Magzine 2015

prerna
inspiration to excel
ICS/ IAS OFFICERS’ WIVES ASSOCIATION
May 2015
President’s Message
Happy thoughts attract happy people into our life and fill it with
happiness. And IASOWA is one such platform where beautiful people
from different backgrounds blend together as a close knit family, and
here begins the magic of happiness!!!
It gives me immense pleasure and tremendous gratification to see this
vibrant organization growing and shaping itself with changing times
but yet retaining its core ethics of “We Care!” I take this opportunity
to convey my best wishes on the release of the 4th edition of Prerna.
Prerna is a creative amalgamation of our fraternity’s thoughts, views
and experiences. And yes, it provides our readers plenteous information,
innovative writings and mesmerizing musings and anecdotes. My
heartfelt compliments to all members and officers who have contributed
towards this edition.
IASOWA brings both old and new members together. If seniors have
the experience, the understanding and skill then the new members
have the keenness and enthusiasm. And the splendid combination of
experience and zeal creates a difference. I am delighted that all our
members participate with excitement and eagerness in all our activities.
Your presence and support has gone a long way to strengthen our
Association. I sincerely express my happiness and look forward to a more
fruitful involvement in the coming years.
IASOWA has always attempted to be the catalyst of social change in a small
way and tried to make a difference in the lives of the underprivileged. We
need to touch the lives of many more people around us, offer support
and provide them with a sense of purpose. I am confident that all the
members will individually and collectively make this happen. IASOWA’s
efforts in its various social projects have to be bolstered with innovative
ideas and unparalleled conviction of our members. I urge each and
every member to whole heartedly participate in our social welfare
programmes and make a difference and bring a smile into the lives of the
disadvantaged. With profound happiness, I congratulate the dedicated
efforts of our IASOWA volunteers.
I again take this opportunity to convey my best wishes and gratitude to
every IASOWA member. I express heartfelt appreciation to the Executive
Committee who has transformed ideas into actions and which have not
only been a visual delight but enriching too.
Happy reading ……….So long for now and we have promises to keep
and miles to go!!!
Amal Seth
1
Message of Arpana Caur
I had a very fruitful interaction with IASOWA’s women artists a few weeks ago
and saw their works on display. Art is a huge joy and freedom of expression
of dreams, thoughts, imagination and experiences, a truly uplifting experience.
I was happy to share my own journey too, to a very attentive audience, my
various subjects of environment, violence, and spirituality and the very fabric
of life, particularly my inspiration from our centuries old Indian traditions of
painting and sculpture blended with contemporary issues, for that is what we
are, a marriage of Old and New. I was also happy to share my struggles as a part
of society and the everyday issues here.
I wish IASOWA the very best in its endeavour to encourage the creativity of its
members.
Arpana Caur
Contemporary Indian Artist
Message of Arunima Sinha
Arunima Sinha
Padmashree, First Indian Woman
Amputee to climb Mount Everest
2
3
CONTENTS
Social Initiatives of IASOWA
6-7
Rhapsody of Réflexions – Contribution From Members
8-37
Picturesque Mosaic of IASOWA Activities
38-59
Wholesome Wellness
60-69
What the Stars Foretell
70-71
Recipes Corner 72-79
Team IASOWA 80-81
IASOWA Members' Directory
82-90
Paintings by Members of Team IASOWA
95-96
Front Cover courtesy
Renuka Sondhi Gulati
4
5
Social Initiatives of IASOWA
Prerna School – School for
the Underprivileged
Prerna was started in 2007 with the
aim to bring about holistic
development
amongst
the
underprivileged
children
and
empowering
children
with
knowledge, skills and proactive
information. Prerna has a strength
of nearly 70 students. Students are
divided into separate groups on
the basis of their ages and a team
of 5 teachers guide them with their
studies and assignments. A nutritious
meal ranging from kichdi, dalia, upma, pulao is cooked and served to all children. IASOWA has hired
a cook and supervisor to ensure cleanliness and hygiene. Our volunteers attend the school every
day for overall supervision and conduct daily activities to enhance social skills. Activities range
from yoga/meditation, talks on health/ hygiene, enhancing drawing skills and general awareness
and strengthening mental math. IASOWA has organized theatre workshop to enhance children’s
creativity and we celebrate important days with plethora of activities in which children participate
with fervor and enthusiasm.
Spreading smiles and happiness!!
Prerna Stitching Centre
The Prerna Stitching Centre located at New Motibagh conducts short duration courses in stitching
for young girls and women. It provides a platform for young girls and women to enhance their
skills. Various items of home furnishings like cushion covers, dining table covers, runners, napkins,
tea cozy, designer Kurtas, blouses are designed by our volunteers and made by Prerna trainees.
Their products are sold under the Prerna tag.
Cultivating Skills, Providing Livelihoods!!
Computer Centre & Partnership for Teach India Programme
Our volunteers help run a computer centre and about 60 young boys and girls, belonging to the
Economically Weaker Section of society were trained in basic computer skills in 2014. Certificates
were given away by our President on successful completion of the course.
IASOWA has also partnered with the Times Foundation for its Teach India Programme. English
Language and Conversation classes are conducted which greatly increases the employability
opportunities of young people, especially from the weaker sections of the society. Classes started in
the month of December, under Teach India’s Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative in collaboration
with the British Council. The classes aim at improving English for better job opportunities for people
who are above 18 years, 10th or 12th pass. Teach India organizes job fairs and has a consistent
placement record and through these job fairs, around 90 percent of our students have attained
employment in various big companies like Bata, Mcdonalds, Pantaloons, Big Bazaar.
