Chembu kootaan( Taro roots curry)

 Ingredients 

1. Taro roots   : 1/2 kg

2.  Turmeric powder: 1/2 teaspoon 

3. Chilli powder: 1 teaspoon 

4. Shallots or small onions chopped ( 1/2 cup)

5. Curry leaves a few

6. Coconut oil for tampering : 2 table spoon

7. Salt to taste

8. Water : for boiling 

Method:

Clean the Taro roots well. Remove the skin. Cut it into small pieces. Mom used to make this in ( kal chetti) black stone vessel. You can try out in clay pots too or the easy way in cooker. Add the washed cleaned and cut Taro roots in the vessel add turmeric powder, chilli powder, salt and water. Water should be  1 inch above the taro. It should be well soaked. Now boil the whole thing until it's soft and mushy. Check the salt. Add curry leaves and remove from fire.

If you are making in a cooker add the taro roots cut into pieces chilli powder, turmeric powder and salt with two cups water and boil until four whistle. Cool it down open the lid and add curry leaves.

Now for the tempering, heat a small pan add two table spoon coconut oil when hot add the chopped onions or shallots, fry until brown. Add this tempering to the boiled taro mixture. Mix well and your curry is ready to be eaten with steamed rice.

Best accompaniment is lemon pickle.

Cherish this curry with hot steamed rice, roasted papad and lemon pickle.

Label: Mom's Delight 

The Birthday

What does a birthday actually mean? Is it just a day to celebrate one's birth? Or is it a reminder of one's accountability on this earth? Or is it a ticking time bomb? Or is it a calling for bonds, bonding, and binding? I think it's all of these, but bonds, bonding, and binding are the most prominent.

The birth of a child in a family is a calling for celebration, as you welcome the new member who has just landed on planet Earth. The child doesn't bear a name or identity at birth. They are just a child with a throbbing heart. Within hours, the child is introduced to their mother, who bore them in her womb for nine months. Next, they meet their father, whose name will be their identity in this materialistic world.

This bundle of joy is now adored by maternal and paternal grandparents, uncles and aunts, and, of course, cousins. Within weeks, the child is given a name with their parents' taglines. The life journey has begun, and the child is cycling through the cycle of birth, bearing an identity with parents and relatives.

The child, now a tender flower in the basket of relationships, is basking in the bonds, bonding, and binding. They are now bonded with the rope of parental love and tangled in it. A year passes, and it's time to celebrate the child's birth as their birthday. The bonds are tightening now.

The child is introduced to extended families and the outside world, entering the world of bonding. With much pomp and show, the birthday is celebrated by the parents as a part of their prestige. As a one-year-old, the child can't even recognize what a celebration is about, but unknowingly gets affixed into the world of pride and prestige.

The child is now in the shackles of their parents' identity and pride. Years pass, and the child becomes a teenager. The pride and prestige are no longer their cup of tea. They want to break free from the shackles and proceed on their journey of self-recognition.

Alas, in this journey of self-recognition, the human is again bonded and affixed into further relationships, but still unable to break through the shackles of their birth and find their true identity. As the years phase out, the human starts counting their accountability and credits to this world, not realizing they are moving towards the ticking time bomb.

Time has taken a toll on their health, and they are nearing the ticking time bomb, which is getting ready to explode at any moment. With every passing year, I too am getting nearer to the ticking time bomb. I don't know if I can fulfill my accountability to this materialistic world, but I am counting my blessings, which I have through relationships, bonds, and bonding. Time is phasing out... hoping to celebrate another birthday ahead.

Label : Emotional expression 

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The batch

A year had been passed since I have penned down a post on my blog. A complete block. Nothing was recollecting in my memory. I felt lost. 

I am bouncing back now and am taking you all once again to my memory lane.

This time the lane is towards my career.  

I,alongwith, my graduation, had appeared for the All India Staff Selection Examination, for a Govt. Job. This was as per the guidance of my dear husband. He was very passionate of me graduating and getting a Govt job. As luck would have it and also by the Grace of God I got selected in the examination and got a Govt. Job in Delhi.

