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

From BEARDO's kitchen: Traditional Brekkie

 

Left Over Rice with Yogurt and Stir fry Brinjal with Brewed Coffee

Had left over rice yesterday, so I decided to ferment it overnight. I guess I have given the recipe many times over. In the last post I did indicate the goodness of the fermented rice with yogurt.

But today the focus is not so much on the rice but the accompanying dish. Normally I would just chop some onions and green chillies to go with the rice, but today I prepared a simple dish to go with it.

All you need is brinjal (to be chopped small). Also chop onion, garlic and green chillies. Heat wok or pan with ghee, add the chopped garlic, stir for a minute then add onions and stir a for another minute before adding salt. Then transfer the chopped brinjal and stir for 2 minutes and then add the chopped chillies. Stir for a few seconds and close the lid, leave it for another 3 minutes or so, ocassionally open the lid and stir.

Do not let the brinjal to be overcooked, otherwise the texture becomes too mushy.

And ..... viola you have your brinjal stir fry to accompany your fermented left over rice. 

By the way you can have this brinjal with normal rice and roti's (wrap included).

I washed down today's brekkie with Turkish coffee brewed with cloves. The coffee was compliment from my sister Thara who was in Turkey recently for a holiday. Otherwise I get my regular coffee bean from Coorg, India. 

Happy trying, and Cheers Everyone.

ravivarmmankkanniappan@1057240620233.0567° N, 101.5851° E

from BEARDO's kitchen: Simple Village Meal

 

Simple Village Meal

(Dried Prawn Sambol, Ponnangkanni Keerai Kadiyal (Dwarf Copperleaf Mashed Curry), Kambu Saadham (Pearl Millet Rice) and Yougurt.

It is Saturday, and woke up kinda late, had breakfast only at 10.00am. Greeja had an online seminar to attend, and I was entrusted with lunch. So decided to go traditional, which is also rather simple to prepare, because I did not want to toil too much in the kitchen. Though my motive had self interested reason but my choice today is also a healthy choice.

Today's meal consist of three preparation, firstly the dried prawn sambol, secondly the Dwarf Copperleaf Curry and thirdly the Kambu Saadham. Lets get the picture trail going for the recipe.

Star of the day, Dwarf Copperleaf and Kambu

Main ingredient

(Pounded Anchovies, Fried Dried Prawn, Chopped Tomatoes, Chopped Onion, Diced garlic and ginger and my special Tamarind Sauce)

First item for the day is dried prawns sambol. I actually bought this nice big dried prawns from Da Nang, Vietnam. Vietnam is haven for seafood. So next time there, check out their sea food. If you are looking for dried seafood, then head straight to their local market, particularly to Con Market, where you can find all local delights. On the other hand if you are in Ho Chi Minh then go to Ba Chieu or Tan Dinh market. You must be wondering why I have skipped the famous Ben Thanh market, well it is rather touristy and the prices have become exhorbitant today.

Oopps..... lets get to business, as usual heat coconut oil in wok, once heated add garlic, ginger and onion, and saute till the onion turns light golden. Then add curry leaves.

Garlic, ginger,onion and curry leafs

When the the aroma of the curry leafs gets to your nose, add chopped tomatoes, and saute it till it becomes a little mushy.

Adding Tomatoes

At this stage pour in the tamarind sauce (I mean my special tamarind sauce) into the mixture. Bought de-seeded tamarind from Melaka a few months ago. I like to use this tamarind because it has a rich taste. In a bowl of hot water, drop the tamarind and allow it to disintegrate, then add 2 table spoon of chilly powder (add more if you want it spicier), a quarter spoon of tumeric powder, 2 teaspoon coriander powder and a teaspoon of cumin seed powder, stir well to make it into a thick sauce. 

Tamarind Sauce

Allow the combi to cook well, and then add the fried dried prawns, and stir well. Should keep stirring until the prawn sambol becomes dry. Add salt to taste. When cooking dried seafood check salt last because most dried seafood are already salted.

 

Forgive me for the stray below, that was my thirst quencher. Got it from my reason trip to Ho Chi Minh city. Always an inspiration😁

The Stray

We are done with the first item on our menu, next lets move to the Ponnangkanni Keerai Kadaiyal. The one thing I get tired doing as far as the ponnangkanni leaves are, plucking it from its stem. Thank God for me, I have my Amma, she is my saviour, she did all the plucking. Clean the vegetable and transfer it to a pressure cooker. Throw in some garlic, and add moong dhall (preferably) or in my case I used Mysore dhall (because I ran out of the former). Add water and sprinkle some hing, close the lid and cook till 2 whistle. 

