old age maladies and melodies!!

Welcome old age or is  it  golden age!! The beauty of childhood and the glory of  youth has given way to quietitude and tranquillity of  old age.Looking backward I see not only a life of  fulfilment and success but  also that of trials and tribulations. The arrival of old age  has unfolded  new hopes and aspirations of a kind never  experienced before.Our life is now  more regulated.We find pleasure in things which we never even noticed  before. We have all the time in the world to  give fruition to  our hobbies and desires  lying beneath our  subconscious mind.
       I spoke to some oldies  to know their views about ageing.Majority of the people feel that they are now relaxed and at peace with themselves. I remember Somerset Maugham's  words,
'Old age has its pleasures,which though different,are not less than the pleasures of youth'.It has been observed that  as we grow older, we become more tolerant;we acquire the ability to control our emotions  much more notably than when we were young.The transition from youth  to old age is much more smooth  than we anticipated.A very unique  feeling of  spiritual  glory overtakes an individual.The vision of the God Almighty which  brings harmony and a sense of surrender  is  visible. This is not to say that  in a youth  there are no such emotions but  with the passing of years this affinity   with the Supreme comes to the fore.
   There is no doubt that physical infirmities slowly  make their way and take charge of the human body.One has to be  fortunate  to  be spared of the onslaught  of these irritants. Fading vision ,  hearing capacity   diminishing, and weakening of  joints  are common ailments of old age.In olden days such problems might have prevented people  from performing their daily  activities but  now  prompt and effective  medication is available at affordable  price and do not in any way become a hurdle in performing   daily chores. Now is the time to observe and enjoy the wonders of nature, little birds twittering ,squirrels running at jet speed and  hordes  of  monkeys descending  from no where and disturbing the  flora and fauna  of the neighbourhood!! In our  younger  times where was the time  to even notice  such  captivating and bewitching sights.A saying by a famous poet' Sans eyes, sans teeth, sans every thing', no longer holds true in  the modern age.
 Most important  factor at this age  is  family bonding which tend to get  strengthened  in old age. In our youth we were so much engrossed  in our profession that  we  could hardly pamper and  cuddle  our children.  We were more concerned about  teaching them good manners and  disciplining them.  Now when  we are  old we are more indulgent towards our grand children. Every move and every action of our grand children  thrills us .The roles are now reversed. In fact  they   decide and dictate and  we don't have the heart to disappoint them!! To maintain  harmony  and peace we allow our children  to have their  own space and  privacy. They are where we were once! They must have the liberty to manage their affairs.
         It  is unfortunate that  in some households harmonious relations  are not maintained. On one side the aged parents  feel neglected  and on the other side the children   treat   their  own parents as  a  burden. Generally  lack of understanding and adjustment lead  to such a situation. In fact both sides  need counselling.
  I  must end with a happy note that old age  is melodious and  not malicious.




















      

From my Kitchen Diary vii

Last time I  had written some recipes  in which the main ingredient is mango. I am happy that my friends appreciated these recipes.Encouraged by such a tremendous  response, I am penning  down  a few  dishes made from mangoes.
 In olden days housewives used to make mango pickles in large quantities.I remember my mother used to make pickles. At least 10 to 15 kgs of raw mangoes were purchased. It was a Herculean job cutting them in equal size pieces. Preparing the masalas was not an easy job. All the ingredients were purchased fresh and pounded.Those days there were no sophisticated electrical gadgets to grind  masalas. In a nutshell, it can be concluded that pickle making was a two or three day job. Every thing was done at snail's speed. Now people have no time to indulge in such 'luxuries'. Therefore quick and instant methods have been devised to churn out  tasty dishes. Today I propose to write a few dishes made with mangoes as the main ingredient.
 1. Instant Mango Pickle:  
Ingredients:-
  i  Raw mangoes  2
  ii  Red chilli powder  2 tsp
  iii. Salt as per taste
  iv  Cooking oil - 4 tsps  ( I use coconut oil)
  v.  Asafoetida - a pimch
Method -  Cut the mangoes  in very small pieces. In  a container
mix salt, chilli powder  and the mangoes. Heat the oil, and  add asafoetida. Pour this oil on the mango mixture and  mix  it  very well. This pickle can be used for 8 to ten days if stored properly in a refrigerator.
2.Mango Raita  
 Ingredients:-
i  Mangoes medium size - 4 ( we can use raw or ripe mangoes)
ii. Green chillies  -  4
iii. Curd   -  2 cups
iv.  Jeera powder ( cumin powder) - 1 tsp
v.  Grated coconut - 1/4 cup (optional)
vi.  Sugar (if raw mangoes are used)  - 1 tsp
vii. Mustard seeds  -  1/4 tsp
viii. Cooking oil - 2 tsps
Method - Beat the curd so that it becmes  smooth. Add  all the  ingredients except  the last two (serial no. vii and viii). Add grated coconut, if desired.  Stir very well. Heat the oil and add mustard seeds till they splutter. Add this to the Raita.

