BY DR KAUSTAV BHATTACHARYYA In a recent book on Anglophiles, I came across the essay on English pubs by George Orwell, ‘Moon Under Water’ which was irresistible and charming. George Orwell is the quintessential British writer who covered all things British from the ‘Empire’ to the ‘Pubs’ with felicity and in plain, simple and comprehensible language. The essay is about an imaginary country pub named … Continue reading My English Country Pub
BY RUCHIRA GHOSH She may well have been an icon of colonialism, pertaining to a bygone era, but modern-day aficionados of English literature in my home country India simply cannot do without Agatha Christie. This prolific author whose novels were outsold only by The Bible and Shakespeare (an unbroken record yet) still enjoys global popularity (including erstwhile colonies of Great Britain) decades after she walked … Continue reading India Loves Agatha
BY DANIEL KAWCZYNSKI MP Most Britons could not locate the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) on a map. But this far-flung outpost plays an absolutely critical role in our national security. Home to a joint Anglo-American naval facility on Diego Garcia, the peninsula is known as America’s ‘unsinkable aircraft carrier’. In the 1960s, the BIOT helped to contain Soviet ambitions in the Indian Ocean. In … Continue reading The Overwhelming Case For BIOT
BY RUCHIRA GHOSH Ingredients: 1 – 2 medium sized aubergine/ brinjal/ eggplant 1 cup shelled peas 1 large onion chopped 1 large tomato chopped 1-2 garlic cloves chopped 2 tbsps of chopped parsley Cooking oil Salt as per taste ½ tsp chilli powder Method: Dry roast the aubergines over an open flame. Peel the singed skin, wash the mass inside with water and transfer to … Continue reading Spicy Mashed Aubergine with Peas
BY RUCHIRA GHOSH Ingredients: Gram flour: 2 large scoops Plain white oats: 2 large scoops Salt to taste Cooking oil:2 tbsps per pancake Carom seeds/Bishop’s weed: 1 pinch Onion: 1 medium chopped Green chilli: 1 /2 large chopped Parsley: 2 tbsp chopped Procedure: Combine all of the above ingredients into a smooth batter neither too thick nor too watery. Heat a large griddle, sprinkle oil … Continue reading Gram Flour & Oats Pancakes
BY MAHIMA SHARMA What do you seek from Life? What do you seek from the Divine? Health, wealth or peace from Sunshine? Or the ultimate blessings of the mighty Divine? What do you seek everyday from Life… Have you ever discussed it with family or Wife? The needs, the wants…or any urge that haunts? The greed, the grants…or the societal pressure that commands? What do … Continue reading What You Seek, O Human?
BY MAHIMA SHARMA Metaphors of the Moon…. And the countdown to a twinkling Night, The Night knows nothing, while the Quill scribbles love notes, Verses soaked in the Moonlight or the Stardust? The Sky inks the beauty…with Moonlight Love! As the Wind sings familiar melodies from its ancient book, The trees sway with joy to the green rhythm of life, The full Moon … Continue reading My Quill’s Moonlight Love
BY MAHIMA SHARMA Longing for their Love, rips my heart apart… Smiling through pain…trying to perfect this Art! As the clouds swift past the Moon, the longing creeps in…. As the wind caresses my hair like Mum, My heart sings the lullaby to the Moon…the one my Granny used to hum, The two brightest stars, they say, are my Granny-GrandPa, Grown up I am, but … Continue reading Catharsis
BY RUCHIRA GHOSH Ingredients: Semolina 100 gm Milk 500 ml Sugar (according to taste) Raisins/dry fruits ½ a cup Instructions: In a wok stir fry the semolina over low to medium heat. When slightly brown (be careful not to burn the semolina) add milk. Continue to stir till milk begins to boil. Add sugar and keep stirring. When the mixture begins to thicken add … Continue reading Semolina Pudding
BY MAHIMA SHARMA May be you pass me off as… “There she is the Nothing Girl” At times you shriek out to say… “Oh, stay away from that Nothing Girl” May be I am the Nothing Girl, Since I don’t groove to the Jazz you twirl, May be your Stilettos don’t care about my Flip-flops May be I am the nothing girl, Since I’m … Continue reading I, the Nothing Girl
BY RUCHIRA GHOSH Ingredients: Dessicated fresh coconut 500 gms, Sugar 250 gms, Black cardamom powder ½ tsp. N.B. In case fresh dessicated coconut is not available, you can use dried & packed coconut powder available in most supermarkets and grocery stores. Method: Take a wide, deep pan /wok. Over a low flame, sauté the coconut until the oil begins to leave the sides. In case … Continue reading Sugary Coconut Balls
BY MANDY BALDWIN The baby elephant rushes screaming after its terrified mother, its back legs being consumed by flames. Its mother, her own feet burning, rushes into the forest. Around them, humans laugh, shriek with savage delight, and throw more flaming tar balls which stick to the elephant’s skin. The baby – product of a two-year pregnancy, child of a species which nurtures infants to … Continue reading The Elephant’s Child
BY DR PREETI TALWAR Marriage is the beautiful blending of two lives, two loves, two hearts. Since time immemorial Indian weddings have been arranged weddings which are solemnised in the presence of elders of the family. During ancient times the girl and boy did not meet before the wedding and all the formalities were taken care of by the elders of the family, but it … Continue reading The Beauty of Punjabi Weddings
BY MAHIMA SHARMA Dare to believe, Dare to conceive… A Dream to Fly, a Will to soar High. If you believe the angels dance in the sky, If you believe in the stardust..up high, Why can’t you value your own guiding heart? Why is your mind so-very torn apart? If you can believe in the innocence of her eyes, What keeps you away, from rising … Continue reading Dare to Believe
BY RUCHIRA GHOSH Just a tiny little world So replete with meaning Everyone desires peace Men, women, children Birds & animals seek peace In their own little ways There is peace in humming of bees Murmuring of brooks, rivulets Snowy clouds in the azure sky Usher in a sense of peace A walk through a forest glade Midst profuse greenery & foliage Evokes serenity and … Continue reading Peace
