Names engraved on steel, etched in heart

There are some traditions so simple yet so profound that they leave an everlasting mark on our hearts — just like the names engraved on our stainless steel utensils.

- Tarsem Singh Deogan

Growing up, every home had its own set of metal plates, bowls, and tumblers proudly bearing the family name, ensuring that they never got mixed up in the constant exchange of food and love between neighbours.

In our mohallas (neighbourhoods), sharing food was not just a practice; it was a way of life. A steaming bowl of 'daal', a plate of hot 'pakoras', 'halwa' or a 'katori (bowl)' of freshly made 'kheer' would often travel across homes, carried in steel containers marked with their owners' names.

My mother and grandmother, like so many others, believed in sending a little portion of whatever was cooked to our neighbours. And, of course, the same courtesy was extended to us.