मै नही कहता की मेरी खबर पूछो दोस्तो
खुद किस हालमें हो बस इतना बता दिया करो
(Forwarded)
खुद किस हालमें हो बस इतना बता दिया करो
(Forwarded)
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Social, Palladium, High Street Phoenix
I had looked at the item called 'Dhingara's Punjabi Breakfast' on the menu during all my previous visits to this eatery. But the words 'Kapde Phat Gaye' had stopped me cold in my tracks. I, however, was in an adventurous mood this time around so I mustered enough courage to order it. As you can see from the photo below, it consisted of choice of Parathas (aaloo), Chhole, Punjabi Samosa, Pickle, Fried Potato Chips and Lassi. Since their machine that served hot beverages was not working I was given choice of juice - I chose guava.
To be frank, I was surprised to see just one paratha in the meal. Going by the words 'Kapde Phat Gaye', I was expecting at least 2 of them. Let me just say that I have eaten better parathas. Chhole were good but I could have done with a spicier version. Samosa was run-of-the-mill. Potato chips were crisp and properly seasoned - no complaints there! The Lassi stole the show - it was sweet, thick and creamy as a Lassi should be and packed quite a few surprises like chunks of watermelon and tons of nuts. If such Lassi is served in Punjab, I am willing to move their lock, stock and barrel :-)
Another item on the menu that I had always wanted to try was "The Ramesh & Suresh" - those of you who have seen the 5 Star ads would understand why it is named so when I tell you that the menu lists the dish as "Deep fried 5-Star Fruit & Nut Chocolate Bars with Hot Chocolate Fudge vanilla ice-cream". Okay, anything with deep fried chocolate, fudge and ice-cream cannot go wrong. And this one was no exception. I am sure I must have had a huge grin on my face after polishing the last bit off the plate.
It is at these moments that you feel that all is just right with the world :-)
 | |||
| Dhingara's Punjabi Breakfast |
To be frank, I was surprised to see just one paratha in the meal. Going by the words 'Kapde Phat Gaye', I was expecting at least 2 of them. Let me just say that I have eaten better parathas. Chhole were good but I could have done with a spicier version. Samosa was run-of-the-mill. Potato chips were crisp and properly seasoned - no complaints there! The Lassi stole the show - it was sweet, thick and creamy as a Lassi should be and packed quite a few surprises like chunks of watermelon and tons of nuts. If such Lassi is served in Punjab, I am willing to move their lock, stock and barrel :-)
 |
| The Ramesh & Suresh |
It is at these moments that you feel that all is just right with the world :-)
Love Hurts - Supernatural (S11, E13)
Three cases in a row! Luck seems to be favoring us viewers. To be honest, I watched each of these episodes with a considerable amount of trepidation, half expecting Castiel aka Lucifer to jump out at any moment. But mercifully the writers of the show believed that we needed a break after the disaster that was Lucifer's escape from the cage.
In the last episode, I tried hard to remember who Alex is but simply couldn't. I wish they wouldn't drag back characters from long-gone episodes. The fast-track flashback really doesn't help the old grey cells, at least as far as I am concerned. Oh, and I was under the impression that you turn into a vampire if one bites you. At least Bram Stoker and assorted other film-makers had me believed so. But if what the Winchesters say is anything to go by, you need to drink the vampire's blood (ewwwww!) before you can go flying out the window.
As far as this episode goes, I wondered why they dragged in good ole Shape-shifters - they are such old news. But there was a twist in the tale in the form of a curse unleashed by a, listen to this, by a hair-dresser who just happened to be a white witch, who has taken it upon herself to eliminate cheating husbands and the wives who want them back. No marks for guessing what form the Qareen - which BTW sounds like boggarts from Harry Potter series, turned 180 degrees - takes while fighting Dean. The saving grace, and probably the whole point of, this episode was that Dean (finally!) told Sam about his twisted desire for Amara.
In the last episode, I tried hard to remember who Alex is but simply couldn't. I wish they wouldn't drag back characters from long-gone episodes. The fast-track flashback really doesn't help the old grey cells, at least as far as I am concerned. Oh, and I was under the impression that you turn into a vampire if one bites you. At least Bram Stoker and assorted other film-makers had me believed so. But if what the Winchesters say is anything to go by, you need to drink the vampire's blood (ewwwww!) before you can go flying out the window.
As far as this episode goes, I wondered why they dragged in good ole Shape-shifters - they are such old news. But there was a twist in the tale in the form of a curse unleashed by a, listen to this, by a hair-dresser who just happened to be a white witch, who has taken it upon herself to eliminate cheating husbands and the wives who want them back. No marks for guessing what form the Qareen - which BTW sounds like boggarts from Harry Potter series, turned 180 degrees - takes while fighting Dean. The saving grace, and probably the whole point of, this episode was that Dean (finally!) told Sam about his twisted desire for Amara.
