I’ve had the privilege of interacting with Anjali Purohit (writer/artist) thanks to her online presence at a writing forum. I am not exaggerating when I say that Anjali is one of THE most talented people I’ve known. Her creations (both her writing and her paintings) are of a very high standard. (Quite unlike the amount of trash that get published under the genre of amateur Indian chick-lit these days!)
It should come as no wonder then, that Anjali’s book ‘Ragi Ragini’ is not a run-of-the-mill novel/recipe book, but a true gem! (Ok, I have to admit that at first, I thought Ragi Ragini was a recipe book!) Reading the book gave me a start. It was like holding a work of art in my hands.
‘Ragi Ragini’ is a beautiful tapestry of Ragini’s story, the virtues of Ragi, and the timeless poetry of Bahinabai (again, I confess I had not heard of her until I read the book).
I loved the way the three facets of the book have been interwoven to make complete sense. I, for one, am highly impressed by the nutritional value of ragi, and cannot wait to try out all the recipes in the book. The ovis again, speak of simple yet profound truths of life.
I think the book touches life, both at a physical and a philosophical level.
Altogether, this book is a keepsake!! I have just ordered another copy as a gift for someone very dear to me.
Please click this link and click ‘LIKE’ using the FB icon or twitter. This is a worthwhile cause, and your ‘likes’ will help get the project noticed on the Virgin Unite contest.
http://bit.ly/GGAPHj
This is a community radio venture, started by a friend Ms.Saritha Thomas who earlier worked with the BBC. Her NGO works towards building community radio stations in India. I can give you personal guarantee that this lady is worth every single vote So please, take just one minute and vote by clicking either Facebook or Twitter icon at the bottom of the video.
The battle of the Bulge is something most of us are always fighting – and more often than not, losing! When I first read about the Zaggora Hotpants on a couple of blogs, I was sure this was a mere marketing gimmick. I discussed this with my favourite virtual ‘fitness pals’ and the general consensus was that nothing works but working out! Fair enough.
I decided to give it a shot. I got in touch with the wonderful people at Zaggora, who immediately sent a pair of ‘Capri flares’, along with a personalised hand-written note from Ms.Lucy about how/when I could use the hotpants (which was practically any time!)
The very first time I worked out (treadmill) while wearing the Hotpants/Capri flares, I sweated so much that I needed to open out the windows on a cold January morning, to help me cool down. As I wore them more often, they got more comfortable. Two weeks down the line, I clearly felt some of the weight had fallen away. Unfortunately I hadn’t taken any measurements, so I couldn’t be specific.
Then I pencilled in lots of structured work-outs like Zumba fitness, and realised that wearing the Hotpants very clearly made me sweat much more than I normally would. I didn’t want the weight loss to be a ‘water loss’ trick. So I made sure I drank lots of water post work-outs.
And guess what? The Hotpants actually worked!!! Over the last two months, I have lost just over 6 lbs, and have nearly dropped a dress size. I don’t hide behind baggy jeans anymore!
The Hotpants do tend to make your skin sweat a little even when you are simply wearing them on and not actually working out. Unlike some other people, I don’t actually wear the hotpants all day, as I don’t find it comfortable that way. I absolutely ensure that I use them during my workouts (be it treadmill/stepper/Zumba/aerobics).
The only drawback with the hotpants is that they need to be hand-washed and dried atleast overnight! So you really can’t afford to be lazy. Unless ofcourse you have two pairs, then you can alternate using them.
Now, I am not sure if there are any side-effects. I have not noticed any till date, and I hope there aren’t any in the future either.
Needless to say, there is no substitute for working out! But I find that the Hotpants maximise the impact of the workout!
So it definitely is a Thumbs-Up from me!! If you are considering investing in a pair of Hotpants, I’d say ‘Go for it’!!! It makes a considerable difference to your weight-loss and fitness program. These Hotpants are definitely Hot.
Thank you Zaggora!! Here’s to many more such Hot inventions!!
(PS: I received a pair of Capri Flares from Zaggora for the purpose of this trial, no other consideration was received for this review. The review is entirely personal and not influenced by Zaggora in any way).
Three events in a row, have been rankling in my mind for some time now.