   3.Raw Mango Salad.

  Ingredients:-
  i. Raw mangoes -  3. 
 ii. Tomato    -   1 (medium)
 iii.Bell pepper  - Yellow  1
 iv Bell pepper  - Green   1
  v. Onion   -   2 (medium)
 vi. Vinegar    -   5 tbsp
 vii.  Honey  -   2 tbsp
 viii.Salt  - according to taste
 ix. Pepper powder - 1/4 tsp
 x. Coriander leaves - a small bunch
 xi. Green chillies - 4
Cut all the mangoes, peppers, tomatoes and onions in small pieces. Add salt, vinegar, pepper powder and honey, mix well and keep in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Decorate with coriander leaves and green chillies. Serve cold.
Hope my friends will enjoy preparing and relishing the above recipes!
















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From my kitchen diary vi

There is no exaggeration in naming  mango as the King of fruits. There are innumerable varieties of mangoes.It is believed that some mangoes are sweeter than Nectar.It is an exotic  fruit.The fragrance emanating  from the ripe mango is captivating  and seduces our senses.It is consumed throughout the world.The mango is cultivated in most countries, but the largest  production is in the  Indian sub continent..
   All parts of a mango tree are utilised  in our house holds. The leaves are considered auspicious and are used in  house warming ceremonies, marriages and religious  occasions.The wood  is useful for lighting in havans and other  holy fires.The mangoes can be eaten raw or fully ripe.Several mouth watering dishes are made  using mangoes as a main ingredient.I am sharing  a few recipes which are very popular and are equally  tasty. I hope  that my friends will like them.

1.   Mango Chutney

   Ingredients;:-

 a.Raw mangoes  250 gms

 b.Sugar       1/2 cup

 c. Water      3/4 cup

 d. Salt    As per taste

 e.Red pepper powder  1tsp.

 f.Lime juice       2 tb sp.

 g. Big cardamom  1 for flavour(optional)

Method:-
Remove the skin of the mangoes and cut into  slices.Boil these slices in water on slow  flame till the slices are tender.(Add the cardamom if you like its strong flavour.) Now add sugar, salt and pepper powder  and stir till it looks like jam. Add lime juice when it cools down.Keep the chutney in  an air tight  bottle.This tastes good.

 2 Mango curry

Ingredients

1. Ripe Mangoes  4

2.Curd  2 cups

3 Besan (Gram powder)  2 Tb sp

4.Cumin seeds    1 Tsp

5.Asafoetida  a small pinch.

