Wordsmith at work

  I  chanced upon a penmanship contest, the topic of which was "When was the last time that you hand-wrote a letter?" Sadly, my handwriting skills have gone unused and have rusted . The topic interested me, but with underused handwriting, what chance did I stand?  Today, I generally only handwrite cheques and grocery lists. If the grocery shopper happens to be my better half, then the grocery list is often sent through  WhatsApp. Today, receiving invitations to celebrations on social media is no surprise . There   are   many happy memories associated with handwriting and receiving handwritten letters.  As a   child ,  I wrote to my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins scattered across the country. The  schoolgirl in me practiced what I had been taught, paying great attention to punctuation, spelling, and grammar when writing.  So much thought went into the penning of the letter. Then came the actual scripting in m...

    On a faraway hill, close to the deep blue sea Stood a towering mansion Belonging to Uncle Lee Which he generously left to me.   I approached with trepidation, the palatial structure But also excited about what I would see I unlocked the heavy oak wood door My eyes adjusted to the gloom Wishing that there was more light in the room.   I switched on the lamps Basking in their golden glow The ornate furnishings were just so beautiful I could never let them go.   I wandered through the many rooms Admiring all that I saw Looking for treasures that I’d hoped to have and hold. Alas! No gold, silver or diamonds did I find Only upon a wall had Uncle Lee scribbled Love and be kind.   Uncle Lee cared not for The mansion his father had built Being loving, gentle and kind Was what was always on his mind.   This post is part of the Blogchatterbloghop weekly prompt.  Image credit - Pixabay.  ...

  Food As A Language of Love   Food goes beyond being a means of sustenance. It brings people together. It fosters bonds of love, care and kindness. “The way to man’s heart is through his stomach, said somebody and thus wrote my Father to my mother, “Your every dish is a poem," in a recipe book that he gifted to her. How does food create a language of love? §   Cooking Together – Preparing a meal with someone, whether it is parents cooking together or parents and children or siblings or friends or newlyweds - Amidst the cleaning chopping and stirring, a rapport is built and bonds are strengthened. §   Sharing meals – Family meals spread positive vibes and bring the family closer. Leaving behind or even sharing the rants of the day, family come together to share and bond over food. It is also an opportunity to thank the one who prepared the meal which is often the mom. §   Cultural connection – Food celebrates cultural diversity. The lunch hour in ...

  Sattu: A Superfood.     I was introduced to Sattu at a healthcare programme and have grown fond of it. I try and incorporate the food into my diet in various ways. Popular in Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar Uttarakhand, and even some parts of Pakistan Sattu is a protein-rich, plant-based flour made from dry-roasted Bengal gram or chickpeas. This recently recognized superfood is said to have originated in Tibet where it is called TSampa.It is also available in different forms, such as wheat, barley or Jowar. Sattu ki Kadi  owar.  Sattu is especially beneficial during the summer because of its cooling properties. Sattu is unique to Bihari cuisine and Litti Choka remains a popular dish even among non-Biharis. Litti is a whole wheat dough ball stuffed with a spiced mixture of sattu and served with a veggie mash called chokha.   The littis are traditionally roasted on charcoal fires but in homes they are generally baked in an oven.  ...

  During the 19 th century, Bombay Christians were glad to be employed by the British East India Company but decided to differentiate themselves from the Goans and Mangloreans who also headed to Bombay seeking employment. Thus these locals from the western coast of Maharashtra called themselves East -Indians.  East Indian strongholds in Mumbai include Gorai, Vasai, Versova, Bandra, Colaba, Thane and Mazazgon.      I am an East –Indian and as a schoolgirl, I spent several summer vacations in my grandma’s house in Mumbai. One memory that has stayed with me is of a group of women coming to my grandma’s home almost every summer to pound at least 20 plus spices, sun-dried for a few days into a fine crimson powder called “Bottle Masala” unique to the East – Indian community. The women spent the entire afternoon pounding the ingredients in Grandma's garden. They pounded the spices in a huge wooden drum with long, wooden sticks.  The masala is not pungent but ...

  Being an adult is not all fun and games. I may enjoy a certain kind of freedom but adulthood also brings with it certain duties and responsibilities that must be taken seriously or I am still a child in the garb of an adult. As an adult, I am expected to behave and speak in a certain way and I list below my social and personal responsibilities.    ·           Managing Finance  - I must have my finances in order as I budget and invest. I must contribute to meeting household expenses if I am employed and live with my parents; my husband and I both did.  ·          Accountability – I am accountable for all that I do and say. Playing the blame game within the family or community doesn’t speak well of me. ·        Living in harmony – I am part of a larger community. Hence I must strive to live in peace and harmony with my neighbours and resolve c...