Also known as Koshambari, Kosamalli is a no-cook protein-rich salad that is made as a neividhyam for Rama Navami and also served in certain Tamil Brahmin weddings. It’s a super easy recipe to make, but one which I have never made. So in April, during the Tamil New Year, since I had my mother with me, I learned how to make it from her. And since it has been super hot in Singapore (no surprise there, right?), I also added in some raw mangoes which added a nice tinge of sourness to the salad.
Kosamali Salad
Ingredients:
½ cup grated carrots
½ cup grated cucumber
¼ cup grated raw mango
¼ cup yellow moong dal
6-7 tbsp fresh grated coconut
1 tsp oil or ghee
½ tsp mustard seeds
1/8 tsp asafoetida
2 dried red chillies, broken
4-6 curry leaves
1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
Salt as required
1 tsp lemon juice
Method:
Soak the yellow moong dal in a pan in hot water for about 30 mins, then drain completely and keep aside. You can also soak it in normal tap water for about 2 hours and then drain and keep aside. Just make sure when you drain it, all the water is completely drained.
In a large bowl, add the drained moong dal, grated carrots, grated mangoes and grated cucumbers and lemon juice and mix well.
In a small skillet, add the oil or ghee and when the oil or ghee warms up, add in the mustard seeds and let them pop. Then add the curry leaves and let them splutter for a bit.
Then add the dried red chillies, and asafoetida and let it cook for a couple of seconds.
Switch off the flame and add the tempering to the mixed dal and vegetables.
Now add in the grated coconut and the finely chopped coriander leaves to the salad and cover and keep aside for at least 10 minutes.
If you are eating the salad immediately, then add in the salt and mix well and serve.
If this salad is meant to be eaten later, or you plan to chill it for a while, add the salt just before serving otherwise the cucumber will start to ooze water.
This was a super delicious salad and will make a good addition to our salad repertoire.
Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom – Ilyon Woo
The remarkable true story of Ellen and William Craft, who escaped slavery through daring, determination, and disguise, with Ellen passing as a wealthy, disabled White man and William posing as “his” slave.
In 1848, a year of international democratic revolt, a young, enslaved couple, Ellen and William Craft, achieved one of the boldest feats of self-emancipation in American history. Posing as master and slave, while sustained by their love as husband and wife, they made their escape together across more than 1,000 miles, riding out in the open on steamboats, carriages, and trains that took them from bondage in Georgia to the free states of the North.
Along the way, they dodged slave traders, military officers, and even friends of their enslavers, who might have revealed their true identities. The tale of their adventure soon made them celebrities, and generated headlines around the country. Americans could not get enough of this charismatic young couple, who traveled another 1,000 miles criss-crossing New England, drawing thunderous applause as they spoke alongside some of the greatest abolitionist luminaries of the day—among them Frederick Douglass and William Wells Brown.
But even then, they were not out of danger. With the passage of an infamous new Fugitive Slave Act in 1850, all Americans became accountable for returning refugees like the Crafts to slavery. Then yet another adventure began, as slave hunters came up from Georgia, forcing the Crafts to flee once again—this time from the United States, their lives and thousands more on the line and the stakes never higher.
With three epic journeys compressed into one monumental bid for freedom, Master Slave Husband Wife is an American love story—one that would challenge the nation’s core precepts of life, liberty, and justice for all—one that challenges us even now.
Today is World Environment Day. The day is celebrated annually to showcase the importance of the environment and engage people to protect and restore the Earth. First held in 1973, it has been a platform for raising awareness on environmental issues such as marine pollution, overpopulation, global warming, sustainable development, and wildlife crime. World Environment Day has evolved to become one of the world’s largest environmental events with participation from more than 150 countries and millions participating in activities like tree planting, cleaning up the environment, and raising awareness about environmental issues. This year marks the event’s 50th anniversary.
Taking care of the environment is essential for the survival of both humans and wildlife. The environment is home to millions of species of plants and animals. Biodiversity is essential for the survival of ecosystems and provides essential services such as pollination, nutrient cycling, and water purification. The environment plays a critical role in regulating the Earth’s climate. Climate change, caused by the burning of fossil fuels and other human activities, is one of the biggest environmental challenges we face today. Taking care of the environment can help to mitigate the impacts of climate change and create a more sustainable future. The environment provides us with clean air and water, which are essential for human health and well-being. Pollution and degradation of the environment can have serious health consequences, such as respiratory illnesses and water-borne diseases. The environment provides us with natural resources such as timber, minerals, and oil. These resources are essential for economic development, but they must be managed sustainably to ensure their long-term availability. Ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, and coral reefs protect from natural disasters such as floods, storms, and tsunamis. Degradation of these ecosystems can increase the risk of natural disasters and make communities more vulnerable.
Each year, World Environment Day is hosted by a different country where the official celebrations take place. The host for 2023 is Côte d’Ivoire in partnership with The Netherlands. Both countries are showing leadership in the campaign against single-use plastics. They have also committed to building more circular economies, giving plastic products a second life and creating a host of new opportunities, including for the disadvantaged.
