T N Highs

My visit schedule was two days in Madurai and two days in Salem.

The outskirts of both the districts and the way to surrounding villages had a lush green appearance because of the acres of paddy fields, sugarcane crops, fruit orchards and the coconut palms. Looks like the state is busy producing food abundantly. That’s quite an encouragement for the growing food insecure population.

The highways are a plus point of the state. They look well maintained and are quite wide. I loved the Volvo bus ride from Madurai to Salem, the many places that we passed by. There were numerous residential schools, training institutions, higher study institutes etc lined up all the way till Salem. The town roads had concrete pavements, which acted as speed-breakers,  made provision for water seepage and also provided a neat look to the town. It called for less annual maintenance too. 

I was impressed by the women in the villages. They meant business. Most of them were part of the self help groups and they did well in terms of saving, accessing matching grants and benefiting from all schemes of the Govt. They lent money to people in need within the community at low interest rates. They were into income generation programs too.

Met quite a few PLWHAs and it was encouraging to see how their lives have changed from a discriminated and stigma affected lot to people who lived with dignity. One thing that really stood up was that they kept themselves updated on all the new medicines and research that came up on this and were inquiring about it to the staff of the organization.

The freebies of Tamil Nadu’s political parties has been a topic of debate for sometime now. Almost all the houses had colour TVs, free gas connection, all the school going (9^th grade above) and the college going young people have laptops, free bicycles,  , and so on…The freebies are promises kept by the political parties in their manifestos.. The issue may hinge on what a freebie is, what constitutes a social security net, and defining the thin line that separates the two.

The sudden increase in the levels of education in the state is surely contributed by the schemes like granting Rs 500 a year for girls belonging to SC/ ST and most backward classes studying in Class III to V and Rs 1,000 to those in Class VI to VIII, or free bus passes to all students. Free sanitary napkins are distributed to girls studying in rural schools. It was encouraging to see that Tamil Nadu is actively promoting the scheme under which a girl belonging to the BPL category can get marriage assistance of Rs 20,000, and another under which she can get one or two grams of gold for her mangalsutra.  These are linked to her educational qualifications. This acts as an added incentive for the parents to educate the girls at least till 10^th grade. 

Madurai and Around

On de-boarding the train in Madurai Junction Railway Station, early Monday morning last week, I was couldn’t help but notice the neat, modern and traveler friendly railway station. The availability of many facilities viz travel amenities shop, battery cars for aged and disabled, purified water. ATM kiosks etc were noticeable. The station also had escalators and those were functional too. Later I learned that the station is the headquarters of the Madurai railway division of the Southern Railways and is an A1 graded train station by the Indian Railways for being one of the top 100 booking stations in the country.

From the day , the escalators were inaugurated in Madurai Junction

 The train reached earlier than the arrival, so I had to wait outside till someone came to pick me up. While I waited, the cab drivers kept on offering to drop me to my place of stay, which I myself didn’t know. Knowing my hosts, I had conveniently packed my bags and had arrived in the town confident that they would make arrangements to pick me up and so they did.  

This was my second visit to the town and this time on I decided that I have to observe the life in and around Madurai, a little more closely. During my last visit, I had visited the famed Minakshi Temple. Madurai is also called the “Athens of the East”, probably because of its historical significance and antiquity. The city has preserved its ancient looks along with modern facilities.

I was put up in a hotel just opposite the famous American College.

The American College, Madurai

Curious, I googled the history of the place and an article read  “It is narrated in legend that Madurai was originally a forest known as Kadambavanam. One day, a farmer named Dhananjaya who was passing through the forest, saw Indra (The king of the gods), worshipping a swayambhu (self created Lingam ) under kadamba tree. Dhananjaya, the farmer immediately reported this to King Kulasekara Pandya. Kulasekara Pandya cleared the forest and built a temple around the Lingam. A city was soon planned with the temple as its centre. On the day the city was to be named, Lord Shiva is said to have appeared and drops of nectar from his hair fell on the town. So, the place was named Madurai - mathuram meaning "sweetness" in Tamil.”

The following days, I visited various villages with the staff of the host organization and met several people and groups around Madurai. The visits were interesting and there are many experiences I would like to relate here in excerpts. Hoping that it will make an interesting read.

Blogging and Baking

Yes, I have decided to start blogging again. It’s some time since I did anything which I really enjoy doing. I am thankful to Dr. Ramani (http://ramani-fieldnotes.blogspot.in/) for inspiring and almost coaxing me to begin blogging again.

The last time I blogged, I was in Hargeisa, Somaliland and it was during May 2011.  Since then, we have gone places. We moved to Kerala to my parents’ place and then moved to Noida, near Delhi and now we are in Bangalore.

When Ramani called up the other day and while we chatted I happened to mention how much I miss all the places that I have lived in. That’s when she told me that I should start blogging about my experiences in the different places and the life there. She also said that I should start baking.