6.Green Chillies   2-3
7 Salt        as per taste
8.Cooking Oil      3 tb sps
9 Onion. One medium size
10.Turmeric powder  1/4 tsp
11.Red chilli powder  One tsp
12.Tomatoes   2 
Method:-
Remove skin and  slice the ripe mangoes in medium size pieces. Keep covered  aside. Take the curd, add besan, turmeric powder and 1/4 cup water and blend it in a  blender. Place a heavy bottomed vessal on the fire. Add cumin seeds, asafoetida powder and finely chopped onions..Stir till the onions are pink in colour.Now add the diluted curd.Add another  two cups of water.When the water starts boiling,lower the flame and boil for another 2-3 minutes.Now add  salt,chilli powder and  mango slices.Let it simmer till the mango slices mingle with the gravy.Before serving,decorate the curry with sliced tomatoes and green chillies.The yellow curry  with red and  green toppings looks very attractive.The sweet,sour and tangy taste excites the palate.It goes very  well with rice.
 The mangoes are excellent for making a shake  with milk( milk shake) as well as curd( Lassi).
Before I close,a  quick Mango  Sauce recipe is given below.It is delicious and is made  when you have time constraint.
Method for making mango sauce;
Take two ripe mangoes, one banana,one lemon , two tbsps of honey and 3-4 spoons of milk.Put them in a blender  and make a smooth sauce.Chill it in the refrigerator.This can be served with cakes and ice cream. It is a hit with children.
 More exiting mango recipes will follow shortly. Enjoy!!

thoughts on education

Recently my maiden book 'Reverse Gear'was released. I got comments from most of my friends in the form of  appreciation,suggestions and of course some positive criticisms. A good friend ,without any prejudice  asked me," Madam, in your long  career you did not come across a single person who did not pain you or was against you?  No mention has been made in the book about any person with whom you had differences."This comment set me thinking.My motto has always been "I praise loudly; I blame softly."This is the principle that I liberally utilised in   my career  and my book reflects that philosophy. Moreover the book is my autobiography(?) and not a tool to mend others ways.I am reminded of a famous couplet of the poet Kabir,"Bura jo dekhan mein chala bura na miliya koye,Jo man khojia aapna mujhse bura naa koye."Translated in English it means"I went in search of a bad guy, but I did not come across any bad person. When I  pondered, I  found that there was no one as bad as me." How ever  as an educationist I met several persons  who were not very enthusiastic  to display exemplary qualities of workmanship but were content in the dictum, 'sab chalta hai.'
 Today when I look back I am pained to see that there are  hardly any teachers of the calibre of  Dr.Radhakrishnan or  Dr Zakir Hussein.Slowly and surely   a downward trend is visible.The Schools boast of good result only due to the sincerity and hard work of a handful of teachers. Let me describe a scene from an average school. The school bell  rings.The Principal is unconcerned.She is engrossed in discussing the price of a shawl which a teacher has worn for the first time.The late comers are enjoying the tete-a-tete.The day starts on a  very casual note.The morning assembly, which is a solemn affair is taken casually. The classes start.  Within a few minutes the Principal summons three teachers from their classes and gives them orders to complete the budget, which has to be submitted to the Head office on that day. These teachers are required to assist the office clerk. After an hour or so another set of  teachers are seen heading towards the Principal's office.  These teachers have to go the market to purchase a gift for  one of the staff members, who was to retire  shortly. This sort of orders are repeated every day. Now have a look at  at the actual class room teaching. Its a History  class. The pupils are given directions."open your books on page---.Now start reading one by one" (Tu Padh Method) The Teacher  herself is enjoying the scene out side. Suddenly she says"some people have entered the Principal's office" Two pupils are directed to go outside and find out  their identity and what refreshment was being served to them.  She again addresses another pupil and asks her where did she have her hair styled' It is time for the period to be over. All of a sudden she says,'Children  thus the whole tea was thrown into the sea.This was the Boston Tea Party'.The period comes to an end .The teacher writes in her diary that she taught Boston Tea Party to the class.
  The scene described above is not any piece of imagination. It is a reality.The scenario is not very different today. Many teachers are  giving tutions  out side school hours. On reaching School they are exhausted and go to sleep in the  staff room or where ever they find place.(in 2nd shift schools), Even the Principal has a word of sympathy for them.After the introduction of CCE(continuous comprehensive evaluation) the things have gone from bad to worse.This scheme envisages that the performance of the pupils will be  continuously evaluated on the basis of not only the  text book knowledge, but all round development of a child.The aim is to cover both the scholastic and and the co-scholastic achievements of the pupils.The assessment of the child's  progress  is made by giving them projects in and out of the classroom. No marks are to be given. Instead evaluation is done by giving Grades.The objective of the scheme is  very appreciable.But  alas, in practice it has not been accepted  in the same enthusiastic spirit  in which it was formulated. The good Schools have taken up the responsibility  very creditably.But the masses have given a good bye to teaching. The teachers and the taught both are nurturing the fact all the children will be up graded to the next class.This is a negative approach, but unfortunately  this is true.not that all Schools are complacent .There are many Schools  which are taking  great interest and  and thriving to make the best of this scheme. But they are only in a minority. It is learnt that that the Govt. is taking concrete steps to revise the scheme., which will remove all loopholes.If you take a neutral view, the scheme  can be very effective in developing the personality of a child.This a healthy sign. Let us hope that the revised version is announced soon and enables our school children start a march towards   perfection.Long live our country!!
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welcome rain

