Leaving Footprints of Kindness in the Sands of Time

-----  Published in The Women's Era - April 2017 II issue

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”  

Mark Twain wrote this universal truth almost 150 years ago but his words ring true even to this day.  His words are especially relevant today than ever before as we all lead a highly commercial, urban life, where ‘me, myself and mine’ are the key words that people live by.

A small act of kindness can generate so much warmth, while kindling something deep in our souls – it has a language of its own that goes beyond words or grammar!  Infact, when we look back at life’s moments, it is so easy to remember and recollect such warm moments when we have received help and kindness from unexpected quarters.  

On our trip to Rajasthan in December 2016, we were blessed to enjoy the genuine warmth and kindness of the village folks.  While driving from Deshnoke to Jaisalmer, we went past several narrow and deserted stretches of road.  At one such place, our car got stuck in the desert sand - it would not budge. We tried pushing the car, but all our efforts only ended in the wheels sinking deeper into the fine mud.  There was neither a man nor a vehicle in sight.  We were a little panic-stricken at this point.

Luckily, there was a very small community (formed of just a couple of houses) about 500 m from where our vehicle had stopped.  We walked up to them to seek their help. We found a young man sitting on a broken chair and explained our situation to him– I guess our tone must have indicated our panic.  But he remained calm and unruffled.  His mother who had heard us talking came out, and immediately, without any hesitation, asked us to have some tea.  We were completely surprised at her kind and warm gesture – after all, we were total strangers.  We thanked her but refused her offer.   Sensing our panic, she comforted us and said “Don’t worry, we will help you with your car.  But first have some tea!”  We smiled our thanks and declined again.  In the meanwhile, the young man along with two little boys accompanied us to our car.  They carried a small spade with them.  While we were wondering how they planned to rescue the car, the man asked the kid carrying the spade to cut a few branches of the thorny bush growing beside the muddy road.  He placed these in front of all the four car wheels and asked my husband to start the car.  While we all pushed from the rear, the tyres gained friction against the thorny bushes and started moving without getting stuck in the sand.  And lo and behold, within a minute, we were out of our sticky situation!  We thanked the young man and the kids profusely for their kind help and offered a small token of money.  But he refused to accept it -we had to almost thrust the note into his hands to get him to take it! 

Again, on reaching Jaisalmer, we stopped our car near the parking area, where several other vehicles were parked.  Within a few seconds, a couple of locals who were vehicle-drivers approached us and pointed to a broken plate that was hanging down underneath the engine. As we were trying to gauge the problem, one of them went down on his knees, examined the underside of our car and told us that the screws had fallen off the plate.  Within a few seconds, he fixed the broken plate with the screws and wire.  We were amazed at his thoughtfulness and asked him how much we had to pay for his timely help.  His reply further astounded us – “You have come from a different state and are visiting our town; you are our guests.  We want you to carry good thoughts about our state and our people. We are happy to help you, please do not talk about paying us.”   

On hearing him, we in fact felt a little ashamed – ashamed that we had actually suspected him of having an ulterior motive in helping us.  His simple and small act of kindness opened our eyes and warmed our hearts no end!

Asian Elephant Estimation Exercise - Takeaways from an amazing experience!

I recently participated as a volunteer in the Synchronised Asian Elephant Estimation exercise organized by the Forest Department in Karnataka.  I attended the initial training in Bannerghatta National Park and was later assigned to Koppa Forest Division.

This was a 4-day exercise.  Along with the Forest Field staff –Officers, Watchers, and Guard - I trekked into the thick, verdant forest in the Antavalli Beat of the Balehonnur Forest Range in search of wild elephants.  We had to take count of the elephant dung and also record the demographic profile of the elephants we sighted. 

As a first-time volunteer, I was excited to be a part of this adventure. But despite our best efforts, even though we saw plenty of elephant activity and witnessed its presence and movements, we were unable to spot a single elephant.  As it had rained, the possibility of spotting it near water-holes and river banks also vanished.   Also as our Beat formed the elephant corridor – elephants only passed through the area to reach their final destination – chances of spotting them were minimal.

But despite all the reasoning, I was utterly disappointed.  I cursed that there was no such thing as Beginner’s luck and felt completely let down.  But then, after some good amount of thinking, I realized Lady Luck was definitely on my side.  I looked at all the positives that had emerged from the experience and felt a deep sense of gratitude.

Inside Antavalli Beat, Balehonnur Forest Range

• My adventure in the forest – the long, arduous treks,  the dangerous rambles following the path of the elephant’s trail, the protection and concern showed by the Forest staff, the sights and sounds we experienced, the leech bites - every bit of it is memorable and definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  Not everyone can gain access to the protected forest areas and saunter through the thick of the jungle.