My whole family was thrilled as well as sad at the same time. My Amma and Accha was sad since I was going far away to an unknown place. I was now a mother too, to a year old boy. The sorrow of separation was very much overwhelming.  In all these emotional scenario, my husband was the strongest, in control of emotions, and was guiding us to be practical, he asked us to think, the overall benefits,  a Govt. Job can give.

He wasn't a bit afraid of the hardships I and he might face in an unknown state. Thus with his undeterred  determination we decided to move ahead.

I came along with my Acchan, to Delhi, to join my duty, leaving behind my son, an year old little boy, and also my husband, who could possibly, join me, to this new place, only, if he gets a transfer. Thus both my husband and son stayed back in my maternal home.

Since it was the All India Staff Selection Examination, many candidates from different States too, had come over, to join the Govt Department. Thus a whole batch from Kerela, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarpradesh Kolkata were, there, to join their duties. We were a batch of 80 candidates. The lobby of the Government office, seemed to me as a College corridor, with all youngsters, who were nearly, at the age of just  21-22 only, with full aspirations. All, together, at one place, to become a govt. servant. We all introduced each other, as well as, were, also trying, to find our own comfort zones. I was the only one who was married and a mother too. Thus a slight hesitant behaviour of mumble jumble towards me was evident. They all weren't fully confident with local language and thus to have a fluent conversation with the officials was difficult for them. Since, I  had come from Kolkata I was well conversant with the Hindi language, the local language.  

I tried to figure out their language problems and tried to help them in regard to their appointment letters, joining letter, and their posting. A ray of hope of friendship bloomed and all slowly became close to me.

The HR officials confirmed our joining and also about a month long waiting period, for posting us to different offices. Thus we all had plenty of time in our hands, to explore the city and also to know each other well. All were in search of a place to stay. Girls and boys were rushing to find hostels. Me being married couldn't get a place in the Girls hostel. Thus I was in search for a rental accommodation.

In the meantime my father -in-law came as an aid to me and found out a distance relative with whom I can be accommodated till my husband's arrival and until we find a new rented house. Thus me and Acchan reached their place of stay with my baggage. They were really a good souls and with no further questions readily agreed to help me stay with them. I stayed with them for three months or more. I became a family member to them sharing my insecurities and all the ups and downs, together we were bonded into  a strong bond. I will put down in details of this in some other posts.

Now my gang( our batch )of youngsters decided to utilise our time in hand in exploring, doing masti and also to learn the local language. We all would gather in the lobby and would March towards the canteen. The tea and bread pakoda was really excellent, and we all would gorge to the fullest. We all will just forget about Hindi and would chit chat full on, in Malayalam, all hustle bustle and also creating a big disturbance to others. But neigh, who bothered we were into our jolly good moods. All youth bubbling out.

People used to call us " Hey Madrasi"  dabbe mein kankad bajana band kar " they used to interpret our Malayalam language as shaking a tin filled with pebbles, (just imagine the  noice it might create!!). They sensed the same with our language, and would, always, taunt us. A rift started building up with North Indian and South Indians. And we distanced ourselves avoiding tiffs.

But as the saying goes " Pani mein rah kar magarmach se beir," ( means staying in water you cannot be an enemy to a crocodile 🐊 ) we gradually became their close associate and assistant too.

We became a close nit family and were there for each other in any calamities and also in celebrations. We all got our posting and were posted in different offices in the city. Our holidaying came to an end and all were into positioning their own duties. So much humour too, went through learning the local language, such as, someone hopping on to the bus going to Lal Quila and asking  whether this bus will go to Red Fort. Some going to the market to buy onions and instead of saying "1kilo pyaz de do" saying "1 kilo pyar de do" and facing the embarassment, and someone holding on tightly to the Hindi language and addressing Post Office as Dak Khana, "Dak Khana kaha hai" and all into  🤔❗❗ faces. All these, were, real fun.