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Just Jamie, TLC Channel
Generally speaking, I am a fan of Jamie Oliver and his cooking. That said, I cannot help but cringe when someone puts prawns with their legs, eyes, whiskers and what not intact in a pot to cook them. That's something which I hope I will never have to eat. I also failed to understand the dessert that he put together. First he cut each papaya into 2 parts, removed the seeds, added chunks of bananas in the space created and sprinkled lemon juice on it. Then he spooned a lot of thick yogurt in a bowl and placed it next to the fruits along with a few macaroons. I really wondered how this dessert was supposed to be eaten and would have preferred to eat just fruits instead.
The next half an hour episode was about an Indian feast. First of all, I was always under the impression that Rogan Josh is made with mutton. Jamie made it with squash, cauliflower and chhole. As if this wasn't enough he added baby spinach leaves and curd in the end. The resulting dish looked as if the vegetables were involved in some kind of violent fight and ended up mashing each other up. :-( But I almost fell off my chair when I saw what he did to the ready-made chapatis. He drizzled them liberally with olive oil and sprinkled an equally liberal amount of turmeric on top. Then he wet a paper napkin, wrapped the chapatis in it and put it in the over. He served them along with the rest of the meal. I have no idea what this was all about.
The lemon pickle was interesting though. He heated up olive oil, added mustard seeds and dry red chilli to it along with turmeric. He chopped lemons in tiny pieces and threw them in the pan. A dash of salt and tossing about for 10 seconds is all it took to finish this dish. I don't think any Indian worth his or her salt will call this a pickle but it was an interesting preparation nonetheless, I am going to give it a try :-)
The next half an hour episode was about an Indian feast. First of all, I was always under the impression that Rogan Josh is made with mutton. Jamie made it with squash, cauliflower and chhole. As if this wasn't enough he added baby spinach leaves and curd in the end. The resulting dish looked as if the vegetables were involved in some kind of violent fight and ended up mashing each other up. :-( But I almost fell off my chair when I saw what he did to the ready-made chapatis. He drizzled them liberally with olive oil and sprinkled an equally liberal amount of turmeric on top. Then he wet a paper napkin, wrapped the chapatis in it and put it in the over. He served them along with the rest of the meal. I have no idea what this was all about.
The lemon pickle was interesting though. He heated up olive oil, added mustard seeds and dry red chilli to it along with turmeric. He chopped lemons in tiny pieces and threw them in the pan. A dash of salt and tossing about for 10 seconds is all it took to finish this dish. I don't think any Indian worth his or her salt will call this a pickle but it was an interesting preparation nonetheless, I am going to give it a try :-)
7. उत्तम अनुवाद (दिवाळी अंक २०१५)
खरं तर हा दिवाळी अंक विकत घेताना मी थोडी साशंक होते कारण अनुवादित कथा वाचायला मला फारसं आवडत नाही. मागे म्हटल्याप्रमाणे मूळ कथा आवडते की नाही हे बऱ्याचदा अनुवाद कसा केलेला आहे ह्यावर अवलंबून असतं. आणि हा तर मूळ लेखकावर अन्याय झाला ना? परत ह्या कथांत काही गूढ अर्थ वगैरे भरलेला असला की मामला खल्लास. असो. पण मागच्या दिवाळीत थोडे नवे दिवाळी अंक ट्राय करायचं ठरवलं होतं म्हणून अंक घेतलाच.
