This was the Good Friday weekend and was an extremely relaxing one. Before coming to Singapore, my father wanted me to make some special meals for him and I have been trying to make at least one every week for him. This weekend was also both cloudy and sunny and so we alternatively switched on the air conditioning or switched off the fans.
Both GG & BB finally got information about their graduations and both will take place in early May. Unfortunately, both only can invite two people to attend the graduation, so only S and I will be able to make it.
Albert Einstein, widely acknowledged as the greatest and most influential theoretical physicist of all time, once said The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination. What this means is that storing knowledge and learning facts and formulae is not enough, but the motive of life is to think beyond the imagination. This is what differentiates the truly intelligent from the masses.
That’s all from me this week. Take care and stay safe!
You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life – Jen Sincero
In this refreshingly entertaining how-to guide, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author and world-traveling success coach, Jen Sincero, serves up 27 bite-sized chapters full of hilariously inspiring stories, sage advice, easy exercises, and the occasional swear word. If you’re ready to make some serious changes around here, You Are a Badass will help you: Identify and change the self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors that stop you from getting what you want, blast past your fears so you can take big exciting risks, figure out how to make some damn money already, learn to love yourself and others, set big goals and reach them – it will basically show you how to create a life you totally love, and how to create it now.
By the end of You Are a Badass, you’ll understand why you are how you are, how to love what you can’t change, how to change what you don’t love, and how to use The Force to kick some serious ass.
An annual event celebrated globally today or April 07, World Health Day was initiated by the World Health Organization or WHO in 1948 as a means to raise awareness about health issues and to promote better health practices around the world. Every year, a different theme is selected to highlight a specific health concern that needs to be addressed.
This year, the World Health Organisation will observe its 75th birthday. World Health Day is one of 11 official global health campaigns marked by the WHO, along with World Tuberculosis Day, World Immunization Week, World Malaria Day, World No Tobacco Day, World AIDS Day, World Blood Donor Day, World Chagas Disease Day, World Patient Safety Day, World Antimicrobial Awareness Week and World Hepatitis Day.
This year, World Health Day 2023 will be focusing on the theme of Health for All. This theme is an opportunity to look back at public health successes that have improved the quality of life during the last seven decades. It is also an opportunity to motivate action to tackle the health challenges of today and tomorrow and to emphasise the importance of health equity and how it can be achieved through a collective effort.
The right to health is a basic human right. Health equity refers to the idea that everyone should have equal access to quality health services regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, or location. However, in many countries, certain populations face disparities in health outcomes and access to health services, making it difficult for them to achieve optimal health. These disparities are often caused by systemic inequalities, such as poverty, lack of education, and inadequate access to healthcare. 30% of the global population is not able to access essential health services and almost two billion people face catastrophic or impoverishing health spending, with significant inequalities affecting those in the most vulnerable settings. Universal health coverage offers financial protection and access to quality essential services, lifts people out of poverty, promotes the well-being of families and communities, and protects against public health crises.
COVID-19 set back every country’s journey to universal health. Along with this and other health emergencies, overlapping humanitarian and climate crises, economic constraints, and war, the journey for every human being’s access to healthcare has become more urgent. The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the stark differences in health outcomes between different populations. Research has shown that communities of colour, people living in poverty, and those in rural areas have been disproportionately affected by the virus. This disparity is due to a combination of factors, including a higher prevalence of underlying health conditions, inadequate access to healthcare, and limited resources to protect themselves from the virus.
To achieve health equity, we must address these underlying factors that contribute to health disparities. This can be done by implementing policies and programs that aim to reduce poverty, increase access to education and healthcare, and improve living conditions. It is also important to address systemic inequalities, such as racism and discrimination, which can have a significant impact on health outcomes.
One of the key ways to build a fairer and healthier world is through universal health coverage or UHC. UHC means that everyone should have access to quality health services without facing financial hardship. This can be achieved by providing access to essential health services, such as preventive and curative care, and by ensuring that everyone has access to affordable medicines and vaccines. By implementing UHC, we can help reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes for all populations. It can also help to address the issue of “medical impoverishment,” where individuals and families face financial hardship due to high medical expenses. In addition, UHC can also help to improve overall health outcomes, reduce the burden of disease, and enhance economic growth and development.
