Eating Incidents

Yesterday's kozikatta reminded me of a hilarious incident that happened when I was newly wedded.
I was still learning the ABC of cooking. My father used to tase me about my ignorance about cooking and had asked me whether I would give my husband only boiled eggs everyday.Coming back to my cooking of kozikattas.
I presumed they were made the way I decided.So I went about making them.
My poor father walks in and I serve him and Venu my preparation.
(venu used to keep on teasing me about it).
I did not notice that my father had difficulty in eating the dish.
Later as Venu told me, it balls were uncooked and father had a tough time deciding whether to swallow or spit out as it was made by his daughter.
The only thing I made was rotis. Since I was in a Punjabi neighbourhood my rotis were like by all. Even the sikh neighbours used to praise my rotis.
Before marriage, I was quite good at baking cakes and making jaleid and mysore pak. My sis used to be the real cook in making the main food.
Remember us making rotis together. My sis will be making the rotis and I would be rolling. Amma used to peep in shout at my sis who would be holding a book and concentrating more on it than the rotis.
After she got married and left, it was my duty alse in making rotis.
Once I made puttu and heard my dad praise about it to my mom.
I knew about chow mein from my uncle. He had bought this huge semolina type of thing and gave instructions to me how to make. I did accordingly and it really turned out well. So another person to rave about my expertise in making noodles, as I came to know about the name.
Remember a neighbour inviting my sis, drother and me for a night treat at her house.
It was noodles. As we were eating, she sprinkled what she said cheese powder.
It was so awful that all of ate trying to hide our vomitting sensation.
Another experience in eating.
This was in the year 1998.
had gone for Girivalam in Tiruvinnamalai.
I had gone with pravin and venu.
After the girivalam, e were ushered into a friend's house for breakfast.
Never seen such breakfast items.
Before the plate could e empty, the host told his wife to fill my plate. My stomach was nearly ursting, tears were welling up but items did not stop.When puri and curry was brought, I waas literally in tears. Noticing this the host stopped his wife from putting more items on my plate.

In Patna in the year 1977.
In fact venu's and my honeymoon days.
Venu had left me at a Bengali friends house. His wife served me lunch.
I have seen the way Bengalis ate their rice.
The rice used to be piled like a huge mountain in the center of the plate with small katories containing dal, fish, chicken and vegetables decorated around the rice. A typical Bong meal. A hollow used to be made in the peak, dal poured, mixed, made into a ball and eaten,
Seeing the piled up rice, my heart missed a beat. I wondered how I was going to eat so much and told about my concern to the host.
She pacified me saying I will just not know the food going inside. As told, I did not realize I had eaten the whole rice and also asked her for more. The quality of the rice was such.

Eating at Bengali weddings.
It used to be a lavish spread consisting of vegetables, chicken, mutton and fish.
Stomach used to be so full that there never used to be place for the sweets.
I just love Bengali sweets.
Till I attended Bengali weddings in Kolkatta I had never thought of leaving some space for the sweets.
Invariably. I used to skip the sweets and then regret later.
Golden memories.

