Idliosyncracies

IDLIOSYNCRACIES

Idli - the expanded form of which could read: indian diet loved by all Indians. While  it is a favorite dish amongst South Indians generally, every Indian likes, why, even Americans and people in other foreign countries also like it. It is a rice cake (with urad dal,) steamed, without oil, round, white, soft like petals of jasmine, and jokingly measured in feet,like mallippoo maalai. In all South Indian wedding and other functions idli is the normal, ideal breakfast, along with other items of course.

No time bar: Yes, while mostly eaten as breakfast, it could be taken as lunch, evening snack or dinner. It an be taken any time 24 /7; my son returning home from USA on vacation, each time  will ask for idli sambar or idli chutney even at 2.30 or 3.30 am.  And no age bar too - could be enjoyed by children, youth, grown up adults,  elderly, aged people, without fear, since it is as harmless as it is healthy and filling. Even a six month old could begin formal meals by starting with idli's.

The number game: while there is  no prescribed limits, a plate of idli normally contains 2 or 3 pieces. One could take easily four, five, six and may be up to a dozen. There are often competitions inTamil Nadu, Kerala etc. where  the numbers can easily go up to  thirty or forty. After all, they have to win in the competition.

Accompaniments: while normally carnatic  music is not sung without accompaniments like violin, mridangam etc.idli without accompaniments could be  be likened to singing which has no life. Hence, to enjoy the real taste of idli, you must have the sambar, or chutney or the chutney powder.

Idli, with chutney or sambar is the usual combination. And, these 'accompaniments' is a must with idli's.  Both are delicacies in their own ways. Talking of chutneys, there are several varieties: thengai (coconut) chutney, kothamalli (coriander) chutney, manga (mango) chutney, vengaya (onion) chutney, to mention only the most common varieties.

As for Sambar,, prepared hot, in terms of red chilly content, and served hot, one could go on eulogizing on its virtues. Here again, there are varieties e.g. prepared with ground coconut, without coconut, with various vegetables - most common being bhindi, baingan, red pumpkin, tomato, drumstick and so on, or a combination of some  of these. There is another exclusive or call it the deluxe variety, the vengaya (small, red onions) sambar, the  smell of which will pierce your nostrils, even while entering the door of your house.

Sambar is delicious whether you mix with idli or just sip using spoons. Sometimes the sambar consumed may far exceed the number of idlies eaten. Some north Indians ( I can remember some of my friends, who used to visitmy house often)relish it the way south Indians would relish kheer  or payasam.

There is another accompaniment for idli, the chutney powder, or the mulagaipodi (mirchi powder specially prepared for idli or dosa), another nomenclature being 'gun powder; this powder is generally mixed with oil (tll oil) and this too tastes wonderful. The real test for sambar, chutney or the mirchi  powder lies in the burning 'lip feeling' that lingers on even after you have finished eating idli's.

There are varieties of idli - normal (made with urad dal) rava idli, vegetable idli, kancheepuram idli, fried idli, idli upma (sometimes made with one-day old, or even otherwise , broken idli's).

Idli in lunch box:: those carrying idli's in their lunch box to office, beware. Most likely, they are gheraoed  by other colleagues who would pounce on your  plate and you stand to lose them all soon,  as if by magic. So, it is always better to carry double the quota at least so that all colleagues can together 'share the spoils'

Feel like going in for a hot plate of idli, chutney, sambar?  Do not waste time, satisfy your appetite by whatever means. I have yet to  find someone who would say 'I don't
love idli' (another expanded form of the favorite four-letter word).

Elegy on the death of the Delhi gang-raped girl

                An elegy on the death of the Delhi gang-rape girl


'We are the ones who first ploughed the earth when Modise (God) made it', ran an old Setswana poem. 'We were the ones who made the food, we are the ones who look after the men when they are little boys, when they are young men and when they are old and about to die, we are always there. But we are just women and nobody sees us.'  (quote from The No. 1 Ladies detective by Alexander M. Smith). And the same men assault us and humiliate us to the point of death. And this is what happened to the Delhi gang-raped girl. What a shame! And the agony of the parents could be lamented thus:

                         For them no more her smiles will give joy
                         No jokes for the brothers during dinner
                         No more her room will be filled with students
                         Who will mourn the loss of their teacher
                         For her the end came as gruesome torture
                         Making all her aspirations disappear in future
                         Though determined, she lost the battle to live
                         In the minds of women she will continue to live.
   

Corruptiin - story of the Three Brothers

CORRUPTION - STORY OF
THE THREE BROtHERS


Corruption has gown into a big family tree, engulfing the whole nation, though the shadows of the tree will only protect the corrupt and the corrupt only.Corruption and corrupt officials have perhaps multiplied to such an extent that there is  need for a separate census for the latter, apart from the one currently going on. The whole business of corruption is run by the three brothers, as explained below.

The three brothers are responsible for this whole business across the country.
They have their own importance, names and activities corresponding to their age.
The three brothers are, the  Big C, the Middle C and the Little C.

Coming to the activities,  The Big big C deals with elevation, the-middle C with expansion and the Little C  with elimination.The activities and roles are clearly spelt out to achieve the common goal of the business.

As for the role of Big C, he deals with multi-crore,  multi-bagger activities and always sits at the top. First of all, all their activities  and associated personnel are given names, least suspected of involvement in any corrupt activities.  You have names such as Satyam (truth)' Raja (king) (and may be Rani - we have yet to find out)', Adharsh (model)' 2G, 3G, CWG (where G perhaps represents God)" and you know how all such names have succeeded well in their job.

