February Rangoli 2016 - The Overseas women`s club of Bangalore

R ANGOLI
THE
OVERSEAS
WOMEN’S
CLUB
OF BANGALORE
A Division of the Overseas
Women‘s Foundation
Bangalore
FEBRUARY 2016
FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY
www.owcbangalore.org
30
Love is
in the air!
12
FOCUS ON
CHARITY
JAGRUTHI
The Rangoli − February 2016 | 1
THE RANGOLI
(A publication of the
Overseas Women’s Club of Bangalore)
Contents
Editor: HANIFA HAJI
Commissioning Editor: MARY MCAULEY
Photo Editor: KATJA GANESH
Layout: PINK LEMONADE
Distribution Team: PETRA BEKKAR AND HEIDI HOJNICKI
12
OVERSEAS WOMEN’S CLUB
OF BANGALORE
(A division of the Overseas Women’s
Foundation, Bangalore)
12 FOCUS ON CHARITY
Acting President: SHERRY WALTER
Secretary: SUSAN BOUVIN
Jagruthi
20 FESTIVALS
Treasurer: PAMELA MILNE
Valentine's Day in India
Vice President, Charities: SHERRY WALTER
22 EVENTS
Vice President, Events I: NAMRATA DEWAN
Vice President, Membership: ASHA PREM SHAH
24 TRAVEL
Vice President, Publications: HANIFA HAJI
30
OVERSEAS WOMEN’S
FOUNDATION, BANGALORE
Managing Trustee: SUSHEELA M. THOMAS
Trustees: FRANCES RAO,
ANILA SUBRAHMANYAM and SUSANNE PERIS
ISSUE: FEBRUARY 2016
What is a commissioning editor?
28 PASSION AND PURPOSE
Why I Love to Bake
30 CELEBRATIONS
04 Editor’s Note
08 President’s Note
10
4 Days in Coorg
What’s on this month
Love is in the Air
East or West Love will find a Way
34 COOKING
Ode to the Gourd
Copyright Overseas Women’s Club of
Bangalore (www.owcbangalore.org). All rights
reserved. Reproduction in any manner is prohibited
unless prior approval is granted.
Printed in Bengaluru, India, by
W.Q. Judge Press.
Cover Photo Credit: "A kiss is just a kiss” by Susie Nairn
This magazine is meant for private
circulation only.
Please send your letters and suggestions to [email protected]
Special thanks and appreciation to our members for their contribution of articles and photographs.
The Rangoli − February 2016 | 3
EDITOR’S NOTE
Editor’s Note
“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways ...”
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, William Shakespeare, George Byron – all poets that
beautifully express the celebration of love and romance.
Hanifa Haji
Editor and VP Publications,
Overseas Women’s Club of Bangalore
On my recent trip to Mumbai, I decided to take a walk on the Bandra Bandstand,
a promenade along the Arabian Sea. Watching the waves slap over the rocks, I was
amazed at how many young people sat in twos cuddled together whispering secrets.
I then walked to the end of the promenade which ended at an amphitheater, Bandra
Fort Garden and the Castella de Aguado. Built by the Portuguese in 1640, the Fort
has been featured in many Hindi films and the Fort Garden is a labour of love by the
Bandra Bandstand Residents Trust. The garden hugs the side of the hill with walkways
winding through flowers and trees. And here again, hundreds of couples dotted the
path, sitting, holding hands, and I thought, “Don’t these people have somewhere to be
on a Tuesday morning?” Well, love was definitely in the air and although India does not
overtly celebrate Valentine’s Day, this is evidently changing in the younger generation.
Poonam Illuri’s article on Valentine’s Day in India sheds some light on what may happen
to these couples if they’re caught!
Walking back to the promenade, I see a crowd of people facing a particular house,
Mannat, peeking through the guarded gate. They’re all taking selfies in front of the gate
and waiting for their beloved heartthrob, Shahrukh Khan who lives there with his wife
Gauri Khan. This Bollywood power couple has a fairy tale romance to their credit and
Shakera Tarachand writes about how love flourishes regardless of race or religion.
For those of you who’re looking for a sweet valentine treat, check out Meredith
Mehra’s recipes in her article on why she loves to bake. Also in this issue of Rangoli,
Jane Prudden visits one of OWC’s star charities, Jagruthi, and Sylvie Goepfert writes
about her weekend trip to Coorg. And finally, Eva Petersizke gives us a short primer
on the gourd family of vegetables; after all, you can’t miss this special vegetable while
you’re living in India.
I encourage all photography enthusiasts to take part in the OWC Photo Competition.
This is a fun project and by participating, you’ll get an opportunity to see more of India
through the lens of your camera. And do remember to renew your OWC membership
before March 31, 2016. What an amazing deal – you can renew for only Rs. 2,000!
We, at The Rangoli, hope you enjoy this issue. As always, we welcome your feedback
and especially your articles.
Have a great month!
[email protected]
[email protected]
4 | The Rangoli − February 2016
Hanifa
OWC MEMBER DISCOUNTS
A number of our local business friends offer generous discounts with a valid OWC Membership Card.
Some other establishments will also provide a discount but don’t advertise, so show your card and ask! Conditions apply.
Hotels, Restaurants and Bars
Bliss Chocolate Lounges – 15%
discount UB City, Forum Value
Mall, Mantri Mall, Forum Mall
Caperberry, Fava, UB City –
12.5% discount food and
non-alcoholic drinks and 7%
discount on alcoholic beverages
Casa Cottage, Richmond Road –
15% discount room rates
Fishermans Wharf – 10%
discount on food and non-alcoholic
drinks
Fortune Select Trinity – 15%
discount in food and beverage
outlets
Gateway Hotel – 15% discount
on food at Northern Gate
Grand Mercure, Bangalore –
15% discount on food and soft
beverages at 12th Main and By the
Blue
Novotel, Bengaluru Techpark –
10% discount at The Square
(signature restaurant of Novotel) on
brunch, buffet, à la carte and soft
beverages. Not valid on special
occasions and during events. Cannot
be clubbed with any other offer
The Oberoi – 15% discount on
food and soft drinks at Polo Club,
Szechuan Court, Rim Nam (does
not include Sunday brunch) and Le
Jardin (does not include Sunday
brunch)
Olive Beach – 15% discount
Park Plaza, Bengaluru – 15%
discount on food at Melange,
Shao, Zaffron, The Gadang Lounge
and The Pool Bar
Portland Steakhouse & Café –
ITC Windsor – 20% discount on
food and alcohol at: Dublin,
Dakshin, Dum Pukht Jolly, Nabobs,
Royal Afghan, Raj Pavillion, The
Grill and 20% off on Sundowners
Fridays
The Lalit – 15% discount at 24/7
Coffee Shop, Baluchi and OKO
Le Meridian – 20% discount on
food and beverages
Leela Palace – 10% discount
across all outlets. 10% discount at
Cake Shop with minimum billing of
Rs 500
Marriott – 15% discount on food
and beverages, not applicable to
WBC Retail
Mövenpick – 15% discount at My
Place and Mezzalune. 10%
discount at Obsidian Bar
Bodycraft Spa & Salon – 15% off on all services at any outlet. All
services are by appointment only
CLARINS Skin Spa: - complimentary treatment valued at Rs. 1700 on
booking of any Clarins Tri active face or body treatment on the first visit
Dr. Pawan (Vet), Indiranagar – 10% off all treatment
Hamilton Realtors – 10% discount on all real estate transactions
Hilton Bangalore Embassy Golf Links:
Mon – Fri: 15% off and Sat–Sun: 20% off (including alcoholic beverages).
