PAALADA PRADAMAN (Milk Rice Payasam)

 

Paalada Pradaman

Was in Palakad, Kerala, last week, visiting Mr&Mrs Prasad, who are my niece's inlaws, for a social visit. They are one of the most hospitable couple we know. Whilst enjoying Keralite cuisine at their home, Greeja and I stumbled upon this wonderful, simple to make Kerala Payasam called Paalada Pradaman, which obviously they served as desert after our meal. By the way for those who do not know what payasam is, it is an Indian sweet desert with pudding/porridge like texture. 

Ingredients

The most important ingredient is called the "ada", which is rice based, kinda crystalised rice. It is specially prepared through a process of pounding, drying and then converted into crystal like texture. Anyway this stuff is also available commercially in Kerala. Mine, I got it from Mrs Maheswary Prasad, who was kind enough to not only share the recipe but also the "ada".

Besides "ada' you will need 1 litre of Milk, Cashew nuts, raisins, cardamom and ghee. By the way I am using "Uthukulli Ghee" for this preparation, one of the finest in India.  

"Ada" being soaked.

Soak the "ada" in plain water for about half an hour. After which it will soften and expand. Use plain room temperature water. Do not use hot water, because it will turn the "ada
soggy. 

The expanded "ada" 

 

Boiling Milk

Pour 1 litre of milk into a pot and allow it to boil slowly. Preferably use fresh milk, otherwise evaporated milk o powdered milk will do. As the milk boils add sugar to taste.

Palm Crystal Sugar

For today's preparation I used palm crystal sugar. This is the finest non refined sugar, which also has a unique taste. I get my supply from India, though it is available in selected Indian stores in Malaysia but pricier. 

"Ada" is added.

Once the sugar dissolves and given another 2 or 3 boils, transfer the entire "ada" into the boiling milk and allow it to boil for another 5 minutes or so. Make sure you stir the mixture constantly otherwise the milk may burn. 

Tampering

Meanwhile transfer 3 - 4 table spoon of "Uthukkuli Ghee" into a pan, and allow it to get heated. Add Cashew nuts, followed by cardamom and then raisins into the heated ghee. Control the fire on your stove so that the items on the ghee do not get burnt. Once the aroma of the cardamom reaches your senses, transfer the entire content into the boiling milk which already has the "ada".

Payasam settling

Off your stove, and allow the content to settle by itself, do not stir,close the lid of the pot. Half an hour later stir the entire mixture and it is ready to be served. 

Paalada Payasam is Ready

Viola your Palaada Payasam is ready. This Kerala Payasam goes very well as a desert for both vegetarian and non vegetarian meal. It is very light and does not give a weighed down feeling after a hearty meal. 

This is one of the easiest payasam to make, unlike other complicated ones which requires technical know hows.

So everyone, do try it out and let me know.

ravivarmmankkanniappan@1251150420243.0567° N, 101.5851° E.

 

 

 

Mango Jackfruit Salsa - from Beardo's new retro Kitchen

 

The Mango Jackfruit Salsa

After a long hiatus "I AM BACK". In actual fact Beardo and Family have been busy since last November. It was my niece's wedding in Pallakad, India, followed by a reception in Segamat, Malaysia. After that, the long overdue attention to the kitchen was set in motion. As with all renovation work it will start with one and it builds over time with new ideas.

As you can see, we gave our kitchen a retro look with a meatsafe (managed to get a 50 year old from Kajang) and a retrofitted sewing machine as a water corner. Even the pot/pans hanger is a salvaged balinese door head and another piece of wood salvaged from and old rubber sheet smoking contraption.

Ok enough of the tour, lets get to business. 

To make this salsa we need one green mango, 6 - 7 ripened jackfruit, one large onion, 6 clove of garlic, 2 - 3 red chillies, all to be sliced thin.

Ingredient for the Salsa

Heat wok with coconut oil, and tranfer the garlic first, followed by the onions, and stir for about 2 minutes. Then transfer the sliced mango, stir well for another 2 minutes then add the sliced jackfruit and continue to stir for another 2 minutes. Finally top it of with the sliced chillies and continue to stir. Btw after more tha 20 years using an electric stove, we have returned to gas. It has a different feel though.

