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Drumstick (Vegetable) - सहजन, मुनगा, सोजिना

Drumstick is a popular vegetable in India. Locally it is known by different names - Sahjan (सहजन), Munaga (मुनगा), Sojina (सोजिना), Sutti (सुट्टी), etc. In South Chhotanagpur it is known by the name Joki (जोकी). The scientific name is Moringa Oliefera. Moringa is derived from Tamil name Murugai meaning twisted pod. It is native to the Himalayan Foothills areas and has got its Sanskrit name as Surajana (सुरजन). It is a drought-resistant tree and requires minimum care. It grows rapidly and gives fruits within a year or two. Its plantation is easy. Since the fruits are not plucked directly from the tree but the fruit-bearing branches are chopped off. Next year fruits come in new branches that grow near the chopping place. The chopped off branches are used for plantation of new trees. Just dig a hole about one foot deep in the ground and put the lower portion of the branch in the hole, pack the earth around it and keep it moist for few days. If it is not disturbed then buds begin to grow over it and the new plant is ready.

The ease of plantation, low care of the tree, short waiting time for fruits and good rate in the market makes it ideal for plantation by lower-income group people even if they have a minimum land available.

The doctors advise to take green vegetables but in modern-day cities, the available green vegetables have risks of residual pesticides over them. And those vegetables have more pesticide risks which grow in offseason or those which are generally prone to pests. So it is better to search for such vegetables which have the minimum or no pesticides used. Drumsticks are one of such vegetables. That is why I am writing this article.

Not only pesticide-free it is regarded as a medicinal vegetable and generally termed as Neerog Sabji -(Good for health, नीरोग सब्जी) in Hindi. It is a seasonal tree. From the mid-January Sahjan-flowers (सहजन फूल) begin to come in the vegetable market. These flowers are boiled and then cooked with potatoes to make a curry or the boiled flowers are mixed with Besan (Bengal gram-flour), red chilly powder, green chilly pieces and salt then sprinkled with breadcrumbs and deep-fried to make Pakodas.

A week later, thin Sahjan vegetables (सहजन की सब्जी) will be available in the market, first prices may be between Rs. 200 to Rs. 250 a kilogram. But it is worth its price - soft and without hard-fibers (which develop as it grows). No pre-cook preparation hassles, just clean with water and cut with a knife. But be careful as it is the stage when once I found the trace of pesticide in it. In fact, due to the high price, the commercial vegetable growers may use such pesticides which increase the percentage of fruit-bearing. It was a lesson for me and then on I never bought small Munagas from permanent vegetable vendors but I always purchase it from local farmers who come to the market only in the morning with one head basket full of vegetables and after three to four hours return back to their home.
In the next 15 days the size of the drumsticks increases and so are their thickness and stiffness. With the hardening of fibers, it cannot be eaten all you put in the mouth but will have to take out residual fibers (सिट्ठी).
As time passes thickness and stiffness along with the size of seeds increase. Triangular seeds are edible. Till the time of March-end, fibers become so hard that you will avoid taking their pieces whole in the mouth. The best way to eat it is by holding the one end and sucking the soft parts and seeds with the help of front teeth and pulling the fibers out of the mouth. Another notable thing is the reduction in its price. At this time the rate of drumsticks falls drastically to Rs. 10 a kilogram.
The tasty drumstick curry needs mustard and tomato as spices. Another recipe is putting the pieces in the pulse (दाल). This recipe is best when the drumsticks are hard as above. Generally, 10-15 pieces are tied with a thin cotton thread and put in the boiling pulse to prevent it from breaking when fully cooked. It is also used in the South Indian recipe of Sambhar.
The green Munaga tree leaves are also edible and beneficial for health. Its tea boiled for at least 10 minutes is taken to reduce the increased blood pressure. The green leaves are also cooked as Saag (साग) just like Spinach. Even oil is extracted from its mature seeds, which is called "Ben Oil".
Though there are innumerable benefits of Drumsticks, it is advised not to be taken by pregnant women. Some people are allergic to drumsticks. Also, the roots and barks of the tree are not edible and even prove to be poisonous.

Problem with Drumstick plant

Though the plant of the Drumstick requires nearly no care it should be kept in mind that this tree is a host of an insect that looks like a caterpillar and has stinging hairs on its body like a brush (hairy caterpillar). If you come in contact with it some hairs will pierce into the skin and detach from the insect. The place on the skin will itch and swell and the problem may continue for twenty-four hours before the effect reduces. These insects which are called as Bhua Pillu (भुआ पिल्लू) in the local language breed on the barks of this tree and eat the leaves of this tree which may affect the production. But it has a simple remedy - At the time of breeding, the stem of the tree is White-washed with lime.

This tree provides a source of income for poor people just like poultry and goats. For other people, it is a healthy vegetable.

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