C S EASWARAN // Jallikattu, is a cattle/ bull taming sport played in Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations. The term Jallikattu comes from the term salli kassu (coins) and kattu (meaning a package) tied to the horns of the bulls as the prize money. During the colonial period this term got changed to Jallikattu which is the term currently used.
There are several rock paintings, more than 3,500 years old, at remote Karikkiyur village in the Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu, which show men chasing bulls. Karikkiyur, situated about 40 km from Kotagiri town, is the biggest rock art site in south India. The rock surface site, teeming with more than 500 paintings, was discovered in 2004.
Unlike in bullfighting, the matador does not kill the bull. There are rarely any casualties suffered by the bulls. Bull taming had different names — erukol, eruthazhuval, eruthukattu, kaalaianaiththal, maaduanaiththal and manjuvirattu, until it metamorphosed into modern-day Jallikattu.
Those opposing the sport view this from a narrow angle by only opposing Hindu traditions. There are matador fights in Sprain, and there no restrictions on that, although the bulls’ bodies are painfully pierced through the performance. Everyone should be aware that down south, people also celebrate Maatu Pongal, a festival only for cows and buffalos. These animals are decorated beautifully with pride, and prizes are announced in every local forum.
The Madras High Court on January 12, 2016, granted permission for Jallikattu for St Anthony’s Festival for areas in Madurai, Trichy and Sivagangai (the cows and buffalos), which is reserved for minorities. Why is there is no hue and cry then? Is it because they are the so-called minorities? If the activists and animal lovers are so concerned about animal rights, they should dare the meat exporters and ban meat exports. Let them start from the top and then go to the bottom.
Traditions are traditions. They cannot be replaced just like a switch or a mobile phone. Traditions teach people the pros and cons about our actions and also how to lead life. You just cannot pick one example and throw tradition away.
C S Easwaran is an international commodity trader in agricultural commodities for over 23 years, and is a guest lecturer on international trade in management institutes. An agri-oriented person, he has travelled 30 countries in Africa and over 40 countries worldwide. Easwaran is a specialist on Africa region and a consultant in agri-trade.
FACTFILE
Jallikattu (pronounced challikattu) is jalli and k attu . In Tamil, this refers to the silver and gold coins tied to a bull’s horns. Jallikattu is held once a year in Tamil Nadu, mostly in the villages around the temple town of Madurai, during Pongal celebrations. This bull-vaulting sport is said to be more than 3,000 years old. Men try to hold on to a bull for a fixed distance and untie the coins tied to its horns. Those who succeed, get a cash prize. In the process, both man and animal sustain grave injuries, sometimes fatal. The Supreme Court had banned the sport in 2014 on the grounds of cruelty to animals. On January 8, 2016, the Centre issued a notification allowing Jallikattu during Pongal. The Supreme Court in its order on January 12, 2016, imposed a stay on this notification and on January 14, upheld this stay.
SARAN SURI // As a sport, Jallikattu sounds interesting, except that over the years, the sport has turned from untying the coins to who can dominate the bull the best. It has become a matter of who is the strongest. Also, what started many, many years ago as a sport with a select few taking part, has now become a contest where hundreds of men try to dominate the helpless bull. After the regulation notification, the number has probably come down a bit but it is still high. And the sufferer in all this is the poor bull.
Animal activists were delighted when a stay was imposed by the Supreme Court on Jallikattu in 2014. However, this joy was short-lived when on January 19, 2016, defying the stay granted by the apex court, Jallikattu took place in parts of Tamil Nadu.
The ban was absolutely justified in view of Article 51-A (g) of the Indian Constitution, which mandates every Indian citizen “to have compassion for living creatures”. Even Mahatma Gandhi once said that the greatness of a country could be judged by the way its animals are treated. Animals should, thus, not be used as a medium of entertainment, more so in such a cruel manner, which induces injuries and death upon the hapless animal.
Animal activists and organisations working for the welfare of animals and many others condemned Jallikattu as it violates the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The organisers of Jallikattu call it a tradition. A footage released by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) showed the bulls having their tails twisted, bitten by contestants, often stabbed with spears, knives or sticks, and also punched, jumped on and dragged to the ground, during the sport. What kind of tradition is this?