'Rain, rain go away, little Jhonny wants to play.'This is a nursery rhyme we learnt in school. Well this is only a rhyme. In real life rain is always welcome.After the dust storms and  scorching heat every body pines for a whiff of  cool breeze  and showers  which  lift one's mood and inspires you to dance in gay abandon.Fauna and flora , birds and animals  all soaked in the drizzle  seem to enjoy upto the hilt.After the dreary afternoon and gloomy evenings of summers,the little rain drops that  gently fall on us   make us ecstatic. The first shower of the season is 
seductive and is heartily welcomed.The soothing fragrance of mud, the damp grass  and little puddles formed around you instantly raise your  spirit and  soul.
  I remenber that as children while walking outside on a rainy day we  enjoyed  splashing  our legs in a pool of water and getting completely drenched.Now when I see my children and grand children  dancing out in the rain and getting soaked in the rain.I become nostalgic.Though I protest, arguing that they will catch cold(grand parents are over protective) I dont mind their indulgence!!  Rains  cheer up their drooping spirits and seem  to quench  their thirst for fun.
  We find nature in its best form.The sight of  plants and trees merrily  swaying in the cool breeze in gay abandon is exhilataring. The sun baked leaves seem to have aquired a new attire.Seeing nature in its glory  is a sight that engulfs  the whole being of the spectators in utter delight. Nature seems to be at its best.
       Film makers  depict rain as symbol of romance. The  hero and the heroine, soaked in rain water, hand in hand singing 'Pyar hua ikraar hua'(Nargis and Raj Kapoor in Shri 420) and Kishore Kumar  singing 'Ek ladki bheegi bhaagi si'and a mutitude of rain/romance songs have won the hearts of the viewers. A scene in many movies show the love birds seething in sorrow when they are separated.The rains  touch the cord of their hearts and they burst into sad songs.Remember the song'Saawan ke badlon unse yeh ja kaho, taqdir mein yahi tha saajan mere naa roh'.
  Rainy evenings tend to tick  our palate. We yearn  for  hot, hot pakoras and pipng hot tea or coffee. I am  giving some useful tips for preparing these items.Even though every home prepares these mouth watering  dishes,a little  special  touch will go a long way in enhancing their taste.
                                Tips for making pakoras
a.The  paste for pakoras must be prepared  at least10 minutes in advance.
b.Add a little rice powder to  the paste. It  makes the pakoras crispier.
c.The oil for frying should not be over heated
d. The pakoras must be served hot. Reheating destroys the  taste and crispiness
                                 Tips for preparing coffee
 a It is ideal to use fresh coffee beans.
 b.For preparing instant coffee the ratio of milk and water  should be according to an individual's taste.Same proportion should not be used for every one.
c.The water used for coffee should be filtered.
d.Coffee must be served piping hot.
                               Tips for preparing tea
a.Water should be fresh 
b.Milk and water must be boiled separately.
c.Sugar must be served seperately.
d.Tea leaves should not be boiled
 Though the first showers of  rains are welcome, they become destructive if they last for long periods. Floods and certain diseases  are associated with rains.This proves the maxim that every thing in excess is bad.

