HOW WELL WE KNOW OUR VINO!
Booze is the social glue of all mankind’, said dear old Barbara Holland who really loved her wine. In the ‘dry’ state city of Surat, nothing stands more true. It is customary in the Khatri community to share a ‘batli’ as they call it, on all occasions of social gatherings be it birth, death or weddings.’Surya ast toh khatri mast’, the men and women folk have their own circles on the home floors with ‘dana-chana’ and ‘mutton mamnas ‘doing the rounds as bite sized food accompaniments. The Golwaad area, often touted as a policeman’s nightmare, has ‘bhajiya patra’ kiosks busy as soon as the sun sets. Groups of regulars order from their doorsteps as gamblers gather for their evening session of game and daru.In the posh localities of southern Surat, come evening and restaurant phones are abuzz with home –delivery orders of a variety of starters Chinese toTandoori.Alcohol is easily the worst kept secret in Surat ,it is common knowledge. There are different ways to produce this dipsomaniac’s delight in Tapi town-
DIY-Do it yourself. In case you raise a surprised brow, let me tell you that in 1632 A.D., Peter Mundy, a European traveler who had spanned India, was surprised too at finding many people in Surat addicted to opium which grew on Surti soil in vast quantity.In the poppy fields, seeds and husks were seeped in water and an alcoholic bevearage called ‘poste’ was procured from it.Cannibes-Bhang was also used to prepare intoxicating drinks and alcoholics were then known as ‘postees ‘or‘bhangees’.In modern day Surat, alcohol is produced at 3 levels.
1. Potli /latthho- one of the worst kind made from soda ash powder used in polishing metals [kallai powder], koilo jaggery, navsar and khor which are put to boil in a tin within a ‘bhatti’ and cooled, then mixed with water and fermented in hidden areas often made in umra,bhatha and small villages around surat, this one is sold at rs.2.50 per glass and goes upto rs.10 .per ser on festive occasions.mostly consumed by the labourers and slum dwellers; it is lethal and triggers lung and intestine infection, along with severe throat inflammation.
2. Deshi-Narangi concocted from rotten fruits and hafeem with a few tablets of potent herbs thrown in the brew, the lower middle class buys it from Dumas, Bhimpore, Ved and Dhaboli.Available in small glass bottles at rs.10.
3. Tadi/Wine-In winters, the juice of ice-apple fruit is relished by early birds out for a walk but it is a well known fact that the ‘niro’ juice ferments and turns into intoxicating ‘tadi’ post midday! Surtis relish the niro and tadi as these are easily accessible and one of their favorite drinks .Surti women make wine at home during the grape season and store to savour it through the year.Grapes, whole wheat, yeast, de-chlorinated water and sugar are mashed and left to ferment in a sterilized ceramic bottle for 21 days. The prepared wine is then stored in glass bottles with cork lids. Shiraz, Chantilly, Chardonnay not withstanding, ‘Nothing more satisfactory than home made surti wine ‘, swear the housewives.Well what more can I add to that except, ‘Cheers! To the Surti “spirits”!’
Showing posts with label ash india. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ash india. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
LOVE AT THE FIRST FLIGHT…………………………………………………Upon trying to enter the newly paved drive way of the under construction premises, you
will be stopped by the guard at the gate and asked,’kidhar jaayengay?’ Before your driver or you have a chance to answer, he will continue,’Jaipur? Delhi? Ahmedabad? Calcutta?’ depending on whatever is the destination of the outgoing flight! Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Surat airport- your gateway to air connectivity. As you wade in, the two and at present only standing structures that meet the eye are the control tower and the terminal. Ample and organized parking space is available surrounded by yet to be developed barren land. With few flights functioning as of yet, most visitors hang around here for either receiving or seeing off relatives due to lack of public transport. Enter the canopy like entrance and you will hear lilting shenaii music to mark the auspicious occasion of the commencement of your journey……
Once you have scanned your luggage [hurrah! we have a proper detector now] you will get checked in within the next 10 minutes thanks to cordial and efficient staff. You are now ready to either wait in the cool, clean lounge [no refreshment counter or bookstore yet] or take the mini bus trip to your airplane. As is the case with most of our domestic airports, you board the flight through the ramp. Cross your heart for the trip ahead, most of the flights have locally trained and helpful staff. Food on board may not be exactly ‘smorgasbord’ but is arranged from the flight kitchen of your destination in case you feel like a bite during the short flight. You are now ready to zoom off the fresh tarmac while the pilots wait for the signal that no ball, bird or buffalo will hinder the take off……Au revoir!……….