 

The Outcome of the Pressure Cooked Item

Hold your horses, this item is not done yet. It is only the first part. Using a mallet, mash the cooked ponnangkanni leaves lightly. Then heat gingerly oil in pot. Then transfer the tampering item into the heated oil.

 

The tampering item includes, mustard seed, fenugreek, urad dhall, followed by chopped onions, and curry leaves. To give an added umpp, add the pounded anchovies into the tempering. Once the anchovies turn golden brown, pour the mashed ponnangkanni leaves into the tempred item, and stir well, till one boil then you are done.

Finished Ponnangkanni Keerai Kadaiyal

Finally we start with our Kambu rice. Soak 1 cup of Kambu (Pearl Millet) in hot water for about half an hour. Then pulse it coursely in the blender. Transfer it to a pot, add water and boil it till it starts to bubble.

Let the Kambu Boil

Meanwhile cook rice normally. Whilst the rice is almost cooked transfer the cooked Kambu into the rice and mix it well. Allow the kambu to blend well with the rice, and let it cool. 

Kambu Saadham is ready.

Viola ........ my lunch was ready. All I have to do now is to serve it and eat. This is one of the healthiest meal. It is simple to make but is flushed with nutrients and more so this meal has a cooling effect during this hot weather.

Served in Banana Leaf

Do try out and let me know. Btw the Kambu Saadham can be eaten with plain yougurt, fish curry, fried salt fish or even with plain onion and green chillies.

ravivarmmankkanniappan@1042100620233.0567° N, 101.5851° E

 

 

KARUVAATTU KUZHAMBU (SALT FISH CURRY)

 

Basic Ingredient (Potato, brinjal,tomatoes,onion,garlic and ginger and tamarind sauce)

Main Item, Threadfin Salt Fish (Ikan Kurau Masin)

Firstly heat coconut oil, and add tempering items, mustard seed, fenugreek, cumin and urad gram. Once it pops, add curry leaves.

Tampering

With Curry Leaves

Once the aroma of the curry leaves gets to your senses, add chopped garlic and sliced onions. Saute till onion turns golden then add diced garlic.

Onion and Ginger

Garlic

At this point add the chopped tomatoes. Allow it to cook for 5 min till the tomatoes turn a little mushy and seem blended with the tempering ingredient.

Tomatoes to give a rich taste

Then transfer the chopped potatoe's and brinjal. Stir well, allow the tempering ingredient and tomatoes to blend with these item. You can also add lima beans, but make sure either you soak it in water for about an hour first or semi boil it. Otherwise it may not cook well. Another option is to use the canned lima beans. Anyway to day I did not use lima beans, because I ran out of it.

Potatoes and Brinjal.

Then pour in the special tamarind sauce. This tamarind sauce consist of asam jawa, 2 table spoon of chilly powder (add more if you want the curry to be spicy), 2 table spoon of coriander powder, 1 table spoon of cumin powder and quater teaspoon of tumeric. Mix well with water, 2 - 3 cups or more if you want more gravy. 

Let the Special Tamarind Soak into the Ingredient

Close the lid and allow the tamarind sauce to cook. The best indicator to know whether it is well done, is to check on your potatoes. If the potatoes are cooked, then you will know the time is ready to transfer the fried salt fish into the curry. Btw before frying the salt fish, soak it in hot water first and dry it. This is to remove access salt, you do not want your curry to be overly salty. 

Close the Lid

Fried Salt Fish Transferred.

Allow this to cook for about 6 - 8 minutes. Taste the curry to check the salt level, and then decide if need to be added. At this juncture you can also add coconut milk. This will give a rich thick curry. For this preparation I did not add coconut milk, because I wanted my curry to have a lighter texture. 

Finally add 2 - 3 teaspoon of ghee. This will not only give a rich taste but also gives a rich aroma to the kuzhambu (curry). 

Ghee added

....and viola you have you Karuvattu Kuzhambu

This curry can be a stand alone complete meal with rice. In fact they say this curry would taste better the next day. True indeed, I had this curry for breakfast the next day with Pazhaya Soru Kanji or Neeragaram (left over rice porridge). This particular culinary item has fantastic health benefits. The fermented rice is rich in micro nutrients and minerals, particularly iron, potassium and calcium. Plus rice soaked in water would have 60% less calories then freshly cooked one. Further it can also cool down your body and can keep your guts healthy.

How do you do left over rice porridge, well thats easy. Transfer left over rice into a pot, preferably mud pot, add water submerging the rice and leave it overnight. The next day mix chopped onion, green chillies, yougurt and a little salt with the rice, blend well with your fingers. Viola you have a healthy morning breakfast. Pair it with your salt fish curry, it is simply out of this world.

Try it and let me know.

ravivarmmankkanniappan@1127070620233.0567° N, 101.5851° E