60 years, 50 years... all the same!

I am not taking a very pessimistic view of things, but something just forces me to think in that manner. The way things are going with the independent entity that is India, I see no major difference in the celebrations that marked 50 years of Independence and the ones that are happening now, on 60 years of gaining independence.

My conscious, thoughtful self has seen both the events and the import that I get out of both is the same. The promises, challenges, demands remain the same. The same issues keep coming up, though re-packaged and re-positioned every time. Watching a panel on national TV discuss India-Pakistan relations and how cricket has linked both the nations, just gives you a feeling that nothing has changed in the decade that just passed by. There are changes in every individual's life, there are changes in how India is perceived by others, but there's no change in how Indians perceive Indians.

We assume that rural India will always remain on the periphery when majority of investments happening in India from global agencies is in that sector. We assume that Indians can be fed news when blogs have become the language that denizens are speaking increasingly. We assume that for every election, an issue can be created, cultured and raised, when the futility of it all is known. We assume that carrots can be dangled to the electorate before seeking votes when the anti-incumbency factors in the country are at play to the maximum extent ever.

and we assume that celebrating every 10 years would make us believe that we are progressing, when the same concept reminds you of the last such celebration.

Foodies all!

The inspiration of this post comes from a blog I was reading today. Hailing from Delhi and from a family that knows its food and the preparation well, it is certainly befitting for me to comment on cuisines and eating habits. Having stayed in Bangalore for something like six years adds onto my cuisine-ology!

North India (well essentially for a South Indian, everything northwards of Mumbai is North India, in much the same way as anybody hailing from south of Mumbai is a 'Madrasi' for a North Indian) offers a wide range of cuisines, the Punjabi cuisine being only a small part of it, though being the most visible one.

Punjabi eating habits are easily distinguishable from the rest North and Central Indian (UP, Bihar, MP) eating habits. Leave apart the Avadhi cuisine, and my impression of the latter states' staple is Arhar Dal (Toor Lentils) done in a variety of styles and eaten primarily with rice. Punjabi homes, on the other hand, usually consume a large variety of lentils. So, there goes a major difference. Additionally, the predilection for rice is something that Punjabis do not share with brethren from the rest of India, except when they are having Rajma Chawal, Kadhi Chawal (those timeless delicacies..)

Rajasthani families usually use large helpings of oil and ghee. Dal Bhaati is something that a Rajasthani/Marwari will give anything to have and believe me, a major reason for its taste is the amount of Ghee used! And the physical appearance of a close friend of mine is evidence enough of the gastronomic tendencies of the people there.

Bangalore exposed me to a large variety of cuisines. Thanks to my friends who kept exploring, there was always a hearty Andhra meal from Nagarjuna's and later Maharaja's as part of my palate, as was the authentic Tamil Dosas and idlis (Murugan's or Krishna Cafe) or the rather fit-for-a-king meal at MTR at one point of time.

Andhra cuisine did match my liking to a large extent. The easy availability and the zing in the food, is a perfect recipe. In Bangalore, Andhra restaurants are aplenty and I certainly recommend places like Nagarjuna's, Maharaja's or similar chains to people who haven't yet had a royal Andhra meal. It does not pinch your pocket and its sumptuous.

[A queue of people (comprising of both North and South Indians) waiting to get a table at the Andhra Bhawan Canteen in New Delhi on a Sunday afternoon bears testimony to my proposition.]