PETA India has also documented its concern with the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). Another reason for their concern arises from the fact that Palamalai and Alambadi are two of the cattle breeds used during Jallikattu, which are on the verge of extinction. It is alleged that, perhaps, this is an excuse to send the bulls to slaughterhouses.
In 2011, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, in a notification, banned the use of bulls as performing animals, thereby banning the event. The practice continued under Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act. Prior to that in 2010, the apex court had conditionally permitted the Government of Tamil Nadu to allow Jallikattu, and had directed the district collectors to ensure that the animals that participate in Jallikattu are registered with the Animal Welfare Board, while imposing certain other conditions.
On 12 January 2016, the Supreme Court had ordered a stay, and despite protests by the people of Tamil Nadu, refused to lift the stay. On January 14, 2016, the Court upheld its ban on Jallikattu, leading to further protests all over Tamil Nadu. The focus on Jallikattu once again came about because the Centre issued a notification on January 8, 2016, lifting the ban on the sport with some restrictions during Pongal festival.
Animal activists, not only in India but in other countries too, have been expressing similar concerns and opposing similar games in which animals are subjected to cruelty, such as bull fighting, cock fighting, dog fighting, camel racing, and so on. Most of these are already banned. The locals argue Jallikattu is more than 2,000 years old. They argue that slaughtering of bulls and cows is still an ongoing commercial activity whereas in Jallikattu, no animal is purposely killed. They recommend that conditions be imposed to regulate it. The court feels that sports such as Jallikattu, in the name of tradition, are cruel to animals. Under the circumstances, one feels that even the plea for regulating it may not be considered. After all, cock fights are banned, dog fights are illegal, camel racing is banned, the use of animals in circuses is regulated. So why not Jallikattu?
Saran Suri is a Delhi-based advocate appearing before all courts including the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court, with around 32 years of experience in civil and commercial laws.
While many of us would have heard or read this quote somewhere, the depth of it gets tested when you look at its implementation at the education and job level for the disabled/differently-abled people.
The Indian Census 2001 has revealed that over 21 million people in India suffer from some kind of disability. This is equivalent to 2.1 per cent of the population. However, how many of us had friends or teachers with limited ability? How many of us can claim to having worked for a true equal opportunity provider, who also give equal rights to its employees with disabilities? I am sure the numbers would be few.
Right from education to securing a job, discrimination exists and it is a well-known fact. While everyone aspires for financial independence, job security and to lead a life with dignity, the corporate job avenues for persons with disabilities (PWDs) are still low. Even though the scenario may seem much brighter in the urban environment with numerous opportunities, technological advances and government support, it is the Indian private sector that needs to gear up. In spite of being well-qualified, most of the times, companies tend to look at a prospective employee’s disability first and his capabilities next.
However, one company that has broken this barrier, understood and utilised the potential of PWDs is Eureka Forbes, a consumer durable company, and leader in water and air purification systems, vacuum cleaners and security systems. The company was the pioneer in opening India’s first state-of-the-art call center — EuroAble — manned and operated by people who are differentially-abled.
THE INITIATIVE
Euroable was conceived and launched to fulfill the aspirations of the differentially-abled, who aspire for financial independence and want to lead a normal life without depending on anyone. Started in April 2011, it was the brainchild of Shapoor Mistry, chairman, Eureka Forbes Limited; the project is spearheaded by Vinath Hegde, head, customer relationship management, Eureka Forbes Limited, who has successfully designed and developed a back-end call centre technology and has recruited, trained and established a competent team to set up EuroAble.
The idea came into being during 2009-10, when Eureka Forbes offered employment opportunities to especially-abled student trainees of NASEOH (National Society for Equal Opportunities for the Handicapped) in Mumbai to assemble PCB motherboards for the Aquaguard water purification system. Eventually, more such trainees were recruited in the CRM department for lead generation. This gradually resulted in the idea of setting up a state-of-the-art call centre and training especially-abled people to provide them with employment opportunities at the centre.
CREATING APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENT
According to company officials, special care has been taken in training the employees so as to meet the global standards, as well as to create a centre that can be easily accessible by all. The EuroAble center is a 5,000 sq ft facility at NASEOH in Chembur, a Mumbai suburb, and has been especially designed for needs of the especiallyabled. So, you may find workstations that are a foot longer than the standard, three-feet call centre desks, which have enough space all around to allow easy access, by both wheelchair and crutches. The desktop computers have been designed with all the controls on top, so employees don’t need to bend to reach down.