The theme of World Environment Day 2023 takes on plastic pollution, one of the gravest threats to the planet and our health. The world is being inundated by plastic. Plastic is an intrinsic part of everyday life and since 1950, the world has produced more than 9 billion tonnes of the material. Unfortunately, the vast majority of that or more than half has been thrown away, often after just a single use, ultimately polluting land, sea and air. Kess than 10% of plastic is recycled with an estimated 19-23 million tonnes ending up in water bodies. Plastic that is burnt combusts into toxic smoke. Microplastics find their way into our food, water and even air. By some estimates, people consume more than 50,000 plastic particles per year and many more if inhalation is considered. Many plastic products contain hazardous additives, which may pose a threat to our health. World Environment Day will focus on how humanity can end its love affair with single-use plastics and create economies in which plastic is repurposed instead of being jettisoned. For a more detailed blog post on plastic waste and its impact, click here.
The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) was launched on World Environment Day 2021, and it aims to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide. The Decade is a global call to action for governments, businesses, civil society, and individuals to take urgent action to restore ecosystems and create a sustainable future for all.
Taking care of the environment is a collective responsibility, and everyone can play a role in protecting the natural world. One of the most effective ways to take care of the environment is to reduce our consumption of resources which can be achieved by reusing and recycling materials like paper, plastic, and glass. Transportation is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, which are a major cause of climate change. By using sustainable transportation, such as walking, cycling, or taking public transportation, we can reduce our carbon footprint and help to protect the environment. Conserving energy is another important way to take care of the environment. An easy way to do this is to turn off lights and appliances when they are not in use, use energy-efficient light bulbs and appliances, and reduce our use of air conditioning and heating.
Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, are a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. By supporting renewable energy initiatives, we can help to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and create a more sustainable future. Trees play a critical role in regulating the Earth’s climate and supporting biodiversity. By planting trees, we can help to sequester carbon and create habitats for wildlife. Agriculture is a major contributor to environmental degradation, but sustainable agriculture practices can help to mitigate these impacts. By supporting sustainable agriculture initiatives, such as organic farming and regenerative agriculture, we can help to protect the environment and promote food security. Waste is a major environmental problem, but we can reduce our waste by choosing products with less packaging, avoiding single-use items, and composting organic
World Environment Day is an opportunity for everyone to take action to protect our planet and promote sustainable living. It serves as a reminder that we all have a role to play in protecting our environment and that we must work together to create a sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.
After 2.5 years, I have finally made it to my hometown, Mumbai. At the end of May, I was at Mulund, the northernmost suburb on the central railway. After this is Thane, which is a separate district altogether, but because of how Mumbai sprawls, Thane is usually considered a suburb of Mumbai, but administratively, it is separate. And on Friday, I finally made it home! I now have the slightly over 1000 km trek to Bengaluru and then the 7000 km trek back to Singapore before I can end this calculation.
This month, I read seven books, a mixture of fiction and non-fiction and this brings the total number of books I read this year to 38. I am very comfortable with my reading goals for the year and will most likely surpass them.
Today’s quote is from the ancient Greek philosopher, Plato who founded the Academy, a philosophical school where he taught the philosophical doctrines that would later become known as Platonism. According to Plato, self-mastery and self-control is the ultimate triumph for an individual. By conquering one’s own shortcomings and cultivating self-discipline, one can attain a state of inner harmony, balance, and virtuous living. This victory over oneself implies gaining control over one’s thoughts, emotions, and actions, aligning them with reason and moral principles. In Plato’s philosophy, this self-mastery was seen as an essential aspect of personal growth, ethical conduct, and the pursuit of wisdom. It involves understanding one’s own nature, recognising one’s flaws, and actively working towards self-improvement. Ultimately, this victory over oneself leads to a more fulfilling and virtuous life.
GG is busy with her internship and as much as she likes doing it, she is only now realising how mentally demanding accountancy can be. This is good because she goes into university with open eyes and can navigate what she wants in a career in this field. Some of BB’s friends have gotten their conscription notices and we are waiting now to see when he has to enlist. This will be a new phase in his life and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds for him.
That’s all from me this week. Stay safe and enjoy your weekend!
Ants Among Elephants: An Untouchable Family and the Making of Modern India – Sujatha Gidla
Like one in six people in India, Sujatha Gidla was born an untouchable. While most untouchables are illiterate, her family was educated by Canadian missionaries in the 1930s, making it possible for Gidla to attend elite schools and move to America at the age of twenty-six.
It was only then that she saw how extraordinary — and yet how typical — her family history truly was. Her mother, Manjula, and uncles Satyam and Carey were born in the last days of British colonial rule. They grew up in a world marked by poverty and injustice, but also full of possibility. In the slums where they lived, everyone had a political side, and rallies, agitations, and arrests were commonplace. The Independence movement promised freedom. Yet for untouchables and other poor and working people, little changed.
Satyam, the eldest, switched allegiance to the Communist Party. Gidla recounts his incredible life — how he became a famous poet, student, labor organizer, and founder of a left-wing guerrilla movement. And Gidla charts her mother’s battles with caste and women’s oppression. Page by page, Gidla takes us into a complicated, close-knit family as they desperately strive for a decent life and a more just society.
A moving portrait of love, hardship, and struggle, Ants Among Elephants is also that rare thing: a personal history of modern India told from the bottom up.
Memories and Such 