Marriage Feast

Marriage Feast
Originally uploaded by sublaks.

Delicious yummy marriage feast served on the banana leaf. There is an order in the dishes that are served. This picture shows:Appalam, white rice, sambar, poriyal, chips, dahi vada, mango thokku,pal payasam, etc etc ummm... God, thank you :)

Paper Man

Paper Man
Originally uploaded by sublaks.

He has the modern cell and an antiquated measuring balance to weigh old newpapers and buy them by the kilogram from you.
You can sell him your old lamps, tattered clothes and pretty much anything that can be recycled or sold again.

A mother at 13, cancer at 14 and dead by 16..

This is a story (BBC) about a teenager who started life in the fast lane. There are many untold stories of such young girls. The only difference being that Beckie is from a developed country where she made a conscious choice to take care of her child. Tragically diagnosed with cancer, her family support and acceptance allowed her to build and capture memories for her little one.
Now imagine the young girls in developing countries who are forced into prostitution at an age when they should be playing with other kids and not perverse men. They face unwanted pregnancies, have no legal support, no medical facilities and produce illegitimate children who are marked for the rest of their lives. Academy award winning documentary Born into Brothels captures the life of prostitutes' children in Calcutta. Maybe they won't be killed by cancer. But the chances that they will perish because of some STD is very high. The only memories that their little ones will have are those of their girl-mother languishing in pain.

Chaaat

Chaaat
Originally uploaded by sublaks.

Shot of chaat (pav bhaji) being made.
Look ma! No gloves.


All sweat and spice
makes food healthy and nice

Corn Puff

Corn Puff back view
Originally uploaded by sublaks.

Umm delicious corn puff. I dont get this in the USA. The secret to eating this :
Place a single corn puff gently on your tongue. Close your mouth, and then let the roof of the mouth touch the corn puff (with the help of your tongue). Absorb the delicious flavor. It will slowly melt away.. heaven :)

Servant Maid

Saraswathi, my maid is looking for a groom for her 15 year old daughter. Inspite of being married to an alcoholic and getting beaten up everyday, she wishes to get her lil one married asap. She has 2 daughters and wants to fulfill her responsibilities. Virginity is a big deal especially in the lower strata of the indian society and so is caste. Neither can be compromised. 2 years ago I was passionate about lodging a complaint with the police when she would show me her bruises and cuts from the beatings of the previous night. Of course that very thought shocked her. It was her husband and she was fated to receive the blows,
Today, I hear different reasons for her getting thrashed.Eg: why was he graying earlier than she was. I feel no such youthful passion surging through me. I just accept with resignation. Now I try to advice her against marrying off the daughter so early. Perhaps 2 years later, she will show me her grandson.

Chennaiiii

Landed yesterday morning. Food downed so far :

• Roast crispy dosas with sambar and thenga chutney
• Mola keera masiyal, vazhakka roast
• Manga pachadi
• Chilly paneer , Gobi machurian, fried rice, Kadai veggies, naan
• Pomegranate, pazhapazham (jackfruit)
• Mangoes, custard
• Navarthna Kurma

It has been less than 48 hours since I got here. Feel worlds away, in home sweet home.

New Blog

Started a new blog to document my perspective about the plight of some Indian women. It is not a site for a news junkie but will have details that one cannot find the media reporting. I have been meaning to help abused women and children as long as I remember. Hopefully this small step will give me the resolve to get involved in bigger projects.

India Trip

In less than 2 weeks I will be going home. I dream about..

• luscious golden mangoes
• cool eleneer (coconut water)
  
• blazing sun
  
• smell of jasmine
• cry of hawkers
  
• aroma of samosas
• traffic stopping cows
• bonding with stray dogs
• driving on the left side of the road
  
• buzzing mosquitoes
  
• swatting the mosquitoes
• tamil serials
• bumpy rides on potholed roads
  
• bargaining
  
• marriage feasts on banana leaf
• sitting by the door on the train
• travelling at 20mph in a car with windows lowered
• olfactory assault by kuvam
  
• rationing water
• pattu saree maamis
• exchanging gossip
• cheri tamil

I wish you could come with me..

Smart Wal Mart

This is not about illegal workers or cheap labour. This is about exploiting the human need to feel important. If you look at the Wal Mart weekly brochure (the one that lands up in your mailbox along with all the other junk mail) you can see non-model like figures, wearing Wal Marty products, staring at you. The associate manager is sporting the latest sandals , and the manager is wearing that cool summer dress. I try in vain to find a picture of a cashier or one of those helpers (ppl wearing blue jackets you bug in the store when you cannot find something). So I have this theory that you need to be high up in the organization to get yourself into one of those ubiquitous booklets. I imagine there is a waiting period. Perhaps, this is also used as an incentive. The best employee of the month can appear on the cover. Aah! I await the next weekly edition where the common man meets the silver screen.