•  I met some very interesting fellow volunteers and made good friends on the trip – another major positive outcome.

River Bhadra, flowing right beside the Forest Guest House

With the friendly Forest team - Ajay, Ginjanna, Yellanna, Abhilash, Arif Pasha

• I got a greater insight into the workings of the Forest Department, especially their Field staff.  They are some remarkable people whose love and passion for Forest conservation and wildlife protection is admirable.  Their job is extremely tough, to say the least – they have no set hours of work; quite often, they have to venture into the wild and navigate through tough terrain to put out forest fires or go after poachers, putting their life and limb in danger. 

• I interacted with the simple folks of Magundi village – their sincere warmth and friendly hospitality is something to be admired and emulated; a learning to be cherished for life

The 120-year old Forest Guest House in Magund

• I sighted some wonderful birds - pied wagtail, robins, sun birds, woodpeckers, horn bills, peacocks and many more - and breathed in the fresh, crisp, non-polluted air of the forests.  I saw the River Bhadra in full flow, stayed in a beautiful Forest Guest house.  I woke up every day to the varied chirping sounds of our feathered friends.  

Yellanna striking a pose inside the forest

• I met humble village folks like Yellanna, who knew every inch of the forest and accompanied us on the trek.  He and his wife lived in a small, simple house in the fringes of the forest.  His clothes and appearance (broken teeth, callused hands) made him look like a poor tribal but I found that he was extremely rich - rich in warmth, rich in caring and rich in hospitality.  He invited us with open arms to his home and fed us royally.

After ascending 1150m, view from the top

• And finally, I realized that not having a mis-adventure was in itself, the greatest blessing.  An elephant in the wild can be dangerous especially if it feels threatened by our presence.   I am back home, hale and hearty, to share this experience, and that is something to be thankful for! 

This opportunity was a great learning experience; it also gave me immense satisfaction of volunteering my time and services towards a good cause.  It feels extremely good that I have, in some way, done my bit for the protection and betterment of wild elephants! 

Rock formation in River Bhadra

The vividly coloured Dung beetle

International Women's Day - a Clarion call for India

International Women’s Day is celebrated the world over on March 8^th every year.  This day seeks to celebrate the achievements of women across all fields – economic, social, political, cultural or in the personal front.  It is also a day to create awareness and is a call for action - to bring about parity in gender.

While gender parity has been achieved to a great extent in developed countries like the USA and in Europe, India still has a long way to go.  We don’t have to look too far to see the disparity that exists.  Every maid working in Indian households will give you the real picture – where the husband comes back home, drunk and tottering, demanding money and sex.  And if he is refused, he immediately slaps the woman and starts a fight.  Their little children are mute witnesses to this injustice and suffer the wrath of the drunken father, their psyche scarred for ever.      

For every Kalpana who has bravely and successfully flown into outer space, there are thousands of ‘Kalpanas’ in our villages who have not crossed the thresholds of their homes to enter the gates of a school.  For every Mary who has trained and fought diligently in the boxing ring, there are thousands of ‘Marys’ who have been pushed into early and unhappy marriages or who have been pawned off to brothels.   For every Kiran and every Aishwarya who have grown successful businesses and who have attained international acclaim in beauty pageants, there are thousands of Indian girls who are victims of acid attack, whose beauty has been brutally peeled away, mutilating them forever; and several whose young lives have been quashed for not providing the necessary dowry. For every Lata who has enthralled millions with her beautiful voice, there are thousands of ‘Latas’ whose woeful cries and plaintive voice remains unheard.

Ours is a culture that celebrates womanhood, that reveres ‘Shakhti’, that acknowledges, welcomes and worships ‘Devis’.  When Lord Shiva is depicted as ArdhaNarishvara, Shiva and Parvathi are portrayed as equals - both co-exist to form the whole.  Despite such high philosophies in our scriptures, we turn a blind and often hateful eye when we view our women.   Why do we treat our womenfolk worse than animals?  

Women’s Day is truly a clarion call - a call for all of us to rise up, and to quell the atrocities against women. Until women are first and foremost recognized as human beings and treated fairly, we will have to consider every day as Women’s Day; and work towards their betterment.    Just as King Porus, though bound in chains and captured by Alexander, bravely answered that he wanted to be treated as an equal, similarly too,  Indian women should be able to stand up on their feet, and look into the eyes of men – not as their tormentors or masters but as their equals.  Only then can we really celebrate Women’s Day.   

