nutana samvatsara shubhaakaankshalu! naya saal mubaarak! 2009 mabrook!

My national spirit arises....

Thanks to Bittu! I was asking him something about our country and he reminded me my promise to bring him the pictures of Chacha Nehru. I had completely forgotten about it. I downloaded pics of other leaders as well in the process.

It is such a tough thing to teach children 'objectively'. Whatever my opinions and attitudes are - I keep them aside and try to teach 'good' things to Ricky and Bittu. Once they have the information, it is upto them to form an opinion - when they grow up. But our job is to give them knowledge. Right?

A song that touches the heart of every Indian...

Lyrics: Kavi Pradeep, Composer: C. Ramachander, Singer: Lata Mangeshkar, Context: Sino-Indian war

ai mere vatan ke logo.n

tum khuub lagaa lo naaraa

ye shubh din hai ham sab kaa

laharaa lo tira.ngaa pyaaraa

par mat bhuulo siimaa par

viiro.n ne hai praaN ga.Nvaae

kuchh yaad unhe.n bhii kar lo -2

jo lauT ke ghar na aaye -2

ai mere vatan ke logo.n

zaraa aa.Nkh me.n bhar lo paanii

jo shahiid hue hai.n unakii

zaraa yaad karo qurabaanii

jab ghaayal huaa himaalay

khatare me.n pa.Dii aazaadii

jab tak thii saa.Ns la.De vo

phir apanii laash bichhaa dii

sa.ngiin pe dhar kar maathaa

so gaye amar balidaanii

jo shahiid...

jab desh me.n thii dIvaalii

vo khel rahe the holI

jab ham baiThe the gharo.n me.n

vo jhel rahe the golii

the dhanya javaan vo aapane

thii dhanya vo unakii javaanii

jo shahiid...

koii sikh koI jaaT maraaThaa

koii gurakhaa koI madaraasii

sarahad pe maranevaalaa

har viir thaa bhaaratavaasii

jo khuun giraa parvat par

vo khuun thaa hi.ndustaanii

jo shahiid...

thii khuun se lath-path kaayaa

phir bhii banduuk uThaake

das-das ko ek ne maaraa

phir gir gaye hosh ga.Nvaa ke

jab ant-samay aayaa to

kah gaye ke ab marate hai.n

khush rahanaa desh ke pyaaro.n

ab ham to safar karate hai.n

kyaa log the vo dIvaane

kyaa log the vo abhimaanii

jo shahiid...

tum bhuul na jaao unako

is liye kahii ye kahaanii

jo shahiid...

jay hind...

jay hind kii senaa -2

jay hind, jay hind, jay hind

3 Days!

From Wednesday evening, I am glued to the TV. I cannot imagine all this is happening in real life. It looks straight out of a movie or a video game. Everyone is talking of Mumbai spirit - which doesn't want to bounce back this time. Hats off to all the men in uniform - Police, NSG, RAF, Army, and all the journalists giving minute by minute details. It was live on all the channels including BBC, CNN and Al Jazeera. I wonder if there were no American victims, the foreign media/governments would have really cared. The terrorists' mission is accomplished in that sense.

Yesterday I was quite upset because those are the areas where I have my cherished memories. Oberoi hotel is where Indrani and I went to that Mahesh Bhatt's party - we were on Sony TV! We were enjoying eating and watching the stars while Sandipa was shooting the stars. Nariman point is where Lakshana and I had our tonga rides. This is where Pallavi and I enjoyed our strolls eating salted peanuts. Her hostel/college was nearby. Taj - I never went inside but had frequented 'Bade Miya' behind it in the bylane. The kababs were the best! I used to go to Strand bookshop and I went on my own around this area a couple of times - just like that. And VT station? OMG! Cannot imagine it was not spared either...

Better sense prevail on everyone is what I can pray for today!

Of Babies and Moms!

I think this is the season of talking of pregnancies! Three of my students are pregnant - Adwa may deliver anytime now, Mody and Nadia have EDDs in Jan, Roy in summer and yesterday Paru said her sister is pregnant!