Enhancing Employability Skills
Aanchal – School for Differently Abled
With the objective of promoting holistic development for the differently abled and to tap their
potential, IASOWA runs its candle making and carry bags from recycled paper projects at Aanchal
school. Our volunteers at Aanchal School help the differently abled students to make Diyas, candles
carry bags which were sold at the Diwali Mela.
6
7
AYESHA
Rhapsody of Réflexions
Contribution from Members
• Ayesha – Sulu Mathew
• The Cocktail Circuit – Pushpa Sundar
• 'Master' Chef of Another Kind – Leena Nandan
• Karappaya – Lippi Parida
• Sixteen Fever – Kanika Chatterjee
• Random Musings – Gita Mehta
• Being a VIP Spouse – Suchita Malik
• Time's Winged Chariot – Madhuchanda Mishra
• Bird’s Paradise – Sanjana Kumar
• LUMIÈRE – Priti Gupta
• जीवन – Shailja Dutt
• Changing Patterns of Family Relationships -The Indian Context – Krishna Singh
• The Bridge Within – Swati Agrawal
• Sexual Harassment at Work Place – Prajakta Neelkanth
• Lawerence School- Jogging a Great Experience – Dr Rajalaxmi Rath
• Do You Know? – Manju Prasad
• Of Sahibs and Memsahibs 'Vignettes from the British Raj' – Smita Shah
• Manipur, The Cynosure Of North East – Kiran Bala Dewangan
• A Memorable Experience – Manju Moitra
• Day one … Devikulam… – Usha Srinivasan
• The Joy of Flowers – Mimi Ghosh
Sulu Mathew
I
t was a parched summer. River Ganga was
just miles of burning thirsty sand. The blazing
sphere was right above, sending the town into
a drowsy daze. The usually bustling market
place looked eerie with everyone retreating
indoors for these few hours.
Brittle leaves crackled under her feet. Ayesha
passed the deserted cigarette and pan
dookan. The chulha lit for lunch in the food
stalls were doused. Flies settled in crevices
waiting for the sweet balushahi to be put out
and tea to be brewed with dollops of sugar
laced with cardamom. Silent salivating street
dogs watched her progress with half closed
eyes. The sun seemed to char her downcast
head. She could feel the sweat combined
with scented hair oil trickling down her nape.
She crossed some official looking buildings
and there was the Deputy Commissioner’s
bungalow sprawled in front of her. It was not
difficult to spot it. Right in the centre with the
entire town built around it.
She quickened her steps,
shuffling like an old lady
with the cumbersome
burka clinging to her. She
had to get back before
her daughter came back
from school. She had left her home in a mess tear stained pillow on the floor, clothes soaking
in the bucket, dal still in the pressure cooker,
half mashed potatoes for aloo chokha. It was as
if time had stood still after Rehana had spoken
to her. She kept praying that the rumours she
heard were not true. Was her husband going
to take a young new bride? Haveldar sahib as
everybody called him was the official body
guard of the Deputy Commissioner. Yes! Tall
and well built, though pot-bellied he was an
eligible catch. Age was catching up with her,
she was no beauty and she had not given him a
son. But she was not going to give up without a
fight. Her head jerked up with resolve. She was
going to ask Memsahib to help her.
She walked in through the gates and through
the burgeoning banyan and peepal trees lining
the drive way. Nectar searching bees and
insects buzzed busily among the lychee and
mango trees - the only ones to have forgotten
to take their afternoon siesta! Sprinklers
sprayed their magic in the dust filled air. The
overpowering smell of jasmine assailed her. In
the scorching sun the garden was in bloom.
She entered the veranda that ran around the
white stately bungalow. Her feet followed
the soft voices wafting through. Oomph! She
thought-‘she had come this far without anyone
noticing her. Is this what they call security?’ Her
heart skipped a beat.
She heard the endearing cajoling voice “beta,
9
please only one more spoon of halwa”. Ayesha
thought of how she would slam a plate of roti
and dal in front of her daughter and shout at
her to eat it. She jerked out of her reverie when
a startled voice asked “aap khaun?” Memsahib
had instinctively clutched her son and her
face showed her confusion and disbelief
that someone had come into the house
unannounced.
Just then the car roared in with the flashing
orange light and there was slamming of doors.
Haveldar opened the door for the DC Sahib
and saluted. There were shrieks of joy from the
little boy on seeing his Dad.
Anita turned around and the lady in the burka
had disappeared. Did she imagine her presence?
The Cocktail Circuit
Pushpa Sundar, IAS
I
f the men of the steel
frame have to be
‘sub-jante-wallahs’ jobhopping from inspection
of jails to family planning,
and foreign aid, their
wives have to be ‘take-everything-in-your-stridewalis’, however that is translated into Hindi. It
can mean adjusting your meager camp furniture
to regal drawing rooms with chandeliers and
scores of empty haunting rooms echoing with
silence, or making that same furniture fit into a
handkerchief sized flat, such that it doesn’t put
out a leg to trip you every time you move from
point A to point B.
It can mean being Queen of all you survey, even
if it is only a couple of acres of scrubland, a few
chickens and the dhobi’s children playing in the
mud near the out-house and ‘koi-hai-ing’ for
someone to pick up the handkerchief you just
10
dropped. Or it can mean rubbing shoulders
with the hoi-polloi in a ration Q.
It can mean a shift of orbit from pottering
among the pigs a la Lord Emsworth, to a vista
of bare backs, red talons and slender stemmed
glasses at a cocktail in a five-star hotel, where
the Oxford ‘Oh deahs’ and American ‘Hi—s’
strike a jarring note a to an ear accustomed to
hearing Indian English only.
