We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves

~ Gautam Buddha

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

My garden,Indian Chickweed,Molluga Vercillata

Google out,but didn't come to right conclusion about the vegetation.Its leaves and shoots are soft thick and fleshy.Its majenta color flowers bloom in autumn.
Its local name is Nepali Sag of poi jati,illustrated by two local accessible experts of my home.
Few years back my house hold help  brought me the shrub and cheerfully exclaimed,"Try this sag,it really taste good. Mondal Memsahib(another house where she also works) daily cooks it. It is Nepali Sag." Plants and flowers are the most discussed topics usually I had with her. And in her delight she often brought me  plants  from other places known to her knowing by liking of gardening. Viewing my agreement with her enthusiasm she smilingly planted it in the near by pot, kept in the varandah.
It(the Nepali Sag) grew there in the pot,then in the autumn it flowered.In the few months the thick sacculent vine outgrowing the mother pot extended to another.
A habitual hesitant to try out new food my scepticism to include it in meal continued for the time being. So it remained there in the pots for a year.Then during the festive season while i had been organising the plants I took out it from the pot and recklessly threw it in the yard.
But it had come to stay in my home.Untended the thick green foliage took refuge in the earth and spread there in oblivion side of the garden. It pleasantly carpeted there,clumping up and  down on the pebbles and strewn stones,enjoying odds of seasons and negligance of residents in detachment. Sometimes while crossing  that untended side of the garden I couldn't resist the temptation to watch it. Everything about the carpeted weed was beautiful,its thick soft sacculent shoots, soft and smooth fleshy leaves,and every year in autumn when it blooms flowers. Forgetting about its gastronomical appeal for years it became my visual treat.
Then this year my attention went on the prostrate carpeted vegetation.Enticed with its charm, one fine morning, I showed it to the gardener and asked his opinion about it,like an expert he cursorily glanced on it still busy in his job and retorted," This one,yes,it is a sag,Poi sag ki jati ka."
Though his answer didn't convince me but loner by nature  I hadn't any access to more experts.
So i googled out some information about it,checked and rechecked it's edible properties and decided to tryout a recipe out of it.
Then came out potatoes with this chickweed sag,it looked delicious as well as taste astoundingly good.

My garden,Moringa leaves

Moringa leaves or sahjan leaves are highly nutritious. I reside at border area where the habitants are conglomeration of Jharkhand,Bengal and tribal people.
In more than two decades of my stay at the place I picked up many skills of their cultures specially the culinary.
What I admire most about them is the their simple eating habits,especially use of  plenty of leafy vegetables in the diet. Being a vegetarian it suits us best.
Sometimes I will show you,how people here prepare sag or leafy vegetables and why should we  include them in our  meals.
Sahjan leaves are the richest source of calcium. It is essential component of blood,bones,teeth etc., which we tend to lose due to our acidic nature of food intake. In women,with advancing age,osteogen levels falls so the level of calcium  in the body. When body turn acidic to neutralise the acidic effect of body,it first takes calcium from blood then from bones,as a result bones and joints become brittle,as body physiology works best in alkaline medium.
Acidic nature of body gives us pain and harmful bacteria etc thrives best in it.
So intake of leafy vegetables serves two purposes,it makes body alkaline and restores calcium in blood bones and muscles.
Today I made vegetable of potatoes and sahjan leaves and channa Dal also with sahjan leaves.
Ingredients are simple with puchforan,curry leaves,hing,onion,ginger paste,raw coconut paste,haldi.
Usually two dishes with same ingredients we don't cook. But today I did it just to show you.

Saturday, April 11, 2020

Papa,diary, parents

My writing My parents My papa Why i didn't see you...papa In your anger.... Your perpetual tiredness,which you gained,while grinding your life in committments. Why I didn't see you...papa When you became father of grownup fellows,when you were still in your thirties/ twenties Why I didn't see you...papa And expected a balanced demeanor,when you lost the temper.....while burning vin hardships Why i didn't see you...papa Beside giving to all around you,why you were the most critised of whole clan I didn't see you...papa Only time have passed and this time without your guidance I sniffed your self and understood you completely As I inched to growing age When I tend to lose temper under the fatigue and didn't find respite from created trouble of world around me I console my self... It is okay to lose temper as I am proud daughter of my father....a daughter,the mirror of her parents who used to do the same..

Sunday, July 8, 2018

Indomitable Spirit

Looking for success stories or story of triumph on odds,most of the time we look on the silver screen or  to the life of great and mighty ones who more often taken by us as  role models.
But many stories in our surroundings get unnoticed by us. Here is one story from our surrounding,a perfect example of beating the odds, making the most from the worst moments.