Onion and Garlic

Sliced Mango

Sliced Jackfruit

Sliced Chillies

And for the tempering, heat coconut oil and add mustard seed, urad dhall, and let it splutter. Then add 2 spoons (add more if you want it spicier) of chilly powder and stir well. For a rich flavour add 2 spoons of ghee and allow it to give a caramalised feel.

Coconut Oil, Mustard seeds and Urad Dhall

Caramalising the Chilly

Once the chilly tempering gives a nice body, transfer it to the wok and stir well, allowing the paste to blend well. Finally add salt for taste and stir well. Before removing salsa from the stove, take a spoon of palm sugar or jaggery add to the prep.

Blending the Chilly Paste with the Main Ingredient

Viola, there you have it Mango Jackfruit Slasa

The Finished Dish

The mango jackfruit salsa can be a good accompaniment with rice and Indian Breads. Also it can be a great filling for Tortilla too. 

So everyone, do try this simple to prepare dish and let me know.

Till the next recipe, adios amigos.

Cheers.

ravivarmmankkanniappan@1849180320243.0567° N, 101.5851° E 

SEEING IS BELIEVING, BELIEVING IS SEEING

 

HUMAN MOBILE by Felipe Reynolds

The Atrium, Melbourne, AU (2016)

Most of the time,

We do not see things as they are, but as we are

So, believing is seeing. And not seeing is believing.

Given this perception of ‘reality’ how do we see our future?

The above question was posed last night by the Chancelor of the university I work for. It made me think and I started contemplating on the question. I picked my thoughts and below was my response verbatim.

"Perhaps an existentialist perspective may give an insight to this dilemma, where it assumes the individual exist first and then they define their essence through choice and action. Prescriptively the individual should have the freedom of choice and be accountable for its outcome. Hence indivduals create their own purpose.

Therefore the phrase believing is seeing tend to incline towards the existentialist view, where it acknowledges the nuances of subjectivity as to how one interpretes and develops a world view.

In the case of seeing is believing, it is constructed within the boundary of empiricism, hence it may restrict thought processess within a known realm. As for existentialism it encourages individuals to go beyond observation and actively engage in the pursuit of "meaning."

"The self consiousness we ought to consider, not as a new consiousness, but as the only mode of existence which is possible for a consciousness of something." - Satre.

Satre expounds, that there is a need for a core awareness in order to to have the awareness of experience (which he terms it as pre-reflective self consciousness). This is the concept called 'Vokhta" in the Katha Upanishad.

So, the future, perhaps is a construct that one pursues.

We are at the cusp of the end of 2023, another year had passed, i ask myself, where am i, where am i going, and the most important of all, who am i?

The journey continues.........

Cheers to Everyone.

ravivarmmankkanniappan@1304301220233.0567° N, 101.5851° E

Note:

The above photo was taken at the Atrium Building, Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia in 2016. This giant 50kg inflatable baby was placed on the ceiling of the Atrium entrance, supposedly a modern take on the Sistine Chapel. This was the work of artist Felipe Reynold, capturing the modern society's constant need for engagement, affirmation, play and novelty. Called the Human Mobile and nicknamed 'Ping Pong', the inflatable baby is gender neutral and culturally ambiguous, befitting the current narrative. 

The artist perspective is that, the baby is actually on the ground and its the bystander who are upside down, who are the active players for the amusement of the baby. The artist said that he drew his inspiration from Michaelangelo's, "Creation of Adam", from the Sistine Chapel. An according to Felipe, the pose of the baby depicts Adam, and visitors can play the part of God.

It was ironical, I found this photo from my collection that appeared apt for the occasion. 

The Dynamics of Corruption: A Comparative Brief

No other period in the world best describes corruption than ancient Rome. Corruption in Rome basically stems from its own political, economic, and social structures. The Roman empire was bequeathed with vast wealth, which fueled bribery, favoritism, and embezzlement among officials vying for power. Patronage networks and nepotism was the order of the day which then promoted cronyism. Since the Roman Senate had an absolute power without punity it only further promoted abuse. In the end owing to economic inequality, unchecked power dynamics, and a tolerant culture towards unethical practices, contributed to the pervasive corruption that eventually led to the collapse of the Roman Republic.

