I read somewhere that if you copy from one source it is plagiarism. However, if you copy from several sources it is research. Here is some research done by Purush for an elocution competition on “Indian educational system is marks oriented.” He presented this before an assembly of high school students on 15 September 2001. Are these rambling statements relevant today? Read and comment:
It is said that we Indians cherish learning. This is misleading. To us learning means passing exams that lead to a well paid job. Learning for its own sake is considered a luxury, a financial waste. (more…)
August 7th, 2006
While driving through the Air Force Station at Lohagaon, Pune, I saw a wayside restaurant named The Seventh Heaven and wondered what fare and fate awaited those who entered.
The next day we had guests at home for dinner. The small talk (or should I say: the phardi) soon turned to sweets. And mom explained about a Seven Day Wonder.
Each city in India offers a different but equally inviting cuisine for the gourmet. Benares is for famous jalebis and kachoris. Pune for its ambe barfi and bakharwadis. And Agra for its peta (ash gourd or candied sweet made dry or with syrup) and daalmot (spicy snack made with fried moth lentils and vermicelli pieces).
Now, peta to the phoren crazy is People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (who say that animals are not ours to eat, etc.) or People Eating Tasty Animals (who say that animals are ours to eat, etc.).
But to us peta is the sweet made from ash gourd. And nobody could prepare them as well as the Agra-wallas and wallis.
You can try, as mom did, and relish it; as Prithvi did, and experience the Seventh Heaven.
Here’s how. I will avoid the formal layout of a recipe and record the ingredients and the instructions for preparation as told by mom that night - the embellishments are mine, of course. (more…)
August 6th, 2006
Those were the days when foreign exchange dealers had to have more than just two hands to handle those broker lines. The noise when markets moved made you think that you were in Bhendi Bazar. RMDS was still a long way off.
Can you recognise the dealers? All of them have moved a long way from that room. Hint: One of them today is the Chairman and Managing Director of a Public Sector Bank!
August 5th, 2006
Purush came in one day and demanded that I immediately find out a poem which: (a) he could memorise easily, and (b) he could recite for at least three minutes. He ransacked all the books at home and was not satisfied. Finally, we selected the following poem.
Now, why did he want it. That info I could extract only after all the ransacking. There was to be short-listing of students who would participate in a poetry recitation competetion. (more…)
August 5th, 2006
As I plan(?) the contents of this blog, it is time to invoke the blessings of the Lord.
Among the many deities worshipped by the Hindus, Lord Ganesha has in some ways a pride of place. It is not that he is considered superior to other Gods and Goddesses, but he has a special place in the affection of people. No worship of any kind or of any other deity can begin without an identical worship to Ganesha, among whose many names is Vigneshwara, remover of obstacles. (more…)
August 4th, 2006
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