Yet another Unique Day

 Shravan is the month of all sorts of religious practices. One such practice Aai-Papa followed most sincerely was the Monday fast. Both of them kept it the whole day. To break it in the evening, Aai used to make wonderful sweets. Many Maharashtrian GenZ types may not even know (the names of) most of these. 

Aai used to also prepare a special 'raita'. Simple recipe but fabulous it used to taste. Grated radish, slightly tangy curd, a pinch of salt and a spoonful of sugar. She did not even need coriander leaves to add to its unique taste.

 They say, some people, like my brother, Sanju, are born with a "green thumb". Similarly, very very rarely, some women are born with "taste-maker fingers." Aai was a gold, silver, mention any, medal, winner amongst such gems, and forever! 

On the Nag Panchami Day are prepared "kadabu", patties made of "puran". Yours Truly is rather an expert at this recipe because it is the easiest to make, unlike the "puran poli." Yet again, Aai's  "puran poli" literally used to melt in the mouth, and you did not require dollops of ghee or cups of warm milk to down them. 

The beans veggie she made during Shrawan, her other special "raitas" (why, she could manage a great chutney out of the green threads that would emerge as you shell a tender ridge gourd before cutting it in to pieces), the papad-kurdaya, and all such savouries she would have made during the summer, not to forget her simply wow pickles, her Shravan special dishes still tickle my taste buds! Ah, to eat Aai's dishes during Shravan! Sheer ambrosia! 

Pratima@ Except at  the town " Battis Shirale" , everywhere else, there is a legal prohibition  against unlicensed snake-charmers, as the practice leads to many superstitions, not to forget violence against the cobras.                           Yet interesting it is to decode the nine naga's and their traditional significance in a contemporary way. Will try to understand n write about the mythology by-n-by, as related to it is the yogic concept of kundalini! 

Quote of the day:                                                           "The serpent god reminds us that life is a balance between power and peace.” Such is the traditional faith. 

Word of the day: Nag Panchami                                 Nag Panchami is a traditional Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of the snake as a deity. Celebrated on the fifth day (Panchami) of the first fortnight of the lunar month of Shravana (July–August), devotees worship idols, or paintings of snakes (Aai used to draw with sandalwood paste the Nag Devata) to seek protection from snakebites, to augur family welfare, and to honor and be in a balanced companionship with nature. Unmistakable is the agrarian economy echoes as snakes eat rodents of all types. 

The Coaching Conundrum

 Kota in Rajasthan. No longer is it famous for the unique sarees. Ages it has been by now that it is the tuition center for all sorts of competitive exams, the major ones being the JEE and the NEET. 

No different is the Latur pattern. So intense is the coaching classes competition there that it apparently led to murderous attacks, while in Hyderabad, Standard VIII onwards, children are sent to residential schools where they start training for the JEE, while 'managing' the X and XII board exams. 

Delhi is THE place to be in for the UPSC exams. Some irony it is as it would be in that power center where the aspirants' possible future career might be. They say that the JNU hostels house such aspirants, mostly from Bihar apparently, for whom the Bachelor's, et al, degrees are secondary in comparison with the "upsc prep."  

Quite similar is the Pune ' peth'  pattern wherein the inner city "peths", especially the Sadashiv and the Nawi Peth, are mini Maharashtra as herein is the concentration of the MPSC coaching classes, "reading halls" known as 'studies' and the 'pg', that is, the paying guest rentals. The entire economy there is worth a serious academic study. 

This coaching class conundrum is actually quite tragic because it costs a lot, both financially and psychologically. There are not any psychological counsellors available. Is it any wonder then that the not-so-young students in their mid-thirties continue chasing the distant dream of competitive exam success, without any concrete Plan B lined up! The only alternative often chosen is suicide!

What is the solution to this conundrum? The Prime Minister had one up his sleeve during the Independence Day speech this August 15. In my opinion, however, schools, colleges, universities must include the competitive exam studies in the curriculum itself. Why, the MPSC/UPSC aspirants use the CBSE/NCERT textbooks! The JEE or NEET portion cannot possibly be very different from the Junior College syllabus, right?

Is not it a terrible mockery that commerce students bunk college lectures to attend C.A./C.S. classes!?! The course details possibly cannot be drastically different. Why cannot be there C.A./C.S. extra credit courses on campus? The very same logic applies to Arts College Departments teaching Eco/Psycho/Pol. Science! And, oh, yes, how about making the school/college/university examination system more rigorous, more formative than merely summative!!!

