Poem: The Power of Words

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I was mulling over the power that words have and wanted to write a blog post about it. But when I started writing the post, I realised I was able to express myself better through a poem than through prose. See the power that words was wielding over me?

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The Power of Words

Words can make you laugh, words can make you cry
Sometimes leaving your soul crushed and dry

Words can hurt, words can calm
Words have the power to be that that soothes, be the balm

Words can cause envy, words can cause strife
Words can also sometimes follow you in the afterlife

But words can be used hide and conceal
Words can make you want to do things with zeal

Words can be the cause of revolutions
Words can be the reason that makes people storm bastions

Words have such power you can see
Handle words with care, this is but a humble plea

Words are like bullets fired off a weapon,
Once spoken, can’t be recalled, it has to find its traction

That’s why it’s said to be careful with how and what you speak
Because once spoken, words can never be recalled or erased
Because once wrongly spoken, its future is very bleak
Words spoken in haste, can’t be reversed or retraced

So be aware the power and influence that words have over lives
After all, words have the power to change perspectives

In My Hands Today…

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The Krishna Key – Ashwin Sanghi

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Five thousand years ago, there came to earth a magical being called Krishna, who brought about innumerable miracles for the good of mankind. Humanity despaired of its fate if the Blue God were to die but was reassured that he would return in a fresh avatar when needed in the eventual Dark Age—the Kaliyug.

In modern times, a poor little rich boy grows up believing that he is that final avatar.

Only, he is a serial killer.

In this heart-stopping tale, the arrival of a murderer who executes his gruesome and brilliantly thought-out schemes in the name of God is the first clue to a sinister conspiracy to expose an ancient secret—Krishna’s priceless legacy to mankind.

Historian Ravi Mohan Saini must breathlessly dash from the submerged remains of Dwarka and the mysterious lingam of Somnath to the icy heights of Mount Kailash, in a quest to discover the cryptic location of Krishna’s most prized possession. From the sand-washed ruins of Kalibangan to a Vrindavan temple destroyed by Aurangzeb, Saini must also delve into antiquity to prevent a gross miscarriage of justice.

Recipes: Tangy and Sweet Chana Dal

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Monday was Ganesh Chaturthi and as usual I made traditional modak or the sweet dumplings filled with coconut and jaggery as an offering or neividhyam to the Lord. I had about 2 tbsp of the filling left over and was wondering what I should do with it when I thought of incorporating it into a dal. I know Maharastrians do something similar with the filling of puran poli, so I took a leaf out of their book.

Fret not if you haven’t made modak the day you want to make this dal, all you need to do is just add coconut and jaggery to the dal and you get a lipsmacking tangy, yet sweet dal to eat with your rice and rotis.

Tangy and Sweet Chana Dal

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup chana dal
  • 1 small piece of tamarind, soaked in hot water for 20-30 minutes
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1/8 tsp asafoetida
  • 4-5 curry leaves
  • 1 tsp crushed green chillies or geeen chilli paste
  • 1-2 tbsp modak filling
  • I tbsp grated coconut, roasted (if not using the stuffing)
  • 1 tbsp grated jaggery (if not using the stuffing)
  • Salt to taste
  • Coriander leaves to garnish

Method:

  • Wash the chana dal and cook it either in the pressure cooker or on the stovetop till it is completely cooked and starts to lose its shape. Remove when cool and whisk it to a fine paste. Keep aside.
  • Mix and strain the tamarind pulp and get the juice. Keep aside.
  • Heat oil in a largish pan and when it starts to warm up, add the mustard seeds and let them pop. Then add the cumin seeds, curry leaves and asafoetida and stir for a couple of seconds.
  • Then add the green chilli paste and stir for a few seconds. Now add the whisked chana dal and stir well. Add the tamarind juice slowly and taste test for the level of sourness you want. Season with salt.
  • Thin the dal with water to your preference and let it come to a boil. When the dal comes to a rolling boil, add the modak filling and stir well.
  • If you don’t have the modak filling, just add 2 tbsp roasted coconut plus the jaggery and continue boiling the dal.
  • Finely chop the coriander leaves and garnish the dal. Serve hot with any Indian bread or rice.

In My Hands Today…

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Rich People Problems – Kevin Kwan

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When Nicholas Young hears that his grandmother, Su Yi, is on her deathbed, he rushes to be by her bedside – but he’s not alone. It seems the entire Shang-Young clan has convened from all corners of the globe, ostensibly to care for their matriarch but truly to stake claim on the massive fortune that Su Yi controls.

With each family member secretly fantasizing about getting the keys to Tyersall Park – a trophy estate on 64 prime acres in the heart of Singapore–the place becomes a hotbed of intrigue and Nicholas finds himself blocked from entering the premises.

As relatives claw over heirlooms, Astrid Leong is at the centre of her own storm, desperately in love with her old sweetheart Charlie Wu, but tormented by his ex-wife – a woman hell-bent on destroying Astrid’s reputation and relationship. Meanwhile, Kitty Pong, married to billionaire Jack Bing, finds a formidable opponent in his fashionista daughter, Colette.

2019 Week 35 Update

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The Indian festive season has started and today is my favourite festival – the birthday of my ishtadev Lord Ganesh. Its during this time I really miss being in Mumbai and I hope that next year I manage to go there at least for a couple of days during the 11-day Ganesh festival and also make a side trip to Pune to see the famous Ganesh mandals there.

We had a good week because of BB and GG’s early admission offers, which means that a slight easure of the pressure that is on the children because of the O level exams.

Our stress levels are hitting the roof what with the O levels less than 50 days away. I am literally counting the days down. Another date I am counting down to is our holiday at the end of the year. I can’t wait for the exams to get over so we can finally relax!

To everyone celebrating, Happy Ganesh Chaturthi! Ganpati Bappa Morya, Mangal Murti Morya!

Have a wonderful week people.