If you happen to travel within the U.S. of A, the view from an aircraft is mostly that of concrete jungles, Dubai offers desert heat and dust while Singapore and the Far East will make you feel you are landing on the sea! Most of our Indian Metros have sad slums or industrial waste dumps as the view available. The minute you look out of your flight from Surat, you are immediately smitten by the city’s beauty! The flight route during take off as well as landing is more like a Surat darshan tour. The green stretch ends into the vast Arabian Sea then you turn around and re enter the foliage from way above. Flying over the flyover town is like looking down at heaven, the glistening Tapti as she gently curves with familiar monuments and gardens on either bank, the grand Swaminarayan temple, the artistic dome of the Indoor Stadium, the bridges that connect us both over road and water, the Gaurav Path. The clean, green Surat with its organized urban planning mesmerizes you into love at the first flight. One cannot but help feel proud of the bird’s eye view of our city as it disappears into surreal existence and melts away beneath the clouds .Then, remerges in all its splendour of a buzzing jet set town. You inadvertently leave and enter the town with a smile.
The rattling Vayudoot flights of the 70’s and 80’s that left us jittery are a thing of the past, this new improved airport avatar is our ticket to emotional, physical and financial connectivity. Once famous for our port, in future; we just might be so for our airport .Surat’s airport might not be as busy as New York, as well connected as Paris, as desirable as London’s Heathrow but we do now have a passage to help us get there faster and how! After all, from up there, Surat does look very khubsurat and of course,
’Saare Jahaan Se Achha!’
will be stopped by the guard at the gate and asked,’kidhar jaayengay?’ Before your driver or you have a chance to answer, he will continue,’Jaipur? Delhi? Ahmedabad? Calcutta?’ depending on whatever is the destination of the outgoing flight! Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Surat airport- your gateway to air connectivity. As you wade in, the two and at present only standing structures that meet the eye are the control tower and the terminal. Ample and organized parking space is available surrounded by yet to be developed barren land. With few flights functioning as of yet, most visitors hang around here for either receiving or seeing off relatives due to lack of public transport. Enter the canopy like entrance and you will hear lilting shenaii music to mark the auspicious occasion of the commencement of your journey……
Once you have scanned your luggage [hurrah! we have a proper detector now] you will get checked in within the next 10 minutes thanks to cordial and efficient staff. You are now ready to either wait in the cool, clean lounge [no refreshment counter or bookstore yet] or take the mini bus trip to your airplane. As is the case with most of our domestic airports, you board the flight through the ramp. Cross your heart for the trip ahead, most of the flights have locally trained and helpful staff. Food on board may not be exactly ‘smorgasbord’ but is arranged from the flight kitchen of your destination in case you feel like a bite during the short flight. You are now ready to zoom off the fresh tarmac while the pilots wait for the signal that no ball, bird or buffalo will hinder the take off……Au revoir!……….
If you happen to travel within the U.S. of A, the view from an aircraft is mostly that of concrete jungles, Dubai offers desert heat and dust while Singapore and the Far East will make you feel you are landing on the sea! Most of our Indian Metros have sad slums or industrial waste dumps as the view available. The minute you look out of your flight from Surat, you are immediately smitten by the city’s beauty! The flight route during take off as well as landing is more like a Surat darshan tour. The green stretch ends into the vast Arabian Sea then you turn around and re enter the foliage from way above. Flying over the flyover town is like looking down at heaven, the glistening Tapti as she gently curves with familiar monuments and gardens on either bank, the grand Swaminarayan temple, the artistic dome of the Indoor Stadium, the bridges that connect us both over road and water, the Gaurav Path. The clean, green Surat with its organized urban planning mesmerizes you into love at the first flight. One cannot but help feel proud of the bird’s eye view of our city as it disappears into surreal existence and melts away beneath the clouds .Then, remerges in all its splendour of a buzzing jet set town. You inadvertently leave and enter the town with a smile.