A birthday party earlier this year. The birthday-boy was English, and his grandma and I were making P.C (as my dear friend Sowmya refers to ‘polite conversation‘). She enquired about our plans to ‘settle down abroad’ and I replied that we intended to ‘head back home‘. When she said, ‘Well, good for your son that he is ‘here’ now, he can learn his language (English) here’. I laughed it off. Inwardly, I was SEETHING.
A chance encounter with a friendly Mum-Kid duo at a play-area. The mother was Indian, born and brought up in Africa, and now settled in the UK. In the course of our conversation, she happened to say – with evident surprise – ‘Your English is beautiful!‘ and wanted to know how I managed to speak English, coming from India.
Amsterdam
A little conversation on a canal boat in Amsterdam. The American couple seated in front of us, struck up a conversation, and happened to mention that they were surprised to hear my son’s ‘British/American accent’. Naturally, the question that followed was how he managed to converse with our relatives/friends back in India, and IF people in India could speak English.
Three incidents. They were friendly and innocent remarks, not meant to cause any harm or insult. However, the unspoken words set me thinking.
So, why is it that foreigners ASSUME that people in India do not understand/speak English?
It is not just foreigners. Even second generation British Indians (i.e. whose parents or grand-parents settled in UK and these folks were born and brought up here), seem to think the same way. I was asked by an ‘Indian’ colleague, if people in India could speak English, and if everybody was still very poor! I remember being quite shocked at the ignorance and stereotyped image she carried of her country!!
So, does India still project this image of being a third-world country, where people wear saris or dhotis, chew paan, speak only their regional language, and watch snake-charmers perform tricks by the side of the road?!
Pic courtesy: thedeafblog dot co dot uk
Does the word ‘India’ conjure up a picture of beggars and snake-charmers or monkeys performing tricks and people throwing coins onto a ragged cloth spread on the dusty road?
Does the western world not know how developed we are, on various grounds? We have miles to go, that is certain, but we aren’t exactly an undeveloped, tribal land today!!
Do they see us as Slumdog-non-millonaires? (On another note, I remember being angry at the producers of Slumdog Millionaire for projecting such a pathetic, stereotyped image of our country!)
Chennai city centre mall
Does ‘India’ not represent a modern and growing nation at all? What of all the IT parks and banks that have sprung up in the last couple of decades? And the dreaded call-centres that cater to western countries? What of the high-rise buildings and roads crowded with cars and bikes? I do understand that our villages are a far cry from cities. But they too, are developed in more ways than we can imagine!
Courtesy: Google images
If nothing else, what about our adorable Kalmadi, Radia, Raja and Kanimozhi ? If nothing else, atleast these esteemed folks should give them a better idea of the state of affairs in our country
On an interesting note, I googled ‘India’ on Google Images, and this is what came up: Our flag, the Taj, maps, even a picture of Shahrukh Khan posing for Chak De
Sadly, there was no Anna, and heavens be blessed, no Ramdev
Courtesy: Google images
Now coming back to the question of ‘understanding/speaking English’, from my limited experience, most Indians can understand the language, and can communicate fairly reasonably, if one can ignore the grammar/pronunciation. Even the simple vegetable vendor can understand a few words. So if a foreigner were to visit an Indian city (I am not sure about remote villages), he can manage to get across a few basic words. Just as he/she would, in, say, Russia or Germany! Don’t you think?
Well, to the friendly American tourist on that boat – I strongly recommended that she make a visit, cover the grand palaces in Rajasthan, and go all the way down South to marvel at the exquisite temples. She genuinely seemed quite interested. Just before we left the boat, this is what I said to her:
‘I do hope you visit India some day, its a beautiful country. Only, don’t expect to see any snake-charmers!!’
She replied, with a smile, ‘Damn!! I was hoping to see some!’
So people, how do non-Indians perceive India? Any ideas?
It should come as no wonder then, that Anjali’s book ‘Ragi Ragini’ is not a run-of-the-mill novel/recipe book, but a true gem! (Ok, I have to admit that at first, I thought Ragi Ragini was a recipe book!) Reading the book gave me a start. It was like holding a work of art in my hands.
So please, take just one minute and vote by clicking either Facebook or Twitter icon at the bottom of the video.
? If nothing else, atleast these esteemed folks should give them a better idea of the state of affairs in our country 
