: Hello! How are you?
Me: Hi; I am fine
: So, what’s going on dude?
Me: Nothing, but who are you and where are you, I cannot see you
: I am God, now in invisible mode
Me: Hey, don’t joke. How can I believe that you are God? Why don’t you show up?
: Cool baby. I am not visible because I have many avatars which are created by human being and I don’t know which one you would like to see. You can believe me as God, as I know you are Parthasarathi
Me: That’s not enough. I am on social networking site and a blogger. It’s not difficult to google up and find me
: Ok, you want proof. Wish one thing and I will fulfill it
Me: What can I ask? I need so many things- money, power, company of beautiful women…
: See, politicians promise so many things, but they don’t fulfill. You wish only one thing, I shall fulfill that
Me: ok, grant me sound sleep every night
: Only sound sleep; nothing else? But why?
Me: See, sound sleep is enough for me. You very well know that without food, clothing and accommodation one cannot sleep. For this you have to make provision of good income for me. Besides sound sleep is not possible without healthy body and mind. So you have to keep my body fit and mind tension free. What else I need?
: You are very diplomatic
Me: My friends say so……….hello, are you there? Disconnected or what….
(My mother asked me to get up from bed as it was very late. Was that sound sleep)
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
My Tryst with Politics
Being a student of Political Science, I read Aristotle saying that man (human being to be more accurate-I am not gender biased) is a political animal. Naturally I have interest in politics-both keeping a tab on political news and participating in political activities. My friends know that I have unsuccessfully contested in university election.
I was excited from the beginning of this year, as implementation of Delimitation committee report created some sort of opportunity. I downloaded the voter list of my assembly constituency, did some research regarding the procedure for contesting election (this is one reason of being irregular in posting blogs though I have a dozen topics in skeletal form).
But I did not apply to any political party for ticket. You might be thinking which party would have given me ticket! Yeah you are not completely wrong. As there is nothing wrong in trying I should have gone ahead. But I was plagued with the middle class dilemma- what to do next if I failed in my attempt. Anyway I am jobless, so there is no fear of losing my source of income. But here lies the exact reason- as I have no income, no savings and nothing to spend in the election campaigning.
The objective of posting this blog is to make an appeal before my friends and well-wishers. It may sound rude, but moral support is not enough. I need financial support. So I request all of you to save some amount of money for me regularly and I will need that next time. In the meantime you enjoy your life and keep visiting this space- it is free.
I was excited from the beginning of this year, as implementation of Delimitation committee report created some sort of opportunity. I downloaded the voter list of my assembly constituency, did some research regarding the procedure for contesting election (this is one reason of being irregular in posting blogs though I have a dozen topics in skeletal form).
But I did not apply to any political party for ticket. You might be thinking which party would have given me ticket! Yeah you are not completely wrong. As there is nothing wrong in trying I should have gone ahead. But I was plagued with the middle class dilemma- what to do next if I failed in my attempt. Anyway I am jobless, so there is no fear of losing my source of income. But here lies the exact reason- as I have no income, no savings and nothing to spend in the election campaigning.
The objective of posting this blog is to make an appeal before my friends and well-wishers. It may sound rude, but moral support is not enough. I need financial support. So I request all of you to save some amount of money for me regularly and I will need that next time. In the meantime you enjoy your life and keep visiting this space- it is free.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Rasogolla And The Myth of Bengali Sweet
I love food. I love sweets. I love ‘Rasogolla’.you ask for mitha(sweet-meat) in a restaurant in Orissa and they will provide rasogolla, although they sell a variety of sweets; such is the popularity of this sweet. Rasogolla is available almost all over India. But regarding the origin one myth is associated with rasogolla. Many people believe that rasogolla is originated in Bengal; though the truth is that it is an indigenous Oriya sweet. Though the exact time period of its origin is not known it is believed that rasogolla is being consumed in Orissa from medieval period.
People who believe that rasogolla is of Bengal origin claim that one sweetmeat maker from Bengal invented it in 1868 when he tried to make something ‘different’. To discard others claim regarding rasogolla’s origin some even say that Indians did not know the use of milk derivatives as rasogolla is prepared from chhena- a milk derivative. They learnt it from Portugese and this knowledge came through Bengal. Such a pity! These researchers forgot that in Mahabharat we get the description of various milk products being prepared in Goppura.
Let us know the actual fact about rasogolla. Among many other variety of indigenous sweets rasogolla is offered as prasad in Jagannath temple. Particularly after Ratha yatra Lord Jagannath offers rasogolla to Maa Laxmi to please Her(as Lord Jagannath is accompanied by His brother and sister to Gundicha temple and Maa Laxmi is left). This ritual is followed every year. So one can get an idea of how old rasogolla is; definitely its origin is not in 1868. Another important fact about Jagannath temple is that; nothing is used as Prasad in Puri which is not indigenous including vegetables like potato tomato cabbage etc.(though these are being used in other Jagannath temples). This proves the point that rasogolla is originated in Orissa.
One might become curious as to how rasogolla is so much popular in Bengal. During nineteenth century many Oriya Brahmins were employed in Bengal as cook who were called thakurs. These people introduced rasogolla in Bengal which became popular for its taste. Oriyas were never interested in publicity. When people in Bengal wanted to store rasogolla for more days they mixed some impurities in the ingredients to increase its shelf life. Then only it could be easily exported. Lack of publicity and marketing by Oriya people led to the wrong notion regarding rasogolla’s origin. To get the exact taste one should try fresh rasogolla if available instead of canned one. Though canned rasogollas are also exported from Orissa it decreases the taste like any other packed food item. Salepur and Pahal are famous for rasogolla in Orissa. Next time you visit Orissa don’t forget to taste the authentic rasogolla.
People who believe that rasogolla is of Bengal origin claim that one sweetmeat maker from Bengal invented it in 1868 when he tried to make something ‘different’. To discard others claim regarding rasogolla’s origin some even say that Indians did not know the use of milk derivatives as rasogolla is prepared from chhena- a milk derivative. They learnt it from Portugese and this knowledge came through Bengal. Such a pity! These researchers forgot that in Mahabharat we get the description of various milk products being prepared in Goppura.
Let us know the actual fact about rasogolla. Among many other variety of indigenous sweets rasogolla is offered as prasad in Jagannath temple. Particularly after Ratha yatra Lord Jagannath offers rasogolla to Maa Laxmi to please Her(as Lord Jagannath is accompanied by His brother and sister to Gundicha temple and Maa Laxmi is left). This ritual is followed every year. So one can get an idea of how old rasogolla is; definitely its origin is not in 1868. Another important fact about Jagannath temple is that; nothing is used as Prasad in Puri which is not indigenous including vegetables like potato tomato cabbage etc.(though these are being used in other Jagannath temples). This proves the point that rasogolla is originated in Orissa.
One might become curious as to how rasogolla is so much popular in Bengal. During nineteenth century many Oriya Brahmins were employed in Bengal as cook who were called thakurs. These people introduced rasogolla in Bengal which became popular for its taste. Oriyas were never interested in publicity. When people in Bengal wanted to store rasogolla for more days they mixed some impurities in the ingredients to increase its shelf life. Then only it could be easily exported. Lack of publicity and marketing by Oriya people led to the wrong notion regarding rasogolla’s origin. To get the exact taste one should try fresh rasogolla if available instead of canned one. Though canned rasogollas are also exported from Orissa it decreases the taste like any other packed food item. Salepur and Pahal are famous for rasogolla in Orissa. Next time you visit Orissa don’t forget to taste the authentic rasogolla.
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