A decade has gone now, and on this journey we lost our two valuable colleagues. We celebrated intercaste marriage and marriage between our colleagues. House warming, Children, Birthdays, Children's Marriage and what not.. 

All now taking a U turn towards exit ( all into retirement ages, and within a span of two years our batch would be disbursed) again to ones own destination. 

The journey continues......... with dreams to an another openings ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

NB :  

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Independent

How can one define Independence and being Independent. This is definitely a word which will transform into various meaning and measure in accordance to the understanding one has or have to this word. It may differ according to one's experience in life and may add a gist to it.

In this post I would be focusing on such aspects which touched my heart and opened a new meaning to me. Once again traveling through the memory lane.

This is the era of 70s and 80s. Online shopping and door to door delivery may be the new concept today,  but I  have experienced this door to door delivery concept in my childhood itself. " Chawal wali" (Moni Maa) She was called thus. She was the one who used to bring sacks of rice to our home every month. As I had mentioned earlier my family was huge with extended members thus consumption of food too was in large quantities, and, as such, Acchan had arranged for regular supply of the commodities. (Moni Maa) was a drak fragile lady with a pleasant aura. She used to adorn saree in traditional bengali way. Clean bright starched cotton saree.  Her presence was a pleasing to the eyes. Amma too loved her presence. Moni Maa was a monthly visitor to us. She would come to our house for delivering the sack of 🌾 rice.  Along with  rice she would be carrying her harvest of vegetables and eggs too. So we used to get  some fresh farm picked vegetables to relish. She used to stay in the outskirts of the city and would travel all the way to the city in train to deliver her goods. She would arrive early in the morning by 7am and would sit down for a chit chat for hours.  Amma would come to know about the outside world and updates of her village life and about other harvest etc through her chit chatting. She will spend hours sitting in our terrace doing small chores thus helping Amma, lighten her burden that day. Amma used to give her food and tea. Sometimes she used to pamper us with an oil massage and would comb our hair, singing  songs. The famous viral song 🎶" Bade loger beti re lamba lamba chool🎶 which was booming now days was the one which I had listened very very early during my childhood days from this " Chawal wali" it's actually a folk song. She would be brimming with joy, while  singing out these songs to us. After finishing all these chores, she will measure the required kilograms of rice, needed by Amma, and would transfer the same to the large storage drums. She would take leave after getting her payment from Amma. Thus almost a whole day would be spent by her in our house with a good exchange of talks on related things. 

On those days I never used to give heed to these people who would be visiting my house. It was just normal to me. Amma and her buddies was the name given by me. I never used to realise their hardship. It was only when I started working did I knew,  that no matter what; all other persons/ people out there on the road, whether big or small is all, into earning their livelihood and living. This famous song "lamba lamba chool" brought into my memory the "Chawal wali" and her hardship, and me into a new realisation. To get her life going she was into this duty of selling rice all the way from her village to the city. For she knew very well that she can earn more in the city, rather than in her village. Wasn't this, her independent thinking, wasn't she capable of nurturing her family. Wasn't she enjoying a free spirited moments while visiting houses and chitchatting. The most important part of all this was the decision made by her to do something for her family, instead of begging for alms. That's real independence and being independent, I would say. The independence to think, to act, and to survive. I feel really proud thinking now, that, she though being an illiterate was able to keep track of account of her goods and selling, and thus helped her family from starving and begging.

Education gives us a more way of dignified life and way of thinking, no doubt.  But I salute all those people out there, who all are putting efforts to make a living with what ever abilities and capabilities they have instead of relying on begging and looting. To me this is being independent and independence.

Now time has changed with new level of technology and education. People have understood the importance of education and are giving importance to studies and also into living a dignified life. More and more people are into working and earning. Better independent thinking whether you are a men or a women has transformed the world and countries into  growing nations.

Free your self  and be yourself.