Discount not valid for special promotions and cannot be clubbed with
any other offer
Himalayan Dowry Store, MG road – 30% discount on carpets and
10% discount on everything else
Monopoly Inc – 10% discount on service charges
Royal Orchid Suites, Whitefield
at Pink Poppadom, Lido and Liquid
B:Blunt Salon – 25% off on initial visit, 10% off thereafter
Ritz Carlton – 15% discount on
Hotel Royal Orchid – 15%
Hyatt Bangalore – 20% discount
Asian Woman’s Spa and Asian Unisex Spa, Koramangala – 20% off
on spa and salon services
Jiva Spa, Vivanta by Taj, Whitefield – 15% off
Discount is not applicable with
other discount or promotions
discount on food at Geoffrey’s Bar
and Limelight Restaurant
Antel Exports, Hosur Road – 15% to 25% off at factory outlet
10% discount on food
food and soft beverages in all
restaurants for party size of 8 or
less. Discount not valid on special
occasions or festivals
Habanero – 10% discount.
Services & Shopping
Montage – 15% discount on all framing services in Phoenix Market City
and Jayanagar
Mövenpick – 10% discount at Sohum Spa
Oakwood: Oakleaf, Oakwood Residence Prestige, Whitefield –
– 25% discount on food
15% discount on total bill
SBARRO – 10% discount
Soul City, Oakwood Premier Prestige, UB City – 15% discount on
(excluding combos and other
offers); 15% discount (for group of
10 people or more)
Shiro, UB City – 10% discount on
total bill
Angsana Spa, Oakwood Premier Prestige, UB City – 15% discount
on all spa treatments
Angsana Oasis Spa, Prestige Ozone, Whitefield – 15% discount on
regular menu
all spa treatments
Taj West End – 15% discount at
(excluding alcohol) Mynt
(lunch/dinner, not brunch), Masala
Klub (lunch/dinner), Blue Ginger
(lunch including Sunday), Blue Bar
(all drinks including alcohol)
Park Plaza, Bengaluru – 15% off on spa and salon treatments
Toscano, Whitefield – 10%
Scandal Unisex Salon, Marathalli – 20% off on services over Rs. 100
discount
Via Milano, Koramangala –
15% discount
Vivanta by Taj, Whitefield –
15% discount at Graze, Café
Mozaic and Memories of China
Vivanta by Taj, Yeswantpur –
15% discount on food at Palette,
Azure, and Paranda
6 | The Rangoli − February 2016
Rakhi’s Fashion – Discounts of 5% - 15%
Rejuva spa, Lalit Hotel – 25% off on all services
Ritz Carlton Spa – 15% off on all services
Swaasthya Wellness – 15% off
Svisti, Cunningham Road – 5% off
S2 Spa by Emma – 20% off on massages & spas
The Palms Spa – 15% off
PRESIDENT’S NOTE
President’s Note
A New Year, a new day, a new me. I find that as I get wiser (a kinder way of saying
older) I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. Instead I promise myself to be the best
me I can be for myself, my family, my friends and now my community – all of you in
OWC. I know that sounds cliché, but those of you who know me, know that I mean
it wholeheartedly. We are all beginning new chapters in our lives in this wonderful
land. Embrace it.
And in the spirit of embracing and engaging, I encourage you to step forward
and play a role in our collective next chapter – getting involved in who OWC is
becoming. Call me, email me, text me or take my hand at our next event – I would
love to sit down with you and discuss your passions and try to find an OWC need
that aligns. We are all at our best when we live at the intersection of our greatest
passions and the world’s greatest needs.
Sherry Walter
Acting President and
VP Charities,
Overseas Women’s Club of Bangalore
It is also OWC membership renewal time. Please don’t let time run out! ALL
renewals have to be completed by 31 March 2016 without exception! Your
membership comes with so many great benefits:
• Weekly Coffee Mornings at Leela Palace, which have always been, and still
remain, free of charge
• Monthly complimentary copy of our OWC magazine –The Rangoli
• Monthly off-site Coffee Mornings at various locations throughout Bangalore
• Monthly meetings with Guest Speakers
• Monthly invitation for you and your partner to Sundowners at The Dublin Bar,
ITC Windsor, with 40% discount on food & beverages
• Access to monthly road trips, playgroups and a variety of other OWC-specific
activities and social events
• Some incredible Member discounts for restaurants, services and shopping
• Volunteer opportunities in the Club and with one of our many worthy charities
• Invitations to art exhibitions, fashion shows and special events
• The opportunity to share ideas and experiences with other members
• The opportunity to make lifelong friends
And, it is the time of year now when we make our disbursement decisions for our
22 OWC charities. Remember at least 85% of the money that we raise through
membership fees and fundraising efforts will go directly to our OWC supported
charities. We are hopeful that we will be able to pay out a minimum of 40 lakhs this
year, but we can only do this if you renew your membership!
Learn. Love. Share. Care.
Success,
Sherry
8 | The Rangoli − February 2016
Enter the
OWC Photo Competition!
Dear members (India lovers),
Our 2016 OWC Photo Competition is now open!
Share your experiences of India
through your photographs. Show us
the amazing places you have visited,
breathtaking landscapes, people
you have met, festivals and foreign
customs you have witnessed. Share
with us the pictures of your very own
India and maybe get the opportunity
to see them printed in the OWC
Calendar, on the cover of The Rangoli
magazine or on our greeting cards.
Deadline is 31 March 2016 to
send upto 8 pictures (two per
category) to the following address:
[email protected]
Simply name your photo in the following way:
YOUR NAME_CATEGORY_TITLE.jpeg
For example: JohnDoe_Faces_Villageboy.jpeg
and please remember to include your OWC membership number in the email.
Categories are Nature, Culture, Places and Faces.
With the submission of your photographs to the OWC Photo Competition you
agree to allow the OWC to use your picture in any of its publications.
4 judges will view all the entries and winners will be published in The Rangoli.
We are excited and hope to get to see many beautiful photographs
Happy clicking.
Katja Ganesh
Photo Editor, The Rangoli
The Rangoli − February 2016 | 9
The purpose of the Overseas Women’s Club as outlined
in the Constitution
OVERSEAS
WOMEN’S
CLUB
OF BANGALORE
A Division of the Overseas
Women‘s Foundation
Bangalore
What’s On
This Month
Photography Road Trip
With Amanda de Froberville
Date: Tuesday February 16, 2016
Venue: Chikpet, wholesale market
Sign up at Events desk at Leela Coffee
Morning
Renew you OWC membership at Leela
Coffee Morning by March 31, 2016 and
take advantage of LOW renewal rate:
only Rs 2,000!
Calendars prices have been reduced!!
