Changing perception of India

I left home in 2001. And havent really gone back since then. Stayed in the UK untill the end of 2006 and came to the US in 2007.
Over these years I've been an avid follower of not only the events [political and a-political] in the home country but I've tried to consciously follow India's perception abroad. Its has been an engaging avocation.
I've seen, albeit from afar, various events which grabbed international attention in the years Ive been away. Just from the top of my head:

• Godhra and the ensuing riots in Gujrat,
• The 2002 border flare up,
• 11 July train bombings in Mumbai in 2006,
• The latest terror attacks on 26 Nov, 2008.

This list reflects only my own check points. I list these events only to use them as examples of how and when I noticed the changes in the image of India abroad.
As a child I remember the entire Kashmir episode leaving me baffled. I listened to the news and I read the news and I could not understand the continuous argument between the Indian authorities and the world [read mostly US in those days]. Our people kept saying that our neighbours and especially their intelligance unit were responsible. No one listened. No one agreed with us. We gave reasons for our suspisions and then we showed proof for it. Yet no one believed us. Why we never managed to convince anyone was beyond me. I remained stupified.
I left the country and within some months the Gujrat riots happened. It was days before I heard about Godhara. The first 4-5 days I got the impression that the hindu fundamentalists had all of sudden gone on a killing spree. No matter where on the political spectrum one stands, its difficult to believe something like that began without a propeller so to speak. Whether the propeller was genuine or out of deliberate mischieve is a talk for another day. The point is I wasnt impressed that the fact the riots happened as a reaction to the Godhara incident was not highlighted from the begenning. From the outside it looked as if the riots were completely unprovoked. The riots were in the world news section, 4th or 5th item on the headlines.
Then came the border flare up in May of the same year. Again the reasons that led to the military escalation along the border never really were voiced. The entire attention was focused on the fact that India had started a systematic military build up along the border and that this could lead to a nuclear war. The world panicked. I kept thinking India has had nuclear arsenal from 1998 and a nuclear program from the 50's. But the country has never flexed its nuclear muscle nor hinted, forget threatned to use the weapons. So when we finally visibly decide to take action shouldnt the restraint practiced over the years mean anything? Shouldnt that at least give us credibility, give reason enough to be held as a responsible nation? Make the world want to really look into the reasons why India decided to undertake such a course of action? We remained in the world news. Initially 4-5th in the headlines and later 3-4th as the posiibility of war grew.
Then bombs set off within 11 minutes of each other on the trains, the life line of Mumbai. The attention was again on the lack of security and death toll. No one voiced the proof gathered by the police. No one believed the authorities. Sympathay was expressed and condolences were given. No one believed. We remained in the world news section, 4th-5th item on the headlines.
And now we've had the terror attack. For 2 days we were front news!! We were the first news item everywhere! I did not hear the old adage "India habitually blames its neighbouring Pakistan for such incidents of violence" for almost 4 days!! and even then maybe just a couple of times. In fact, everyone kept justifying the onus on the terror network's safe haven along the Pak-Afghan border. Suddenly we are viewed as victims. Suddenly we are the poor people who are suffering from the repercussions of the phenomenon other wise known as " Al Qaeda" ! Really?
So, should I assume that finally the Indian state has collected enough world credibility to be taken seriously and be believed? OR should I go with my deduction that we have arrived on the world platform only because we just cannot be ignored any more? Jiski lathi, usi ke bhais? Is that fair?

in awe....but with exception it seems

I am sure most if not everyone watched the olympics. Its compulsive television isnt it?
And like most people if not all, I too come under that complete spell of amazement when I look at the athletes and their fight for excellence, for excellence it is, the best in the world in the truest sense of the words, the cliche..
Its not the fight per se however that amazes me; its the dedication, the grit, the sheer commitment behind the moment of reckoning. Every time I was watching a competetion, I caught myself marvelling at the amount of efforts that went into making what I saw in front of me real. I am in awe of it when I think about how each and every athlete persent there must have spent 4 years of their lives for the chance to compete at the olympics. Each day every day for 4 years. pushing yourself.physically.mentally. each day.every day.....its overwhelming..

It dawned on me that what I marvel at at the olympics isnt rare after all. I have seen dedication. I have seen committment. I have seen sacrifice. I have seen that gritty determination day after day, year after year. And I have seen it all at home! My parents have never taken a vacation in their life. They have never spend money on themselves. They havent bought themsleves things unless it was not an option anymore. Their entire life has been in the pursuit of securing a good life for their kids...no gold medal to take home....no fame....no recognition even....but single minded dedication....committment par excellence
I may not be the only one to see the obvious... although I suspect I may be one of the many who dont admit it....even to themselves!