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Pic courtesy: Google images 

Chutki

In this post, I would now highlight the pranks played by my chutki ( my angel my daughter).

My little angel arrived in my life as a surprise as well as a gift. My son was born in Kolkata and I was a homemaker busy with studying, job application, and attempting govt employment exams. Lucky enough I cleared the All India  based Staff Selection Examination and got into a Government job in Delhi. 

Me and family shifted to Delhi. Now the main concern was a lookout for a creche for my son who was just 2 yrs old then. The area where we stayed didn't have any government creche so we had to put our son in the local creches run mainly by homemakers. We were just settling down with all these new hustle bustle and as such the idea of having a second child was far far behind. Our whole focus was now, on our only child, how to take care of him, with all the love and care, was our priority, since, we both were working parents, and also due to shortage of valuable time. Time was running with a quick pace and now we focused to move from rentals to having our own house. This by the grace of God happened in the year 1994 and our happiness knew no bounds when we received our little angel in this house the next year. Our angel is a gift to us from God and a blessing of our new home. Our Laxmi has arrived.

My little master who is now 9yrs, all of sudden became bro daddy. He was all concerned and caring of his little sister. My Govt job too gave me ample opportunity to have leave and to be with my children. I took a long unpaid leave for a year to look after my little angel, and now the concern was to look out for a nice caretaker, for both children. I didn't want to put my tiny tot into a creche, as I have had a bad experience;  my poor boy suffered a lot of bullying etc. So I wanted to be cautious this time. Luckily with the help of my cousins (good hearted people) I got a good caretaker for my chutki. I was tension free and joined my duty with ease.

Life was moving on busy with routine schedules. My chutki too was growing up, she is now a 2 yrs old bubbly chubby . She has started doing all odd things children usually do. Putting fingers in sockets, climbing everywhere possible, catching hold of the things which is not reachable, hanging over, on to sofa and chair edges, and eating such eatables, like chocolates, butter,(she loved butter) cheese slices etc., which is not meant for her.

I had an habit of hogging on something eatable after coming from office. I would be dead hungry by the time I returned back so after freshening up,  I would just try out something to eat going quickly into the Kitchen. This routine of mine was well aware to chutki.

It so happened that my chutki was down with stomach upset and slight fever. As I said she liked to have the food which I would be having she would catch hold on to my plate to see what I am having, since she was small I avoided giving her, any spicy or oily food. Her food was light with veggies. She loved butter a lot. She would sneek into kitchen, pull the fridge door open and would have butter slyly. Since she was sick I was very cautious about  her sneeking into kitchen, so I tried to ajar the door slightly while cooking.

This happened one such day me as usual after coming from office rushed into the kitchen to make something to crush my hunger pangs. Sadly that day I had only bread and butter in fridge. To avoid chutki from coming into the kitchen I just slightly ajar the door of the kitchen. My little master was sound asleep in his bedroom and my caretaker too, took her leave and went home. I was busy making my plate of bread and butter when the door got shut behind my back. I turned around to unlock the door and lo! to my surprise I was locked inside the kitchen: my chutki has locked me inside with good latch locking. I was banging on the door asking her to open. But the poor thing could not, understand or knew how to open. My little master was sound asleep and was in his dream world. I had no idea what to do. How to get out. At that time we didn't have any neighbour. And moreover since I was working I rarely met anyone in my apartment thus didn't knew anyone. We were staying on the top floor my sound would not reach anywhere even if I shout out from the Kitchen window. My banging on the door has now startled my chutki and she,  started crying 😭. I was trying to pacify her from inside since she could not see me she was howling more. I was now fully drenched with sweat no fan in the kitchen, hot and humid. There was no mobile phone at that time.  I was completely perplexed. I tried calling out to my son loudly. My poor thing was in deep sleep, he could not hear me.