Instead of colleges affiliating themselves to coaching classes, why cannot be it the other way round? How can coaching classes dictate terms and conditions to colleges, for example, regarding the class timings?  Radical solutions, given the current info- and technological explosions, is the only alternative.

Pratima@ Attendance has to be compulsory in colleges/universities wherein teaching should be so excellent that there should not be any need for any coaching classes.                          'Working students' must get excellent learning material so that they would not need any private tuition. When such academic alternatives emerge 'system'-catically, where would be the need for any parallel coaching!?!

Quote of the day:                                                            "A bad coach makes the student dependent. A good coach makes himself redundant," argues Paul Strikwerda.

Word of the day: conundrum                                       A conundrum is a confusing problem or a tricky question, very hard to sort out.

Independence Day

 August 15 feels special, however cynical you might have grown, given that rough and tough ride called daily lived life, right? Actually, each August 15 is like every other monsoon day, muggy, drizzly, slushy, right? Yet, with or without the sun shining, the mindscape is full of bright, brilliant, beautiful beams, right? 

What does independence truly mean? I suppose, the real meaning is far, far beyond the typical, routine, ritualistic celebrations, often managed in a quite mindless way. Why, there are 'citizens' who mindlessly repeat every harmful detail that former colonisers and/or current frenemies pile up day in, and seconds out, right?

In my opinion, real independence, whether as a nation or as an individual, is not getting bogged down due to and/or within the narratives in to which 'others' want us to get sucked.

There would always be mostly conscious, and, at times, thoughtlessly unconscious, attempts to minimise you utmost, to reduce you in to a persona non grata every possible way, to wipe you out completely. 

 Real independence lies in your soul unfurling itself bright n beautiful in every space full of distant yet inviting stars, above every sky, however cloudy, dark or drenched it may be made (out to be). 

Long live the joy that lies in being your own self, despite every struggle, despite every setback, despite every obstacle, and with every ounce of creativity, contentment and calm happy gratefulness, forging better bonds! Happy Independence Day!

Pratima@ Independence is also getting over the barriers within which our own subconscious thresholds us, right?

Quote of the day:                                                          "I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will." Charlotte Brontë's great quote indeed!

Word of the day: freedom or independence.        It is the feel of not being held prisoner or controlled by somebody else. It is the right or ability to do or say what you want, without harming others' freedom(s).

Soupçon, In Memoriam Series, III. ix

                         Soupçon III                                                     In Memoriam Series                                                        IV.ix                                       International Year of the Woman Farmer

This would be our last post on this theme. Monday onwards, let us begin the discussion of a new topic in the "In Memoriam" series of our 'Soupçon.'

As we today sum up the brief yet intense discussion of this topic (begun on August 3), let us understand the contribution of three remarkable women related to this 'field'. Two of them are doers, while one is more of a theoretician-activist. 

As doers matter more, let us begin with tributes to "Seed Mother" and Pappamal.  "Seed Mother"  is from Village Kombhalne, District Ahilya Nagar, that is, the erstwhile Ahmednagar. In her sixties, Rahibai Soma Popere, alias "Beej Mata", is a farmer cum conservationist. She has developed a community seed bank, which given the organic farming methods she likes, is highly sustainable, and protects native variants of crops. To self help groups of women farmers, she provides highly profitable hyacinth beans. 

Pappammal, a Padmashri awardee like the Marathi Rahibai, was from Tamilnadu. Before she died on September 27, 2024, this 105 years old grandma credited her long life to her staple diet of simple millet n veggies. Born in 1914, this Coimbtore "ammama", who worked in her one hectare farm, followed a punishing regime which consisted of waking up at five a.m.  Politically active as a DMK member, she championed organic farming. 

Yes, there are a few more such sterling examples of women farmers which prove how women do it differently! Now let us look at a scholar-activist committed to environmental issues, food sovereignty advocacy, and ecofeminism. Given such a profile, Vandana Shiva opposes genetic modification of crops (therefore her insistence on the protection of native biodiversity) and corporate control of the agri field.

Given, moreover, the pioneering efforts by journals such as "Down to Earth", there is some powerful proof that the agri- environmental field flourishes, when the gender gap closes! 

Pratima Agnihotri

Elephants

 Elephants are unique indeed. Huge they are. In fact, appear clumsy at the first sight. That long trunk, those floppy ears, those small eyes, that hulky body, nothing, nothing about them is beautiful or attractive at the first sight. Hardly have they the grace of a lion or the power of a tiger.