Coming back to the olympics, found my self ruminating about my reaction to Usian Bolt. He achieved beyond "the sky is the limit" at beijing. He was not the only one though. To put it very simply, I wasnt too kicked about Bolts' success. And according to the commentators I am not the only one towing this line of thought.
I've asked myself "why" too, many a times. Is it to do with "grace in victory"? why did it grate my cheese when I saw bolt pushing his face into the camera, pointing his finger towards the sky and yelling "NUMBER ONE" ...it made me ....it ruffled my feathers, I squirmed at the audacity. Why?
A lot of atheletes achieved their dreams at beijing and in style. Bolt isnt the only one who will go down in the annals of sporting history with glory. But he is the only one I am not happy about winning.
Why do we want people to succeed and be graceful about it? Why cant we let them decide how to take it? Why are role models one's who arent loud about their success? Why is modesty a desirable trait among winners? Why is being down-to-earth admirable and flying high on success being vain?

Post Script : July/21/2010
Could being humble and/or exercising self-restraint be one of those noble virtues ordinarily difficult to attain in a human being so that when it is spotted, the possesion of this character trait in itself is admirable? And therefore the higher the acheivement of a person more superior he/she becomes if able to practise self-control and not give away to the most easily acquired desire to vaunt?

cooking using new recipe's

can u cook to instructions?

I mean, I am sure a lot of people a lot of time feel like trying out new stuff [hey, we're talking food here?!]....and now-a-days coz of the internet/info age/world wide web/etc....getting new recipe's is 'just a click away' [well, technically cant be just one click but it sounded right...try saying it aloud...go on...]
anywayz..the point is..its become a lot easier to get new recipe's. I am especially more driven now to try new stuff than used to be [we are still on food mind you]. I've always had days when the morning came with inspiration to cook-up a new dish. But it wasnt always easy to get hold of the 'how to' make the new dish. Mummy darling-never the enthusiast- didnt really have a lot of cook-books [read 1!]...and my friends circle wasnt [and dont think will ever be!] the recipe-exchanging types, aaaand then I wasnt the talking-to-neighbouring-aunties-over-tried-and-tested-recipe's type of a person!
so you see...trying a new dish was a bit of work...and me and work never really got along :)

now, you'd think having the internet would solve my problmes, wouldnt you? atleast in terms of the scouting-for-recipe part. I will agree that it does...but the story doesnt end there [stories mostly don't end that easily, do they?].
the problem now is - sticking to the recipe!!
I find myself absolutely incapable of cooking to instruction. do what you may, I just cannot seem to cook from what I see! and it isnt even a matter of not liking the bloody recipe....liking what I see is always the precusor to the decision to cook...always! sensible right? hence the bewilderment at the incapacity.
not having the required ingredients isnt the pressing constraint either. I've have gone as far as removing the keeping out and aside the ingredients in their required measurement, using measuring cup,spoons,weighing scale et al...the works if you will....but come cooking time I am doing my own thing! changing the order of ingredients, putting in less than suggested, adding new ingredients, sometimes going as far as eliminating a suggested item coz 'it doesnt feel right'....

on one hand I can go on chewing on this behavioural strand...on the other I can call it quits and label this as being "individualistic" !!

what do you think?

vaangi bhaat

One of those combination-of-words which conjures up lot of childhood memories. This dish wasnt a regular one at home. It was a special dish and it followed that it would be made for/on special occasions...or maybe it was a special dish because it was made on special occasions?
Either ways, I suppose for every child growing up special occasions contain the same universal feelings of excitement, thrill and fun. Thereby by association the dish came to be labelled under "happy times". And then for-ever more the mere mention of the dish/recipe brings up a smile to say the least.

By and large I still try to keep the "lets make vaangi bhaat" line to the not-so-regular occasions. But I guess its a sign of changing times that I also make this whenever I feel homesick! :)

Right, so today for one reason or the other, the rice is on the menu. I feel like sharing this recipe and hope it will make those who try as happy as they make me. Also making a special apprearance is tendli to pair with the egg plant. [What in the world is the english equivalent of tendli??]