The main area of operation is a large hall that has over 90 work stations, including 10 exclusively for people in wheelchairs. Currently, 96 people are employed here, with most of them being affected by polio or suffering from orthopedic disabilities. At present, the employees work in three different shifts throughout the day. The company also ensures that the pick-and-drop transport facilities are provided.
Most employees come from the lower-income strata, with limited or no fluency in English. Also, having suffered discrimination for most part of their lives, they need special counseling to be able to speak as an equal while conversing with the customer. Their speech and the attitude over the phone need to reflect they are professional call centre employees representing a premier company. Hence, the stress to extensively train the employees — from speaking in English and product training to handling consumer calls.
Instead of opting for a regular 10-day training course, the company has spread the training over a period of three months, keeping the new employees’ needs in mind so that after intense vice modulation, product information and computer classes, there is still some time to get the employees emotionally ready. They are also constantly motivated and encouraged to improve their communication skills, and their performance is monitored round-the-clock.
SPREADING SMILES
Besides becoming confident to take on the world, the employees are selfsufficient with a steady source of income and have an identity of their own. Take the case of Nutan, who was a shy girl bogged down by family problems and financial responsibility, with no one to take care of her. Her confidence was quite low after facing innumerable rejections while applying for jobs. However, after going through the training process in product and communication skills, she is a far more confident and positive girl. “From interacting with my seniors, to showing proficiency in handling the SAP process, every day has been a milestone since I joined EuroAble. It has not only given me a platform for financial stability and professional growth, but has also helped me in finding my soulmate in the same office,” she says.
Another success story is of Savita Ahiru, who was the oldest of the three siblings, doing odd-jobs to take care of her family and also to fulfill her dream of studying further. With great difficulty, she completed her higher secondary, but could not find a job. When she got married and had a baby, the struggle for a job to support her family started once more. After coming to EuroAble through NASEOH, she has found new confidence, and is now a proud employee and a big support to her family.
EuroAble further says that “the employees, despite their physical disabilities, have never compromised on efficiency” and this is the lesson many corporates who fear recruiting PWD should understand. What is also heartening is to see the efficiency and confidence of the employees, in spite of an increase in the volume of calls. According to the company officials, many employees who have performed well over the years and have grown with the call centre have been inducted into the leadership programme. As part of this programme, they are often responsible for supervising the entire gamut of operations at the call centre.
For its exceptional work, The National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) in 2012 awarded EuroAble with the Helen Keller Award for being a role model organisation that has promoted employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Witnessing the success of EuroAble, many corporations intend to start similar initiatives that would employ people with special needs. The company is also offering corporations to use the EuroAble premise for tele-calling, which will be handled by physically challenged people. In the near future, EuroAble is planning to employ 140 people, which will cater to about 20,000 customer calls in a day. It also plans to employ and train visuallyimpaired people for the same.
The success of EuroAble proves the point Professor Karen Clay of Carnegie Mellon University makes: “The severity of one’s disability does not determine their level of potential. The greatest barriers that persons with disabilities have to overcome are not steps or curbs, its expectations.”
Writing poetry is like dipping into one’s soul’s ink and then letting those magical words flow on paper. As lyrical and beautiful as that may sound though, it isn’t really that simple. For, writing poetry is an art that doesn’t come easy. What is important, however, is to get started — especially if it is your heart that tells you to pen your thoughts.
Interestingly, inspiration can strike at most times. To begin with, carry a pen and notebook or simply use your tab or phone to type your thoughts when they strike you. If you are, however, rushed for time (say running for a meeting or in the middle of a busy market), try jotting down the catchphrases, the gist of your thoughts in small clues. And when you find the time (but don’t let that be too late since you took notes), sit at your favourite desk or corner of the home, find your prefect setting and then put the clues out in the form you want.
Focus on conveying your thoughts and emotions precisely. A simple but important clue to remember is to ask yourself why you are writing the poem. You could be expressing anger at something around you, or even writing about an old love that still haunts your thoughts. By writing the poem, you should feel like you are pouring out your emotions about what you are writing on. That said, don’t forget the fine art of balance. Remember, there is great beauty in balance. Also the last line needs to have a punch. That is a key to remember while writing poetry.