Rocky Bow Bow - our neighbourhood's adorable dog!

Rocky is our neighbourhood’s little street dog.    With a name like Rocky, you would possibly expect a well-built, sturdy, ferocious dog.  After all, the name does bring up images of Sylvester Stallone as the extremely fit, well-muscled, famous boxer Rocky Balboa.  But in reality, Rocky Bow Bow (as the children call him fondly) is a scrawny little six-month old pup.  He is super friendly, adores children and loves playing with all the kids on the road - jumping up on them and resting his front paws on their shoulders, inviting them to pet him.   He lives off the bits and pieces given to him by the residents, and is thankful – the expression on his face and the ardent tail-wagging beautifully convey his loyalty and gratitude.  

Being a street dog, he has learnt to take care of himself and definitely fits the tag of being ‘street-smart’.  The other day, he accompanied me as I went on my morning walk.  We walked past several blocks and I hoped some other dog would not attack Rocky. Dogs are very protective of their territory and will not brook other dogs (even if they are scrawny little pups) encroaching their space.   Just as I feared, two ferocious dogs chased him to a corner.  But Rocky, true to his name, did not take it lying down. He snared his fangs, plumped himself up to look bigger than his diminutive self by raising the hair on his shoulders and back.  That kind of did the trick and the two dogs backed down.  Rocky knew when to make a quick exit; he spotted the chance and immediately ran away from the menacing dogs thus saving his skin!  

This encounter with the mean bad world did not deter him; he continued to follow me.     At the next block, I saw another street dog - he was standing on the same side as us and watching us.  Hoping to avert a showdown between Rocky and this dog, I crossed over to the other side of the road.  Rocky followed suit and stayed close to me.  The other dog, though a biggish fellow, seemed a little uncertain.  Dogs can certainly read and understand emotions.  Rocky somehow sensed the other dog’s hesitation, realized he (the bigger dog) was probably a little scared of him (Rocky). He turned the situation to his advantage and immediately chased the other dog, who had by then taken to his heels!  It was hilarious to see young little Rocky give chase to a dog that was almost triple his size!

Rocky’s actions can teach us a few valuable lessons - 

• Even though one may be small in size, we can still beat the big, bad fellows if we have courage and have our wits around us.  
• We can get out of any sticky situation – by understanding when to go on the offensive and when to beat a hasty retreat!  
• And most importantly, we can cultivate good relationships when we have a friendly and sunny disposition.  
• And ofcourse, when one wants to express love and gratitude, we just have to 'wag our tails’ furiously, the Rocky way! 

Understanding the art of Honking

HORN-OK-PLEASE!!  Do you remember this slogan?  These words were invariably etched to the backs of most lorries or trucks.  I am still not sure what exactly the lorry driver intended to convey to the driver behind him, possibly he was requesting the latter to honk loudly when he tried to overtake him.  

Words apart, the sound of the horn in itself makes for an interesting study.  In fact, understanding the honking sound is an art; and definitely warrants the creation of a new subject called “Honkology”, (on the lines of the much studied medical field of Oncology), having its own syllabus and dedicated hours of study.  To briefly understand this, let us look at some of the honks and their meanings.  

• A single, gentle beep - The driver wants to alert you to his presence, without actually giving you a heart attack.  His mood is friendly and his intention is to give you a gentle nudge – telling you to move aside or to move faster ahead.

• A loud, longish press of the horn – The driver, in this case is a little annoyed and is finding his fellow riders irksome.  He seems to say “Common Man, MOVE it.  We don’t have all day!” or “Stop driving like your GRANDMA, get on with it!”

• A series of loud bangs on the horn – This driver has nearly come to the end of his tether and will not suffer any more foolishness on the road.  He is ANGRY and his honking screams “What the @#$$%%$&*!!”  He is surely running out of expletives to curse you and your tardy driving skills.  The sooner you get out of his way, the better.

• The ‘signal turned green’ beep – This is the typical horn that you will hear when you have stopped at a traffic light.  The instant the signal turns green, a few drivers press their horns to awaken sleepy-headed drivers in front of them.  There is hardly a second’s gap between the signal turning green and the blaring of horns from these self-appointed traffic-light keepers!  They seem to say, “Wake up folks, WAKE UP, start your vehicles and get going”.