पहिली कथा मोहन राकेश ह्यांची 'अपरिचित' - थोडीशी मिस्टर एन्ड मिसेस अय्यर सिनेमाची आठवण करून देणारी. म्हणूनच कदाचित आवडली असेल. 'शिकारी ग्राक्कूस' ही फ्रेन्झ काफ्का ची गोष्ट आणि 'मृतात्म्याचा मार्ग' ही चीन्वा अचेबे ह्यांची कथा दोन्ही डोक्यावरून गेल्या. एकदम बाऊन्सर! रविंद्रनाथ टागोर ह्यांची 'जिवंत की मृत' फार आवडली. पुढेमागे बंगाली शिकता आलं तर मुळातून वाचायला आवडेल. पण इथेही अनुवादात मधूनमधून कृत्रिमता आढळलीच. :-( त्यामानाने रवींद्रनाथांच्या 'जापान यात्री' तला भाग फारसा आवडला नाही. खोटं का बोलू? लेखाच्या शेवटी 'आमच्या देशातल्या, विशेषत: आम्हा बंगाल्याशी कुठंतरी समान धागा आहे. जे जे नवीन ते अंगिकारायचं' हे वाक्य वाचून जरा नाराजच झाले. खोरं स्वत:पुढेच माती ओढतं ह्या आजीच्या म्हणीची आठवण झाली. :-(
'विस्मरणात गेलेली एक गोष्ट' ह्या कमलेश्वर ह्यांच्या कथेने चुटपुट लावली. तीच गोष्ट इंदिरा गोस्वामी ह्यांच्या 'एक प्रवास असाही' ची. 'अमृतसर आलं आहे' ही भीष्म साहनी ह्यांची कथा शेवटच्या टप्प्यात असं काही वळण घेते की चालता चालता एकदम ठेच लागावी तसं होतं. मानवी मन आणि त्यातली अनाकलनीय भावनिक गुंतागुंत किती सहजपणे सांगून जातात. त्यांची 'तमस' आठवली. 'एक मळलेली पायवाट', 'ब्लेस यू योको ओनो एन्ड बाय बाय बाबू', 'लिदित्से एक आठवण', चारही हृदयस्पर्शी प्रवास गोष्टी आवडल्या. मला वाटतं नेन्सी मिटफोर्ड ह्यांचं मूळ लिखाण मी वाचलं पाहिजे. 'तारकासमूहाचं रहस्य' ही शिनईची होशी ह्यांची कथा खूप आवडली - ती लहान मुलांसाठी लिहिलेली असूनही. अगदी शाळेत असताना वाचलेल्या किशोर मासिकातल्या कथा किंवा 'नंदूचा यांत्रिक माणूस' अश्या पुस्तकांची आठवण झाली. हो गोष्ट मला खूप खूप मागे माझ्या लहानपणात घेऊन गेली, एप्रिल-मे च्या वार्षिक परीक्षेनंतरच्या निवांत उन्हाळी दुपारीत. धन्यवाद शिनईची होशी! :-)
'भटकंती' हा हेरमान हेस ह्यांच्या पुस्तकातला भाग, 'द लगून' ही जोजिफ कॉन्रेड ह्यांची कथा, 'ए वीक ऑन द कंकार्ड एन्ड मेरिमेक रिव्हर्स' हा हेन्री थोरो ह्यांच्या पुस्तकातला भाग, नेपोलियनची इजिप्त मोहीम आदि आवडतील असं वाटलं होतं पण नाही आवडले. कविता (त्यातून अनुवादित!) हा माझा प्रांत नसल्याने 'सागरात भिरकावलेली बाटली' ही आल्फ्रेड द विनी ह्यांची कविता वाचायच्या भानगडीत पडले नाही. 'आमार शोनार बांगला' आणि 'द हनिमून' आवडल्या. आर. डी. गांधी ह्यांचा अफगाणीस्तानमधल्या सायकल यात्रेविषयीचा लेख पण छान वाटला. पण त्यात बामियानच्या मूर्तींचा उल्लेख वाचून वाईट वाटलंच. मूर्ख तालिबानी लोकांनी ह्यांचा विध्वंस करून टाकला. 'बुझकाशी' खेळाचं वर्णन वाचून 'खुदा गवाह' चित्रपट आठवला आणि 'कयानी' ही झोराष्ट्रीयन नावं वापरणारी जमात कारुख नावाच्या ठिकाणी रहात होती हे वाचून फोर्टच्या कयानीचं मूळ सापडल्याचा आनंद झाला. 'तरंग बासुरीचे' ह्या कथेत लेखक सुरज प्रकाश ह्यांना आणि 'हार्ट ब्रेकर' मध्ये परितोष ह्यांना नेमकं काय सांगायचं होतं ते काही मला कळलं नाही.
ह्या वर्षीच्या दिवाळीत मी हा अंक घेईन असं वाटत नाहीये सध्यातरी.