If you finally have your poem in front of you and are still not completely satisfied with it, remember every skill only gets better with practice. So keep at it.
Another thing to remember is to read and listen to a lot of poems. Not only will this inspire you but it will also help you stay focused on the task ahead. Having said that, don’t let someone’s style take over yours. Getting inspired is great, but that inspiration should bring out the originality in you. It should simply help to let your creative juices flow. Remember you are as unique as those lines on your palms.
So go on, let the magic of your heart and mind flow into words.
Happy writing!
A COUPLE of months ago, a report talked about a 19-year-old girl being stoned to death in Afghanistan for adultery. The article and images of the dead girl took me back to a book I had finished reading barely a week before this incident: Nadia Hashimi’s debut book The pearl that broke its shell. In the book, King Habibullah’s mistress (one of the several, actually), Banafsha, is stoned to death for daring to let a man other than the king enter her room at night. She was the king’s “property” after all!
I thought this happened only in books, but when I read the news item, I realised I was fooling myself by thinking things have changed in Afghanistan.
In her book, Hashimi has woven the stories of two women from different centuries very beautifully and poignantly. Rahima, the main storyteller is from the present generation, while Shekiba’s story is a century old. Shekiba is Rahima’s greatgreat grandmother. The book points out that except for a few changes such as education, computer knowledge, and the presence of women in Parliament, everything else remains the same. The Bacha Posh custom still exists, wherein a girl child is married off to a man old enough to be her father or grandfather, the wife is still treated like a commodity for sex and slavery, and so on.
This is the story of Rahima, who became a child bride at the age of 13. She, along with her sisters Shahla and Parwin, was sold into marriage by their drug addict father. Rahima was unceremoniously married off was a Bacha Posh. But before that, she was Rahim, and had to dress and act like a boy since her parents could not have a son. Just when she was enjoying the freedom of being a boy, she was married off and thus began her life of abuse and rape at the hands of her husband. Rahima’s crippled and ignored aunt, Khala Shaima, remains her mainstay who keeps the sisters’ minds occupied by telling them the story of Shekiba, who too dresses and behaves like a man to guard the king’s mistresses.
It is also the story of Shahla, who is lucky enough to find herself in a better marriage, since her husband turns out to be good human being. Parwin, socially inept but a gifted artist, ends up in a highly abusive marriage since her husband and family is unable to understand her “artistic nature”. Her story tugs at your heartstrings.
Whatever is doled out to the sisters is considered their naseeb (destiny) and this is how most women in Afghanistan convince themselves about their lives being tough. And it is this very naseeb that Rahima is determined to change for herself – just like her ancestor Shekiba.
This fast-paced, well-written book raises questions about the condition of women in Afghanistan and what can be done to change the mindset of people, both men and women.
EACH zoon dabb (traditional balcony) in a Kashmiri house, and every leaf of the chinar (maple) tree in the valley has a story that needs to be heard. Author Meera Khanna brings out those stories from the valley into her paperback, The state of violent peace: Voices from the Kashmir Valley.
Jammu and Kashmir has always been a point of intrigue for the rest of the India, since most of the literature about the state focusses upon the politics, army, militancy and border tensions. We often hear people talking about insurgency, deliberating upon whether to visit Srinagar for summer vacations or not, the role of Indian Army, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and much more.
But amidst all this, what is often relegated to the background are the people of the Kashmir Valley, whose lives have been altered by the numerous political events, which can best be described as a tug-of-war between India and Pakistan.
Ever since India was declared an independent republic and Pakistan was created, the war to claim the Kashmir Valley has been on from both nations. We often hear in the news that the people of Kashmir want to merge with Pakistan, but it’s is a half-baked truth.
If one visits Srinagar, Gulmarg or Sonmarg, she will experience things are quite on the contrary. Talking to local residents, one realises that they are only looking for peace in their land. The book takes a closer look at the people of Kashmir, talks about the challenges faced by them, and expresses this in a poignant and aesthetic manner.