The rattling Vayudoot flights of the 70’s and 80’s that left us jittery are a thing of the past, this new improved airport avatar is our ticket to emotional, physical and financial connectivity. Once famous for our port, in future; we just might be so for our airport .Surat’s airport might not be as busy as New York, as well connected as Paris, as desirable as London’s Heathrow but we do now have a passage to help us get there faster and how! After all, from up there, Surat does look very khubsurat and of course,
’Saare Jahaan Se Achha!’
Sunday, October 21, 2007
VEER KAVI AND WARRIOR COELHO,,,,,,,,,,,
VEER KAVI AND WARRIOR COELHO-------NO CONFUSION ,GREATCOMBINATION... August 24th is the birthday of Paulo Coelho---warrior of light as he likes to call himself,one of the most popular and widely read author of today's time.His work on poetry,music,literature has been translated into 71 languages worldwide [5 languages in India itself]and he is considered one of the most influential writer of today's times.Original works of his Brazilian literature has gone on to top worldwide bestselling charts.He is looked upon as a social reformist and an ambassador of humane acts.His books are one on the highest demands at THE NARMAD LIBRARY in Surat for voracious reader who love to read his prolific work........................... 24th of August is also the birthday of Veer Kavi Narmad ,born in Surat, Gujarat,INDIA in 1833. A social reformist ,he drew people from darkness to light ,worked towards giving women a better stature in society ,boldly spoke against child marriage and supported widow remarriage .He was a poet ,who pioneered autobiography, dictionary, folk literature ,poetics and historical plays. He proposed Hindi as a national language five decades before Mahatma Gandhi. He wrote for the newspaper'Dandiyo' that he started. A crusader of social reforms and an icon of change ,he was proud of his motherland and sang about its glory. He worked towards enriching his motherland and her natives for a better tommorrow.In the toughest of circumstances in the dark ages,he showed the right light through knowledge and awareness .Remembered today by various books that he wrote ,he has been honoured by the town by naming a university and a public library after this great soul .Unfortunately though,they have not been translated yet, due to which the readers of his work are limited and awareness about his fine literature is dying a slow death.In the very own confines of the library named after him,there are but few takers of his great work.Veer Kavi Narmad would be very proud to see his Surat today,it is the modern and educated,aware city that he had dreamed and propogated for.Renovating his heritage home in Amliran sheri,Gopipura is not tribute enough by us citizens,like the great poet would have said'YAHOM KARINE PADO,FATEH CHE AAGE'.Let us take action right now to make an effort for the works of this great artist to be known by our entire generation.To make ourselves proud of the invaluable heritage of original literature from our son of the soil.He who sang praises of his land'JAI JAI GARVI GUJARAT'is the GAURAV of GUJARAT himself. let us join hands to immortalize his thoughts ,words and deeds by making him more accessible to our youth,come, let us translate his wealth of words that his own people can gain knowledge from.A true tribute to a visionary ahead of his times- he would have definitely wanted to move ahead with the changing times like he always did,for the benefit of society.24 august,the birthday of two artists ,both having great passion for their respective countries and culture, for their work,in their message to the people. I hope every generation awakens to such brilliant ,brave men. Two of a kind from so far apart and yet so close ................It will be a pleasure to celebrate the birth of these two fine humans on the same day.Let us immortalize our own VEER KAVI in our minds and hearts forever.
BABA?.........DARR, SHUN!……………
BABA?.........DARR, SHUN!……………
No, this is not in reference to our dearest sanju baba who was behind bars for his jawaani ka jurm.I talk about the new trend of our generation –baba bhakti.
