Is DL1C B 1023 Vintage or Trash?

Lying desolate and lonely in one corner of the street number 10, in Daryaganj is a dilapidated Premier Padmini numbered DL1C B 1023 (Fiat 1100-D). Once a monarch- now a junk…

The Fiat car ruled the Indian roads from 1955 to 1985 and owning one was a matter of pride. But now only found as yellow black taxis or worst junkyards.

Reminiscing their Childhood days, Pooja and Neha said “our father loved this car and because he couldn’t afford it at its original price, bought it second hand. Its number UP32 B 7777 was as special as the car itself.” And why wouldn’t anyone have cherished the dream to own Fiat Padmini when even our first President was a proud owner of own.

However this model of Fiat which was once called the “Maharani of Cars” seems to have lost its identity in the crowd of the more preferred choices like Maruti- Swift; BMW; Volkswagen etc… Its loyalist might have expected to join the ranks of ‘Avon 6’, ‘Austin’ etc. yet that seems unlikely to happen. What one now gets to see are the rusted, old, broken, dented Premier Padminis lying in the debris.

Even then we do have people driving padmini taxis for the past two decades. Today however, there are some who don’t even consider it as an option unlike those who  though not driving have still not parted with their Padmini! Hence the lingering question- Whether Premier Padmini has become Vintage or a Trash?

New high for Indian Cuisine

Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if god had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity   -  Voltaire

The heart of Delhi lies in its cosmopolitan culture and traditions. Food which plays a prominent role in any culture doesn’t shy away from people in this city rather it mesmerises and teases them to an extent that sometimes one might just end up over eating.

Its streets, stations, markets are flooded with eateries and various kinds of delicacies, but then is there any fetish which people can’t overcome, well yes and it indeed is food. And maybe that is why the food and hotel industry is getting a new high. But this time it is not just the food flavour or for that matter restaurants etc. but it is the whole progression of the Indian cuisine from Street to Sauvé.

You take a stroll in the market or go to a fine dining restaurant you will find this array of mixed foods which are simply irresistible. Be it the “Golgappa Shots” or a “Chatpati Martini” being served, all you might think is wow! We actually do have out of the box eateries.With the coming of new technology like “molecular gastronomy” chefs are on their way to invent something totally new. “The taste is the same but the texture is new”, says Chef Bali.

Thus in one sense Molecular gastronomy has opened up a new era of cooking and restaurants are globally adapting it to their own cuisines. So what is molecular gastronomy? In a layman’s language is food science. It involves cooking food using certain scientific techniques; Example Agar-Agar, an algae extracted which is also heat resistant gelling agent is used to prepare all kinds gel like shapes:  pearls, spaghetti, lentils, prisms etc.

Agar-Agar, a Molecular Gastronomy technique used to prepare Milky Delight  

With Molecular Gastronomy becoming a rage among our western counterparts the Indian cuisine couldn’t have stayed behind. With new aspirations a lot of innovations are being made in Indian food. The air- dried Bhein (lotus stem) with chilli and fennel flowers is a new dimension in chaat or the slow –cooked sous- vide lamb chops with essential oils of green chilly finished in tandoor.

However the most dramatic changes have taken place in desserts. Molecular gastronomy can also be rephrased as ‘God-food for diabetics’ as it has given them the option of three different sugar substitutes, keeping the calories low. A very common use of this food science is when ‘gums’ are added to milk o make it rich in ‘malai’ (cream) and yet having the same low fat content. Maybe that is why we have our ice-creams and ‘kulfis’ ready within minutes.

Ever wondered from where does that foam and airy cream in your soup and drinks tastes like mint or bubblegum or any other flavour... well the answer is Foaming process a gift of Molecular gastronomy. Another such processes include spherication, flash freezing besides agar-agar, foaming etc.

Indian street food which once was restricted to the street today thanks to the ever changing taste buds and new cooking science has entered the chic and refined areas of the town like fine dining. In fact any wedding or a major festival falls short on its entertainment quotient when street food is found missing. With the varieties of street food available and the introduction of the new one’s leaves no space of doubt that Indian cuisine inclusive of its street food has reached a new high.

The Girl with a Red Handbag

You are on cloud nine when you find something worthwhile to spend on. But how do you feel when you discover that it was all a lie. You buy a Pashmina-silk for Rs.2, 500/- and then back home you see a tag reading 40% Pashmina- silk and the rest cotton! And yet you find it difficult to resist the temptation to shop, especially when it is the Surajkund Mela.