For her book, Khanna has picked 14 people, which includes eminent educationist Mahmuda Ali Shah, who was the icon of women’s empowerment in the valley; Sheikh Abdullah’s daughters Surayya Ali Mattoo and Khaleda Begum; and other prominent women like Krishna Misri, Neerja Mattoo, Naseer Ahmad Shah and Girija Dhar, who narrate their experiences and traumas.
“I made an attempt to deliver the stories of Kashmir. The stories shared by 14 people are the tales that they had not shared with anyone,” Khanna said, while in conversation with veteran journalist Jasleen Singh at her book launch at the India International Centre, New Delhi.
Each story has been given a captivating title, which instantly connects the reader to the protagonist. It has brought both sides of a coin to the forefront; the plight of Kashmiri pundits, the struggle of students for a decent education, how the youth had been misguided, sufferings of families who have lost their loved-ones, as well as the crackdowns of the Indian Army.
Khanna has successfully presented a nostalgic view of the amalgamation of different cultures, religious tolerance, brotherhood and belongingness among communities. It depicts that although the decades-old conflict has undoubtedly taken a drastic toll on the lives of people in valley yet the very fabric of Kashmiryat, sometimes worn sometimes torn, has survived.
“My book is a window into the life of an innocent Kashmiri who had to suffer extreme violence churned by the policies of two nations. You can find the enormity of damage in these stories. All of these stories connect to each other in one form or the other,” she says.
My first rendezvous with Paris blossomed into an ever-lasting love affair with the city, its people and all that it stands for. I was sold on the idea that Paris is the city in which one loves to live. There is no escaping the fact that Paris exists as a city of romance in our mind, and it is rightly so. Paris and Love have always been synonyms to many of us. But why is Paris the city of love? Is it because the French culture has been tolerant to public displays of affection? Or is it because of the way the city embraces different cultures and makes people more calm, loving, and open-minded? Whatever the case, if you are looking for an opportunity to discover – or rediscover – love in one of those candle-lit wine bars, Paris will not disappoint you.
Come February, and what better place in this planet to celebrate Valentine’s Day! The idea of being with your loved in Paris can’t go wrong. Be it those cobblestone walks around Montmartre, or walking arm-in-arm on the breezy boulevards along the Seine, or the amazement over watching the sunset from atop the spectacular Eiffel Tower with the perfect Parisian backdrop, it’s all a moment to savour and reminisce. Paris offers endless opportunities for romance on the D-day but here are a few must-dos.
Discover Paris together with a city sightseeing tour
Embark on a fabulous Tour of Paris at your leisure. Stop by sights such as l’Opéra, Notre Dame, and the Champs Elysées. Take a day-trip to Notre Dame and ascend the bell towers, gaining access to a stunning view of the city. A wonderful ending to this day of discovery would be a walk back to Trocadero to catch a glimpse of the city at dusk. This vantage point gives you an opportunity to snap some amazing shots of you and your love with the Eiffel Tower standing tall in the distance.
Visite Musée du Louvre
Take the theme journey through the historical Louvre Museum. Explore major works as the Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa. Listen to audio commentaries at each major exhibit to learn more about the art stored in the Louvre, and get a route map that helps you plan your day trip around this great museum.
Top of Eiffel
No less than 20,000 gold lights, champagne in hand, and the company of one you love. Rev up the romance while you stare out across the city and cuddle up with your sweetheart. Live the moment. A sensational way to experience the moment would be to visit the champagne bar nestled in the tower itself. A rose or white champagne, chilled as you like, would be on offer for your special date. Want to have a taste of the modern French fine cuisine? Walk into Le Jules Verne for an unforgettable experience.
For showbiz lovers
Want to head out to a cabaret? Go the Moulin Rouge way, for the glamour, the beauty and stage setups that are not only stunning but seem surreal. The intimacy and sensual performances featuring a host of talented performers are just what would make your Valentine’s Day special. The Doriss Girls’ fabulous French Cancan is sure to enchant you.
Boat ride on the Seine
It doesn’t get more romantic then this. As you float in your own piece of paradise enjoying a romantic dinner cruise along the Seine River, love is definitely in the air. The best part of this journey is the breathtaking scenery, along with a fine assortment of wine and cheese to savour. Give yourself a chance as live music fills the vessel, and you sway to the music on the dance floor while the boat passes by all the iconic monuments alongside the Seine: Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Louvre, and Invalides. Though a daytime cruise is a great way to discover the city, the soft evening lights make it more magical.