Here most of the girls marry young and then they have babies while studying. Some handle it well, some cannot. As it's a women's college, you see lots of pregnant women working efficiently. In this age and time, I feel surprised to see some with 6 children, 8 children - and all in their thirties. The eldest babysit the youngest! Saudis have no problem of course with nannies and maids for each child!!

Lovely weather!

From a couple of days the weather in Riyadh has been very pleasant. Yesterday - my most busiest day of the week is Sunday - after reaching home I changed and went for a long walk with water and salted peanuts for company. It was so lovely - I felt everything was 'normal'. I sat by a fountain in a small garden between two roads behind the UN building and had the peanuts. I was in such a good mood I plucked a few flowers on my way and took a few pictures of them and finally saw them float in the water... Back to nature!











I had mushroom soup in the fridge. I heated and had it watching the movie 'Monsoon Wedding'. I really enjoyed my evening.



Today as I have no classes [Monday and Saturday are my free days - I needn't come but I do come to work for the lectures or write the blog:-)] I took the pleasure to come late with Fraser. It had stopped raining and it was cold - at 11am!!

At home, I made pulav, fried aalu, baigan fry and deep fried papad also. When I go back in the afternoon - I will enjoy my lunch! Here are some pictures....





















Riyadh is flooded! It has been raining like in India. I watched the girls getting wet and enjoying the rain. All this took me back on a nostalgic train.... Perhaps in the next entry on this. Philhaal will have my chai.

Here's a picture of the flooded cafeteria in our building.

CALL in class

I am teaching a new course CALL - Computer Assisted Language Learning. For their project, I have asked them to BLOG. How cool, na? None of the 6 girls are familiar with blogging. Facebook yes, but blogs no. So I showed them how to do it and what the contents should be like. Actually this entry is a demonstration to them:-)

A restful Saturday!

I start the week with no classes. I just tie up the loose ends or do the needful for the following days. I did all that and it is just 11am. I explored the net to look at the ad of Ayesha Takia and Shahid Kapoor's Complan ad and then went from one place to the other - reading about child artistes - I always loved Master Raju - and how good or how bad they are now etc etc - till I reached the blogs on Marketing - I love you Rasna was catchy - and then I found the treasure - Amitabh's blog. I had read about it but never remembered to read his blog. I read a few of his entries - quite good. I will as well put a link to that.

Yesterday I was watching 'The Burning Train' and a few days back had watched 'AAA', 'Dharmatma'... I think I enjoy the movies of that era. The heroes were HEROES;-) I don't think the personalities of Vinod Khanna, Dharmendra, Feroz Khan or Amitabh can be matched with that of the current heroes... I do like the Khans and Khannas, but still woh woh hai and yeh yehi honge.

So that is how I spend the time - watching movies, sitcoms, cookery shows - now I watch the food channel 'Fatafeat' regularly. Now a days, I am catching up my reading on Pragmatics. For once leaving NLP behind, focussing on Pragmatics and Discourse Analysis is as refreshing as having a cup of black tea with fresh mint leaves in it!

Ciao till my next entry...

Yeh Jeevan Hai

Yeh Jeevan Hai, Is Jeevan Ka
Yahi Hai - Yahi Hai - Yahi Hai Rungroop
Thode Ghum Hain, Thodi Khushiyan
Yahi Hai - Yahi Hai - Yahi Hai Chaon Dhoop
Yeh Jeevan Hai...
Yeh Na Socho Isme Apni Haar Hai Ke Jeet Hai
Ise Apna Lo Jo Bhi Jeevan Ki Reet Hai
Yeh Zid Chodo, Bandhan Yuh Na Todo
Har Pal Ek Darpan Hai
Yeh Jeevan Hai...
Dhan Se Na Duniya Se, Ghar Se Na Dwar Se
Saason Ki Dor Bandhi Hai, Preetam Ke Pyar Se
Duniya Choote, Par Na Toote, Yeh Aisa Bandhan Hai
Yeh Jeevan Hai...
Yeh Jeevan Hai, Is Jeevan Ka
Yahi Hai - Yahi Hai - Yahi Hai Rungroop
Thode Ghum Hain, Thodi Khushiyan
Yahi Hai - Yahi Hai - Yahi Hai Chaon Dhoop
Yeh Jeevan Hai...