This is the story of some one, a soft spoken,looking beautiful not due to her skin and cuts,but through her brain.The intelligence which never screamed in the crowds,instead she showed her serene presence through merit list.
The intelligence so soothing that even the weekest of the lots finds in her  something  appealing. Just to start about her ,I would like to mention one incidence.
The class was of physiology and the ongoing  topic was pancreas  functioning. The class was completed by the dexterous master of the campus who had been known for giving us minute details on the topic. But if mind is stressed then it  lacks focus, and fails to pick up details.Going through my post teenager stress at the end of the class I missed some points which we students used to jot down for further reference. When teacher left the class ,I gloomily mumbled,I missed some points at the end. The peaceful grey matter sitting beside me glanced at my page,in second she discerned  the missing points in the note,and in her usual soft demeanour added, "insulin and glucagon,insulin suppresses excess glucose discharge in the cells and glucagon releases." My topic got  completed by her. She did it without any air around her. Not a very bright person i was but the gifted intuitive power of mine hardly failed me. I sensed and saw in her,"A promising academician in the making."
The info passed by her in soft and congenial way which  i grasped  with full clarity. After few years teaching at senior sections at school,whenever I took up the topic,I got smile on my face remembering her. More than that beside the topic,the soft demeanor used by her was the biggest learning for me. As a facilitator I learnt that to convey the message it should be passed as suggestion. And i follow the rule of congeniality  to tell,suggest not to command my students.From her i learnt that the heart warming soft voice always has magical appeal and everyone loves to hear n remember it.
The soft spoken and short statured was loved by one and all perhaps for her sweetness or her congenial genius. She had been always in the heart of all of us. She had been at the top of merit list,ranking always within top ten but all without reflecting any supremacy. As the politeness was genetically encoded in her..
An apt daughter of apt parents. Life of hers was really blessed with loving and intelligent parents anyone could dream about.
But life has some purpose which is beyond our power of comprehension. Life and destiny tests us. And she was also not exempted from it.
In prestigious institution of Science College the day was going to be really cruel that day,no one had inkling. The day started with usual cacophony, my elder brother a student of math n Physics's department informed me in the evening,one of the gems of the physics department got heart attack in the classroom and sifted to ICU. Bad news never got wrong,next day we came to know that said  teacher was our batch mate's father. Our hearts ached for her, we all visited her home,I still recall the word of loving daughter," Entire night we read Hanuman Chalisha but that couldn't save papa." At the age of twenty it was hard to me to understand the purpose behind the God's plan.
But many questions went unanswered."Why a superb brain, a spiritual person, a teetotaller, a man of diciplined life got sever heart attack," What propelled his body physiology to under go such massive attack,even science hadn't any  answer. Students mourned ,"Why on the earth one of the best acadmecians was taken by god so early in life? Everyone as mute spectator accepted God's decision. On personal level I thought, "The news n duscussion on him were discussed enough. But it wasn't."
When after decades,We watched  Aamir's block buster,"Three Idiots," based on Chetan Bhagat's adapted novel. My brother exclaimed, "Mr.......Sir,a genius too used to write with both hands on the black board,so passionately he used to teach as if enjoying every moments of ..." The discussion about the revered teacher never fail to take place when ever any semblance of his floated in surroundings.On every occasion I proved an interested listener as it was topic of my friend and batchmate's father.
Then few years back at WhatsApp group I was asked by one of our friends about her.I answered with surity ,"Where ever she has been she must have been doing well at her place. My intuitive prowness again came to the surface and with closed eyes I conjured the glimpse of the academician perfectly doing her job.The polite explanation by her of pancreatic enzymes floated once again in front of me. But I had to cross check my intuitive power. After a year she was there at our WhatsApp group, and i found my gut feeling was right.
Her presence in the group again invoked curiosity in me. I found her messages aimed at motivations and to better life in every possible way.As life had taught her to battle hardship, to live dream of loving parents,not only she did it well but all her siblings accomplished the best in their lives.

Now she has been here with us,Nimi...,the peaceful one,known for appropriateness as she has been taught to lead life by her parents,father an apt academician and mother a devoted home maker.
Sometimes a mute question comes in mind,can we be sure that the ebb and tides of life  for us is now  complete?No,it is not,it will be here in life, to test us, more importantly to perfect us to face it.But presence of persons like her gives confidence that  the hard time will also pass. And motivate us to get  focused to better the life!

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

"Pyar hua hai jab se," Song review,Movie "Abhilasha."

The  romantic melody of 1968," Pyar hua hai jab se," in which   handsome Sanjay Khan and coy Nanda had been played the main leads.
In the era of 1960s when  nacent fashion industry of India had been opening its ground in the Bollywood.In those time the protagonists were usually seen in the  confused blend of western and ethnic wears with enough of blue and yellow hues.Even the dance moves had been getting quite detached from the pure rock n roll of british era or traditional Indians.Perhaps it was the time  bollywood had been preparing to leap in the new hip hop style.
The flick's,"Abhilasha" story line is  based on  of typical predictable formula film.
A not very successful film but the song ,"Pyar hua hai jub se," holds enough appeal due to its fresh renditions by melody queen Lata and legendary yodeller king Kisore Kumar. Their soulful voices delight the senses for long.
The song starts with an on screen chirpy n feisty girl Nanda dreaming of her beloved (who has been away at Dehradun to join army) with his photograph tucked under her pillow,which her loving father finds and smiles acknowledging her inclination to the guy.