Wall calendars are now Rs. 150 each
Desk calendars are 2 for Rs. 150
Only a few remaining. Buy your
calendars at Leela Coffee Morning
10 | The Rangoli − February 2016
1. To promote social welfare by aiding needy public charitable projects without
restriction to caste or creed with both funds and personal involvement.
2. To welcome foreign newcomers in Bangalore and help them establish
themselves in the community.
3. To promote sociability among the members and their families.
4. To help members and their families to gain a better understanding of India
through cultural and social activities and programs.
The OWC of Bangalore supports these charities
1. Accept Society
2. Asha Foundation
3. Asha Niketan
4. Ashraya Children’s Home
5. Bangalore Education Trust
6. Bangalore Hospice Trust
7. Belaku Trust
8. Deena Seva Charitable Trust
9. Divine Light Trust for the Blind
10. Dominican Sisters of the
Presentation
11. Freedom Foundation
12. Helpline Charitable Trust­–Project
Vishwas
13. Jagruthi
14. Jeevodaya Childcare India
15. Navachetana
16. New Ark Mission
17. ProVision Asia
18. Sai Shankar Loving Lights Trust
19. Shelia Kothavala Inst. for Deaf
20. Shristi Special Academy
21. Spastic Society of Karnataka
22. Vision Asia
Leela Palace
Every Thursday
10 a.m. - 12 noon
Contact: Sherry Walter, [email protected]
Central:
Ritz Carlton
North:
Movenpick Hotel
3rd Tuesday of each month
10.30 a.m - 1 p.m.
3rd Wednesday of each month
10.30 a.m. - 12 noon
Contact:
Yaso Butterfield, [email protected]
Contact:
Amardeep Bhatia, [email protected]
Meredith Mehra, [email protected]
East:
Marriott Whitefield
1st Tuesday of each month
10 a.m. – 12 noon
Contact:Alison Dumbell , [email protected]
Only for
registered OWC
members
The Rangoli − February 2016 | 11
FOCUS ON CHARITY
JAGRUTHI
I had many interesting
conversations at the OWC
charity showcase in October
last year but the conversation
that stayed with me was
with Noel and Kannan at the
Jagruthi charity stall, mainly
because of the nature of their
work with children … rescuing
children from domestic work,
child labour, illegal adoption,
begging, sexual exploitation,
HIV positive or orphaned
by AIDS.
I
I discovered that Jagruthi is one of the
first Bangalore based charities to set
up a health clinic and counselling room
for transgender and bisexual males, as
well as sexually exploited women. It
appeared to me that Jagruthi is deeply
involved in areas of Bangalore society
that most wish to deny or ignore.
Staff dedication to Jagruthi is inspiring.
Noel is one of the counsellors and
at just twenty-five years of age left a
well paying job to work with Jagruthi
full time. Kannan is the charity
administrator and has worked with
Jagruthi since it started in 1995 …
twenty years of dedicated service.
Jagruthi children
12 | The Rangoli − February 2016
By
Jane Prudden
The Jagruthi literature is hard hitting
– there are many stories of children
rescued from areas of the city, often
abandoned, abused or beaten.
Shanthi was nine years old when she
entered Jagruthi in 1999 with cigarette
burns all over her body. With no
recollection of her parents, Shanthi
called a brothel her home and working
as a child prostitute her only memory.
Children are mainly found in slum
areas of the city but there are cases
where children from affluent families
with domestic problems find their way
to Jagruthi … quite a shock to me as I
thought mainly poverty made children
vulnerable.
FOCUS ON CHARITY
I spent a couple of weeks thinking
about my conversation with Noel and
could not get Shanthi out of my head.
I kept looking at my four-year-old son,
trying to comprehend the injustice
of a child being exposed to Shanthi’s
environment and how frightening it
must have been for her. I emailed the
charity head office and asked if I could
come and speak with them with a view
to visiting their centres. I was not sure
what to expect or indeed how I could
help, but I just wanted to go.
Renu Appachu, Jagruthi’s founder,
had the opportunity to meet Mother
Teresa in the early nineties. The
meeting had such an impact on her
that she decided to dedicate her life
to marginalised communities. In 1994
while working as a social worker with
an NGO, her role involved going into
an all male prison to provide education
on intervention and prevention of STI
and HIV. Sitting in Jagruthi’s Cox town
office, she talks of how she used to
have security personnel accompany
her on visits as she was frequently met
with aggression. “Why is a woman
coming into this environment and
telling us how we should live our
lives?” she recalls. Having gained
sufficient knowledge and experience,
Renu started Jagruthi and is now a
recipient of the “Ashoka Fellow”. The
work of Jagruthi was also recognised
by the Government of Karnataka when
they received the Governor’s Award.
With Noel as my guide, we started at
the MEG School in Doddigunta, which
is run by Jagruthi. Doddigunta is one
of the most underprivileged slum areas
of Bangalore. The MEG School consists
of a primary and high school with 350
students, aged two to sixteen years.
All the children are from the local
area and are all from disadvantaged
backgrounds.
The school was a hive of activity as the
younger children in primary school
were having their morning porridge
and playing happily. Noel introduced
me and after a brief period of seeing
little faces with confused expressions, I
was suddenly run over by “high fives”,
hand after tiny hand hitting mine. The
classrooms are minimally equipped as
expected, but the dedicated teachers,
all of whom are on a lower than usual
wage, do an excellent job with the
equipment and facilities they have. I
was introduced to two very sweet little
boys sitting in the corner of one of the
classrooms who are inseparable and
the best of friends. One boy’s mother
works at the Jagruthi head office, his
father having left when he was born,
leaving them destitute. The other
boy has an older brother in the high
school, both siblings left with Jagruthi
by their mother who never returned
to see them. They live in the Jagruthi
boys home care centre in Cox Town
and are brought to the school each
morning by Jagruthi care workers. I
looked at the boys’ sweet, bright faces
and felt a pain in my heart. At the high
school, we met Tanu, a young boy of
about thirteen years, wearing a “Class
Monitor” badge. Noel explained that
he is one of the stars of the school who
is doing very well in his studies and is
also an excellent runner. His role as
Class Monitor is to keep the children in
class focused on their daily studies and
to be a point of contact should they
need any help.
Jagruthi has the support of one NGO
based in Germany and the occasional
volunteers from IT company, CISCO.
The day I visited there was a
CISCO volunteer taking photos for
Jagruthi’s website. He expressed his
concern that there were not enough
corporations getting involved in charity
work. “There is much need here in
Bangalore and so much that could
be done quite easily. We are living
in India’s Silicon Valley with access
to great technology, facilities and
educated people who could pass on
their knowledge to these children.
We all have a duty to serve the
community,” he said.
Our next stop was Jagruthi’s City
Market Play Centre, specifically
opened in the heart of Bangalore’s City
Market area to look after children of
market traders and sex workers. Noel
The Rangoli − February 2016 | 13
FOCUS ON CHARITY
the electrical wires protruding from
most sockets and it was obvious that
the wiring throughout the building was
beyond dangerous. He explained that
it is particularly worrying during rainy
season when water leaks through the
ceiling, running down the walls near
the sockets. Jagruthi cannot afford to
have regular maintenance personnel
and not many people want to work
for free.