golden memories

A few days ago I was humming an old song  'saiyan dil me aana re' when my grand daughter  looked astonished and asked me, "Dadi,how do you know this song?'I was puzzled.Why she wanted  to  know about the song.I told her that this is a very old  song. Ramita, said ,"No Dadi this a new song ,which has come to the market recently" I realised that she was talking about the re mix version of the song.This set  me thinking how the present generation is unaware  of the songs of olden days.Those were  in fact the golden days of music. This particular song has been rendered  by Shamshad Begum for the film Bahar.Shamshad was a very popular singer in the good old days.
 Talking of music of the bygone era  old memories  are coming alive. In the late 1940s,1950s and 60s  film songs were  so melodious, captivating and vibrant that  they touched the very core of the heart.The euphoria  spread by the songs of that era  sounded like  musical notes of a Nightingale  which last for ever.  Remember  Noorjahan. Her songs from the film Anmol Ghadi "awaj de kahan hai" and "badnam mohhabat kaun kare"  are still so refreshing. The movie was a great hit because of the titillating  songs.  Her ever green songs of Jugnu "hamen to sham-e-gham me katni hai zindagi apni" and "yahan badla wafa ka be wafai ke siva kya hai" are so touching that they actually bring tears  in our eyes.
 Who can forget the soulful songs of  Amirbai Karnatki? The movie Rattan  was a landmark due to its scintillating songs  "milke bichar gayi ankhian" and "o jane wale  balamwa laut ke aa"and many others made Rattan unforgettable!Her song sung  in a lighter vein "gore gore  o banke chore"(Samadhi was  an all time hit.
Who can forget Surraiya,who was not only a melodious singer but a also a talented actress.Her songs from Badi Bahen  and Mirza Ghalib  will always  be nectar for the ears.
  The entry of  Lata Mangeshkar in the realm of background music was no less than a revolution. Her early songs "aayega  aaega  aaega aane wala " (Mahal)'kahin deep jale kahin dil"(Bees saal baad)"ye zindagi usi ki hai jo kisi ka ho gaya"(Anarkali) and "yeh raat yeh chandni phir kahan, sun ja dil mi daastan"(Jaal) and many many more are ever lasting .Her patriotic song "Ae mere watan ke logon"  was  emotionally surcharged and full of pathos  which stirred the conscience of the  nation! Now in her 80s she can  compete with any newcomer.Geeta Dutt and Asha Bhosle were also notable play back singers .Their songs made great impact on the  mind of the listeners.
The  male singers of those golden days  are equally unforgettable. Starting with K.L. Saigal (Ae katibe taqdir mujhe itna bata de) and Pankaj Mullick (Ye kaun aaj aaya savere savere) who were the pioneers  of the world of music, made film music immortal.Mohd Rafi was the emperor of music. He could sing any song ,whether  romantic,  sad or comic   all with equal finesse.His song "chudhvin ka chand ho","Din dhal jae hai raat na jae"(guide)  are full of emotions.I remember his hilarious songs "jaane kahan mera jigar gaya ji?  and "tel maalissh"   and devotional song "Man tarpat hari darshan ko aaj." which  are ample depiction of his verstality.
Talat Mahmood  with his soft and silken voice  is an all time favourite with music lovers. He acted in a couple of films but did not make his mark. As a singer, especially ghazals,  he could not be surpassed.His songs  "jhoome re  mera dil bhi jhoome" and "Dil-e-naadaan tujhe hua kya "and  many more are  are simply superb.
  Another  great singer who was  my favourite  was Hemant Kumar..Soft, romantic songs  with  a Bangla flavour were soulful and mesmerising. His songs 'na yeh chand hoga na tare rahenge, magar hum hamesha tumhare rehenge"from the film Shart  and "na tum hame jano na hum tumehe jane magar lagta hai kuch aisa mera humdum mil gaya"  from the movie Baat Ek Raat Ki  are unique.
KishoreKumar  was  an all rounder.He was a singer, actor, director, producer and a story writer.He  started singing in late 1950 movies and continued to sing till his death in 1987.There are several songs  which  brought him awards,but since I am referring to songs upto 60s I will mention his hits in the 50s and 60s.The  song from the film Nau Do Gyarah "ankhon me kya ji, sunehra badal" and  "Koi lauta de mere beete huye din"(Door gagan ki chaun me) were great hits.
Manna Dey  was  also a singer who made a place in the hearts of music  lovers,His  song "kaun aya mere dil ke dware'  from Dekh Kabira roya  and "pucho na kaise main ne rain bitayi" from Meri Surat Teri Ankhain were  very popular .
The music of those days had   simple lyrics, few accompaniments  like Tabla, Harmonium and Sitar and not many notes .But they had the  rhythm and simplicity which touched  the hearts of  music lovers then and even now. These precious gems should not  be spoiled by copying them and adding  obscene videos.They  must be preserved and   retained  in their original  form for ever and ever.