Swatch Bharath

Cleanliness is Godliness,
Cleanliness should start from home. It gives peace to mind to see clean surroundings.
The dumping of waste from slaughter houses, hospital and homes near residential houses are a sore to the eyes of everyone passing those areass.
Not only it gives out stench, it is also harmful to health. It calls for stray dogs who sometimes turn ferocious and bite people especially children.
This had happened in Bengaluru in an area I stayed. A small boy was mauled by a wild pack and killed.Even now in some areas, garbage is left uncollected.
What is the corporation doing?
In spite of the slogan 'Swatch India' what has become to the swatchness. All hype and no action.
Actors are made to clean roads for publicity.
There is Mann Ki Baat in all of us.
Public toilets in most cities have been left abandoned or under lock and key.
Why is the government not acting?
How will India develop if there is diseases and death because of Government apathy?
Callousness is on the rise, humans don't treat each other as humans.
Environment is getting polluted and destroyed.
The recent case of pollution in Delhi has proved this.
Temples are supposed to be kept clean but it is not the case.
Is it because God is just a mute spectator?
God forbid me, but a visit to Sabarimala changed my view of the temple surroundings.
There were pigs loitering around. We failed to get the booked room and was given a room which had a big hall with two bathrooms. No beds.
We had to spread bedsheets on the floor in order to sleep.
The bathrooms were disgusting
Rain had made the whole area muddy and dirty.
On our way to Sabarimala, I could see used aluminium plates in a corner and strewn all over.
What had happened to the garbage bins?.
Women over 50 are allowed but it is a menstruating period for most ladies. How can they visit the shrine when the so called menstruating ladies are not allowed.
Has Lord Ayyappa appeared in someone's dream and said this?
I think the recent Kerala rains and the havoc created may be God's fury.
People visit temples but the moment weather changes they are cocooned inside their houses. Where is devotion?
People stand in serpentine ques to gossip and complain.
People visit temples just for the sake of it except for some true devotees.
Now coming to swatchness.
In most cities, toilets are abandoned or under lock and key.
I remember Calcutta, now Kolkatta, a true city of joy and cleanliness.
Every morning from my window I could see the road being washed with huge hoses.
Recently a relative visited Kolkatta and was really concerned about the city of joy.
The past glory was not there.
The complex we lived in was full of huts all around.
Hand pulled rickshaws were still there.
What has technology done?
I has always thought that if all pitied the poor rickshaw pullers and avoided going on it, then what will happen to the rickshawpullers' livelihood?
Happy to read news bout many organizations, schools and colleges taking up pledge to make India swatch.
Plants being gifter

The ban on plastic and plastic garbage covers is a good initiative.
Biodegradable garbage covers used in foreign countries is now available in Indian markets, a good move..
Had seen the making of plastic covers in a paper few years back by the poor. It was disgusting.
Another scene That really pains me are the plight of the sewage cleaners.
Can't they be given proper safety uniforms or with technology coming in, can't a machine be made to pump up the sewage waste instead of putting workers life at risk?
In today's paper, there was a news about a 23 year old sewage worker who was consistently complaining of pain in his genitals.
He was taken to hospital where a doctor examined him and said he needed a minor surgery to remove an alien object inside his genitals.
The doctor noticed the tail of a leech and had it pulled out. It was 7 cm long.
The patient was so relieved that he hugged the doctor. This happened in Trivandrum, God's own country. All Governments, please act.
Getting things cleaned also puts human lives at risk.
My dream is to see our country being praised for its cleanliness.
My visit to Singapore in 2012 made me realize the state of Indian public toilets .
At an airport in India, I had seen stool on the commode seat.
There are sanitary napkins strewn all over even on garbage and cows munching on it. How can the milk bought be safe to drink?
Singapore public toilets are kept spic and span like 5 star hotels.
This is my Mann Ki Bath.
Hope the situation regarding cleanliness is not just a hue and cry and the people who keep our toilets from overflowing are treated as humans.
Above all, true cleanliness should be in ones mind.
If mind is clean cleanliness will automatically follow.
Hope PM Modi's Swatch Bharath takes wings and flies high like an eagle.

SWACHHBHARAT.MYGOV.IN

Swachh Bharat #MyCleanIndia

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Launched the ambitious 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' (Clean India Mission) 2nd October 2014The 'Abhiyan' was launched on the ocassion of Mahatama Gandhi's 145th birth anniversary

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Adventure of an HDFC Life policy amount