Noel, Jane and head of Centre at Shivajinagar Play Centre
told me there is a specific need for a
centre here as children are vulnerable
in busy areas where high volumes of
people come and go. He explained
that because of the busy area there
are many sex workers and though hard
to comprehend, some of the children
used to accompany their mothers
when they worked as they had no
other place to go. When children are
admitted to the centre, they are tested
for HIV and sadly some of them are
discovered to be carrying the virus,
passed on to them by their parents.
The front entrance is a metal gate
which is locked at all times to prevent
unwanted visitors. Like the primary
school at Doddigunta, we were met
with a sea of bright, inquisitive faces –
about 45 children sitting on the floor
chatting and playing. Noel explained
that rent is high in the market area
but the location of the centre was
14 | The Rangoli − February 2016
essential otherwise parents would
simply not bring their children. The
play centre is free … Jagruthi pays
for building rental costs, teachers
wages, equipment and food, and
thus facilities are meagre. They have
two small rooms for teaching, and
a larger room connected to a small
kitchen where they feed and wash the
children, the majority who come to
the centre unwashed and hungry. The
staff worries about the children when
they go home for festival holidays
as some do not receive the same
quality of food or water and return
with stomach problems. Helpers cook
simple porridge, dal and rice for the
children and boil huge vats of water to
cool for drinking. The water has to be
collected from outside as they do not
have connection to a water supply; the
water filter stopped working and staff
wages and food for the children take
priority, of course. Noel pointed out
In terms of educational tools, the
charity has been quite inventive
making simple learning toys from tree
seeds painted in primary colours. They
also have painted bottle tops in bright
colours to help them learn to count.
They do have some work books and
colouring pads, but when I think of
the toys and facilities my son has at
his school, I am reminded of how even
a little donation could go a very, very
long way here.
On my second visit to Jagruthi, Noel
took me to another play centre and
attached HIV clinic in Shivajinagar.
Similar to the centre in City Market,
the charity looks after about 55
children, providing early education,
daily food and clean water. I spent
some time speaking with the staff
and they proudly showed me how
the children can speak three or four
national languages and are also
learning English. Like the City Market
centre, some of the children have
health issues and are all from families
with very limited incomes.
The head of the centre was
instrumental in setting up the attached
clinic. From the outside you would
FOCUS ON CHARITY
not know it was a clinic at all, which
is intentional as Indian society is
generally still unable to accept HIV as
a pressing issue which affects more
than homosexual men; the clinic
helps homosexual, heterosexual,
and transgender members of the
community who are affected with HIV
and STI. Patients’ ages vary but most
are involved in sex work within the city.
The main objective of the clinic is to
act as a medical centre offering general
health checks as well as counselling
and advice on safer sex. Patients are
referred to a local hospital for HIV
tests, the results are then sent back to
the clinic where they have the difficult
job of informing patients. Some
patients, finding out they are positive
have their partners checked and then
their children, only to reveal that they
are all affected. In situations like these
Jagruthi counselling is vital and can
make a huge difference in peoples'
lives. For some it is a lifeline, where
they would otherwise feel they have
no where to go and no one to talk to.
from the streets or bus and railway
stations, some are rejected by parents
from both poor and affluent situations.
Many girls are understandably
psychologically affected. Jagruthi
initially provides rehabilitation and
then connects them with the local
school for their education.
The last centre I visited was the
Jagruthi Home Care Centre on
Bannerghatta Road, which is home
to about 50 girls aged between
one and eighteen. The centre for
homeless boys is situated at the
Jagruthi head office – girls and boys
are now separated as a result of
new government policy. The girls’
backgrounds vary: some are rescued
Entering the centre, I was met by
the pet dog that provides security
and was shown a poster on the wall
listing the girls’ daily routine, which
included waking up at 5am for yoga
and meditation and ending with
prayers just before bedtime at 10pm.
The girls came back from school,
curiously walked into the room and
sat down. Sneha, a seven-year-old girl
High school kids and teacher at MEG School Doddigunta
The Rangoli − February 2016 | 15
FOCUS ON CHARITY
Jagruthi really needs support
to continue the twenty years of
service they have provided. Any
financial donations, big or small,
would be greatly appreciated
as would donations for the
following items:
with the most beautiful smile, stood
up politely and said hello. She was
found by field staff at one of the city’s
railway stations where she lived with
her parents, but station staff started to
see her wandering around on her own.
Both Sneha's parents worked all day,
her father as a parking lot attendant
and her mother as a sex worker. Her
parents reportedly worried about her
being on her own, especially as she
was seen walking with strange young
men, so they spoke to station staff
who referred them to Jagruthi. When
children come into Jagruthi’s care,
the staff speak with the parents (if
available) to see if there is any chance
of a reconciliation, however, Sneha
showed clear signs of not wishing to
be in her parents’ presence. She had
cuts and wounds on her hands and
minor skin infections all over her body,
was treated immediately by the centre
doctor and then put into Jagruthi’s
“Bridge” course. This is a basic course
which imparts primary or secondary
schooling to children who have not
received any education. Sneha is
now well settled at the centre and at
school. Unfortunately, her situation is
all too common.
Noel and the girls showed me around
and the first thing I noticed was the
large cabinet filled with trophies and
medals the girls had won at various
events. Noel then showed me a
couple of case folders. All of the girls
have folders, full of vital information
including their background and
medical reports, showing whether they
are HIV positive or not. All the children
and staff know who is positive and
who is not. This is partly for health
reasons so everyone knows how to
handle a child in case of an accident,
• Nutritional drinks
• General clothing for girls and
boys ages 0 - 18 yrs Under
garments (pants, vests, bras,
slips, tights, socks etc)
• School shoes
• Play shoes
• Toiletry items (soap,
toothpaste and brushes,
combs, coconut oil etc)
• Centre cleaning items
• Bedsheets
Jane, Noel and the girls at Home Care Centre
16 | The Rangoli − February 2016
FOCUS ON CHARITY
but it is also so the issue is “out in the
open” making affected children feel it
is something that can be discussed and
that they have nothing to hide.
One report was about an eleven-yearold girl Neeta. The report included an
interview with her mother explaining
why she felt Neeta should be at the
centre. Neeta’s mother stated that
the girl’s father was not present at the
time of Neeta's birth. He disappeared
and was eventually found involved
with a gang of thieves. Neeta’s mother
eventually remarried and both she and
Neeta were initially well taken care
of until she gave birth to her second
child. As soon as the boy was born,
Neeta's stepfather decided he did
not want Neeta to live with them and
verbally abused her. She was sent to
live with her grandparents until they
died but then returned. The situation
worsened and Neeta was often beaten
by her stepfather. Her mother started
to look for a home care centre for
Neeta and eventually found Jagruthi.
Before she left, Neeta had developed a
strong bond with her baby half-brother
and apparently pines for him a great
deal. When I heard this, it struck me
as remarkable that even though Neeta
was rejected and her brother preferred
by her parents, she still shows such
love for him. Proving that a child’s love
is unaffected by worldly selfishness.