I've got:
2 cups of egg plant
1 cup of tendli {?}
1/2 cup of green peas {frozen will do just fine}
One medium onion
2/3 cup rice
1 cardamom {badi elachi}
2 small bay leaves
3 cloves
3 whole black pepper
1 small piece of cinnamon
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp black mustard seeds {wat? theres yellow too!}
2 tsp vaangi bhaat masala {u could substitute this with the usual mix of cumin+coriander+garam masala}
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp red chilli powder {or according to desired "hotness"!}
1 tsp olive oil
coconut and coriander paste {1 tsp shred coconut+few twigs of fresh coriander ground in a mixer}

I usually begin by soaking the rice in water. Chop up the onions, egg plant and tendli {and the peas if it pleases u} all preferably long slices. I dont think there is a direct relation between whether you chop the vege's long and horizontal or in cubes big or small....but hey, could very well be so.
Heat the oil and add the mustard and wait untill you hear it crackel. Then add the bay leaves, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and the pepper. Add the chopped onion after 20-30 sec. When the onion has browned, add the dry spices i.e turmeric+vaangi masala/equivalent+red chilli powder. Then add the vegetables. Add 2-3 tbsp water, cover and let cook for about 10 min or untill the vegetables are almost cooked.
Drain and add the rice, and if you are using frozen peas this is where you would add them. Fry the mixture for about 5 min. Add water. As a rule of thumb we use a 1-2 ratio for the water. In our case we will add 1 1/3 cup of water for the 2/3 cup of rice.
Incidently, this amount of water also juuust covers the rice. I add salt at this juncture but it could be done at any point from the moment the vegetables went in to right at the end.
Half way through the cooking stir-in the ground mixture of the coconut and coriander.
Let the whole pot cook {ooh.. did i mention use a pot?} on low heat untill the rice is cooked. For those in whose mind lurks the question "when will i know its cooked?" .......eat the rice and see for urself if it meets ur 'cooked' standard! But this particular concoction should take about 15-20 min.

Weight Watchers points value for the whole dish: 14

Suggested Servings: 4 small or 2 maassive ones!

Points per serving: 3.5

Samurai's....

I have always been fascinated by samurai's. The concept itself has always been engaging. Them and ninja's. As a child both these were a source of constant amazement. All the knowledge surrounding these "variety/kind" of beings was derived solely from movies of course. The more movies I watched, the more enchanted I became. Never really embarked on a learning path, never took efforts to know the how's, why's and when's of either. And on hindsight I beleive it was a good thing I didnt. Some things are best left un-discovered...keep the enigma I say!

Have been on a Samuria movie spree recently. Hence..........

I remember when I watched "The Last Samurai" [all those years ago when it came out] I was spell bound for quite a while. Distinctly remember concluding that that was "one really good movie after a looong time". Everything about the movie was superbly set out. Also remember that it left me with that feeling- dont know what to call it- which overcomes me everytime I see any good Vs evil battle's!
OK, fine, I have a name for it...I call it the ramayan-mahabharat effect!! There, I've said it! Its the warm feeling when good always wins in the end....the battle against all odds. The admirable courage that refuses to go away. The idea of hope and faith and eventual redemption always makes me feel good....about humanity. Its the same reason why I love watching Lord of the Rings too so much. Its the epic dimension that wins me over every time.

O.K....agreed. 'A sucker for happy endings' is another way to look at it!!

blame it on fidel.

Saw this last night. french movie ....a la gavras creation.
The title gives out no clue on what to expect from the movie....spent the first 5 min or so trying to figure how "fidel" fits in....it was a delight the way it "aahhh...!"-ed on me.
The movie was delightful on the whole as well. its about the phase in a child's life where life seems to contradict itself at every turn. Had a large dose of nostalgia, and i went back too to the time when i used to be confused by what i saw and took from it only to question it soon in a way as to question my understanding in the first place! [that this in fact continues to the day is another story]

I was completely fascinated by the lead actor- child actor - nina kervel. You know, sometimes u get to watch these movies where an actor is so enchanting that they seem to breathe life into the movie. This girl was very very good. And it was so easy to understand what she was going through. As also 'francois' - her brother, who is sweet as a pie.

The movie is so simply told, its admirable. o yea....did I mention its funny as well? It is. The humor is [and i can swear i read smthing similar very recently] the kind to make you laugh not because what you see is obviously funny but because the things you see you can realte to and there is a sense of cringe in there smwhere...a shade of embarrassment if you will....of feeling like you've been there and on both sides of the coin...!?

Falling short of saying "i loved the movie" [which i guess shouldnt be an incredible reach of the imagination!]....let me point the one thing I find rarely in movies and when I do, thrills me to bits....the change in the girl's hair-style is managed brilliantly!! That kind of attention to detail and art direction is precious....