Plunged first time into the cocktail circuit
of Delhi, straight from one of India’s best
backwoods, I came up gasping for air from
the culture shock. Attired in what I thought
was suitable garb for the Delhi winter – thick
woollen socks under a contrast Kanjeevaram
saree, topped by a sweater and a shawl – I had
been just about persuaded to leave the muffler
behind by a husband well versed in the art of
negotiation, thanks to the need for prising
foreign aid out of reluctant donors. Imagine my
dismay, then, at seeing bare arms and cleavages
flaunted all round. It wasn’t long either before
I moved around in an aura of steam, the way
the other women moved in an aura of exotic
perfumes, thanks to the woollen layers.
I was unaware then, as I am now, that two of the
most important qualifications for a Confirmed
Cocktail Goer (CCG) are a strong bladder, able
to put away enormous quantities of liquid
nourishment, and strong sturdy feet which can
stand, and stand and stand, without keeling
over. I gave at the end of the first half hour and
a nimbupani, two orange juices, a Coca-Cola, a
tomato juice, a pineapple juice and two mango
juices later, an excellent imitation of the hermit
heron, standing on one leg, eyes closed in
meditation. However, through the agony, one
exhilarating thought sustained me. My career
as a CCG had been launched!
Successive parties saw me wiser about another
fundamental rule which the CCG must follow.
Don’t be possessive – in fact be detached –
about conversation. In the early days, I worried
when the person I was talking to, appeared
more interested in the cleavage next door
(yours truly, being swaddled as mentioned
before, offering no such scope for landscape
explorations) than in my narration of Mrs.
A’s suffering on account of red, frostbitten
chilblained toes. Now, of course, I take not
only this in stride, but also the fact that my
audience is likely to be captive for precisely one
and a half seconds, i.e., until he sees a VIP he
wants to hail urgently. I know that I shall be
left with a murmured “excuse me,” just when
I am in the middle of the interesting bit about
the remedy recommended by my neighbour
for those wretched chilblains of Mrs. A.
No matter. I know that by the constant law of
motion which operates at every cocktail party.
I shall soon have another unsuspecting victim
in front of me. I also know better than to start
filling him in on the background of Mrs. A’s
chilblains, for otherwise I will never get to the
really exciting bit, about how I dealt much more
successfully with the complaint. So, I carry on
serenely, knowing I can count on a response
of “Oh, how terribly exciting/ interesting/
wonderful. I must try it out tell somebody about
it,” that being the stock in trade of all CCGs.
Nor do I worry any more about not being able to
finish my story at one sitting – I beg your pardon,
I mean standing – I know that I will meet the
same people at every other cocktail party. It
adds to the charm of conversation if it is carried
on in small serialised bits. Think of the exquisite
suspense and excitement of having to wait for
news of Mrs. A’s chilblains till the next cocktail
party!
Published in The Indian Express, August 1977
11
'Master' Chef of
Another Kind
between a quiet twenty-two year old doing her
summer training in computers, and a garrulous
aunt, who, despite two and a half decades of
running a household, had still not mastered the
art of doing it smoothly.
Leena Nandan, IAS
M
ost women, blessed
as we are with
natural loquaciousness,
can
launch
into
impassioned
speeches
about the multi-tasking
required for successfully running home and
office. At a dinner the other day, I happily held
forth on the subject, reminiscing about the
myriad times I have remained awake all night
with a fractious baby on the eve of a punishing
office schedule. Martyred expression firmly in
place I waxed lyrical about how managing the
house and kitchen and kids’ school has been so
very taxing. Nothing has ever been allowed to
come in the way of duty I added, amidst gasps
of admiration.
Just then, my antennae, sensitively attuned to
picking up the faintest murmur on the office
grapevine, detected a stifled giggle. It was at
odds with all the appreciation that my latest
anecdote had elicited, so I squinted across
the room to behold one of
my two not-so-little darlings
telling her friends about how
her predictable Tiffin of jam
and butter sandwich would
ever so often be wrapped up
in an old newspaper because
Mummy had forgotten to get
the aluminum foil.
My tryst with the kitchen
has, more often than not,
been disastrous and the odd
encounter has generally ended
with us not even being on
talking terms. The shelves
have the mysterious habit of
12
playing April fool with me all through the year.
So, the garam masala jar craftily emptied its
contents at midnight into some other similar
looking container. End result--the chicken curry I
enthusiastically dished up tasted like the country
cousin of pav-bhaji. Knowing how the kitchen
sets a trap for me to walk unsuspectingly into,
I would not have attempted the impossible,
but was coerced into it by my inner voice which
said I had to regain lost ground after failing to
find the onions when my siblings came over for
dinner. Neither they nor the master of the house
have let me forget that epic moment when in
my frantic search for the elusive vegetable, I
even opened the refrigerator door!
But the younger generation is far more
adaptable than we give them credit for. Instead
of being bored by the predictable breakfast of
bread-butter-egg, she came up with variations
of the model, and approached the first meal
of every day with admirable gusto. She even
managed to look shocked at the statement
of her dear uncle, that the meals churned out
were barely better than railway canteen stuff,
thus endearing herself for all times to the
selfsame aunt. The best was when she asked
me the recipe for the kheer, so that she could
get it replicated back home. I couldn’t resist
looking pointedly at hubby dear, but being the
quintessential bureaucrat, he let that one pass
without comment.