It was during the late 1st century BCE, corruption became particularly pronounced. Personas like Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus faced allegations of corruption, bribery, and manipulation of political processes. And The First Triumvirate, a political alliance between Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus, was  marked as the peak of corruption in the Roman Empire.

Meanwhile in U.S.A Inc., a young country, that was established out of rebellion from a corrupt Europe has not been spared of the disease called corruption either. Though generally ranks lower on global corruption indices compared to many other countries, but USA is not free from corrupt and unethical conduct. In the USA corruption takes various forms, including bribery, fraud, embezzlement, and other forms of misconduct. Both Public officials and private individuals have been indicted over the course of American history involving scandals such as lobbying influence, campaign finance concerns, and conflicts of interest.

One notable instance of corruption in the early days of the USA was the Yazoo land scandal (1795–1796). Georgia legislators were bribed to sell vast tracts of public land to private companies at significantly reduced prices. The scandal exposed corruption in land transactions and led to legal battles and political repercussions. The dilemma of corruption in the USA today, lies in balancing its robust legal and institutional framework with instances of public and corporate misconduct. Striking a balance between effective enforcement, transparency, and preventive measures has become a crucial element in maintaining public trust and the integrity of democratic institutions.

In India however, corruption stems from a combination of factors, including bureaucratic inefficiency, low salaries fostering a temptation for bribery, political corruption intertwining with business interests, lack of transparency in government operations, wide economic disparities prompting corrupt practices for survival, weak law enforcement fostering a culture of impunity, a complex regulatory environment providing opportunities for corruption, cultural acceptance and historical tolerance for informal networks, and the role of money in politics influencing policy decisions.

Did the British Raj have anything to do with the current quagmire in India, perhaps yes. Not with-standing the fact that corrupt practice is an inherent human behavior that stems from greed, which is an internal force, but via the British Raj much of the corrupt practice in India got an institutional condonement.  The British introduced a centralized administrative system, concentrating power in the hands of a few, in which it had opportunities for corruption and abuse of power. The British also employed a policy of "divide and rule," creating divisions among various communities. This strategy indeed had contributed to social and political fragmentation, fostering an environment conducive to corruption. The colonial economic policies, such as the extraction of resources for the British Rajs’ benefit, definitely have contributed to economic disparities and a sense of exploitation, potentially fostering corrupt practices. The British also did not prioritize widespread education in India during the early part of their rule, which limited the opportunities for social and economic advancement, potentially contributing to conditions conducive to corruption. Finally, the imposition of foreign legal and administrative systems did create a gap between the rulers and the ruled, with potential consequences for corruption.

Though these colonial legacies had contributed to corruption, but post-independence factors, such as political, economic, and social dynamics, have played a significant role in the subsequent state of affairs of the country. The relationship between colonialism and corruption is multifaceted, and understanding it requires a nuanced examination of historical contexts and local realities.

In addressing this multifaceted issues, India and the Indian government need a comprehensive effort, which includes legal reforms, institutional strengthening, transparency promotion, and a cultural shift towards accountability.

After much neglect, I believe it was PM Modi who has given priority to the eradication of corruption as one of the main agenda of the state. Modi's government has implemented measures to address corruption, such as demonetization, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) for tax reform, and initiatives like Digital India. Further anti-corruption initiatives, including the introduction of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, aim to strengthen the framework, have been put in place to deal with this systemic problem.

However, the effectiveness of these measures have been subject to much debate, and critics argue that challenges continue to persist towards operationalizing it in order to achieve the desired outcome.

Moral of the story, personal greed promotes corrupt actions. Be it at the highest level, or to the lowest echelon of socioeconomic position, when an individual is driven by greed nothing can stop the voracity of the desire that follows. Established rules and laws can only be a reminder but cannot be an absolute deterrent. Only self-awareness through personal convictions towards ethical behavior can make a definitive change towards establishing a society which is lesser burdened by corrupt practices.     

ravivarmmankkanniappan@1754141220233.0567° N, 101.5851° E

Mankind and Conflict an inseparable Equation

 

"ANGEL"

by Deborah Halpern@Yarra Waterfront Melbourne

(pic by yours truly)

"The shafts shot from wrath’s bow never go in vain; the wounds they cause will have to be dressed with other shafts.”