Ever since the eternal shri Sai Baba became the favorite lord of us mortal beings, innumerable wannabe gurus started to work towards trying to turn themselves into spiritual leaders. Sai Baba miraculously cured and cared for his bhakts where as our so called baba bhais are looking out for people who can take care of their needs and cure their problems. While Shri Sai Baba is, was and will always remain the people’s Baba.Today’s so called ‘gurus’ want their followers to be the baba’s people.
As I waited exasperated at the signal of ring road, with its never ending traffic flow, I was deafened by the loud- speaker gibberish of a cracked up voice shouting something that ended with,’ baba ki jai!’ Oh look!’ said my aunt whom I was driving to the railway station’, there goes the procession of great shri [why twice I wonder?]guruji.’upon turning my face towards the by- lane from which the crackling sound traveled out, I was amazed to see the entire street jam packed with baba bhakts trying to push, stamp and shove their way to have a glimpse of him who sat looking extremely pleased ,alighted on a throne in the flower laden truck. He was throwing out packets of some stuff to the public, enjoying the attention as his truck waded through the sea of frenzied followers. He did not appear divine, nor sadly pleased [like all our gods do]’He is very popular ‘, continued my aunt,’ all the NRI’S also follow his pravachans.He is very pious, does not allow women to touch his feet even. ‘Angered at the last comment and the fact that my signal was still red, I silently let out expletives in my mind that would cause the bhakts to think sacrilege! After finally seeing my aunt off, I carefully took the long route home to avoid the on –going tamasha on the jai ho! route.
I wondered how important the episode of a chance baba darshan would have meant to his fans .Got me thinking to what it is that makes for such ardent following.
While our gods had to perform miracles, rise above the ordinary and elevate the level of health, wealth and happiness of an entire ‘yug’,today’s so called saints just need the gift of gab to have a supreme effect on the living on a prayer crowd. If you listen carefully the pravachans are about everything you already know in your religion. nothing they say is new other than the way they say it .our glowing with good health babas and ma’s do not have a halo, its just the right diet of ghee, fruits and no gello.our stress ridden lives leaves us looking for ‘the one ‘who will make us feel less guilty of our deeds if we are able to provide the baba’s needs. They show us a short cut to spirituality. Listening to this clan is possible with electronic media; c.d. and seminars etc.modern babas have great marketing strategies to procure fame and following. as is the case in fund- raising business,baba products are also offered[some along with free side effects such as dysentery and lead poisoning] Babas are more popular than self help books because they say what we want to hear but do not adhere to. On more occasions than less of late, the baba turns out to be the head of a sex racket, money scam or a murderer leaving the bhakt to crawl to another baba lest he loses his religion. Eloquent orators do not make gods because all they do is give you the message of God. They are a medium, follow the thought they speak of, not them. Worship the work they talk about, not them. We have enough gods, saints and holy spirits who have left us with more teachings about good and godly things that we can follow for a million lifetimes. We do not need another God.
Be your own guru aur ho jaa shuru, start God’s work today.
No, this is not in reference to our dearest sanju baba who was behind bars for his jawaani ka jurm.I talk about the new trend of our generation –baba bhakti.
Ever since the eternal shri Sai Baba became the favorite lord of us mortal beings, innumerable wannabe gurus started to work towards trying to turn themselves into spiritual leaders. Sai Baba miraculously cured and cared for his bhakts where as our so called baba bhais are looking out for people who can take care of their needs and cure their problems. While Shri Sai Baba is, was and will always remain the people’s Baba.Today’s so called ‘gurus’ want their followers to be the baba’s people.