She also mentioned how she is enjoying baking off late. I remembered how often I used to bake while I lived in Windhoek, Namibia. Blogging and baking can give one a high- we agreed on it. We also did discuss about how the old traditional oven bakes better than the new ones. I called up my father the same evening and asked if I could take his 25 years old oven. Off late it is lying idle as he is not allowed to bake anymore. Both my parents are supposed to avoid sugar due to their health conditions. Therefore, no more cakes and biscuits in the house and I get the oven.

I decided to start blogging from today. My parents are arriving here next week and so is the oven. So, I start baking the same day next week. Hoping to blog about it also.

Raw Plantain/ Banana Preparations

The other day J came back from vegetable shopping with a surprise item- Raw bananas. I was delighted. Somehow raw bananas have always fascinated me. I love having them cooked in various ways- be it in traditional oriya Dalma, or just fried after marinating it in turmeric, salt and some red chilly powder, or even having it just boiled and dipped in some yoghurt chutney. All these preparations are better if the veggie is raw Plantain rather than raw bananas. In parts of the world, where plantains are not available, raw bananas can be taken as an alternative.

Plantains are starchy, mostly used as a vegetable, looks longer than the bananas, have thicker skin, resemble bananas but could be green, yello or black. . In India, I have found Plantains are only available in Kerala. In rest parts of India, you can try looking for it in kerala stores if they have any. Its called "Ethayka" in Malayalam.

One of my favourite preparations of the raw plantain/banana is from my mom’s kitchen. She used to tell that the dish was usually served to women after “Prasavam” (Child birth in Malayalam) in Kerala. So we used to call it “Prasava Curry” at home. It was funny especially when my brother also wanted “Prasava Curry” at times.

So, I tried making a Prasava curry here in Hargeisa and would like to share it here. I was especially inspired to share as recently it came handy to my one of my close friends in Singapore when she was confused on what to cook. We were chatting over google talk and I happened to share this recepe with her. She went ahead and prepared it and appreciated it.

So, coming to the point, let me try to put together what possibly can be done to make an authentic “Prasava Curry”.

Ingredients

1. Raw Banana/Plantain (peeled) – 3 Nos

2. Onion- 1

3. Garlic- 7-8 slices

4. Cambodge (this is a kind of sour dried fruit which Malayalees usually use in their fish curry. If you are a non- malayalee, you could go and knock the door of your Mallu neighbour and ask for “Meen Puli”. If you donot have a Mallu neighbour, then alternatively you could use Tamarind. I used Tamarind as I didn’t have Cambodge or there’s not a single Mallu in Hargeisa (except me, off course!).

5. Turmeric- ½ teaspoon

6. Red Chilli Powder/ Cayenne Pepper/ Paprika (depends on how hot you want it to be)

7. Coriander powder ( 3 teaspoons)

8. Black pepper powder ( ½ teaspoon)

9. Curry leaves

10. Salt to taste

11. Oil (Refined sunflower oil could be used , Mallus can go for Coconut oil for the authentic taste)

Cut the Raw Banana/ Plantain into thick and longish slices. Soak it for 10 minutes in water adding some salt and turmeric powder to it and then clean it well. This is done to reduce the stickiness which is found in raw banana when it is cut.



Sliced Banna soaked in water with salt and turmeric

 Take 2 cups of warm water and soak two thin slices of Cambodge/ or a pod or two of tamarind. Squeeze out the tamarind into the water.

cut the onions and garlic into long slices.

Put a pan on the stove with oil and fry the onions and garlic and curry leaves just for half a minute and add turmeric, red chilli, coriander and black pepper powders into it, add some salt and fry a half a minute more. Then, add the banana slices and fry for 3 minutes.

Now add the tamarind/ Cambodge water into it and after stirring, close the pan and let it cook for 7 minutes. Open the pan and stir again lightly taking care not to break the banana slices too much. Once the gravy turns thick , put off the stove. ( Again if you are a Mallu and want the authentic flavour of Kerala, pour a teaspoon of virgin coconut oil on the top and cover the pan with a lid till the serving time). Others can heat a tsp of oil in a different pan, splutter some mustard seeds and curry leaves and pour this seasoning on top of the preparation).

This is preferably eaten hot with Plain Rice and some Plain yoghurt on the side. Enjoy your meal and let me know how it was.

Usually when my mom cooks it this looks really red as the chilli powder is used liberally but in my cooking I couldn’t make it so as I had to think of my kids who aren’t trained to take hot stuff yet.

Sharing some Poetry

Somalis, since ages are known to express their feelings through poetry. B.W Andrezeweski in his introduction to An Anthology of Somali Poetry mentions “ When Sir Richard Burton visited Somali in 1854 he found that a most striking characteristic of its inhabitants was their love of poetry…. So that the pharse ‘a nation of poets’ became current among people acquainted with the Horn of Africa.”


I, for the matter landed on this piece written to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Somaliland’s independence, while browsing through the internet and would like to share it here

18 May, the Good Decision Day

                                                - By Adnan Abdi

The clock ticks towards a day
Which is in the middle of May
Big to millions in the Horn
That built a nation out of a corn
Unrecognized by the world
Part of the stories untold
That is Somaliland, my home!