Surajkund Mela built on the dry Surajkund Lake gave an opportunity to the shopaholics to identify their tastes this year. Handcrafts goods handspun to the core made people ask for more.  A red Silk bag hanging in a corner attracted Nisha, a student, so much so that despite having just the minimum amount of money to go back home she decided to buy the red silken ‘jhola’. She walked fast and furious towards the store before anyone else laid hands on it.

Once at the stall, the busy shopkeeper presented to her the range of silken bags in different colors, some orange and yellow others purple and pink, some green while the rest red. If that wasn’t enough she had the option of various styles in silk handicraft, be it sling or simple shoulder beaded bags. The price of the bag being Rs. 250/-, everything seemed to work for Nisha. But there is always more than meets the eye.

Nisha could have possibly bought the bag had she not been a little investigative and curious. On a close inspection she realized that the bag had a weak lining; a little weight added, it would tear apart and any such bag with beads would have her witness an embarrassing ‘beadstorm’. “She was at my stall for almost 45 minutes. She made me take out all the pieces I had in that range but nothing appealed her”, said Anil, the handicrafts stall owner from Gujarat.

It was only a matter of few more stalls before she finalized a similar bag. It was red in color, silken material and cost Rs.250/-. But what changed for her was the shop owner, who convinced her to buy his product.

This is the same bag she left behind only to buy it later .Whether it were the marketing skills of the latter craftsman or it was the red silk’s sensuous feel to which she succumbed, is debatable. Ask her what made her do it and she giggles and says “I wanted that red bag desperately. Moreover look at this bag it is so bright. It matches my personality. I liked it in the first go but was apprehensive due to shortage of cash and weak material. Though, in the end I couldn’t resist.”

Nisha is just one example of the many shopaholics who thronged the fair. If she hunted a perfect red silken bag others looked for shell jewelry or plain chiffon, but not all were as lucky as Nisha. The fair provided variety in abundance but never forget a shopaholic doesn’t go by variety, he/she is simply driven by that strong desire to buy that one ultimate piece which makes them feel complete. Any amount of flaws then would fail to discourage the shopaholic from buying something. Nisha personifies the same spirit and though no one will recall her name at the fair, all handbag stall owners whom she visited will remember the girl with a red handbag who searched high and low, far and wide to buy her red silk bag.

Higgling & Haggling-The New Way to Art

The week-long Art Summit recently took place in Delhi, which saw people from all walks of life participating. Not only were there art patrons but also novices. But it was not these neophytes who created stir, rather it was the constant higgling and haggling at the art fair which stunned some and amused others.

Adam Smith in ‘Wealth of Nation’ has said that ‘market higgling and haggling predates the written history and  is the foundation of Capitalist economy’. Ever since, people have engaged in it and the situation today, in times of neo capitalism is no different, the 4^th edition of art summit being one such example.

 With the on-going change in the social dynamics of the society and the aspiration to compete has helped the art sector grow. But this has its own drawbacks- many people in that crowd lack knowledge and understanding of an art work. Sangeeta Murthy, artist, said “you might find people asking for a 50 percent discount, which is absurd. To support their argument they talk about the colors, the canvas etc. used, at times insulting the artist. They think by bargaining they’ll get it, but that’s not the case all the time.”

Sangeeta Murthy in her Art Studio. She draws inspiration from her family.

She added “most of them are people either with surplus money or new money, but at times they don’t know anything about art. However, there is one positive change. Earlier people invested in big names now people invest in Art. I believe this change has come because of the recession, because buying a big name/ brand would have been expensive and thus people shifted their focus to more affordable pieces.”

In today’s scenario almost every member of a family is working, taking a ‘class’ leap, then, why bargaining? To this she remarked that recession is to be blamed. She said bargaining happened even before, but it was little. Financial insecurity and neck-to-neck competition has forced people to indulge in higgling and haggling at a large scale.

Many artists and art galleries, whether willingly or not, have given in to the discount demands of the buyers. Some patrons others novice, some with the new money while others backed by inheritance, have continued the ancient old tradition to higgle and haggle. In this pursuit, people are driven by the sheer beauty of the art piece which would enhance and glorify their status in society. Though, at times bargaining is a difficult ordeal yet humans have mastered this art over the centuries. Be it for the house or office people bargain, bargain and finally buy. Art knowledge has taken a back seat as art pieces have now become a status symbol, even if it requires higgling-haggling.

Bravery: Invitation to Pride or Pain?

National Bravery Awards, organized by the Indian Council for Child Welfare, were given to 24 children who displayed exceptionally outstanding valor. Full of spirit, these children taught an important lesson of courage and sacrifice to all the countrymen. Families expressed their pride but somewhere hiding their pain behind all the happiness. Some still seemed to be figuring out whether their child’s act was bravery or foolishness. Om Prakash Yadav and his parents are one such example.