Coming to the middle C, he generally is not in a place of eminence, and restricts his activities to middle levels only. Examples are those at babu levels etc. At the same time he has to see for the expansion of corruption to all areas and fields and be constantly engaged in exploring new areas and fields.  Here, in terms of money, he deals not in
crores, the activities are generally concerned with public interaction in departments like, railways, posts, telephones, passports etc. Two examples: getting a telephone connection, where I experienced this myself (of course ten years ago). While the instrument was installed with more-than-normal speed, to get the  phone activated  I
was demanded Rs.300. The second incident deals with a mufti police officer who came to my house to verify the particulars of my son's passport application. He said every thing is o.k, I said o.k. too. He said 'aap ko jaldi mil jayega'. I asked 'pakka?' and thanked him. There was no sign of his getting up  from the sofa and moving towards the door.  Well , his policy also was 'give and take' - you give me money and then only take the passport. I showed my Government visiting card on both occasions which saved me.

The youngest brother, little C is concerned with elimination of corruption. He is not respected by the other two brothers. Not only that, both his elder brothers are his No. one enemies.  He goes on taking various steps to perform his role well and has to continue doing so.

An examination was held to test the competence of the thee brothers. The result, as. can be guessed, turned out to be like this.The Big C passed with top marks, the middle C with not so good marks, but with respectable marks. The little C, to everyone's surprise,utterly failed. The story is clear to all of us.

The teacher who took their examination analyzed their results like this: Big C is clever, intelligent, and least afraid of any one. The middle C scored less marks, because he is just ordinary, and has still to delve deep into the 'unfathomed caves of ocean'. The little C  failed, because he is so young, immature and has no idea as as to how to move. Of course he gave a suggestion that by including the corruption money in the service like any other service charge or tax, you can achieve two things in one shot, viz, no one pays corruption, and the word corruption itself will stand eliminated. The examiner was not satisfied still. He said, those silly suggestions will lead to you own elimination. The  three C's  could also be named Satyam (always speaking truth'? At least that is what he would like others to believe.Shivam (being the middle of the three, following the middle path) and Sundaram, ( looking so cute like an innocent baby, teeth not yet grown fully, and only Sundaram to look at.).



  

The Poor 25 Paise Coin

The poor 25 paise coin.

(by C.V. Subramaniam)

Yes, I am poor, I have no value, all these  days, none cared for me, and I had an inkling of my imminent death.  At least i could mingle with my brothers (50 paise, one rupee, two rupee coins, who are my look alikes), and also jingle with them still.  Someone could still perhaps give four of me and get something - though very rare. Now, of course, the verdict is out, the death sentence pronounced. I am to disappear from this world, once for all, after end of june, when i would be buried in the past. Even if I were to continue to live, how many would still love me? Whom do I blame? I could only blame inflation perhaps, since  even a 50 paise coin or a one rupee coin cannot buy anything worth these days.  I  am always separated, as if an untouchable ,from the crowd of my brothers, I am sometimes thrown out, not for my fault, I am not liked even by the street and roadside begging community, because I have become of no value to anybody, I am poorer than the poorest  beggars, since they have these days more valuable coins, and may be more valuable possessions.

Because of my cute looks, and being the youngest, I still enjoyed up to  a time the love and affection of many, particularly children. Many used to put me in metallic and clay made Hundis (small pot with an opening for putting coins, used for small savings by children or for donating to temple) as their valuable possession  and I used to feel comfortable, hidden from those fiery eyes.  If someone still thinks of putting me in the temple hundis (donation boxes)  that will amount to contempt of God and instead of blessings he might incur the curse of God.


Now that the verdict is pronounced and my death is almost fixed,  I could still imagine how the people will treat me,once their darling. Every one will see if they still possess me, collect me in herds, put me in bundles, tighten the bundle with threads (almost like putting the noose around my neck, for which i still have time) rush to the bank, of course only one of those dedicated banks, as if I am already dead and to be stored In the mortuary. My brothers (50 paise, one rupee, two rupees etc.) will desert me, you go away, you are worthless, you are to be exiled, they would shout, though they are also not sure of their own life, which may come to an end any day in the not-too-distant future. No one would take me to the beggar or the subji  vendor, since all of them  had already  frowned upon me long, long ago, and would not want to see my face. Not to speak of my elder brothers who also are treated even now with all contempt. No one wants even 50 paise coins, knowing that the same fate would drive them away from this world like me.

People will have to collect me in large numbers, at least to make me worth a hundred rupee or so, since the bank people would otherwise laugh at the owner. While, at the same time, if some one is to carry bundles and bundles of me in big bags or sacks, I can imagine  the plight of the  bank counter staff,who would first look at him with a contemptuous, jeering look,start unbundling, and then start counting of course, which is not that easy. If  I were in paper form, they  could simply put me  into the counting machine (like wads of notes) and wait for the indicator  light at the end of the so called counting. Not so for me, though.  Of course, there are the bulk buyers, the scrap dealers,  who might still be interested  in me, since they might stand to gain more, by melting me. Those who love numismatics would like to possess me as rare coins, but numbers would be not that great. Those possessing very few of my clan, may not care at all for me. For them any way I am already dead. The temples would have to empty their donation boxes, separate me and start counting, if only they care for me, before rushing to the bank before the dead line.

Well, coming to my fate, I cannot appeal to a court, then going to the apex court, and then to the President, and no lawyer would plead for me. For, I am not Kasab, who is still preciously guarded, given food  to eat, given time to go out and practise karate, and all associated bliss, and God willing, he can still escape the noose.

The bundles will go to the mint again perhaps, and will be melted into fluid, may be to take birth again in some form or the other; I am afraid I will not be buried below the ground in which case, some passer by  will at least cry 'perhaps in this neglected spot is laid..........'