With these success stories up my sleeve, I was
naturally in a state of full alert when a nieceby- marriage quite different in disposition from
me-- the aunt in question--came to stay with us
for a two- month training programme. I thought
the prolonged interaction would be torturous
for the youngster, given the complete contrast
Where she scored 150 out of 100 was at the
dinner table. Yours truly has the gift of the
gab, and is inclined to burst into song without
provocation. It surely must have been an ordeal
for the guest, more used to peace and sanity,
but not once did she betray with even a tremor,
her deepest feelings on the matter. On the
contrary, she gave every appearance of enjoying
the trivia, and unlike her uncle, never did the
disappearing act the moment the threat of yet
another song loomed large.
Between the songs and the alternately bland
and burnt offerings at meal times, she managed
to enjoy herself thoroughly, thus confirming my
theory that the relationship quotient doesn’t
require gastronomical feats for sustenance. My
many friends are testimony enough, and the
office is also plodding along merrily—so three
cheers to this woman without substance and to
her bhagwan-bharose household!
Karappaya
Lippi Parida
L
apped by incessant white foamed crested
waves, the Nicobar islands lay south to the
Andaman Islands in the centre of the Bay of
Bengal. On it the evergreen pandanus forests,
along with their creatures’ great and small have
thrived ever since time began. A single pucca
road runs around the island of Car Nicobar
and in the centre of the island is the district
magistrate’s house. Made partly of wood and
partly concrete, it is a simple white bungalow
set amidst idyllic surroundings.
It is summer in Nicobar and the papaya trees are
loaded with red juicy fruit. Coulourful orioles
fly from afar to come and
sing amidst the flowered
creepers behind the
white coloured house.
Here lives Karappaya, the
resident cook. Karappaya
comes out of his room to pluck some tomatoes
for the afternoon’s rasam from the backyard as
the sun reaches its zenith in the sky.
Nights in summers mean thunderstorms in Car
Nicobar. The electricity goes and water drips
from the corrugated tin sheets. Karappaya
places a bucket under the dripping water and
13
drunk on toddy after helping ships unload. And
then he sits and cries. Cries for his disoriented
life, for his lost family for the rumours that
reach him that his wife has remarried and has
two more children. He tears the letter written
last night and throws the pieces away soaking
his checked towel with his tears.
continues with his letter writing by candlelight.
He tells his wife Mariamma how much he misses
her. How is little Chitti? Does he go to school?
Today I cooked Biryani for fifty people. When
we meet, I’ll cook the best biryani in the world
for both of you. Rest ok writes Karappaya.
In the afternoon Karappaya cycles down to the
jetty sometimes and comes staggering home
Once in a while Karappaya takes out a gold
bordered silk saree that he has bought from
his trip to Port Blair. This is for Mariamma
says Karappaya, showing it to the gardener
and Murugan, the helper. In Karappaya’s
dream world, Mariamma is still twenty and
his beloved wife who is eagerly waiting for
the gold bordered saree which Karappaya has
managed to acquire with so much difficulty.
Then smilingly Karappaya goes back to reading
the newspaper, in the verandah of the kitchen,
his legs outstretched. The sky is clouded
and it is going to rain again. He loves the
thunderstorms of Nicobar. If there is paradise
it is here here here, thinks Karappaya.
Sixteen Fever
Kanika Chatterjee
I
t is a great pity that I am
not entitled to sing that
all-time favourite song
–“I am sixteen going on
seventeen”—from the
movie The Sound of Music
anymore. “I am fifty-five going on fifty-six” does
not have that romantic ring especially when one
is fat and not oh-so-beautiful. Unfortunately, the
latter is a stark truth that I can hardly deny. Now
that I have developed fat in all the wrong places,
got bulges around my eyes and a head full of
14
grey hair (and that too, in spite of expensive hair
dyes and regular facials), nobody ever cat calls
or addresses me as “hi pretty” anymore. Those
days are gone along with my skirts and jeans.
But left over from my days of youth, I do
possess a voice that is girlish (and if truth be
told, bordering on the shrill). I would like to call
it sexy but that might be a bit much. People do
say though, that my daughter’s voice is a ditto
copy of mine. While, when speaking to people
face-to-face, my lilting voice can never hide
my identity, it can successfully do so over the
phone. This fact, however, does not thrill me.
For initially, when my daughter was a teenager,
this mistaken identity caused much mirth in our
family circle. It became a standing, oft-repeated
and often irritating joke. “You need to grow
up”, “Have you considered a voice-change or
some deep-belly exercises?”, “Do give some
warning when either of you say hello—after
all, the person on the other side may make
some tremendous faux-pas”—these are only
a small sample of the exhaustive repertoire of
comments I had to grit my teeth and smile at.
Even worse, some of our friends and relatives
who regularly called got noticeably irritated
and peevish on the phone when mistaking one
for the other (expressed in a series of “oofs”,
“stop its” and “not agains”)—as if the whole
business was somehow our fault and we had
been deliberately perpetrating a childish joke!
Gradually, both of us, mother and daughter, got
accustomed to being mistaken for each other.
I got used to the cooing voices of her various
boyfriends and she got used to the gruff voice of
my husband. Moreover, we tried to liven up the
monotony of having to correct the caller—my
daughter would pause (pretending that she was
passing the receiver to me) and then carry on
the conversation using my language and idioms.
Generally, she was successful but once in a
while, her identity would be revealed and there
would be a peel of laughter or more usually, a
grunt of frustration on the other side.
A few would go a step further and coo dulcetly
“Beti, how are you? You’re growing up so
fast—seems like ages since we last met. Is your
Daddy there?”—honestly, how syrupy can some
people get?! At first, I would disillusion them
much to their embarrassment but my patience
also has some limits. After a point, out of sheer
disgust whenever I was asked for my “Daddy”,
I would ask them to hold on and promptly fetch
my husband.