Visit the Cathédral Notre Dame de Paris
One of the most popular attractions in Paris, Cathedral Notre-Dame, is widely considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture in the world. A dominating figure on the Île de la Cité in the middle of the Seine, this spindly gothic buttresses and its magnificent stained glass windows make it as much a treat to your eyes. Around the square and bridges around the cathedral you’ll find assorted buskers, from full live bands to human statues, which always draw a handsome attendance from the visitors.
Aux Champs Elysées
The Avenue des Champs Elysées, Europe’s grandest boulevard, known for its glory and grandeur, runs westward from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. It has it all — the sprawling sidewalks, stylish octogenarians caked in make-up, cars in glimmering showrooms, pastel-green macarons in grand cafés... And if the monuments and symmetrical landscaping does not convince you, be informed that Champs-Elysées means “Elysian Fields”. This street must have been heaven on earth. The monuments and history connected to this avenue are worth more than the reality of the place today.
Say it in Montmartre
Montmartre and its signature Basilique du SacréCoeur (Sacred Heart Basilica) is one of the most charming areas of Paris. A place of pilgrimage for diehard romantics, even. For a grand look of the city of Paris, scale the steep staircases on the hillside to the basilica’s lofty dove-white domes. Seal your fate with your sweetheart with a kiss in front of the iconic Sacré Coeur Basilica. You can finally say it here — “Je t’aime”.
For a long time, this wasn’t considered a match made in heaven; at least not as far as food connoisseurs were concerned. How could foreign wines and Indian foods dare to come together? Wasn’t the love affair with wine, that gorgeous, subtle, tantalising drink, meant only for truly international cuisine? Wasn’t Pinot Noir meant to go with poached salmon and roasted duck breast, given the wine’s mouthwatering acidity and silky mouth-feel? But did you know it could, with its notes of potpourri, tobacco, black tea, cloves, pair delightfully with — hold your breath — desi tadke wali yellow dal! Or, for that matter, could you have guessed that an absolutely delightful Argentinian white wine could be, thanks to its floral fragrance and aroma, be just the wine to go with rosogolla, kheer and gajar halwa?
Yes, from Indian starters, to main course to your dessert, there’s wine waiting to be paired — and savoured by you — at every step.
In their seminal book, The Cinnamon Club Cookbook, food critic and entrepreneur Iqbal Wahhab, and chef Vivek Singh, who have both been at the forefront of transforming the way Londoners viewed — and ate — Indian food, with sophistication, refinement and in company of, what else, good wine, have listed which wine should be paired with what Indian dishes. No surprise then, that the restaurant tasted and paired over 2,000 wines in the process of creating dishes.
Wahhab and Singh aren’t alone. In 2014, award-winning Gymkhana in London came up with an impressive set of wine pairings at a dinner. Devised by sommelier and co-owner Sunaina Sethi, it was both challenging and fascinating to have wines getting paired with Indian food simply because of the country’s geography and how food changes from one state to the other. Depending on the heat level and the way the spices are treated, wines, say experts, have to be paired with utmost care and perfection. At this dinner, Sethi’s impeccable curation led to a full-bodied red wine (Pulenta Estate Gran Cabernet Franc 2010) getting paired with vindaloo; a nice, acidic Michele Chiarlo Barbera d’Asti Le Orme 2011 with a mushroom pilaf and; as mentioned earlier, an Argentinian wine pairing itself delightfully with Indian desserts.
In Varanasi, another major restaurant in London serving Indian food, wines are carefully selected to be served to diners. So a Pinot Noir from New Zealand with its intense fruity flavour will be served with the humble tandoori paneer, simply because the smoky, woody flavour of the dish is balanced delightfully by the texture of this particular wine.
In fact, once you follow the three-four commandments, you'll find it easy to pair your wine with Indian food. If you are serving North Indian food, full of spices and made tandoor-style, then you'll require red wine that has acidic qualities to add to the spices and which brings them out. If you want to enhance the flavour of, say, a dish that isn't too spicy (upma, idli, plain dosa, why not?), go for wines that have that buttery textures. If you don’t want the spices' flavours enhanced, then calm down the spice and go for something sweet (Pinot Gris or Riesling), which have some residual sugar.