Horns and honking are used not only while driving on the road but also as a secret code.  My neighbour, much to our irritation, on reaching home would honk loudly to the note of “pah pah papapah”.  This code was to inform his family that he had arrived home and that they had to open the gate for him. This routine was followed by all the members in his family and irrespective of the time they arrived home – evening or even late in the night- we would have to suffer with gritted teeth and hear them playing out their honking code.  We requested them to stop this irritating practice but they would not listen and our requests fell on deaf ears.   So to teach them a lesson, we all decided to follow their honking code.  Right outside their house, we would go “pah pah papapah” on our horns; one of the family members would come out to open the gate thinking that someone from their own family had returned home.  When they got fooled a few times this way, they realized their folly and much to our relief, stopped using their honking code!

      So you see, with a lot of case studies and examples, I am sure we can make the “Honkology”              subject interesting and easy to follow.  Do give it a serious thought OK, PLEASE? 

Kodo Millet Roti - Akki rotis using Varagu/Harka

Varagu Roti with chutney

The other day, for dinner, I prepared pongal using Kodo millets - varagu or harka as it is called in Tamil / Kannada.  I was a little distracted that evening and somehow ended up cooking double the quantity of pongal than what was required for our family.

Offering that again as breakfast the next morning was not an option -my girls would have revolted! So I decided to change its structure and form and deceive the gullible lot :-)

The pongal converted into roti dough!

Getting cooked on the tawa.

I added a bit of rice flour to the millet pongal - to give it a thicker, dough-like consistency.  I added chopped onions, coriander and some curry leaves and made rotis - similar to Akki roti, by pressing the millet dough into discs on a tawa - and cooked them. These came out very well; they had the nice and invigorating taste of curry leaves and pepper, were soft in the centre and slightly crisp around  the edges.  I served it with a slightly spicy coconut and groundnut chutney.

The girls loved the new roti and ate it with relish - not once realising that it was just last night's pongal that had morphed into this morning's roti!   A complete win-win situation for all at home!

Kodo Millet roti with coconut-groundnut chutney!

MILLETS are SUPER FOODS!

As young, growing-up children, do you remember what our Moms used to make us drink everyday?  Yes, a BIG glass of Kanji!  The kanji powder was made predominantly with lightly roasted ragi, wheat, different kind of dals and pulses, flavoured with elaichi and nutmeg. Two or three spoons of this powder was boiled in water to a porridge-like consistency, to which a glass of milk was added. This was possibly one of the healthiest malts - definitely packed with more nutrients than the current malt powders which are marketed as 'the secret of my energy' or 'the drink for growing children'.  Also, made at home by a loving mother or grandmother, with no chemicals/preservatives added, the kanji powder was definitely a super food.

Ragi is a type of millet and is known as Finger millet. Millets are packed with better nutrients as compared to rice and wheat. They are rich in fibre, have a good amount of protein and are bestowed with more mineral content.  The table below gives a comparison. As can be seen, it needs no additional convincing to realise why we should include more millets in our diet.

                        

Information sourced from the Internet

English Name of Millet	Tamil, Kannada equivalent
Foxtail	Tenai, Navane
Little	Samai, Sama
Kodo	Varagu, Harka
Proso	Pani varagu, Baragu
Barnyard	Kudhiravali, Odalu
Sorghum	Jowar, Cholam, Jola
Pearl	Bajra, Kambu,Sajje
Finger	Ragi, Keppai

 Of the various millets available, we are probably more familiar with Ragi, Jowar and Bajra.  Ragi is exceptionally rich in calcium and is ideal for people suffering from diabetes and for weight-watchers. When I was pregnant with my second child, during the last trimester I developed gestational diabetes. The doctor advised me to go for walks and consume ragi to avoid weight gain and reduce the sugar levels.  I did this religiously for a month and was back on track - not only were the sugar levels back under control, I did not also gain weight.    

Ragi Kuzhi appams

Ragi can be consumed in many ways - as Kanji mixed with milk and sugar or salt and butter-milk,  as Mudde or Ragi Balls, as Idlis, as Dosas, as Rotis or as Kuzhi appams,   For these, the batter is prepared in much the same way as normal idli or dosa except that rice is replaced by ragi.  Most of the other millets like Foxtail, Little, Proso can be cooked in the same manner as rice and had with sambar, rasam or curd.

Kodo Millet Upma!

The other day, I prepared Upma using Harka or Kodo Millet.  It has a nice nutty taste; and just a little is enough to fill our stomachs!  Prepare it just like the usual rawa upma - slightly dry
roasting the Kodo millet, and adding two and a
quarter cups of boiling water to a cup of millet.  An assortment of vegetables can be added.  I put in beans, carrot, peas, potato and a bit of grated coconut.

Dry roasted Kodo millet

Assorted vegetables saute'd in oil

Kodo and vegetables cooked in hot water