Yet, in my opinion, they are the BEST in the forest, or even as domesticated, however much I may dislike the idea. If at all you were to have a tiger as a pet, it is more for the entertainment, or even show-off value, right? Is the tiger helpful in a way? Nope! Why, our bestie, a doggie, is a kinder, nicer, cuter companion, despite his smaller size in comparison!

Look at the elephants though. They are strength incarnate. Impossible are the tasks they manage effortlessly, and with utmost ease, calm and quiet! As if they know that they can murder, and yet gently bear with all the human faults and foibles! The only alternatives to this great feel are parents, and God!

Look at that much mocked body, too. That trunk is the most sensitive organ in the whole world. What are noses of the perfect size, shape and width in comparison with that brilliant organ? Those ears can hear the minutest sound, while behind those small eyes is a great brain.  And, oh, yes, they are truly clan-oriented, more family-oriented and social than the so-called societal human beings! Forget never ever that they are more matriarchal than the arch-est feminist! 

No other animal is as ancient, as intelligent and as kind/playful/beneficent as this gentle giant, the elephant. Happy elephant day forever!

Pratima@Is it any wonder that the God of Gods, Ganesha, dons the head of an elephant!!! 

Quote of the day:                                                            "Nature's great masterpiece, an elephant; the only harmless great thing." Absolutely agreed, John Donne! 

Word of the day: matriarchal                                     Matriarchal is a society or a system guided by women rather than men; passing power, property, et al,  from mother to daughter, and all the woman-oriented relationships. 

A unique day indeed!

 Today is special, absolutely unique indeed. To begin with, the day welcomes the month of Shrawan. This morning, there was that typical Shravan like hide-n-seek of the fresh rays of the early sunshine and a light drizzle. 

Well, there was not exactly the rainbow Bal Kawi describes in his famous poem describing the unique month of Shrawan.  A unique coincidence it is that today happens to be his, Balkawi's, birth anniversary. 

Bal Kawi, the pen name of Tryambak Bapuji Thombre, was a nature poet who wrote exquisite Nature poems in the vein of the namesake Romantic poets, especially Coleridge and Wordsworth. 

Like them, he, too, imbued Nature with a mystical, divine, pervasive presence, a staple concept with the American transcendental poets such as Emerson and Whitman as well. 

Shravan is the month of that fullness when nature is at its loveliest. The Ashadh rains would have rejuvenated every bush and each brook. The Shravan look is hence simply beatific, beyond beautiful. The very many festivals add to it the glamour and dazzle that satiate all our senses.

 Shravan, in short, is a unique month. Rains seem to have understood it, too. Cloud bursts, landslides, rivers in spate overflowing their banks have all receded. The cities look actually clean. All is well, all is well. Welcome, Shravan! 

Pratima@ August 13 is unique for another reason. It is the organ donation day. Thus we can give life even after death, and for the patient, a new life blooms again, with high hopes for health and well-being! 

Quote of the day:                                                           “Never underestimate the power you have to take your life in a new direction.” Indeed, Germany Kent! 

Word of the day : rejuvenate                                  This verb means make somebody/something feel or look younger, allow a fresh lease of life. Like Shravan! 

Soupçon, In Memoriam Series, III. viii

                             Soupçon III                                                     In Memoriam Series                                                        IV.viii                                         International Year of the Woman Farmer 

Why should there be a special year dedicated to women farmers? The answer to this question points to the unique contribution women always bring to any field in which they participate. 

Women are always in the present and yet constantly relate to the future, right? Well, such are the roles they enjoy in their lives. Yes, they ARE themselves, and yet they are not afraid of  being  a special someone to most all who join their ambit. Ppp

This capacity to add a special "soupçon", a little unique something, to  each person, to every task, to life itself that makes it necessary that there must be a special year dedicated to women farmers. 

Women make everything sustainable, right? Look at food scarcity, right from the inner most circle, that is, the family. A mother can cook up a great breakfast from the left-over's of the recipe of the night before. Actually, like my mother used to be, a good housewife would, to begin with, without any calculations of grams and milligrams, never ever stuff her refrigerator with any leftovers. 

Such sensibility and sensitivity make women farmers the fulcrum of sustainable, enviornment conscious, responsible actors. Most importantly, women farmers would keep biodiversity intact. Our next, and the last in this series, contribution  would clarify why women farmers need a unique celebration. 

Pratima Agnihotri