After shifting to BLG after the demise of Venu, I chanced upon a policy statement that had been playing hide aand seek with me from 2011 when it was taken by Venu. I was not aware of the investment.
I told Beena, Meena's cousin who worked for HDFC LIFE, Guruvayoor.
She said it was difficult but she will try her level best.
Never knew she was working hard on it. I had given up hope when one fine day this yeaar shee called up and told me my policy folded hs been sent to my BLG address. It was a jolt from the blue. She whatsapped me regarding the necessary items to be taken for proof along with a bank statement for 3 months. There was no statement. But I was positive about getting it. I sent an email to the bank and immediately I got the statement.
I was instructed to go to any close by branch in Bengaluru.
I approached the MG Road branch. There a new system was being installed, so I was told it may take time. Luckily Beena called and said she would do the needful in the branch she had worked previously, Trissur Branch as I was to visit Guruvayoor that week.
Beena had made all arrangements at the branch and had told a colleague to take care of my requirements. Beena's mom who was insistent that I should not hold back longer sent me the next day with Aparna Beena's teenged daughter to the Trissur branch.
We were welcomed warmly by Beena's colleague who finalized everything. Hats off to him for his down to earth behavior, He assured me that my policy amount would be credited to my account.
Unfortunately, there was no policy cheque credited to my account. The given statement was of a different account number and check had bounced.
Beena told me not to be tensed and again set about working. She told me to approach any bank close to my home.
I really had an adventure, first in an ola cab that dropped me where told.. Getting down I thought I was in no man's land.
I walked and walked hailing autos. Finally, a friendly auto driver decided to help me out. We went around and around all over BTM a huge area. Must have travelled for more than a hour and half. But I had the hope I will reach my destination soon. Friendly shopkeepers and pedestrians gave directions. But it was a wild goose chase. Two men even googled to find out the direction. So the driver followed the direction given. We reached a dead end. The driver told me my venue was inside the gate shown. It turned out to be a residential area.
As the autu turned to leave, I saw an elderly gentleman going towards the society and asked him. He politely answered in the negative and immediately said he knew the place and directed the auto driver. Seeing him and the ash tilak on his forehead I felt he was God sent. He asked me iwhereI hailed from. I told him from Kerala, palakkad. He gave a wide smile and said OH! so you are from my place. But it turned out to be the office for HDFC Home Loan.
Again the adventure started. The driver told me were were reaching the end of BTM Layout and entering Silk Board.
A shopkeeper again directed us. To my surprise we had come to Silk Board and HDFC LiFE was just close to it. The branch was BTM Layout branch.
I was really thankful to the friendly driver. He asked me for only 200 rupees.
I entered the office on the 3rd floor and waited as a stff was busty with a customer. Seeing me waiting another staff signalled me to come over.
He asked for id proof and check leaf. Beena had also emailedme a filled up form in case I was asked to fill up any form.
Luckily Beena had sent me the policy number. The friendly employee filled up all forms himself and I was only asked to sign.
All procedure over I was given the receipt. I was told that the policy amount would be soon credited to my account.
Really thankful to Beena and all employees of HDFC LiFe for their excellent service.
A policy amount invested in Chennai, travelled to Bengaluru, then to Kerala and settlel down in Bengaluru.
Adventure of a policy account.
In South Point School, Kolkatta students were asked to write autobiographies of things like, a car, coin, chair etc.
This too would make a wonderful autobiography.

Another thing
Proud to be from South Point where the present nobel prize laureate Abhijit Banerjee also studied.
The name of the school is already there in the Guinness World Records for the highest number of students.

Mystery of the Missing Mobile

For the past two days I was without my mobile. Was sure it was in the house since I had not stepped out of the house.

I searched high and low, inside my wardrobe, shaking my sarees, inside my locker, pulled a kingsize bed,proved my strength when I was able to move it but to my sorrow my phone was not traceable. I had newly updated the number in my bank account and other important accounts.

I called out to all Gods and a certain Ganapahty in Edapally, Cochin..It is still believed Lord Ganesha is sure to find out missing things inside the house but not anything outside.That is our duty..

My prayers are always heard. Before he could act, I had left for Meena's sister's home. Before going Parimala who is my Edapally Ganesha was requested to search out my mobile.

She had done so previously also when I gave up hunting for my mobile. She had found it among the dust collected behind the sofa.

Waking up and before going to sleep I prayed for my phone.

Meena's mother consoled me saying the phone is somewhere inside the house. My grandson also had no idea. My son busy on his kindle just nodded his head without taking off his gaze and only said, 'mil jayega.

Then Meena informed when I returned that phone was traced.

The mystery of the missing phone was then revealed by my Edapally Ganapathy. During her search, she had searced in the kitchen drawers and had found my mobile inside a cooker that is used only occasionally.

It surprised me. Why should I keep my phone inside a cooker.

It then struck me.. Meena's 1 and a half yr old nephew, a real prankster had been here. He might have smuggled it without anyone noticing and put it in the cooker, I usually reward Parimala for her sincere effort, so as usual I rewarded her..

Venu will be happy because I am using his phone.

So Alls Well That Ends Well.