As I waited exasperated at the signal of ring road, with its never ending traffic flow, I was deafened by the loud- speaker gibberish of a cracked up voice shouting something that ended with,’ baba ki jai!’ Oh look!’ said my aunt whom I was driving to the railway station’, there goes the procession of great shri [why twice I wonder?]guruji.’upon turning my face towards the by- lane from which the crackling sound traveled out, I was amazed to see the entire street jam packed with baba bhakts trying to push, stamp and shove their way to have a glimpse of him who sat looking extremely pleased ,alighted on a throne in the flower laden truck. He was throwing out packets of some stuff to the public, enjoying the attention as his truck waded through the sea of frenzied followers. He did not appear divine, nor sadly pleased [like all our gods do]’He is very popular ‘, continued my aunt,’ all the NRI’S also follow his pravachans.He is very pious, does not allow women to touch his feet even. ‘Angered at the last comment and the fact that my signal was still red, I silently let out expletives in my mind that would cause the bhakts to think sacrilege! After finally seeing my aunt off, I carefully took the long route home to avoid the on –going tamasha on the jai ho! route.
I wondered how important the episode of a chance baba darshan would have meant to his fans .Got me thinking to what it is that makes for such ardent following.
While our gods had to perform miracles, rise above the ordinary and elevate the level of health, wealth and happiness of an entire ‘yug’,today’s so called saints just need the gift of gab to have a supreme effect on the living on a prayer crowd. If you listen carefully the pravachans are about everything you already know in your religion. nothing they say is new other than the way they say it .our glowing with good health babas and ma’s do not have a halo, its just the right diet of ghee, fruits and no gello.our stress ridden lives leaves us looking for ‘the one ‘who will make us feel less guilty of our deeds if we are able to provide the baba’s needs. They show us a short cut to spirituality. Listening to this clan is possible with electronic media; c.d. and seminars etc.modern babas have great marketing strategies to procure fame and following. as is the case in fund- raising business,baba products are also offered[some along with free side effects such as dysentery and lead poisoning] Babas are more popular than self help books because they say what we want to hear but do not adhere to. On more occasions than less of late, the baba turns out to be the head of a sex racket, money scam or a murderer leaving the bhakt to crawl to another baba lest he loses his religion. Eloquent orators do not make gods because all they do is give you the message of God. They are a medium, follow the thought they speak of, not them. Worship the work they talk about, not them. We have enough gods, saints and holy spirits who have left us with more teachings about good and godly things that we can follow for a million lifetimes. We do not need another God.
Be your own guru aur ho jaa shuru, start God’s work today.
IF ITS EIFFEL, IT MUST BE PARLE POINT
IF ITS EIFFEL, IT MUST BE PARLE POINT.........................Other than presenting undhiyu and khaman dhokla to the world,we surtis also set the biggest example of acceptance and intigration .not only do we spread our culture but also adopt new ones immediatly our women proudly wear their'jeans pant' with a bindi [only now has maddonna started to do so],our kids are as comfortable with PS2 as with lakhotis and the men share tiffins at work with sindhis,marwaris and jats.surat has its own identity through its food but her people are from all parts of the world.a large part of its populace belongs to the NRI gang who annually visit here to shop and support causes .the oldest architecture here is portugal,english,mogul and persian.it seems the city has always welcomed foreign folk.roadside kiosks sell pizza next to pani puri and chinese next to idli dosa.pasta is a well loved treat at home and every gujju mom worth her salt will have culinary skills to match a world cookbook with her own adaptation of khow suey and chicken steak.surtis are traders [lalas] at heart and know that adopting the ways of the world will help them rule it better.much as they love their ponk and ghari, uttaran and diwali they also know how to celebrate pujo and bai-sakhi.from adajan to antwerp timalyawad to taiwan and majuragate to malaysia,surtis learn ,live and laugh all the way to the bank.malleable and ductile in their ways of life,we have never felt hostile towards the culture of the new folks wading in,instead we have reached out and adapted their ways in our lifestlye.right down to our traffic islands!!!!!!!we boast of an eiffel tower,an airplane[even when we did not have an airport that functioned],a kargil chowk for unsung war heros and numerous others which have nothing to do with the town but are built in the surti spirit.Here's to the lala way of life ,may the world learn to live like us.
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