[Such beautiful lyrics... Very sweet movie... I watch it everytime it is aired on TV. Saw it again yesterday.]

All set to go!

Sink is clean, kitchen is clean, fridge -fruit/juice/laban all untouched -given away, thrash is thrown, bags are locked, hand baggage too is ready....

For once!

Is it the habit or is it something else? Why am I ready so many hours ahead. Will the driver give me the last minute tension by not coming? Why am I tense about being relaxed!

So here I go again to my beloved ones. Will be back on 5th Oct.

Ramadan Kareem to everyone!

When pictures speak...

Here is the story of aalu+beans curry. It was meant to be a fry but as the tomatoes were to be used up I made a curry type. The pictures tell you the story I hope. I had made it yesterday and the leftover went into my sandwich. Shabash!

Small is big - relatively speaking!

Sandwiches, burgers, pizzas - I get tired of this very soon. But dal, chawal - never! Cooked this on the weekend and was praising the simple dish very much. I fried arwi to go with it. It was a royal lunch for me! Royalty reminds me - I had been to a student's house recently. I had to stay back for her and did not take the bus as she had offered to drop me to DQ. After our meeting, we left together in the car [which of course is a luxurious car - oh you know....] and as she lived nearby - she was to get off first and the driver would take me home. As we neared her house, she started inviting me home - after a couple of no nos, I agreed. Her family is in Jeddah and she came just to meet me and submit the coop monthly reports.

So we drive into this compound with remote sensored gates. We pass by a villa which is where her brothers hang out and then we go to the main house. And what a house! My first visit to a princess' house. M is very modest - she kept saying her house is smaller compared to other girls' I know. So 'small' is 4-5 large living rooms 'saloons' with TVs, 2 dining rooms, 1 study room, kitchen, a couple of bed rooms, swimming pool and a garden with children's trampoline etc. That's the lower level. On the first floor which is M's 'my area' has apart from her married sister's room [she stays there when she visits them] and a room for her sister's children, a kitchen, a living area with TV of course, and her bedroom. Her bedroom is itself like an apartment - area wise - with an adjoining all mirrored dressing room leading to a large bathroom!

If this is 'small' house, I wonder how 'big' the big houses would be!!

I am lucky that all the four girls from the royal family I have taught are brilliant, hardworking and career-minded. As they are very close knit families, they have 100 social gatherings to attend - in spite of that they never neglected their studies. They party till 5am when there is a wedding and then attend a class at 8am sometimes! A good insight into their lives....

Another day at PSU!

Started the day excitedly - I was going to make sabudana khichdi for the first time. And my my it turned out well! Did a research of the recipes and got it right. I got this urge for this dish somehow and I bought a big packet of the little tapioca pearls on my last shopping trip. Last night, I soaked one cup of sabudana for 1 hour and then drained away the water. I had boiled a potato as well when I was boiling the arwi. Kept the potato in the fridge. In the morning, was all peppy and ready to make the "fasting dish". First, I cut the onions, green chillies and chopped the coriander. Then toasted and pounded the groundnuts coarsely, and then cut the boiled potato into small pieces.

The overnight kept moist sabudana... All cut!









Peanuts are ready too!

Just rai, jeera ka seasoning, added onions and green chillies, salt, potato pieces and then the
sabudana. Mixed it well on low flame. Added the groundnuts, stirred once. Garnished with coriander and switched off the heat. After a few minutes, it was ready - ta da da. Yummm...

The pictures speak, I hope...

After eating it at home just before coming - I feel so full. Too heavy for a non-faster! Time for my second cup of tea. It is just 10.45am. Haram in Ramadan:-)

Am here at PSU - no work - I have to take out the stuff from the cupboards and arrange them. As there is one more vacation and and the books will gather dust - so a reason for this lazy bones not to do it.

I wish I was spending all this time at home!

Time flies like an arrow!