Independence Message

May India wake up to the call of Roti Kapda and Makan ( bread, cloth and shelter) for all the downtrodden and education for their children which will see India developing for human rights. Let there be no discrimination of high caste and low caste. God made everyone equal. The color of blood is the same, they breathe the same air and drink the same water. Names of any caste is not written on air or water. 
Both caste experience the same pain, joy, sadness, and hunger.
Why should a human being be lynched in public? Can't the law take action? Are we human beings or monsters out for sucking blood and enjoying the plight of the person writhing in pain?
Can parents stop murdering in the name of honor? What honor is left for them after such gruesome acts?
If the seven deadly sins
1 Lust
2 Gluttony
3 Greed
4 Sloth
5 Wrath
6 Envy
7 Pride
Is kept under control and such emotions diverted for the good of Mankind, life will be a myriad of colors and not only green and red.
Make the green to keep the environment green.
Let Mother not shower her wrath on us for destroying nature.
Let wild animals have their own haven and let us not make it hellish for them and suffer for our selfish motives.
Hope this Independence sees India in her full glory. Let man and nature join hands to make Mother Earth happy and proud of her children

A tribute to my parents

My father lost his mother at a very young age. They were five brothers. My father was the third. Among the pandavas, he was Bheema , but my father was thin and lanky. He lost his sister when she was 10. The brothers were taken care of by their mother's sister. Everything went well till she got married.. The situation in the house made my father leave home and wash teacups in a hotel. The brothers too parted.ways. One fine day at the age of 17 my father left to join the army leaving behind the love of his life who later became his wife.
It was a love affair at a very young age. Not like the love in the modern age. My mother used to coyly take a look at my father from over the fence. Ankhon ankhon me love.
A few years later when my father was posted as hawildar, he returned home and married my mother.
He took my mother to Bareilly where he was posted.
My father's gentle and jovial nature made him a favorite with seniors and juniors. He was even invited for the lavish parties thrown by the higher authorities. My mother too used to go.
His friend in the army whom we fondly used to call Uncle Ted, a Britisher though we had never met him but heard about him and Dasammama another friend having much higher posts than my father from our mother. She told that Dasammama was very handsome as a young man and used to be seen walking with a lady who resembled Nargis. They formed a trio.
Father had brought Uncle Ted to his house in Chittur, Palakkad district in the 30s and had pointed out my mother to him when she peeped over the fence to look at them. My father told Uncle Ted that he was going to marry the peeping tom.
After having settled down in Bareilly, my mother was shocked to see that everyday fruits, vegetables and a leg of mutton was delivered at the doorstep through special order from the higher authorities. My mother was at a loss to know what do do with so much provision. My father though a Hawaldar enjoyed all the benefits the Majors and captains enjoyed.
It was because of his honest, gentle and charming nature that had everyone in the army grow fond of him and given the due respect.
My elder brother was born in our hometown, Chittur. 
After coming back to Bareilly, father was detected to have kidney stones and taken to Pune was surgery. My mother with a small baby raised such a hue and cry that an army truck had to rush with her to Pune.
Then my father's next posting was in Bangalore. 
After 2 years after my brother was born, I came into the world. I was a huge baby weighing more than 4 kg. It was a normal delivery. I was supposed to me a miracle baby because of my size. Relatives came from our hometown to see the wonder.
baby.
After an year and 5 months, my sister was born. It was an easy delivery as the baby fell into the bed pan. After 11 years my younger brother was born.
When I got my son who weighed 3.10 a relative who had seen me as a new born baby taunted me saying that my son was not even the size of my thigh.
My father left the army and moved to calcutta in the early 60s.
All of us had our education in Calcutta. 
My father did not keep good heath. When he was hospitalized, his friend Uncle Ted and Dasammama came to see him. 
I hugged Uncle Ted and he was joyous to see me and went on saying Beautiful Beautiful. I was overwhelmed.
That was their last meeting. His friends were God sent.
After my elder brother got married in May, my father breathed his last at the command hospital on June 18, 1981 after a month of the marriage. My mother after staying with all children came to stay with me from early 2000 till she died on 8th June, 2019.
Though it took a long time for the love birds to meet, I am sure they are cooing there up in Heaven.