Another important factor in building a fairer and healthier world is investing in research and development. This includes investing in the development of new and innovative treatments, as well as improving existing health technologies and medical practices. Research and development can also help to identify and address the root causes of health disparities, leading to more effective and equitable solutions. Additionally, strengthening health systems is also crucial in achieving health equity. This involves improving access to quality healthcare, increasing the availability of healthcare workers, and strengthening the management of health systems. By strengthening health systems, we can ensure that everyone has access to the care they need, regardless of where they live or their socioeconomic status.
Finally, it is important to prioritise the health of vulnerable populations, such as women, children, and the elderly. This involves addressing the specific health needs of these populations and ensuring that they have access to quality health services and adequate care. By prioritizing the health of vulnerable populations, we can help to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes for all. Evidence shows that health systems powered by primary health care or the PHC approach are the most effective and cost-effective way to bring services for health and well-being closer to people.
Is it possible for a non-Indian woman, an American of European decent, to be a Hindu? Sometimes the religion that you’re born into isn’t the right one for you. What happens when the religion you fall in love with is one that traditionally does not accept converts? Both an ethnicity and a way of life, Hinduism is considered by many to belong only to Indians.
Ambaa, a white woman in America, forged her own path into Hinduism. Her spiritual journey through writing and connecting with others shows the power of pure religion to overcome the boundaries and separations of race and ethnicity.
Her story is a fascinating journey of a young woman’s struggle to find identity in the melting pot of America. There are more and more white Hindus and non-Indian Hindus every day. How do they make a place for themselves in one of the world’s oldest religions? Do they take on Indian culture and customs as well as religion? Or do they make it their own?
This book is for anyone who wonders: Can we explore and connect to a religion that is not traditionally followed by our ancestors? What does Hinduism look like through non-Indian eyes? What is the importance or the place of spirituality in our lives?
The essays in this book, based on the popular White Hindu blog, explore a variety of the issues that non-Indian Hindus struggle with…
Is it possible to convert to Hinduism? Why is Ambaa so concerned with skin color? How important is culture in the practice of Hinduism? What does polytheism really look like in practice? This book is a collection of essays about culture, identity, religion, language, and humanity tracing one woman’s spiritual journey from defensiveness to peace.
During GG’s internship, she used to take her lunch when she had to work in the office and this meant I made one pot meals more than usual. When I got bored of making the usual pulaos, I tried this coriander and mint pulao as I had some mint leaves which was getting spoilt. The recipe is different from my usual mint pulao where I grind the mint leaves to a paste and this one had a very subtle smell and taste of mint and coriander and was very tasty. It is a definite keeper and I will be making this again soon.
Coriander Mint Pulao
Ingredients:
2 cups basmati rice, soaked in water for about 20-30 minutes
2 tbsp ghee
1 large onion, finely sliced
1 carrot, peeled and cut into 2-inch sticks
1 potato, peeled and cut into 2-inch sticks
¼ cup green peas
1 green chilli, slit
A one-inch piece of ginger, julienned
10-12 pieces of cashew nut
1 tsp cumin seeds
3 cloves
3 cardamom
1 bay leaf
A one-inch piece of cinnamon
2 tbsp mint leaves, chopped
2 tbsp coriander leaves, chopped
Salt to taste
Method:
Wash the basmati rice well and drain keep aside.
In a pan, heat the ghee and when the ghee heats up, add in the cumin seeds and let them splutter.
Then add the cloves, cardamom, cinnamon and bay leaf and saute for a few seconds.
Next, add in the green chilli and ginger and saute for a few seconds.
Now add in the cashew nuts and saute till the cashew nuts turn golden brown.
At this point, add in the sliced onions and saute till the onions become translucent.
When the onions are translucent, add in the chopped vegetables and saute for a few minutes.
Add in the chopped coriander and mint leaves and saute for a few seconds. We don’t need to cook them, just let them wilt.
Lastly, add in the rice and salt and saute for a minute or two.
Transfer everything to a rice cooker and add water. I usually add 2 cups of water for every cup of rice, but please use your discretion and the instructions in the packet of rice.
Cook the rice either in the rice cooker or on the stovetop and once the rice is done, let the pan stand for about 5 minutes before opening it.
Fluff the rice with a fork before serving. Serve hot with a raita of your choice.
Memories and Such 