“The last straw was a couple of days ago. A
caller was extremely persistent that I call my
Daddy as he has some urgent work with him. I
desperately kept saying “But he is not at home
right now”. Finally the caller decided he had
had enough and commanded me to “go and
call Mummy”. At this point, I got extremely
nervous and vowed to consider seriously doing
some deep belly exercises!! This single phone
call transited me from my virtual sixteen fever
to actual fifty five reality!!
Published in Pioneer.
But after my daughter went abroad, my voice
created real problems for me. First, there was
the unending flow of admirers who, unaware
that she had left, would start pouring their
hearts out to me. They had to often be stopped
with severe rebuffs. Then there were the wits—
“Hi, can you talk or is Hitler home?” asked one
wise guy boyfriend. “No he isn’t, but this is Mrs.
Hitler speaking” was my reply. Then there were
the anonymous callers who would call at any
time of the day or night and insist on cracking
bawdy jokes.
Last, there were the truly innocent callers
who would politely ask me to “Call Daddy”.
15
Random Musings
Being a VIP Spouse
Suchita Malik
Gita Mehta
A
remote place in
Himachal
Pradesh
called Shillai, the year
1986 and my husband
posted as the BDO. We
would be setting up
house for the first time since getting married. I
had been busy with my M.Phil course and hubby
with training so we hadn’t felt the need to have
an establishment before this.
Needless to say, I was hugely excited. The
only dark cloud was the thought of leaving my
parent’s home, irrevocably. But then, I had been
luckier than most in that, I had continued to stay
with my parents even after getting married.
After much tear shedding on both sides, I left
my mother, armed with all that she thought
I would need in our house in Shillai. We finally
reached late in the evening, weary in body and
mind to be welcomed by this quaint, sturdy
looking cottage which would be our first home
together.
It was an idyllic period. There being no telephone
lines, my husband was answerable to no one but
himself. Since our house was built on the top
of a hill with a commanding view of the valley
below, I could see the BDO’s office from our
garden. Come evening and I would be waiting
for my husband to leave his office at five o’clock
dot and watch his progress as he made his way
home up the meandering path.
Shillai being situated in the interior was not as
developed as other places. This was also the
time that colour television had just come to
India. So, when we came to Shillai we were the
proud owners of a colour television which had
been a gift from my parents in law. Word spread,
16
as is wont to in such closed communities, that
the BDO residence had a television and that too,
colour!
To top it all, we had also brought our Kelvinator
refrigerator, a present from my parents, with us.
It was one of the two refrigerators in Shillai, the
other being the one owned by the BMO. Much
to my chagrin, I would have a flurry of visitors
throughout the day, who, on some pretext or
the other would try to enter the bedroom to see
what the television looked like!
The refrigerator was placed in the room at the
entrance since it was too wide to go through
the doorway to the dining area. Willy-nilly, it
became the central showpiece in the drawing
room. The Dyanora television and the Kelvinator
refrigerator have long found their abodes
elsewhere but their memories linger, fond and
evergreen.
Looking back, our lives were so uncomplicated.
To imagine that we lived for a whole year
without telephonic connectivity! Electricity was
of low wattage. The source of water was a hand
pump outside the house.
Our possessions have increased manifold since
then, but friends, those were the days...
“Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown”
is an old adage. Who says it is great fun being
a VIP? The syndrome may have its touch of
glamour apparently, yet the grind involved in
it often goes unnoticed by the general public.
You may be a very important person while
the going is good but are obliged to sit on the
other side of the fence and can be an object
of ridicule once the going gets tough. Thus,
the line of demarcation between being a Very
Important Person (VIP) and a Very Ignored
Person (still VIP) is indeed very thin.
And, in case you happen to be a VIP spouse,
it’s is indeed a tight-rope walk for you. Let
alone being denied your normal reflexes, you
are expected to behave like a perfect robot
that has to carry out his brief with almost
mechanical precision. And, by God’s grace, if
you are a VIP spouse and a working woman on
top of it, the combination can be deadly. You
are an easy prey for long sermons on flouting
of all norms and nothing seems to come to you
in normal routine. You are denied the right to
exist in your own individual capacity and are
constantly slighted as “that VIP’s biwi.”
As a VIP spouse, you
generate pre-set notions
of bias and a hostile
environment at the
outset itself. Invariably,
your colleagues get all
set to “fix” you in the first place whenever the
occasion presented itself. It is presumed that
you do not have any merit or standing of your
own; and you happen to be in there ‘courtesy
your VIP husband’ alone. You are looked down
upon and ridiculed as being the ‘black sheep’
who might have trampled over the rights of
others to make a place for yourself. So, you are
often lambasted as ‘bourgeois’ while all others
taken to be the ‘proletariat’ in Marxian terms.
And, who said that the so-called ‘proletariat’
were all idealists or had a devotion to duty
par excellence? Take, for instance, teaching
profession! (Let me use “You” for the
‘bourgeois’ and “they” for the ‘proletariat’.) If
‘they’ absented themselves from taking regular
classes or were compulsive shirkers, it was all
right since they did it themselves and were
well within their democratic rights. But, if you
happen to perchance miss a single class, all hell
would break loose since you are there in your
job ‘primarily to while away your time’ and that
too, dressed in all your finery. When it comes to
perform some other duties at your workplace,
you are among those ‘chosen few’ who have to
be shown their proper place every time; it does
not matter that there are a number of those
who would never be seen.