A quote from the Mahabratham, where this verse illustrates the perpetuation of violence; the wounds caused by anger and aggression must be addressed and often result in further conflict.

Thus is the story of the current conflict in Gaza.

One of the bloodiest IRA/British Government conflict that took place during ‘The Troubles’ was the Bloody Sunday (January 30th, 1972) incident, which todate, we can see the repercussion where the social segregation between the Catholics and Protestants is still very much alive. Housing segregation between both these communities with walls dividing them is an accepted norm.

Bitter feuds and conflicts often have enduring consequences that can indeed remain deeply embedded in the collective and individual psyche, affecting behavior and attitudes long after the events have occurred.

Resolving bitter feuds requires active efforts towards reconciliation, forgiveness, and healing. These processes often involve acknowledging the past, promoting dialogue, understanding different perspectives, and working toward a shared understanding of the causes and effects of the conflict.

Unfortunately, in situations where historical feuds are intertwined with socio-economic issues, coupled with power struggles between nations owing to geopolitical interest, and vested corporate agenda, it only throws any reconciliatory efforts wide open.  

As mentioned in the 'Republic' by Plato, often attributed to Socrates, “Only the dead have seen the end of the war”, it encapsulates the enduring and cyclical nature of conflict. It implies that war and its consequences persist across generations and time, highlighting the perpetual and seemingly unending nature of conflicts.

Thus is the nature of mankind, cursed with the faculty to think.

ravivarmmankkanniappan@0211202310133°10'46"N 101°32'55"E.

CLASS VS CLASS

(Movie Poster from The Hindustan Times)

When I was watching the movie BOBBY (a Hindi movie) way back in 1973, I was angry with the antagonist Pran and his snobbish family who was deadly against the son Rishi having a relationship with Dimple who is the daughter of a fisherman Premnath. Wealth played a crucial role in the screenplay of most love stories in Indian cinemas (be it Tamizh, Telugu, Marathi or others) before or even after the movie Bobby. If not the boy, the gal hails from a wealthy family, hence the resistance, and the entire story would revolve around the tribulations (including the trees) of the couple in overcoming all the adversaries before eventually leading to a happy ending. Of course I must say there were also movies that had a tragic end too.

The theme revolving around class conflict of rich versus poor was so camouflaged when the underlying issue was of another social construct that mainstream cinema skirted. Except for a few art movies, mainstream Indian movies preferred to use “Rich Vs Poor” theme rather than addressing the topic of “caste”.  It was almost as if nobody can see the elephant or even wanted to see the elephant that was right in front of them but preferred to paint the elephant as though it was a wall.

Hence the notion of Rich Vs Poor struck a cord in Indian cinema. So much so the famous Tamizh actor M.G. Ramachandran rode on this theme, won the hearts of the people of Tamizh Nadu to eventually becoming the Chief Minister of the state.

As India progressed economically from the 90’s onwards, the whole perspective of earning moved from survival to the pursuit of wealth. Opportunities in the Gulf States for semi-skilled and skilled workers drove millions of Indians to seek higher earnings. The scare of the Y2K bug or the Millennium Bug created opportunities for young computer techies from India to move to the US and other parts of the world to fix the feared anomaly. This was followed by an even bigger brain drain of Indian professionals all over the world in search of higher earnings. Interestingly enough much of the money earned is actually plowed back home which in turn changes their wealth standing in their hometowns, back in India. The spinoff effect is definitely exponential not only to the immediate families but also towards the extended ones.

Though the issue of caste is still a contentious issue in India, but owing to better education and economic prosperity, at least in urban India, lifestyles and relationships have changed and are continuing to do so.

The Indian movie makers today cannot sell the old recycled theme of Rich Vs Poor anymore. On top of that, Indian movies do not only sell in India but it has become a global phenomenon owing to the spread of the Indian diaspora. The recent release of the Tamizh movie “Jailer”, as I write, is going to cross US80million mark with its world wide release 17 days ago. The Hindi movie Pathan released a few months ago had a worldwide collection of US130million. So Indian movies are a big deal beyond India for movie makers.