As luck would have it I didn't locked the main wooden entrance door. The entrance, net grill door was latched, and the balcony net grill door too was opened. Since it was so hot I had kept the windows and doors of the hall, facing balcony, open. I think God heard my prayers. My hubby dear was a late comer. His job was demanding, and he usually reaches home by 9pm only. Luckily on that day he came early. He reached by 7pm. He can see my chutki crying through the net door. He had rung the bell too, hearing the sound of bell I knew someone was at the door, he called out to me,  I told him that I am locked inside the kitchen and chutki is not able to unlatch the lock. He had a good presence of mind. He called chutki near him through the door. She was the darling of Papa and listened to him too. She had a lovely cute red chair which was her favourite. He asked her to bring that to the door. Chutki lovingly bought that to the door. He asked her to climb on to it. She did so, now from outside, he showed her to unlock the latch with action, on the latch other side, he was instructing her to unlatch the lock....khecho molu dheere dheere krick....krick karte jao molu. She did everything shown by him and oh God the latch was unlocked. He just got inside quickly hugged chutki profoundly and rushed to the kitchen unlocked it and brought me out. I was completely drenched with sweat and was exhausted. I rushed to the bedroom to rest clutching my angel to my bosom.

That was a lesson to us. After this we covered all the sockets and all the latch locking holes with paper and cello tapes.

My chutki my quite cuddle did the unexpected and had us a real time. My Kumbakaran(my little master)too got good  bashing from his daddy. The day ended thus with all careful and necessary arrangements to tackle future commotions.

My chutki is now a damsel.

Mom's special Rava Cake

 Ingredients

1. Rava/ Sooji ( Semolina) 1 cup

2. Jaggery 1/2 cup

3. Dry fruits ( cashew, almond and raisins) 1/4 cup

4. Cardamom powder 1 teaspoon

5. Ghee 1 and 1/2 table spoon 

6. Baking soda and baking powder  1/2 teaspoon 

Method

1. Sieve the rava alongwith baking powder and baking soda keep aside.

2. Heat a kadai put the jaggery powder along with 1/2 cup water to boil. Let it boil and dissolve completely turning into a syrup. Boil the dissolved jaggery for five minutes. Let it cool

3. Mix the rava in the cooled down jaggery syrup mix well, keep it aside for 10 minutes.

4. Chop the cashew and almonds into small pieces

5. Add the chopped cashew, almonds and raisins into the rava mix. Mix well add the cardamom powder and one tablespoon ghee.

6.  Now grease the cake tray with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon ghee nicely. Pour the mixture into a cake tray or any deep round tray.

7. Heat a steamer and steam the cake for 20 minutes on low flames.

8. Check it with a knife. If the knife comes out clean it's done. It's cooked well.

9. Switch off the flame remove the tray from the steamer and let it cool down completely.

10. Loosen the side of the cake with a knife and remove the cake into a plate by tapping it upside down

The cake is now ready to be served.

The innocence

Some happenings just leave an imprint on your memory pad. I am quoting down such a memory of mine. This was the year 1996, I was now a mother to two children, one 9yrs old and the other six months. I had come down to Kolkata,  alongwith my kids, to enjoy some precious moments, with my parents, and to straighten my back. My 9yr old, was the apple of eye, of his grandparents, and he took full advantage to do all pranking. On the other side, my chutki was a calm child without much disturbance. She could be adjusted anywhere with a bottle of milk. So Amma didn't have much trouble taking care of her. As you're aware one gets a breath of utter freedom in one's parental home and I took all advantage of it, by going out with my friends, shopping, cinema etc, without any worries of my children. You know, they are in safe hands. My frequent outing without the kids, was now taking a toll on my 9yr old son. He started putting tantrums and asked his Muttassha(grandpa) to take him for sight seeing. Muttasha the epitome of love promised him too, that, he would take him in the evening. But as luck would have it, he was once again busy with his business schedules and couldn't make it, thus he sent his car, with Driver  Kaka, to take the little one, for a ride to Metro Station. Kolkata was the only city, which was having an underground Metro, at that time. And also, it was a tourist attraction. My little one jumped over with joy and got ready to go. Our Driver Kaka, was a sincere one and takes good care too; but, I somehow got this feeling, of not letting the little one go all alone, with the driver. I just dumped my chutki in  my Amma's hand and went along with my son.