Neeta has been through a difficult
experience, but like Sneha, is now
doing well at school, achieving high
grades and actively making friends.
The centre has a large meeting room
with a small television, a classroom, a
couple of offices, a medical/counselling
room, and several bedrooms and
washrooms upstairs. They also had a
top floor eating space and an area for
hand washing clothes and bedding.
They have what they need to survive,
but again there are no visible toys or
luxuries of any kind as Jagruthi simply
does not have the money to provide
anything other than essential living
requirements.
Speaking with the girls was difficult but
as soon as I started taking photos, like
girls everywhere, they were giggling
and running behind me to see what
they looked like. At the request of
the carers, I brought my four-year-old
into the centre and they spoke to him
tenderly and commented on his bright
blonde hair. These ladies are amazing
carers, some of whom have also come
from very difficult backgrounds.
It was time for us to leave. I said
goodbye and made my way back to the
The Rangoli − February 2016 | 17
FOCUS ON CHARITY
car and told Noel I was hoping to write
an article for The Rangoli to highlight
the need for donations and support.
He explained that even brief visits from
volunteers empower the children,
making them feel that they are valued
and supported. On the drive home l
felt happy to have met these wonderful
children and how amazing it is that they
are overcoming such difficult starts
in life. It also reminded me that life is
indeed a lottery, not knowing where you
will be born and who you will be born to.
The resilience of these young children is
testament to their strength of character
and the unwavering support and love
shown by the Jagruthi staff.
Jagruthi would love to hear from any companies interested in inviting the children
to their offices, and staff willing to visit the school to impart any knowledge
they feel could be valuable (IT sessions for example). They are also looking for
maintenance people and electricians who would be able to volunteer some time
to help them maintain their buildings.
For donations or support of any kind, please contact:
Renu Appachu (Jagruthi Director and Founder)
Email: [email protected]
Tele: +91 80 25480979 / Mob: +91 9845116586
Head Office:
# 87/89, Mammen & Kunjamma Kailath Memorial House,
Ramakrishnappa Road, Cox town, Bangalore - 560005
Alternatively you can contact me: [email protected] and I will happily
collect any items you would like to donate to the charity.
Jane and the children at City Market Play Centre
18 | The Rangoli − February 2016
FOCUS ON CHARITY
Positions open in
OWC Executive Committee
Due to family and work obligations, a number of Executive
Committee positions have become vacant. As we have just
completed our two major events of the year (India Night
and Christmas Bazaar), this is the perfect time, for those
who would like to be more involved in the OWC, to ease
into a leadership role. We will focus on the VP Advertising
position this month but should you wish to get involved
in any other roles, specifically, VP Fundraising, VP Events
or VP Communications, please contact any of the EC
members or Trustees mentioned in the OWC Members
Only insert.
VP Advertising
• Organise and manage various advertising streams which raise revenue for the OWC charities fund, including advertising in
The Rangoli
• Work closely with VP Membership to coordinate New Member Insertions and with VP Publications and the Secretary to
coordinate Member Benefits
• Coordinate with the Treasurer to ensure that the contracts signed with the advertisers are honoured and in keeping with
the policies and procedures of the OWC
• Identify prospective advertising avenues for the OWC to raise funds for the OWC Charities fund
• Keep in contact with existing advertisers, venue and service providers to maintain a relationship with the OWC
• Work closely with the VP Social Events & Activities I and II and VP Fundraising to procure appropriate sponsorship for OWC
events such as India Night, Christmas Bazaar, and Photo Competition
• Work with the VP Publications to arrange sponsorship for OWC’s publications when needed
• Build up sponsorship relationships with vendors and service providers and create new fundraising opportunities for
the OWC
• Develop press relations, write press releases, and invite the media to OWC events, as approved by the EC
• Attend and report to the EC at the monthly EC meeting
The Rangoli − February 2016 | 19
FESTIVALS
By
Poonam Illuri
Valentine’s
Day in India
T
The breakdown of traditional cultural
values fueled by the disintegration of
the joint family has resulted in more
young people living on their own.
Take a surging middle class of young
couples who have larger disposable
incomes, travel abroad, are exposed
to and influenced by technology and
the media, and add a large economic
interest in Valentine’s Day; and we
have Indians celebrating the 14th of
February the same way as it is done in
the States and Europe – with flowers,
cards and chocolate.
But as with most things in India, there
have been protests, some even turning
violent against what is deemed "too
much western influence" and "going
against Indian culture". In India, public
displays of affection or PDA is frowned
upon, as relationships are considered
private and personal. Some political
parties have jumped in and made it
20 | The Rangoli − February 2016
Though Valentine's Day is a western concept and wasn’t
celebrated in India till about a decade or two ago, celebration
of Valentine's Day is getting increasingly popular in the East.
their mission to stop any celebration
of Valentine's Day. Groups of vigilantes
go around parks and public spaces
catching couples together and either
forcing them to get married or making
them tie rakhis and turning them into
siblings! There have been cases of
public shaming, where couples have
had their hair cut off or have had
photos taken and sent to their parents.
A few years back, one religious leader
declared the 14th of February to be
Parents’ Worship Day. He said "Our
activists will go around with a priest,
a turmeric stub and a mangalsutra
on 14 February. If we come across
couples being together in public
and expressing their love, we will
take them to the nearest temple
and conduct their marriage." This
campaign took a hilarious turn
when a group calling themselves
the "Consortium of pub-going, loose
and forward women" founded the
"Pink Chaddi Campaign" as a sign of
protest. About 34,000 pairs of pink
chaddies (underwear) were mailed
to the leader of the anti-valentine
day protest – the larger the better!
I wonder what he did with all those
bright pink panties!!
Unrequited love, specially if the
woman does the spurning, is met
FESTIVALS
with harassment, violence, and even
kidnapping and acid attacks.
What is really interesting is that
Hinduism has its very own God of love
and desire – Kamadeva. Kamadeva is
a handsome youth who goes around
with a bow made of sugar cane and
shoots arrows made of 5 fragrant
flowers into couples, making them
fall in love. Remind you a bit of the
Greek Eros and the Roman Cupid?
Then we have the ancient Hindu text
of Kamasutra – the ultimate treatise
on love and desire, and how to woo
a woman. And let’s not forget the
Khajurao temples in Madhya Pradesh
which, with its erotic sculptures, is
poetry in stone.
I would like to mention a very
interesting book I came across called
The Five Languages of Love by Gary
Chapman. It explores the ways
we experience and express love.
According to the author, we all have
a primary and a secondary language
of love. Of course, our love language
may not be the same as that of our
partner, friends and family. So we
should not use the language we like
the most, but the one that the other
person is drawn to and receives best.
To discover your own language of
love, observe the way you express
love and what you request or want
the most from your partner.
The 5 Love Languages are:
Words of affection
This includes spoken praise and appreciation. Verbalising
what you feel, praising, and thanking. These will fall (as the
author says) like rain on parched soil.
Acts of service
Well, actions speak louder than words ... and doing things from cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping
to putting out the garbage will go a long way.
Quality time
Spending time together, giving undivided attention, and
basically interacting or being with someone, without
doing four other things at the same time.