That brings us to my observation to the movie Greeja and I watched over the weekend, Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, a Hindi romantic comedy. This is a typical Indian love story with plenty of dance, songs and of course with Karan Johar (director of the movie), the colour and grandiose was stupendous.  Although it has the typical boy meets girl and followed by the parental opposition, but the twist I saw in the opposition was what made me think. It was not about Rich versus Poor, instead it was the Rich Vs Cultured. On top of that, the hidden conflict is also not caste but ethnicity, one being a rich (very rich) Punjabi family versus a highly intellectual and cultured Bengali family. The dynamics here is completely dichotomous and that makes this movie hilarious on one hand but also surfaces the changing parameters in the sociocultural landscape of India, at least in one spectrum of the society.

Wealth may not justify prosperity but it has to be accompanied by a good read too. The very existence of humanity does not merely lie on seeking wealth but the pursuit of knowledge for knowledge sake, and appreciating the finer values that are around us, culture, art, literature and other aspects of humanities that completes us as social beings.

Though it is premature to think that this phenomenon has mass reflection but the very effort taken by the movie team would definitely sow the seeds for society to evolve in that direction.

WE have become slaves to our own inventions, life goes on every single day in a mechanistic manner. People are more familiar with the smell of a burger than the fragrance of a rose, or the sound of the traffic than the sound of a Myna bird. We are trapped in our own vicious circle, and not willing to steer away from the herd, we simply don’t want to be different because the consumerist ideology conditioned in our mind prevents us from “thinking”.

So it is refreshing once in a while to see mainstream entertainment reneged from the norm and address an alternative view on life.

Go watch Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, to cogitate over one’s own perspective, or otherwise just enjoy a simple old fashion colourful Hindi movie.

Cheers.  

ravivarmman@15152708233.0567° N, 101.5851° E      

Gulab Kela aka Semolina Plantain on Sugar Syrup

 

Gulab Kela

Plantain

What is in the name, one may ask, well I just created a name for this desert....Gulab Kela. Well let me explain, the original desert is Gulab Jamun a Persian sweet meat which was brought to India in ancient times and eventually became a household desert for all occasions in India.

Gulab means rose syrup (in Persian) and Jamun means a type of berry in Hindi. So this desert is technically a fusion.

Wait a minute, what has that got to do with my desert, well Gulab part is there but Jamun part is replaced by plantain, and plantain is called "Kela" in Hindi, and so I fused it to be Gulab Kela. But I must tell you this is a typical South Indian village sweet meat. 

Boiling Plantain

Take a few raw plantain and boil it in a pot. Do add a little cumin powder. Allow the plantain to boil till it is cooked well. Once cooked peel off the skin and mash the plantain till it becomes soft and fine. 

Peeled Plantain

Mash the Plantain

I used a mallet to mash it first before I used my hand to knead it so that the plantain is evenly mashed. Then add semolina to the mashed plantain. Knead it again thoroughly, add a little salt, and baking powder. Sprinkle a little water if the dough is too tough.

Semolina Added

Kneaded dough

Allow the dough to settle for half an hour. Then start making small balls out of the dough. Meanwhile you can start  making the sugar syrup. Today I am using "Vellam" unrefined cane sugar, which can be easily bought in any local Indian shop. This sugar is not only tastier but also healthier. Do add a few cardamom to give the syrup a punch.

Made into Balls

Vellam

While allowing the sugar syrup to cool down, heat coconut oil in a wok. Transfer the plantain balls and fry till they becomes golden brown.

Frying Plantain Balls 

Fried Plantain Balls

Once fried, transfer the fried balls to a bowl and allow it to cool. Then pour the sugar syrup over the fried plantain balls and allow it to soak.

Sugar Syrup on Fried Plantain Balls

Give another half an hour.....viola!  Gulab Kela is ready.

Try it out and let me know, its simple to make and yummy too.

ravivarmmankkanniappan@2147081120233.0567° N, 101.5851° E