Park Street Metro 🚇 Station was the largest and well maintained one. So Acchan had asked to go there first, and from there to go sight seeing, places like Esplanade, The boat ferry ⛴️ etc. We reached the Metro station and got down to the platform via stairs. Once on the platform my prankster started running around, and he, spotted the escalator. The escalator was new to him and to me too. The driver Kaka took him to the escalator, he would now climb from the one side, and would escalate down the other side, he was fully engrossed in this game of his, with Driver Kaka watching over him. I  too, was watching him and the Metro platform simultaneously.   A Metro train, was now on the platform, with passengers rushing out, and pushing in. I was, now concentrating on the Metro Station announcement, and as I turned around to hold the hand of my little one, he was nowhere to be seen; lo! Within a fraction of a second he had given me a slip, as well as to Driver Kaka, and he was now inside the metro with closed doors, leaving me and Kaka outside the boggie. My heart stopped a beating and I started banging on the doors, well aware  that it would not open at all, by my banging. I was running madly on the platform banging all boggie doors. The Metro was leaving the Station with my child, who was now with the strangers. My mind and body was frozen with fear, my voice choked,  I couldn't come to my senses for a minute. I didn't know what to do. Driver Kaka shook me up, assuring me not to worry, the child can be tracked down in the next coming station with the announcements, he said. There is a system of announcement inside the train, of which I wasn't  aware off. I rushed to the Station Master alongwith Driver Kaka and told him everything, he said he would make an announcement, and would ask the next Station Master to Check and bring out the child from the boggie and take care of him.

We took the upcoming Metro, and reached the next Station,  Kalighat. I rushed out quickly and ran towards the Station office, Kaka following after me running madly. I reached the office and saw my prankster quietly chit chatting with the Station Master, I was hell bound to crush him with anger 😠 but seeing his innocent smile, my heart melted down, and I just hugged and kissed him profoundly crying my heart out. I just couldn't imagine the mishappenings happening to him. It was by the grace of God and my parents blessings that he was safe. And I don't know, maybe, the people in the boggie too were good souls, nobody harmed or took advantage of a lonely child. My poor thing, he knew only the address of Delhi home. Some gentleman, was frequently asking him, about his parents and his home address, and he was just quoting down saying "mein Abhilash, Delhi mein rahta hu Mayur Vihar" . The Station Master gave out this details to me when he was doing the enquiry with the metro passengers.  I thanked everyone. Specially the Station Master and to Driver Kaka for taking a good stand and thinking right in the moment. His presence of mind did the doing, and my child was safe. Amma had asked me frequently to visit Kali Maa and take her blessings. But I  shrugged off and avoided, saying I will definitely go before leaving to Delhi. And see how my Kali Maa saved my child from all mishappenings and that too at the Kalibari Metro station. I didn't think much I didnt go for sight seeing etc., on that day,  I couldn't bring myself to senses. Nothing in this world mattered to me than the safety of my child. I took my little one in my arms and asked Driver Kaka to take me and my child for darshan of Maa Kali. I prayed and thanked her for keeping us safe. I returned back home. My Amma sensed something wrong and asked about it , I told my sis and my Amma everything that happened. They too were in a fix; advising, me to be careful and to keep this a secret. This secret was buried in my heart, till my child turned himself, to be, alone and working. It was on his first visit to home, on his official vacation, is when I told him, and also to my hubby dear, to whom my son is his heart throb. 

A chill, still, runs down my nerve even now, whenever I think of this incident.

So many children out there, is a victim to circumstances, and becomes a prey, to the crime world. I just pray for everyone, and every child, who are heart throbs to their parents.

God forbid such incidents from all children and protect them.

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