Based on experts’ opinions and what we've researched, we bring you suggestions on which wines to combine with some of the best dishes in Indian food. This is just a broad list and you might want to experiment as you go along:
Dish: Kebabs (veg or non veg)
Wine to accompany: New Zealand Riesling.
Why: The heat of the kebab will lift the wine’s main fruity components, leaving you with a pleasant, delicate tropical finish.
Dish: Spicy chicken curry, rogan josh
Wine to accompany: Alsace Riesling
Why: The freshly-ground garam masala of chicken curry is matched by the citrus element of this dry wine, leaving floral notes on the palate.
Dish: Hyderabadi baingan
Wine to accompany: American Pinot Blanc
Why: This dish is sour and spicy at the same time. However, aubergines have a natural sweetness, which can complement the fruity notes of this wine.
Dish: Palak and methi pakoras/ palak paneer
Wine to accompany: Australian Sauvignon Blanc
Why: The minerality of spinach and the grassy aftertaste of fenugreek are balanced by the citrus flavour of this wine.
Dish: Tandoori paneer / tandoori chicken / tandoori fish, served with coconut rice
Wine to accompany: Sula Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Noir from New Zealand
Why: The gentle herb-ness of the wine works really well with gently sweet-spiced food.
Dish: Gur ki kheer/ rosogolla/ pudding
Wine to accompany: Late Harvest Chenin Blanc by Sula
Why: Bright, sweet, and a general nice texture. It's actually touted as one of the best dessert wines we have in India.
ENERGY ALLIANCE//The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Pipeline (TAPI), also known as Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline, is a natural gas pipeline being developed by the Asian Development Bank. The pipeline will transport Caspian Sea natural gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan into Pakistan and then to India. Construction on the project started in Turkmenistan on December 13, 2015. The pipeline is expected to be operational by 2019. The project aims to export up to 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year through a proposed approximately 1,800km pipeline from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is acting as the facilitator and coordinator for the project. The ground-breaking ceremony of 1,800-km project was held at the ancient city of Mary of Turkmenistan recently. The function was attended by Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Indian Vice President Mohd Hamid Ansari. Turkmenistan is believed to have the world’s fourth-largest gas reserves and exports it mainly to China.
TRAGEDY// Ten personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) were killed on December 22 as a small plane crashed near the Delhi airport just after take-off. All on board the B 200 Super King — three officers and seven senior technicians — were killed. The plane, a 22-year-old Beechcraft, took off for Ranchi at around 9.45 am. It crashed just moments later. There was no distress call or communication, say sources. The plane swerved to the left after take-off, narrowly missing a village. It then flew over a train track and clipped a tree before slamming into the boundary wall of the airport and crashing into a water treatment plant in the airport compound. The aircraft burst into flames and was almost completely wrecked. Thick smoke rose from the debris just after the crash.
The actual reason for the crash is under investigation but prima facie reports reveal engine failure as the main reason. The engines had been overhauled six months ago and there were no plans to decommission the aircraft. Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma has said an investigation has been ordered.
TRIAL// Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son and party Vice President Rahul sought and got bail in the National Herald case after a local court rejected complainant Subramanian Swamy’s opposition to the relief for them on the ground that they are influential and can flee the country. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stood surety for Sonia, while Priyanka Vadra gave surety for her brother Rahul. Amidst media hype and tight security, Sonia and Rahul and three other accused — Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes and Suman Dubey — appeared before the Metropolitan Magistrate in the Patiala House courts complex in pursuance of the summons issued to them on December 8. The case is based on a private criminal complaint lodged by Swamy against them of cheating, conspiracy and criminal breach of trust. Swamy has accused them of cheating and misappropriation of funds in acquiring ownership of the now-defunct daily National Herald. All of them were directors of Young Indian Ltd (YI), a company that was incorporated in 2010 and which took over the “debt” of Associated Journals Ltd, the publisher of National Herald. Swamy had accused Sonia and Rahul and others of conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds by just paying Rs 50 lakh by which YI obtained the right to recover Rs 90.25 crore, which the AJL had owed to the Congress party. All the accused had challenged the summons issued to them by trial court on Swamy’s complaint.