As a VIP spouse, you are strictly forbidden to
have any aspirations of your own. You must
never try to raise your individual status lest
your husband may be accused of illegally
17
‘pressurising’ the ‘powers that be’ for vested
interests. Ambition may be lethal to you
and vanity a sin. You are expected to dwell
in your own ‘ivory tower’ and any attempt
to venture out of it may be taken as a sign
of arrogant sinister overtures. If you dress
well, you obviously are the ‘rich-n-famous’! If
you joke well with others, you obviously are
in a ‘position’ to do so. If your write-ups are
published, you have obviously ‘managed’ it
with your connections.
You and your actions are under constant
scrutiny and you are unable to lead a normal,
healthy life. So attuned you are to the public
glare and gaze! Being a VIP is like a finished
product of the cinematic world where the
glamour is reflected on the screen while the
grind comes to a halt once the ‘show is on’.
I often wonder…where will it end? …This VIP
syndrome. Are they really VIPs? These so-called
VIPs, like ‘bourgeois’, are the creation of the
‘proletariat’. Be that as it may, don’t the VIPs (so
called) have a right to live a life of their own …
don’t they want a whiff of privacy sometimes…
Aren’t things ‘managed’ and ‘fixed’ outside this
rung of VIP syndrome. Hasn’t ‘fixing’ come of
age globally and internationally?
Time’s Winged Chariot
Madhuchanda Mishra
T
ime is an integral
part of our life, every
breath we take, every
heartbeat measures it its
progress is inexorable,
unstoppable. We are
bound by time from the moment we open our
eyes in this world till we breathe our last .
But how do we measure it? It is not only by
watches and clocks, day and night, months and
years hours and weeks. All these are a part of
chronological time which we can measure and
quantify. The changing season and colours of
the landscape all remind us of its passage .
Yet we also perceive time within our mind ,
this is psychological time . The duration of hours
and days does not change but it alters according
to our mood. When a man is happy time flows
18
along, for a contended man it goes by very
swiftly, for someone who is bored, it crawls
very slowly.
Some days and nights stretch endlessly, and
we count the minutes, especially when we are
grieving. But it also flies when we are doing
something we enjoy and love .
Time heals many wounds, the physical cuts,
bruises and broken bones to the deep pain of
loss, grief and broken hearts.
Bird’s Paradise
Sanjana Kumar
Birds are the creature
Composing songs of the nature
In the month of spring
They fly high and spread their wings
And oh! How beautiful the humming bird and bulbul sings
With the song of the cuckoo there comes the summer
They start searching for shade and shelter
The chanting of the thirsty crow
The hoopoe, the babbler all in a row.
With the onset of the rain
Turning green of the beautiful terrain
The dancing of the peacocks
And all others gathering on the mountain rocks
All singing and rejoicing
When the owl looks fluffy
And the larkspurs chafe
Here the winter comes with cool breeze
The white of the snow and the pigeon
All mingle and freeze
Parrots hiding in the wood
The birds feel with the nature
And express their changing mood.
We are bound by it, yet free to stretch or
shrink it. Every moment changes us. We are
slaves of time governed by changing seasons
and perceptions.
Does time end with us? Do we end in time? No
one knows. But at my back I always hear,
time’s winged chariot drawing near.
19
LUMIÈRE
Priti Gupta
Shailja Dutt
I groped in the woods
Rummaged and toiled in the pastures
Scanned the fathomless oceans
For that ray of light
That would illumine and make my life bright.
The ray that traversed the universe
The Lumière that lighted poets’ verse
The iridescence that enlightened sages and saints
The effulgence that brought smiles to infants.
I invoke thee to show me the path
Into the dark crevices of my heart
Into a life of discipline
To delve deep amongst the victims of penury.
I humbly request thee to open the avenues
To the treasures of knowledge
To the wealth of virtues
To the sweet fruit of generosity.
Thou should enlighten me about
The futility of materialism
The triviality of narrow mindedness
The pettiness of revenge
I entreat thee to lead me
To the path of peace and purity
To the path of truth and serenity
To the path of righteousness & humility
The humility with which you
Caressed the farmers in the fields
Supported the down trodden in the streets
Nursed the bleeding crushed by the hands of pseudo power
Consoled the weeping in the din of war.
I beggeth thee to help me perceive
That ray that traverses the universe.
20
21
Changing patterns of family
relationships- The Indian
context
Krishna Singh , IAS
C
hange
is
the
prerequisite
for
healthy survival. In a vast
beautiful world when
mankind has reached the
moon, major scientific
break throughs are routinely affecting individuals
in numerous ways, when globalization
accompanied by environmental/climate changes
are so visible how interpersonal relationships
can be kept immune from change. However
along with several positive happenings, there
are a large number of concerns that are touching
individuals’ societies and communities. It would
be fair to say that some of these are dictated by
circumstances and new emerging challenges.
Others are not. On top of it all is the changing
pattern of interpersonal relationships. Should
this be largely attributed to the breakdown of
the old traditional joint family system when
family members took each other for granted in
hail, thunder or storm. Not only did this warmth
get displayed in the less urbanized/rural settings,
nobody declined hospitality even in cities.
There is now a paradigm shift due to
repriortisation of family values. The display of
hospitality is directly propotional to the success
or failure of the individual concerned both
within and outside the family. Hand holding
once a virtue is dispensable and the laggards
are termed liabilities. Contact between cousins
is minimal especially the poorer cousins. Even
preparations with regard to festive occasions
like marriages etc. are kept closely guarded
secrets not to speak of day to day concerns. In
short distancing is taking place continuously.