Giving/receiving gifts
It is the thought that counts: flowers and that hand made card or note can make the other person feel really special.
Physical touch
We all know the power of this one, from touching,
holding or massaging a baby to hugging or stroking your
partner.
So discover for yourself which one works for you, and the people
around you and watch your "tank of love" fill up. I must confess
that it is not as easy as it sounds – there are four of us in our
family … all with different primary love languages!!
Happy Valentine’s Day. Here’s to a new deeper way of expressing
love!
The Rangoli − February 2016 | 21
EVENTS
What is a
commissioning
editor?
By
Mary McAuley
22 | The Rangoli − February 2016
I
My dictionary defines the verb 'to commission'
thus: 'to order, appoint or assign (somebody) to
perform a task or function'.
In this case the task / function is to contribute to the mighty Rangoli.
I particularly like the 'order' bit.
So I am the person who goes around ordering unsuspecting OWC members to
write something for our great magazine. That's pretty much it.
Except I don't order. I beg, plead, flatter, cajole and burst into tears. I've lost all
my pride and am so humble that I make Uriah Heep seem boastful.
Our magazine needs you and your contributions. You don't have to be a
Pulitzer prize winner or have a degree in English (or anything else). All we are
looking for is something that a member would like to share. We like it to have
some sort of Indian theme but that isn't a deal breaker.
Broadly speaking the magazine has regular slots on travel, hobbies /retraining,
sport and fitness, cookery/food, and of course a focus on one of our charities.
This is by no means an exhaustive list. We welcome anything you may want to
contribute on a wide range of issues. We may edit for language (i.e. grammar
and punctuation) and we do have to be 'aware' culturally.
I can honestly say that the vast majority of those I have commissioned have
enjoyed the experience and many have produced more than one piece.
Please think about writing something. You never know until you try.
TRAVEL
4 days in
By
Sylvie Goepfert
Coorg
Dubbed as the “Scotland of India”, Coorg is a scenic hill
station located in Karnataka. October to April is the best
time to visit. We decided to go on a 4-day weekend at the
end of September.
24 | The Rangoli − February 2016
TRAVEL
W
We left Whitefield slightly after
7am and were surprised to arrive to
Madikere before noon. The road is
continuously good. There is no need
to go through Mysore as we went
round it to the North.
Madikere, formerly known as
Mercara, is the picturesque capital
of Coorg. This town, situated at an
elevation of 1525m, is famous for its
misty hills, lush forests and acres of
coffee plantation. Madikere is also
the land of the Kodavas. The Kodavas
have a distinctive style of dress.
The men wear wraparound robes
called Kupyas and the women have a
particular style of wearing a sari.
DAY 1
The afternoon was dedicated to
visiting Madikere.
Abbey Falls is the main attraction
there. The Cauvery river cascades
down a rock face from a height of
22m. A hanging bridge across the
gorge offers a good view of the falls.
We could feel the cool drizzle on
our face and hear the power of the
waterfall.
Madikere Fort, originally built
in mud in the 17th century, was
rebuilt by Tipu Sultan in granite.
The fort appears quite massive.
But our attention focused on some
Indian families who were having fun
throwing coconuts that broke on the
linga inside the temple. It was the
time of the Ganesh Festival.
Gaddige Raja’s Tomb offers a lovely
walk in a nicely arranged garden.
Several well maintained tombs stand
up among multicoloured flowers.
There is a broad clear view of
Madikere town and its bustling
main road.
We ended the day visiting
Omkareshwara Temple very near to
the heart of Madikere town. We spent
2 nights in a lovely homestay lost in
the middle of a coffee estate. We
tasted some excellent local dishes,
especially a pork-based one.
DAY 2
We drove more than 100km to
explore the area around Talacauvery
which is the source of the Cauvery
river. It lies at an altitude of 1276m in
the Brahmagiri hills and is considered
one of the most sacred places in
Karnataka. The river originates as
a small perennial spring. It flows
underground again to emerge a short
distance away.
By the time we climbed the steps
to the top of Brahmagiri Peak, we
were surrounded by the famous
mist. On the way down, we overtook
a procession of Kodavas, wearing
their traditional Kupya and carrying
ceremonial knives. They were
demonstrating for Coorg to be made
a separate state independent of
Karnataka.
Bhagamandala, which is downhill
from Talacauvery, is a temple town.
It marks the junction of the Cauvery
and its tributaries, the Kanabe and
Sujyothi, and is considered to be a
holy place to bathe on special days.
We saw some Indian worshippers
immersing themselves at this spot.
Thanks to our wonderful driver’s
knowledge, we drove through tiny
meandering roads. We could admire
the never-ending coffee estates.
They were interspersed with valleys
carved with breathtaking paddy fields.
The Rangoli − February 2016 | 25
TRAVEL
Different greens endlessly caught our
eyes. About 40 km from Madikeri,
the small village of Kakkabe has no
restaurant but it does have a palace
nearby. Nalknad Palace is a restored
hunting lodge built in 1794. It is
almost lost in the heavy vegetation
at the bottom of Kodagu's highest
peak Thadiyandama. The visit is
really worthwhile with interesting
architecture and eye-catching
paintings.
was worthwhile. After lunch we drove
down back to Kushalnagar and visited
the impressive Tibetan Settlement of
Bylakuppa. This huge place is home
to thousands of Tibetans living in
exile, making it an important centre
for Buddhism in South India. Several
monasteries and a Golden Temple
house are wonderfully decorated with
colourful Tibetan paintings.
DAY 4
We went to Dubare first thing to
visit the elephant training camp.
It is located in a forest area, amid
lush greenery on the banks of the
Cauvery river. During the period
of the Maharaja of Mysore, the
Dubare reserve forest was used to
train elephants for the impressive
Mysore Dussehra festival. Visitors
are welcome to take part in a wide
variety of activities with elephants.
Bathing both adult and young
elephants is the main attraction.
Elephant riding is also provided.
This site is very popular with Indian
tourists. Other activities are fishing,
rafting, boating and trekking in the
wild hilly terrain.
We ended the day at the Igguthappa
Temple, one of the most important
temples of the Kodavas. Caught by the
rain we were happy to relish a simple
free meal there and to chat with the
priest and a true-hearted Kodava
woman. The temple is dedicated to
Igguthappa, another name for Lord
Subramanya. The devotees believe
in the miracles by Igguthappa. Here
anyone can ask for anything from
this super powered God. During
the main festival in March, farmers
offer prayers and offerings for rain.
Weighing oneself against fruits, sugar,
coconuts and rice is an important
offering here.
Once back at our homestay we took
the opportunity to walk around the
coffee estate in the company of a
manager. He told us about coffee
cultivation and about the different
varieties. We had to be careful of
the numerous leeches on the trails.
My husband managed to find one
attached to him.
DAY 3
In the morning we took a jeep from
Madikere to drive up to Mandhala
26 | The Rangoli − February 2016
Before heading back to Bangalore we
stopped to walk along Harangi Dam in
the forest.