पहिली कथा मोहन राकेश ह्यांची 'अपरिचित' - थोडीशी मिस्टर एन्ड मिसेस अय्यर सिनेमाची आठवण करून देणारी. म्हणूनच कदाचित आवडली असेल. 'शिकारी ग्राक्कूस' ही फ्रेन्झ काफ्का ची गोष्ट आणि 'मृतात्म्याचा मार्ग' ही चीन्वा अचेबे ह्यांची कथा दोन्ही डोक्यावरून गेल्या. एकदम बाऊन्सर! रविंद्रनाथ टागोर ह्यांची 'जिवंत की मृत' फार आवडली. पुढेमागे बंगाली शिकता आलं तर मुळातून वाचायला आवडेल. पण इथेही अनुवादात मधूनमधून कृत्रिमता आढळलीच. :-( त्यामानाने रवींद्रनाथांच्या 'जापान यात्री' तला भाग फारसा आवडला नाही. खोटं का बोलू? लेखाच्या शेवटी 'आमच्या देशातल्या, विशेषत: आम्हा बंगाल्याशी कुठंतरी समान धागा आहे. जे जे नवीन ते अंगिकारायचं' हे वाक्य वाचून जरा नाराजच झाले. खोरं स्वत:पुढेच माती ओढतं ह्या आजीच्या म्हणीची आठवण झाली. :-(
'विस्मरणात गेलेली एक गोष्ट' ह्या कमलेश्वर ह्यांच्या कथेने चुटपुट लावली. तीच गोष्ट इंदिरा गोस्वामी ह्यांच्या 'एक प्रवास असाही' ची. 'अमृतसर आलं आहे' ही भीष्म साहनी ह्यांची कथा शेवटच्या टप्प्यात असं काही वळण घेते की चालता चालता एकदम ठेच लागावी तसं होतं. मानवी मन आणि त्यातली अनाकलनीय भावनिक गुंतागुंत किती सहजपणे सांगून जातात. त्यांची 'तमस' आठवली. 'एक मळलेली पायवाट', 'ब्लेस यू योको ओनो एन्ड बाय बाय बाबू', 'लिदित्से एक आठवण', चारही हृदयस्पर्शी प्रवास गोष्टी आवडल्या. मला वाटतं नेन्सी मिटफोर्ड ह्यांचं मूळ लिखाण मी वाचलं पाहिजे. 'तारकासमूहाचं रहस्य' ही शिनईची होशी ह्यांची कथा खूप आवडली - ती लहान मुलांसाठी लिहिलेली असूनही. अगदी शाळेत असताना वाचलेल्या किशोर मासिकातल्या कथा किंवा 'नंदूचा यांत्रिक माणूस' अश्या पुस्तकांची आठवण झाली. हो गोष्ट मला खूप खूप मागे माझ्या लहानपणात घेऊन गेली, एप्रिल-मे च्या वार्षिक परीक्षेनंतरच्या निवांत उन्हाळी दुपारीत. धन्यवाद शिनईची होशी! :-)
'भटकंती' हा हेरमान हेस ह्यांच्या पुस्तकातला भाग, 'द लगून' ही जोजिफ कॉन्रेड ह्यांची कथा, 'ए वीक ऑन द कंकार्ड एन्ड मेरिमेक रिव्हर्स' हा हेन्री थोरो ह्यांच्या पुस्तकातला भाग, नेपोलियनची इजिप्त मोहीम आदि आवडतील असं वाटलं होतं पण नाही आवडले. कविता (त्यातून अनुवादित!) हा माझा प्रांत नसल्याने 'सागरात भिरकावलेली बाटली' ही आल्फ्रेड द विनी ह्यांची कविता वाचायच्या भानगडीत पडले नाही. 'आमार शोनार बांगला' आणि 'द हनिमून' आवडल्या. आर. डी. गांधी ह्यांचा अफगाणीस्तानमधल्या सायकल यात्रेविषयीचा लेख पण छान वाटला. पण त्यात बामियानच्या मूर्तींचा उल्लेख वाचून वाईट वाटलंच. मूर्ख तालिबानी लोकांनी ह्यांचा विध्वंस करून टाकला. 'बुझकाशी' खेळाचं वर्णन वाचून 'खुदा गवाह' चित्रपट आठवला आणि 'कयानी' ही झोराष्ट्रीयन नावं वापरणारी जमात कारुख नावाच्या ठिकाणी रहात होती हे वाचून फोर्टच्या कयानीचं मूळ सापडल्याचा आनंद झाला. 'तरंग बासुरीचे' ह्या कथेत लेखक सुरज प्रकाश ह्यांना आणि 'हार्ट ब्रेकर' मध्ये परितोष ह्यांना नेमकं काय सांगायचं होतं ते काही मला कळलं नाही.
ह्या वर्षीच्या दिवाळीत मी हा अंक घेईन असं वाटत नाहीये सध्यातरी.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Mutiny Of The Innocents - B. C. Dutt
JFK's Forgotten Crisis: Tibet, the CIA, and the Sino-Indian War - Bruce Riedel
Midnight's Furies: The Deadly Legacy of India's Partition - Nisid Hajari
JFK's Forgotten Crisis: Tibet, the CIA, and the Sino-Indian War - Bruce Riedel
Midnight's Furies: The Deadly Legacy of India's Partition - Nisid Hajari
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