As Om Prakash Yadav stepped onto the stage to receive Sanjay Chopra Award, one could see the agony in his parents’ eyes, for them their son’s physical recuperation from his injuries was more vital than the award. 

It was on the fateful morning of 4^th September, 2010, when Om Prakash, an 11 year-old boy, risked his life to save his schoolmates from a burning Maruti Van. On the way to school, the van caught fire due to short circuit in the gas kit. The driver immediately fled leaving the young children alone to deal with the flames. Within moments the fire started spreading.

Om Prakash, at once swung into action. Throwing away his bag, he broke open the door and pulled out students one by one, saving eight children. However in this horrific accident Om received severe burn injuries- on his back, face and arms. “At that moment, I only saw small- small children trapped in a burning van. I couldn’t stop myself from saving them”, even though in process he was enveloped by the flames. When asked, if required will he repeat his brave act, he said “everytime.”

Om belongs to Azamgarh, a small town in Uttar Pradesh where his father is a small time farmer. Lal Bahadur, father, said he is proud of his son who has brought so much of respect to the family, though it has cost them in a big way. Time and again he was seen giving his teary eyed son moral support in the award ceremony. Om said “I’m happy, my district is happy and Papa says I’m very courageous. But now I need a surgery. My entire right side of the body is aching. We don’t have money. Award is good but not the pain!” 

Lal Bahadur is a man of meager means and thus when told about the requirement of a surgery for his son, he asked people to help him with the finances. But any amount of help was of no use as the surgery costs were very high. Sandhya, mother, said “My son is great, he saved eight lives. But now we need money for his surgery. We are poor and we didn’t get any financial help. It pains to see him in pain. Today he has got the award hopefully tomorrow he’ll have a surgery.”

When asked what she thinks of her son’s life saving act and what would she have suggested her son to do in the eleventh hour- there was silence. A silence which spoke volumes about that unspoken grief and agony which the Yadav family has been undergoing for the last two years. Actions speak louder than words is true in this case, where sometimes the parents and sometimes Om himself were seen shedding a tear now and then, unable to express their sadness to the public and yet managing a smile on their faces amid the adversity which has struck them in guise of bravery.

The Omnipresent Power

Is there a God?
This is a question I kept asking myself all these years, and I got my answer...... but wait a minute! to know the answer you need to experience the process I went through to get my answer.
It all started on a Sunday of 1989, when the sun was shining brightly and the winds were blowing mightily - jokes apart, when my mother got the bright idea of fasting while I was waiting inside her to come out and get a break in this world! Her religious rituals took toll on me and lo and behold I was born within the next hour. In this entire episode my father proved a knight in shining armor for me, and continued to be so till he was alive.
Those first nine years of my life were the best when I could do whatever I wanted to, when I could behave the way I wanted to (without being bothered what the next person might think)- in short Be Myself! but then suddenly as a nine year old girl I was expected to understand what life is all about and what this world is all about. Seeing my mother struggle day in and day out to support a family of four and alongside battling a deadly disease I realized life indeed is not bed of roses and I better stand on my feet as soon as possible or at the least try being a little mature. It was only a matter of six more years for me to come in terms with what life has to offer. My mother died fighting cancer but this was an eyeopener for me.
My parents taught me the "Never Say Die" spirit. Even when my father was neck deep in debt, he would be thinking of new ways to make his business work, letting me have the best things in life without making  me feel the strain of shrinking finances. And my mother, though not as optimistic, would give all she could to the best of her abilities but such materialism failed in front of her will power to fight and live a dignified quality life.
Now you must be wondering where does God figure in this! Well the truth is, it was all God's doing. He is the creator, the sustainer and the destroyer.Had it not been for God's presence I wouldn't have had such a dramatic birth where my father scooped my mother in his arms and rushed to the hospital to begin with. At the time of my parent's deaths, it was as if, God had enveloped me, protecting me and  not letting me get affected by what people had to say. Though tough, yet these two decades of my life taught me the most valuable lessons of life. God made sure that I experience the most difficult situations there and then but never allowing the mirth and fun to give a miss to my life. Wherever the life took me this omnipresent power accompanied me  helping me to overcome the gravest of grave situations and in process teaching me to live life freely with sense of responsibility. Hence whenever someone asks
Is there a God?
(I say)




Yes, There is.


(I'll uncover the layers of my life here slowly and steadily) Will see you soon here. Until then -Take care!