The paradox is that nobody enjoys this changed
22
scenario as unconscious isolation is taking place
but everybody is accepting it as something to be
put up with. I recall that in one of my visits to
U.K. in a get together hosted by Leeds University
a British lady candidly questioned the concept of
a joint family system since this meant that young
couples had to adjust with ageing parents within
the same dwelling unit. It surprised her that this
came very naturally to us.
Today, however the scenario in India is vastly
changing. The warmth we enjoyed is being
replaced by a highly functional relationship. It’s
not without reasons that old age homes are
sought without societal embarrassment and
builders advertise these with full confidence
that there would be many takers. And there
are. However along with these happenings
certain positive developments are visible with
an increase in the number of working women
who are able to assert themselves better viz
a viz their male counterparts and play a more
participatory role in household management.
This does not however mean that there are no
instances of harassment of women and that
the attitude towards the girl child does not
need a radical change. Increased economic
independence of many women in rural and
urban areas has also lead to several societal
changes. Married daughters are viewed with
greater attention and respect within parental
homes. Sometimes families tend to lean more
on daughters than sons for emotional support
and conduct of family rites.
The above observations need not cause despair.
An extremely bright educated energetic
generation is coming up providing hope for
a better quality life for large sections of the
population. What may be required is to restore
the balance between modernisation progress
and respect for values and established traditions.
The adverse effect of better communication
which is leaving little time to individuals to have
friendly meets needs a rethink. Also the older
generation that is admittedly feeling the pangs
of change in attitude by the younger generation
need to rethink and modify their level of
expectations. This will restore the balance
between the different generations and reduce
the sense of loss being felt by many.
The Bridge Within
Swati Agrawal
T
he greatest wealth and strength of any
nation is its youth. The future of a nation lies
in the hands of its posterity. The quality of its
youth determines the kind of future, the nation
will have. Today, we are the youngest nation
in the world more than half of our population
below the age of 25 years. The young today do
not lack clarity. They have a lot more direction
than their predecessors. The young do dare
to think different and operate with a can-do
attitude and confidence. Needless to say, the
second India is what I have a lot of faith in. It is
a force that is gaining momentum and it won’t
be too long before it becomes unstoppable
(if it hasn’t already). Nevertheless, in the time
constrained lives they live, they seem to be
losing the significance of traditions and the social
beliefs. It seems as if today we are living in two
India -- one that belongs to the older generation
and in some ways is seen as regressive; and the
other that belongs to the same young which
is its exact opposite. We are in the midst of a
generational divide like
we’ve never seen before.
The divide between the
trendy, tech-enthusiastic
and risk-taking youth
and the thoughtful, wise and mature older
generation. The youth would like to be known,
be seen and be heard; they’d like to be at the
center of action and be the stars of their lives.
Now, none of this is unusual for people at this
stage of life. Our parents, when they were
There is no gap in the
generation today, there
is a gulf. The challenge
is to bridge this divide
in a way so that good of
both can coexist
23
young, probably would have wanted the same.
What sets this generation apart is that unlike the
earlier generation it has access to far, far bigger
platforms. To list a few, Facebook, Twitter, blogs,
television shows etc. help it see the big picture,
be aspirational and even express itself to the
world. These sometimes also get them a quick
recognition and fame, which is so important to
keep going. Overall, as a nation today, we seem
to be poised for a big leap ahead. However,
there is a lurking fear. Fear that the leap might
also leave behind a lot many things close to our
hearts as a nation.
Will we as a nation with glorious past and rich
culture, be able to keep our roots intact, not
for the world but for ourselves, our identity. In
the world of modern technology and modern
outlook, hope that this gen X take the same pride
and inherit the same values that has guarded our
cultural heritage for so long. It is so important
to instill the values and educate our children
about our roots or else they will have nothing
to fall back upon. Faith is missing....children
lack empathy...it’s our thoughts that shape
our destiny. It is very important for individual
to understand, appreciate and take pride in
their own culture and inheritance. Only if we
understand our very own rich cultural heritage,
our past, we will be able to appreciate the
varied rich world culture. Our present education
systems also do not seem to be helping the
cause. Let’s not forget Bharat in the process of
aspiration and growth. Let not this generation
lose the roots in their quest for better economic
well-being. Social and economic well-being is
not exclusive of each other. They can co-exist,
lest we keep intact the bridge within.
Sexual Harassment at
Workplace
Prajakta Neelkanth
N
owadays this subject
is discussed more
often due to some high
profile cases like Tahalka
and TERI. This issue
first came into limelight
with Hon’ble Supreme Court’s Directives of
1997 through Vishakha Vs State of Rajasthan.
After the famous Bhanwari Devi case [1992]
the attention was drawn to the said issue
that sexual harassment exists in work place,
24
it affects women’s lives, their human and
constitutional rights. These guidelines were
replaced by Sexual Harassment of Women
at Work Place [Prevention, Prohibition and
Redressal] Act 2013.
Following are the important points of the Act
which need to be understood by each one of
usA) The Workplace - The definition of workplace
has been widened. It refers to all the places
including the Office and the other places
where the employee visits during the course
of employment including transportation. Work
place includes Government and private offices,
organizations, hospitals and sports complexes,
dwelling places or homes and work places of
unorganized sector.
B) Employee- A person employed on regular,
adhoc, temporary, daily wager and even
domestic maids are covered under this
act. People employed through contractor,
volunteers will also benefit under these
provisions.
C) Policy Formation- It is binding on employer
to make a policy on prevention of sexual
harassment in his/her workplace. The major
emphasis is put on the employer’s role to make
a policy, create a gender neutral environment,
and arrange training programs for gender
sensitization purpose.