The clock ticks towards a day

Which is in the middle of May

When Somalilanders chose their way

Chasing enemies after a noisy fray

When their people were queued to slay

They all took the gun rather than dismay

And they fought very hard until 18 May

Reclaiming their new independence day

The clock ticks towards a day

Which is in the middle of May

The beginning of a series progression

That was impossible without secession

The first action was a reconciliation

That all accepted without a question

Nation-building was the next session

Followed by a free market and education

Then adopting democracy and election

That gave my country a good impression

For sure blessed was the 18 May’s decision

The clock ticks towards a day

Which is in the middle of May

When all Somalilanders will sing

Waving their flag even in Beijing

Showing their ‘cause’ to every king

Wanting a recognition this spring

Considering the impact it will bring

For the people who deserve this thing

Who remained a strong human-being

In a region blown by a devastating wind

While flying with a single wing

20th Birthday of Somaliland – 18th may 2011



The Flag of Somaliland

 While the Obamas, Osamas and the Strauss – Kahns of this world were stealing the limelight by crowding the headlines during the past weeks, the world failed to notice a little nation called Somaliland bordered by Ethiopia in the south and west, Djibouti in the northwest, the Gulf of Aden in the north, and the autonomous Puntland in the east celebrating its 20th year of its birth and demanding for its rights to be recognized as a separate nation by the international community.


In Hargiesa, as reported by somalilandpress.com “Thousands watched a parade staged to commemorate the occasion during which colourful groups from civil society marched, walked, or danced along Independence Avenue, followed by a full military parade.” It also reports that Somaliland’s president Ahmed Mohamed Silaanyo watched the procession from under a huge banner which read: “The international community is obligated to accept the will of the people.”

The Formation of the Republic of Somaliland, May 1991 :

A breakaway, semi-desert territory on the coast of the Gulf of Aden, Somaliland declared independence after the overthrow of Somali military dictator Siad Barre in 1991.The move followed a secessionist struggle during which Siad Barre's forces pursued rebel guerrillas in the territory. Tens of thousands of people were killed and towns were flattened.
Though not internationally recognised, Somaliland has a working political system, government institutions, a police force and its own currency. The territory has lobbied hard to win support for its claim to be a sovereign state.

Facts (BBC)


•Territory: Somaliland

•Status: Self-declared republic. Not recognised internationally.

•Population: 3.5 million (Somaliland government estimate)

•Capital: Hargeisa

•Major languages: Somali, Arabic, English

•Major religion: Islam

•Life expectancy: n/a

•Monetary unit: Somaliland shilling

•Main exports: Livestock

•GNI per capita: n/a

•Internet domain: n/a

•International dialling code: +252

The Yellow Bird

The Yellow Bird- Busily weaving its nest

The yellow bird- I dont know what else to call it as I am not aware of the species or which family it belongs to. It is tinier than a sparrow and the colour is bright yellow. We have been seeing it around the trees of our house quite a few times. Last few days, it has been quite busy. I initialy thought that it was building a swing for itself as it wove up a circular structure on one of the branches and then started to swing on it while the other birds looked on. Then the swing developed into a more fuller structure and finally the nest was ready.

Well... I dont know what the yellow bird was thinking as it was obvious that S/he changed its mind and on a fine morning we saw it dismantling the nest and taking the straws elsewhere. I wondered what made it do this. Is it us ? or is it somebody's advise that the nest or the location wasn't safe enough- whatever it did have an enormous effect on the bird's mind.

It has been raining for the past few days and I haven't been venturing out in the yard much. It was yesterday when I drew the window curtains away for the sunlight to come in that I observed that there was a nest on the same tree but on a different branch. I looked around and saw the yellow bird bringing straws for the final touch. In the evening, I witnessed an unusual scene. The wind was blowing and the rains were coming and the chirps of the birds were quite loud. I saw that the yellow bird was sitting on a branch below to the nest and looked wet and cold and in between it would shreik and rush to it nest and try to poke in. But there was another bird - a brownish sparrow coloured one inside the nest. To us, the yellow bird looked angry and looked as if trying to storm in when it was not allowed to do so. The real story I still do not know. Who is the other brown bird who occupied the nest and was the yellow bird retalitating to the illegal posession ? Or, did the yellow bird build the nest for its spouse to lay eggs ? and was it just assuring the spouse that she can use the nest while he gets wet outside. Hmmm... human speculations and they never end. But I did feel for the yellow bird. And this morning, what I see is there are two nests on the same branch and the yellow bird is sitting inside the new one. So, whats the story now. Did it give up fighting for its rights and instead made a new one to avoid conflicts ? Or is it that the couple agreed that no one should get wet and so have another nest on the side so they can be together when the babies come. Or was it a selfless act of helping one's neighbour or friend, by building a house and then donating it to a shelterless neighbour and then again build one 's own home. Yet again... a human thought... may be one home is for living and the other one is rented out.. to earn a living :-)



Buidling the second nest