                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

From my kitchen diary part v

In response to my post  'From my kitchen diary' many friends have  expressed their wish to prepare something  which is typical Multani. A multani dish, Kadhai wali subji,  recipe was posted in my kitchen diary part (i,) which was appreciated by many friends. Today I am giving  a recipe which is very popular  with people with  originating from Western Punjab.The procedure is  quite time consuming but the end result is so good that we don't mind preparing  it occasionally.It is known as 'Doli ki roti'.This roti is a favourite with all Multanis.It requires fermentation of wheat flour.The fermenting agent is prepared in the following method
  Step 1
  For this the following ingredients are required (1). big  cardamon....one ( 2).cloves....five( 3). poppy seeds...one teaspoon (4)nutmeg ...One (5) cinnamon...one small piece  (6)  jaggery....six  teaspoons . These six items are boiled in 500 ml. water for five minutes. This concoction is kept in  a bowl, well covered and wrapped in a woollen  cloth , and placed in a warm place for 24 hours.This concoction is used for preparing the base for the dough.
Step 2
Take one cup of whole wheat flour and make a paste  with the concotion .The paste should be of the consistency of dosa/ pakora  paste.The paste  is again kept in  a warm place for  about 24 hours, Bubbles  will be formed  in the paste. The fermenting agent  is now ready.
 Step 3
Mix it well in  four cups of wheat flour and half a cup of suji. Knead it  with warm water like  a dough  for Poories. This dough is again kept for about two hours for rising in  a fairly big container.The flour will rise to almost  its double volume.

Step 4  

Now make equal number of balls. These balls should be flattened  within the palms of both hands. of approximately 3 mm thickness.Deep fry them on medium heat till golden brown .
  This roti can be taken with  any curry. We  can prepare the roti with a filling of Chana Dal or chicken/mutton keema.These rotis can be kept for three or four days.  
 Another  recipe which I am sharing with friends is Dahi Ke Kebab which is very simple to prepare and very delicious. The ingredients required are;
1. Hung  curd   1/2 cup
2.Paneer(cottage Cheese)  1/2 cup
3.Bread slices(with sides cut)   3
4. ginger, garlic paste  1 teaspoon
5 salt      according to taste
6 pepper powder  1/4 teaspoon     
7.green chili       1finely cut
8.coriander leaves 2 teaspoons
Method
Mash the hung curd and cheese very finely.Add salt, pepper powder, ginger.garlic paste,  green chili and crushed bread slices. Mix very well.Make balls and flatten them in the shape of kebabs.  Shallow fry them in a frying pan. Yummy kebabs are ready. Children will love them. 
And now some useful tips for the kitchen;-

• To bring shine to aluminium vessels just boil  some apple peels in it.Rinse and dry the vessel . It will get its original colour.
• To clean copper bottom from vessels  simply scrub and  rinse them with tomato soup paste.
• To remove stains from non-stick cook-ware,simply boil it  with 2 table spoons of baking powder and  white vinegar for 10-12 minutes.The next time you use the pan  use some olive oil to season it.
• For cooking lentils add little turmeric and sesame oil. This will enhance the taste.
• While making dough for rotis and paranthas add a little malai(thick layer formed on the milk after boiling).The rotis will turn out to be very soft.