Everytime I visit another blog of mine I think of this typical sentence used in our linguistic classes. I had told a friend about my blogs and I gave her this one's url. I checked the other one to see if it was still there. I post there something like twice a year or so...

Blogs are like diaries - just that you don't mind others reading it. In a diary, you can be mean, but in a blog you have to be a little careful:-)

I would like to add videos of Ricky and Bittu - from the time they were 1 day old till they were 6 and 4.5 respectively. How time flies... Now they are 8 and 6.5





Ricky had got this badge for standing first in class - he would wear it to school everyday. It was a proud moment. Little Bittu will be little Bittu always. Oh! How much I miss them!
I love children. Even before Ricky and Bittu - I was great with kids. My cousins' children all were very close to me. In family get-togethers I was the one entertaining the kids as the moms chatted and gossiped. My cousin Vasanti's two kids - Rahul and Rohit were 1-2 year olds when I joined HCU in 1990. Till 1996 - the time I left for Bombay - I would visit them regularly. then there was a gap as I moved from Bombay-->Nagpur-->Rajahmundry-->Visakhapatnam--> Hyderabad. And in the mean time they grew up. I loved being with them. Now they have become 'men' - I feel so nice as they still receive me with the same affection. I met them after a long gap in 2006 and then a couple of times this year. I keep asking when will Ricky and Bittu grow up like them!

Ye dosti...

This was made by Himani. If you cannot see it, come over to watch it with a cuppa tea.

Friday, the13th!

It is past midnight, I just thought I will post these pics and go to sleep to end the weekend on a 'sweet' note.

I had made "Phirni" - not from scratch. So don't compliment me. It turned out well. I had made it for Kala's mom who was leaving [she left on 8th June] and shared it with Ishrat and Dr. Nasreen too. kam tha toh sabhi ko aur bhi jyaada pasand aaya.

A cooking secret: Little quantity makes one crave for more.

The garnish is of kesar, badaam and kaaju. The readymade mix was added along with 2-3 tablespoons of milk powder to 1 litre of boiling milk, stirred regularly for 10 minutes. Cooled and garnished and then refrigerated before served. very simble!

Spring chicken!

Just celebrated my 39th birthday! I like my birthdays - it is fun to notice how your friends try to hide the surprise. Sometimes it really works too. I remember my birthday in HCU when my friends very conspicuously made inconspicuous arrangements! [Roy! Remember?] Last year's was really a surprise too. This year -a third time - a birthday with two cakes. In 1999, my friends had arranged one large cake at NCST and another one at Nandina - chocolate and pineapple. After ten days after that I was going to leave Bombay - so the farewell had started earlier. Then last year and again this year. Blessed am I to have such good friends.
They are my family! I really thank God for giving me good friends always - wherever I was/am, be it HCU, NCST, IIIT or PSU. Ooooh my life is full of acronyms! The one with my IIIT students in 2005 is also a memorable one. Btw, the 2000 birthday was also a memorable one - when my whole family forgot to wish me till lunch time. On that day, I was discharged from the hospital and I was coming home with my first newborn baby - my family was busy paying bills, packing, receiving the new baby at home.... When I reminded them, they were soooo embarrassed they showered with me with extra wishes - my evil side enjoys such moments.

This year - a chat with Himani for 4-5 hours, emails, phone calls, e-cards, birthday song on the bus, one exam, 2 cake cuttings, no sleep..... A day of contentment! It was nice to receive wishes from everyone I know.

When I was eight, I thought 20-21 year olds [when one finishes graduation] were old and 40 year olds were very OLD! I wonder what my 8 year old son thinks of me! Bittu thinks I am 18. And what do I think? I felt 28 for a long time and then 32, 36 - I think in leap years - so I already feel comfortable with 40. The best definition about middle-age I feel is this one:

"Middleage is when your age shows in the middle."

Happy times ahead - eating and talking about eating...

So much about the cakes - it is strange but true - I have never baked a cake in my life!!!

So?

Was just seeing the previous posts and I see that it has been a long time since I posted any thing about food. Perhaps it was inappropriate to talk of food while some were struggling for it. Perhaps...

It's strange some suffer because of lack of food and some suffer because of 'food'.

