-West Bangladesh district, bordering India. Snapshots from home, for them, feature mangroves, paddy fields bordered by palm, fig, jackfruit, and banyan trees. The heaviness of the humid air is palpable. From posters to graffiti to hoardings, every written word is Bangla (Bengali), for language is the biggest unifying factor there. It is what the foundation of Bangladesh was laid on, a cultural identity hinging on Bangla. While recent media reports highlight attacks on the Hindu community by the Muslim majority, the Mondals refute it.

There are about 10-12 Bangladeshi families living in Athlone. Of these, the Mondals are the sole Hindus, the rest belong to the Muslim majority. The Mondal family credits the Bangladeshi community for being their pillars of support, irrespective of religion. "Our bonding is very good. We have never felt that there is a difference owing to religion. We are a very harmonious community. All of our Bangladeshi friends are muslims and yet celebrate Durga Pujo (a Hindu festival) with us, just as we join them in the Eid festivities. We are united by a common Bangla culture," says Amit, taking out his phone to show pictures of a community celebration.

He adds that during their struggle to find accommodation in the town, most help came from the Bangladeshi community. "We tried Daft.ie for months but nothing yielded. Eventually, our community rallied around to help us find a home. Apart from that, any time any member of the community gets sick, the community ensures s/he is well-fed by sending them nourishing, home-cooked meals," shares Amit, who has been living in Athlone with his family, for the past four years.

Home And Away

When they left Dhaka, in 2019, the Mondals had little idea that they would identify with Ireland as home in a few years, considering they left Bangladesh to work in Belgium. However, despite the scenic surroundings, the couple decided to emigrate to Ireland. "Language plays a very important role in connecting you to a place. Sadly, we weren't able to pick up Belgian, because within a year of our arrival, the pandemic began, and so did the lockdowns," says Misty, mother to a six-year-old son and an infant daughter. In 2021 the couple moved to Ireland, for both Ireland and Bangladesh share a common other language, English.

The Cornamaddy residents are glad they made the move. They enjoy the multicultural landscape of Athlone, so also the nurturing school environment. I know some of my Irish readers may not agree with this, but the education system in developing Asian countries is unhealthy, competitive and exacting, apart from being archaic. The student-teacher ratio is skewed, with the classrooms hosting roughly about 60 students, taught by one teacher. "What I am most impressed by is a well-oiled system that is people-centric. From PPSN to booking a doctor's visit, everything has a protocol and system in place. I feel Ireland truly cares for its citizens. New mothers are regularly visited by their midwives and nurses," says the new mother, who is on a break from her career as a systems administrator.

Living In First World

Misty is happy that their life in Ireland has resulted in Amit picking up on some home and kitchen management. It took her some time, and many withdrawal symptoms, to come to terms with a lifestyle devoid of househelp staff. "I had never cooked anything earlier, but being by yourself, without the support of a household help, humbles you," says Amit, who has honed his culinary skills by assisting Misty with the chopping. But no amount of help from husband can balm her pining for regional and seasonal food produce. "I miss the vegetables and fruits the most, especially bitter gourd. You do get it at Asian grocery stores, but the taste is not the same. Even the fishes are very different from the Bangladeshi fishes," rues Misty.

For Amit, the biggest compromise is the disconnection from roots, home and grandparents for his children. "It's a great town with the nicest people, but it can certainly benefit from an expansion of industries like IT. One shouldn't have to look at Dublin or Cork for work opportunities," suggests the IT professional.

Recipe: Duck Masala

The Duck Masala curry is a typical Bengali dish, relished both sides of the border. The curry is served with rice and fried bitter gourd.

Step 1: Take one whole duck and cut it into pieces as per your preference.

Step 2: Heat a pan and add some oil as required. Once the oil is hot, add whole spices like bay leaf, cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. Add 2-3 finely sliced onions and sauté until golden brown.

Step 3: Add 1 tablespoon of ginger paste and 2 tablespoons of garlic paste. Stir well. Add the spices like turmeric, chilli powder, cumin powder, and coriander powder (one teaspoon each). Stir slowly until well combined and fragrant. Add 2 diced and de-seeded tomatoes. Cook until the tomatoes are softened.

Step 4: Pour in a little water and cook for 5 minutes to blend the flavours. Step 5: Add the duck pieces to the pan and cook on medium heat for 20–30 minutes. Stir occasionally. Add hot water as needed to adjust the consistency of the curry. Cook for another 30 minutes or until the duck is tender.

Step 6: In the final step, sprinkle some garam masala. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Duck Masala is ready to serve.