Sunday, August 13, 2017

Absence of love,absence of life


"Some say the world will end in the fire
Some say in the ice
But if it had to perish twice
I think I know enough of hate."
-Robert Frost
Rightly proclaimed by the poet.Hate or absence of love is so powerful that it can perish the world twice.
Yesterday shocking suicidal news of an IAS officer,the supreme brain and body is example of absence of love.
Love is always based on understanding, misturstanding is the root cause of hate.There is no problem without solution. Only we need willingness and awareness to solve it.
But unfortunately sometimes even a superb intellect also fails to find right decision.
It is heart wrenching to all to face loss of a superior intellect n body- a microcosm of Universe just got lost in misunderstanding and in absence of love.
The shocking incident created "many whys" in the mind.And  I conclude the goal of life should be love and understanding. In the absence of love it takes just a moment to parish even the most beautiful  world- full of intellect, power and money.

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Women's Day

Arrival of  International Women’s Day, 8th march is knocking  expression in me and surprising silence on I has been witnessing on whats app group. The dual reasons get an outlet as a write- up.
To choose an engaging topic for Whats app group my mind raced and hankered after diverse personalities- then  iconic Suu Kyu, the Nobel laureate, Stateswoman,President of NLD Myanammar appealed most, for her indomitable spirit yet turbulent out of box  way of  life, her marriage to a man one year younger than her. Her education at Cambridge, her mediocre life in Britain, her political career at Burma and subsequent house arrest of 32 years. Her youthful look, her poise, her unfathomable spirit, her landslide victory  at 1915 election and dignified poise to accept the ban for top position.There was allure in everything about her. The subject had been  taking shape in me, and then unexpected I had to undertake the journey—
The train started at usual time at around 6.00 p.m. As the train chugged off, to ease  the encountered melee of startup journey , stretching   on the accomodated space seemed a big relief.
Around mid night the occupant of lower birth made the entry, subsequently a harsh, croaked voice pierced in the compartment.
“Whose footwear is these?”
Groggily someone replied in irritation- “Move them aside and put your luggage beneath.” After her boisterous entry it was her discussion at the audible limit ,from politics to inflation lasted till dawn bereaving  sweet dreams of the fellow occupants. Snatched  out of slumber my attention went to her, an elderly lady in salwar suit ,with cropped hair dos, "Not condusive enough", At first glance I opinioned and tossed on berth with annoyance.
In the morning while going through news paper my engaged attention broke by her query-“Are you a working one?” Smilingly I replied in affirmation. The lady does not seem so crass in the morning. “Where do you work? Sitting on the seat beside me she initiated.
Few moments of mingling revealed more about her. A 65 year old,retired university staff ,diagnosed with multiple maladies ,endured three consecutive operations . She had been fighting the lethal battle of life  on her own.
She was on her way to half yearly follow up to the leading health center.
Her indomitable spirit seemed impressive. I didn’t see a  tinge of apprehension in her voice. The way she had been handling her finance and her ailment without any help was amazing. An enthusiastic raconteur and full of social life she talked on every issue from her food habit to lodging.
During the journey the morning news paper fuelled my the imagination about Aruna Shanbaug,the nurse at KMC Mumbai, her plea for euthanasia got rejected by Supreme Court but her fight for life went on for 38 years.
Then a visit to my daughter's place at metro,I met an young domestic help- a mother of two smilingly greeted me busy in her chores with two small children in tow ,playing near  the stairs.
The women of diverse world invoked many of queries in me “What do keep them going in their world?” Is the biological superiority of female body which is equipped with power of creation? In the mortal world we name it  “ Shakti.”
Then I felt a pressing need to celebrate woman’s day to salute those unwavering spirit who most often go unnoticed.
In my neighbour, I got another lady who had been fighting the emperor of malady. I witnessed her concern for the family-her eyes still focused on child progress and husband needs while fighting her ailment.
Then I get concerned for the next gen feminines  of vibrant intellect who have been single handed juggling their safety, career with myriad other responsibilities.
Heaped with social responsibility, in today’s world Indian woman is the most stressed one. Managing the two worlds of career and home very few realize her unsupported stature in the home and society as a  home Maker or as a career woman. Most often she  lacks much needed support during her life- as a student,  woman, mother,wife and  at work place.
In Indian setup she lacks the facilities like crèche and dignified place or home for parents. Even the mentioning of these needs by her attracts frown from many quarters.As if as a vampire she has been ready to dump children in strangers' hand and ready to leave the old parents without any support and care.
Just be humane and think about the necessary strength she requires to carry out her  the day' s obligations.
It scares me "How long she can sustain the self without pushing  in depression and persistent fatigue.  A common companion of Indian woman!"
The world is changing fast so the woman as an individual- to save the society we need to save the woman. Since century she has been taking care of everyone.
In today's world equipped with education and aspiration she needs some understanding and change in family setup to sustain and showcase her potential. May almighty bestow desired strength and support to the creator of the  world, the woman! Happy women’s day!