Anyway, I am here to talk about Me!

Perhaps I didn't make anything exotic - that's why I didn't post anything. Recalling what I ate recently in achronological order:

Today: morning maggie noodles, afternoon doughnuts/cake/cookies, evening dosa
Yesterday: khichdi, afternoon dept lunch, evening kala's mom sent dinner - chicken/fried rice/mixed veggies
Day before yesterday: Tuesday - yaad nahi kyonki kuch khaas nahi...
Memory stops here. Period!

The dept lunch which was potluck was too good. There was everything - salads, desserts, main dishes, juice. One interesting fact - the Egyptian dish "kusheri" is like our "khichidi". Even phonologically same. To think about it they must have adopted from us. Or is it us who has taken it from them? Theirs is more elaborate. Two theories can be used to find this out:

a. Linguistic theory: k<-->kh, u<-->i, sh<-->ch, e<-->i, r<-->d
unapiration, rounding of vowels, sibilant rules, lowering of vowels, - gives me the hunch ---> khichidi became kusheri

b. My theory: Most of the times the borrowed concept is decorated/stylised/elaborated/better version - be it related to religion, technology or a recipe. Religion - Bhagwad Gita has been an inspiration for all the later religions, Technology - look at all the rivalry in this tech-crazy world to make a better version of flash disks, cameras, laptops, mobile phones. Using this analogy, khichidi became khusheri - more elaborate, more tastier, more appealing, more delicious...

My theories are not researched - so please unquote me!
BTW, MY THEORY IS NOT APPLICABLE TO GOVERNMENTS.

Here's the recipe:

Kusherie: Egyptian rice and lentils

This Middle Eastern main dish is the perfect combination of legumes and whole grains.

Lentils are a legume, or pulse, high in fiber and rich in phosphorus, calcium, potassium, zinc, iron, molybdenum and vitamin B complex. They have nourished mankind for centuries but are particularly popular in the Middle East.

This dish combines lentils with whole grain rice and the tang of tomatoes and spices in the sauce. The carmelized onions are the perfect topping. Three onions may seem like overkill, but, even with three onions, they will probably run out before the base and sauce are finished.

One note on safety: take great care when adding the boiling water to the lentils (step 5) to prevent burns from the hot water and popping lentils.

Topping:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 medium onions, thinly sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced

Base:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup lentils
• 3 cups boiling water or stock
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Pepper to taste
• 1 1/2 cups brown rice
• 1 cup boiling water

Sauce:

• 3/4cup tomato paste
• 3 cups chopped tomatoes, tomato sauce, or pureed tomatoes, or tomato juice
• 1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• Celery leaves, chopped (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper or crushed red chiles, to taste

1. Put 4 cups of water (or stock) on to boil.
2. Prepare topping: In a small skillet (preferably iron) over medium-low heat, sauté onions and garlic in oil until carmelized. This takes quite awhile, so start it first.
3. Prepare lentils and rice: heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in large heavy saucepan or skillet with lid over medium heat.
4. Add lentils and brown about 5 minutes, stirring often.
5. SLOWLY add 3 cups boiling water. Lentils will pop out of pan if water is added too quickly.
6. Add salt and pepper and cook 10 minutes more.
7. Stir in rice and remaining cup of boiling water or stock and bring to boil.
8. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 25 minutes. Do not stir.
9. Prepare sauce: In a large saucepan, combine tomato paste, tomatoes (or sauce, puree or juice), chopped bell pepper, celery leaves (if desired), salt, cumin and cayenne or chiles.
10. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes or until rice and lentils are done.
11. To serve: Spoon sauce over rice and lentil mixture. Top with browned onions. You may also omit sauce and substitute plain yogurt, or use yogurt in addition to sauce.

This recipe is meant to serve 6, but there often seems to be an abundance of the rice and lentil base. If this is the case, and there are no onions or tomato sauce left over, freeze the rice and lentils and add them the next time you cook up a vegetable soup or stew.

The copyright of the article Recipe: Kusherie in Winter Recipes is owned by Robyn Harrison. Permission to republish Recipe: Kusherie must be granted by the author in writing.