Patty. Only a jeep is able to reach the
top. There the breath-taking scenery
of the surrounding hilltops provides
one of the best views that we have
seen. The mist prevented us from
enjoying the view from the highest
point, but still the 2 hours journey
Back in Bangalore I realized how well
I could breathe in the mountains. The
cool fresh air there offers a heavenly
respite during the hottest months. We
didn’t have time to enjoy the trekking
or the bird watching as proposed
by the Tourist Information Office in
Madikere. Those discoveries will have
to wait for our next visit there.
PASSION AND PURPOSE
Why I love to
bake
By
Meredith Mehra
When I moved to Bangalore
ages ago, I really missed having
a full size oven in my kitchen.
W
When we set up our kitchen, I
remember shopping for the largest
OTC oven we could buy. And the
one I found was able to fit a small
roasting chicken but that’s about it.
Alas, I experimented and kept trying
out recipes with the local ingredients
available in our area.
I was undeterred because I wanted
to give my children some favourites
from our previous home in the U.S.
My daughter was quite little when we
arrived here and she was a bit picky
with food, especially new ones. I felt
giving her foods she loved would help
at least get some calories in her. My
son on the other hand was always
ready to try my new concoctions
and experiments.
I made some small cakes, brownies,
and cookies. I also managed to
make lasagne, baked chicken, and a
variety of other baked savory dishes.
It is amazing sometimes when your
choices are limited how creative you
28 | The Rangoli − February 2016
must become. Not to say I am all that
creative but I can usually follow
a recipe. And thank goodness for
the internet and my favourite
recipe websites.
When we moved to our new home, I
helped design the kitchen and found
an oversized built-in oven from a
supplier in Bangalore. It has been a
boon for me. Our electricity bill seems
to rise every time I switch it on but
the end result of the food coming
out of the oven is all worth it. My
old kitchen was quite drafty and cool
and I never could get breads to rise.
Now I have no windows, and have
even been experimenting with breads
again. A French friend inspired me to
try baking homemade baguette and it
was truly wonderful. I made 3 smallish
loaves one evening and I think my son,
husband, and I polished off the first
one before the other two had cooled
off. There is just something about
fresh, out of the oven, hot bread.
Baking has really become a source
of comfort for me. I love trying out
new recipes and also enjoying some
timeless favourites from my childhood
and family in the States. It helps to
give my children a taste of my youth.
And, it is truly satisfying when they
enjoy things as much as I do. So, if you
have a built-in oven, or an OTC oven,
get baking. Try out some old favourites
or be daring and experiment. The
worst that will happen is that you may
have to order take-out for dinner, but
my guess is that you will be happy with
the end product.
I have taken the liberty to share a
couple recipes that may interest you
and would be great to serve this
Valentine’s Day. The first, thumbprint
cookies are super easy and look great
as well. I use my own homemade
strawberry jam but store bought works
just as well. Chocolate truffles are
also an easy, decadent dessert that
you can make in no time at all. Both
recipes are great to bring your kids into
the kitchen to help as well and they
are both vegetarian. Enjoy!!!!
PASSION AND PURPOSE
Heat oven to 350F/175C. Shape dough
into 1 inch balls. Place 2 inches apart
on cookie sheet. With thumb, make an
indentation in center of each cookie
(edges may crack slightly). Fill each
indentation with about ¼ tsp of jam.
Bake 14-18 minutes or until edges
are lightly browned. Let stand 1
minute before removing from pan.
Cool on wire rack while you bake the
remaining dough.
Helen’s Thumbprint Cookies
Ingredients:
Cookies:
2/3 cups caster sugar
1 cup (227 gms) softened butter
½ tsp almond extract
2 cups sifted maida
½ cup jam (raspberry, strawberry
work well)
Glaze:
1 cup icing sugar
1 ½ tsp almond extract
2-3 tsp water
In a large mixer bowl, combine sugar,
butter and almond extract. Beat at
medium speed until creamy. (2-3
minutes). Cover and chill dough at
least one hour. It will be crumbly at
this point.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl with wire
whisk, stir glaze ingredients until
smooth. Drizzle over cooled cookies.
Chocolate Truffles
Ingredients:
12 ounces dark or bittersweet
chocolate chopped
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract (you can also
use other flavourings or liqueurs as
desired)
In a medium saucepan over medium
heat, warm cream until steaming.
Pour hot cream over chopped
chocolate and wait 2-3 minutes. Stir
the chocolate and cream mixture until
smooth. Add flavouring to chocolate.
Pour mixture into another smaller dish
and refrigerate until the mixture sets
about 1 ½ to 2 hours. Do not allow
mixture to harden.
Once mixture is set, use a small
teaspoon or melon baller to shape
chocolate into balls. I find it is
easiest to coat my hands with cocoa
powder while doing this. Place balls
on a cookie sheet lined with greased
parchment paper. Fill small bowls with
desired toppings. Once the balls are
formed, roll in desired topping. Return
finished truffles to the parchment
paper. These can be kept in an airtight
container for up to 5 days or even
frozen for 1 month.
Toppings:
Cocoa powder, icing sugar,
shredded coconut, finely
chopped nuts, sprinkles.
The Rangoli − February 2016 | 29
CELEBRATIONS
Love is
in the air!
By
Shakera Tarachand
The season of romance is here. Bollywood romances are
always highlighted and as India and Indians are the mosaic of
Bollywood, let’s take a closer look at one of the inter-religious
marriages in Bollywood.
T
The hero gets his true love and they
live 'happily ever after': the basis
of all Bollywood movies. The battle
for true love continues, hurdles are
crossed, villains beaten, and parents
won over or opposed. Everyone
loves happy endings and Bollywood
obliges. Bollywood has a lot of dilwale
who take their dulhaniyas away
despite facing the big challenge
of belonging to different
religious backgrounds.
Shah Rukh and
Gauri Khan| Love
Bollywood Style
We will start our
in-depth look with
none other than King
Khan – Shah Rukh
Khan and his beautiful
wife Gauri. Shah Rukh
Khan, King of Indian
romance in cinema,
is no less romantic
in his personal life.
The magical love
30 | The Rangoli − February 2016
story of Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri is
definitely worth telling. Their marriage
has survived many tests of time,
making them one of the most inspiring
and stable couples of Bollywood. He
fell in love with Gauri Chibber, who
belonged to
a Hindu
Brahmin family. In spite of strong
resistance and disagreements from her
family in her marrying a Muslim boy,
nothing mattered to the young couple.
They tied the knot and never looked
back. This was long before he became
rich and famous. The two got married
in 1991. He set eyes on her when he
was 18 and it was love at first sight.
They faced many trials and tribulations
to cement their relationship and
agreed to follow their own respective
religions and follow both at home, in
spite of getting married Hindu style.
Today, even after more than two
decades of marriage, the couple still
seems to be deeply in love with each
other. They are the proud parents of
three lovely children – Aryan, Suhana
and AbRam. Their love, commitment,
trust, fidelity and belief in one another,
is an example to all couples within
the industry and outside. Shah Rukh
believes that for him, there is only
one girl and that is Gauri. Shah Rukh
always stays amazed by the way she
handles their family, his production
house and her work as an interior
designer. He believes that she is
a complete woman in every
way. What a love story!