Abhi iski permission lene Egypt jaoon kya?!

An eventful day!

June 5th!
My friend's birthday...

June 5th
World Environment Day...

June 5th
Final exams begin...

June 5th
Ricky n Bittu go to school after the vacation...

June 5th
An evening at Dirah/Batha...

Graduation Day!

An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest. ~Benjamin Franklin

The future lies before you
Like a field of driven snow,
Be careful how you tread it,
For every step will show.
~Author Unknown

When you leave here, don't forget why you came. ~Adlai Stevenson, to college graduates

A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that 'individuality' is the key to success.
Robert Orben

These are some of my favorite quotes for today's event. As the mothers, sisters, friends of my students spoke with affection to me, I know how much closer we (my students and I) have become in these two years. Mashael, Mody, Lama, Hadeel and Nadia - all were looking gorgeous and beautiful - not with the makeup, but with the happiness inside - the proud feeling of achievement. Mashallah! Words fail me to describe the feeling I had when they walked down the aisle to the music and claps. And as they went up the stage, I couldn't help thinking of Johara, Wafa and Fahda - the first grads of CL from last year. 8 so far in the kingdom! Today is a proud moment....

Now I just wait for the day three of my favorites take their diplomas...

Nargis, Junta aur Aid!

Masoom hai Amanat!

tujhase naaraaz nahi zindagi, hairaan hoon main
o hairaan hoon main
tere masoom savalon se pareshaan hooN main
o pareshaan hoon main

jeene ke liye socha hi nahi, dard sambhalane honge
muskuraoon to, muskurane ke karz utaarne honge
muskuraoon kabhi to lagata hai
jaise hontonn pe karz rakhaa hai
tujhase ...

aaj agar bhar ayi hai, boondein baras jaayengi
kal kya pata inke liye aakhen taras jayengi
jaane kahan gum kahan khoya
ek aansu chhupake rakha tha
tujhase ...

zindagi tere gum ne hamain rishte naye samajhaye
mile jo hamain dhoop main mile chhaanv ke thande saaye

o tujhase ...

Of Fridays, Food and Friends

PSU Environmental club's booth during Career Day

At last! Finally an evening with no other task. Four of my students so far have applied for their Master’s program at KAUST. Reviewing their statements of purpose and writing recommendation letters took quiet a lot of time. We all took it seriously, now it is up to KAUST to select them.

At the moment I am watching ‘Friends’ – today is the back to back episode day which lifts my spirits. They are my 'Friends' just like they are for so many others.

Last week was mad and I get only one evening to relax. Unfair! Just kidding...

I had the monthly meetings with the training supervisors of five students, my own classes and 3-day Career Day events. We had a booth for our club too. Tomorrow I will attend a Dale Carnegie workshop – 9 to 5. Long day tomorrow! Just when I thought I would take the Saturday off – something comes up. That’s life, I guess. On Monday, I and another colleague are conducting a workshop for other colleagues. bahut hogaya...

I worked today till 4am, slept till 10am and then was working again – preparing lunch and watching TV. I made mixed vegetable stir fry and vegetable fried rice. There were all these vegetables in the fridge and I had no time to cook them. Finally yesterday I made brinjal curry in a novel way and today used most of the vegetables. Here are some pictures from my cell phone which means the quality may not be so good. Anyway, another entry into my ‘time capsule’.

All the vegetables neglected till today...

...are chopped into fine pieces

This one is for the fried rice-

And this for the veg stir fry-

Almost done!

There's the fried rice [picture not so good] and vegetables eaten with salted peanuts.

Golden 'Sweet' Potato!

This one I tried once and [pat my back] it was sooooo yummm, I cannot tell you. Though I remember I thought of the Gujaratis - how can they have sweet dal for lunch.... here I did one. With honey based sauce to pour over the boiled potatoes, it was the nicest and 'sweetest' lunch I ever had/made. I had saved some boiled potatoes and the sauce and made the same fried golden potatoes the next day as well.



But for the pictures, I would have totally forgotten that I had made a dish like this! Thank you camera, thank you Eric Case!!