CELEBRATIONS
East or West,
love will find a way
Danijela & Ranvir
Joy of Giving
Kim & Patrick
Rashmi & Assad
A Fairytale Romance
Law of Attraction
When I met Patrick at Shiro’s in UB
City, Bangalore, there was an unreal
aura to the evening. Patrick is a typical
Frenchman, he loves his food, and his
French cuisine floored me, a girl from
the hills of northeast India. In return,
I cooked him some Indian meals. We
met because of my cousin, who works
for Patrick. Patrick and I spent quality
time together, and he proposed, but
Daddy was hesitant. A man from Paris?
Finally, he was won over by Patrick’s
devotion, and our fairytale began.
Young & Jean Michel
Assad is from Italy, I’m from Kerala.
He’s a charcoal artist, I’m a landscaper.
With so much creativity flowing
around, I think love was inevitable.
We met in 2007 in Bangalore, brought
together by my cousin. We enjoy
life’s simple pleasures – good food,
sunny beaches and family. We respect
each other’s religions and beliefs. We
believe in honesty, loyalty, and that
love is a solution to all problems. It’s
vital for us to grow as a couple. I think
love should be easy, not complicated.
I met my Prince Charming in Nepal.
Ranvir was there to play golf, and
offered me a job in Kolkata. For me,
Kolkata is indeed the city of joy – after
six months of a whirlwind romance, we
had a traditional gurudwara wedding.
I am Serbian, but it doesn’t matter. Of
course, there were hiccups. During our
meeting in Nepal, Ranvir had said he
had kids, so I assumed he was married.
Later, I discovered that he’d been
divorced for 13 years. We don’t wait
for an annual holiday to get romantic.
It’s breakfast in bed, and dinner in bed
too. It’s unconditional love, joy, giving
without expectations which makes a
marriage bloom.
Jean Michel was no quitter. We met in Busan, South Korea. My family didn’t
approve of ‘JM’, my French boyfriend, it was unheard of for a Korean girl to
marry outside. My dad cut off financial support and shipped me out to Japan.
But JM was the true ardent lover. He came to Japan, just to look for me. I
think Cupid helped him – we bumped into each other in Tokyo,
and he proposed with a rose. Truly magical. Now I have a sexy
French mom-in-law who gifts me lingerie. I dread to think of what
a Korean mom-in-law would give me – a pressure cooker, perhaps!
Magic in Tokyo
The Rangoli − February 2016 | 31
2016
Calendar
The
OWC
is now available
With the OWC Photo Competition 2015
winning photos by our members
Sponsored by
OVERSEAS
WOMEN’S
CLUB
OF B ANGALORE
A Division of the Overseas
Women‘s Foundation
Bangalore
Veiled
S
mile by
Nathalie
Scott
Quiet Meditation by Catherine Guild
Calendar
32 | The Rangoli − February 2016
2016
Calend
ar
2016
Purchase your copy
for 300 INR from:
the Leela Coffee mornings,
every Thursday or at the
XMas Bazaar on November 21st
100% of purchase price
will directly benefit
the OWC‘s many charities
COOKING
Ode to the
Gourd
By
Eva Petersitzke
I have been asked to introduce some of the local south Indian
vegetables which are lurking around in every sabziwalla
(greengrocers). The show will open with an intimate look at the
family of gourds.
T
They are extremely versatile
vegetables. Basically a creeper that is
similar to pumpkin or courgette it is
easy to prepare and cook. Apart from
bitter gourd, the taste is mild and
blends in nicely with other vegetables.
In case you’ve had sambar with idli or
dosa it’s very likely there was some
gourd cooked into that. Mostly gourd is
cooked with the skin on which makes it
easy to handle.
Bitter gourd – Nomen est omen.
This gourd is shaped like a
raw. The worst experience is pure juice
to be consumed during breakfast.
Supposedly, it cleans the blood
but I’m not sure how
much truth is in that.
Ash gourd – A blessing in disguise.
The ash gourd is a big green vegetable
the size of a pumpkin but definitely
more round. The surface looks like it is
smeared with ashes which explains its
name. Ash gourd is used in the south
for blessing purposes and you may
have noticed it lying on the doorsteps
of businesses. The inside is white and
for blessings red kum kum colour is
smeared on top. It is also sometimes
wrapped in cloth and hung over public
doorways. With time it shrinks a lot in
size to be finally replaced after a year
with a new ash gourd.
34 | The Rangoli − February 2016
cucumber but very much looks like it
has broken into warts or spikes. Inside
it is white. In the middle it is foamy
with pretty big pits which are edible.
It is extremely healthy to consume
but untreated is very, very bitter when
Generally,
bitter tastes benefit
liver function in alternative
medicine. Bitter gourd is also used in
small quantities in mixed vegetable
dishes but can be prepared alone as
COOKING
well. It can simply be sliced and slowly
fried in oil till it gets crispy. When fried
the pits are consumed, otherwise
they are removed. There are various
ways to reduce some of the bitter
taste, specifically, soaking it in water
for some time. Once I was served a
mutton and bitter gourd curry in a
house warming celebration. It was
one of my most favourite
dishes ever but I have
never again seen
gourd in
combination
with meat. I tried
to ask the caterer for the
origin of the dish or recipe
but he did not know and was
unforthcoming about the recipe.
That was a pity!
either. It had worked for some veggies
nicely so I gave him ridge gourd one
day. Unfortunately, he did not know
how to cook
it but did not say so.
As we
sat down
for
dinner
the
electricity
failed us and we
put candles on the
table. Surprisingly my
husband, who usually barely
eats vegetables, had a lot of the
gourd dish. Later on he strangely
referred to the dish as mutton which
I found confusing. It turned out that
the cook had handled the gourd like
mutton and given it a meat curry
treatment and gravy. We christened
the dish 'ridge gourd mutton style' but
the cook could not remember what
he did that day. So we never had this
most vegetarian meat preparation
Bottle gourd – The allrounder.
Please guess where the name came
from! It has a light green colour and
is white inside again. As well as being
used in soupy dishes, this gourd can
be chopped up finely and fried with a
little salt. There is a famous, very tasty
and pretty mild dish made with this
gourd and small prawns (laugh chingri)
in the Bengal kitchen.
Snake gourd – Looks may deceive.
Last but not least, a long green
vegetable. It has green stripes which
may be the reason for the name.
Only about 8 inches in length, it is the
smallest family member. Inside white
but an open middle like a pumpkin, it
is used in pretty much the same way
as the others in sambar or other soupy
mixed vegetable dishes.
May this easy to cook family of
vegetables find a way into your
heart and kitchen!
Ridge gourd – Rough
on the outside. This
one is again green
outside and
white inside.
It is shaped
like a cucumber
but has relatively sharp
and hard ridges lengthwise
which need to be removed
before cooking. The skin can stay
on though. When I was a newcomer, I
bought vegetables I did not know and
just gave them to my cook ignoring
the fact that he wasn't a south Indian
again. Ridge gourd normally also
features in sambar and other soupy
dishes served with rice as meals
or thali.
The Rangoli − February 2016 | 35
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The Rangoli − February 2016 | 37
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38 | The Rangoli − February 2016