D) Constitution of ICC - It is mandatory for every
organization having more than ten employees
to have An Internal Complaints Committee. Its
presiding officer will be a senior lady officer
from among the organization, two members
–at least one female among them from the
same organisation and one member from an
NGO associated with women’s cause will be
there as a third party. The ICC will have tenure
of three years. A provision of Local Complaints
Committee [LCC] under District Officer has
been to deal with the complaints from the
workplaces where ICC can’t exist due less than
ten employees/for unorganized sector.
E) Definition of Sexual Harassment- Act has
widened the definition of sexual harassment.
It includes not only physical abuse but also
verbal remarks, showing pornography,
sending emails/messages .Similarly Any kind
of unwelcome behavior from a male colleague/
superior/subordinate staff will be treated as
Unwelcome behavior.
F) Some other important provisions are- The
act also has safeguards against false and
malicious complaints. Provisions are being
made to punish not only the person making
false complaints but also to the person giving
false evidence or record false statements.
No court inferior to that of a Metropolitan
Magistrate of the first class, shall try any
offense punishable under this Act. Every
offense under this Act is non-cognizable. There
are many misunderstandings in organizations
and among people about how to tackle the
said issue. It can be dealt more effectively if
it is understood as a form of discrimination at
workplace which ultimately transforms into
a big hurdle to women’s right to work and
right to equality. With increasing percentage
of women entering into workforce even in
the fields which were traditionally considered
as male bastion open dialogue on gender
issues, sensitization on gender matters there
is certainly a need to unlearn and relearn new
concepts, shed stereotypical notions.
Strength
“The question isn’t who is going to let me;
it’s who is going to stop me”
~Ayn Rand
Endurance
“A woman is like a tea bagyou never know how strong she is
until she gets in hot water”
~Eleanor Roosevelt
Substance
“A woman is the full circle,
within her is the power to create,
nurture and transform”
~ Diane Mariechild
Women of Pure Strength
“The wind drops us where it will and there
we have the choice to either fight our fate
or grow roots and bloom”
~Jane Castel
Compiled by Manju Prasad
25
Lawrence School- Jogging
a Great Experience
Dr Rajalaxmi Rath
The convent in the small
town of Cuttack in the
State of Odisha was one
of the best schools of the
area and luckily I was a
student of that school. I
had already spent six good years learnt a lot,
which I would have not been able to learn if
I was in any local school. I was rather smug,
satisfied and happy and never ever aspired
to go to any residential public school and be
a burden on the family resources. We were
many siblings and everyone was rather bright,
no special treatment could be meted out to
anyone of us in particular. But my genius of
an elder brother had different dreams for
my younger sister and me. We should sit for
scholarship exams of several difficult rounds,
qualify and get a gateway to the best schools
of the country. Such faith he had in our calibre
and competence. Forms were filled and
tests started one by one. Most reluctantly
we appeared but held no hopes. Result was
declared in three months and by God’s grace I
had qualified for three top schools of India. The
family rejoiced but I was filled with remorse
and there was a doubt in my nine year old mind
as to whether I would be able to manage as a
boarder. Several rounds of discussion was held
to zero down to the best of the three schools
Finally all elders zeroed down to this school as
it was located in a hill station called Lovedale in
the state of Madras, the modern Chennai and
just three kilometres from Ootcamund.
The school was, The Lawrence School, Lovedale.
It was a purely residential school ensconced in
the lap of the beautiful Nilgiri Hills. Al this was
music to the ears and certainly the biggest
incentive to take the decision to switch school
in class five. The process had to start fast as
the new school would start the session soon.
Preliminary submission of papers in the old
school and dispatch of documents to the new
school had to be done real fast. Farewell from
school friends, packing according to the list
provided by school had to be done, purchases
had to be done too. All this was jointly done by
family members and very soon all essentials
were meticulously ready and before one could
take a breather the day of departure dawned.
We reached the railway station in advance and
waited patiently for the then Madras Express
to reach the platform in its scheduled time. In
half an hour we were in our seats and ready to
start on the onward journey. It was my maiden
journey in a train, hence some amount of fear
and doubt remained.
After a memorable journey of two nights and
two days and a lovely roller- coaster ride in a
toy train we reached the quaint little station
Lovedale . One last lap of a taxi drive and we
26
were dropped at the portico of the Girl’s Hostel.
The journey till the school had come to an end
but the journey in the new school had yet to
take–off. I was in a temporary arrangement
for one night and a day until allotment of the
proper House and dormitory. I had seen all
the Houses during my rounds of the hostel
on the first night that I had landed here. I had
been enamoured by the Pankaj House and its
pink colour. Pink small window curtains, pink
counterpanes, all neatly tucked on the beds.
Total symmetry and the aura of the pink was
refreshing and soothing. I had set my heart on
this house. No choice was asked for. I was too
lucky for I was allotted the House I wanted.
My only friend and appointed guide helped
me in shifting with bag and baggage to the
dormitory. This had to be done fast as I had to
settle in and stabilise as the next day would be
the first day of school.
Instructions by Meenu my new friend as she
wished me good-night ran through my dream
as I fell into a slumber. I was woken up by the
melodious ringing of a bell, which someone
rang as she walked through the corridor. I woke
up with a start to the morning chill. Morning
chores had to be finished fast and we had to
rush down to line up for jogging. I got into
my jogging shorts, shirt, pullover and jogging
shoes. Downstairs there was a din as everyone
was chatting happily and exchanging notes. All
the girls’ assembled in the dining hall greeted
me with smiles and offered me tea and buns.
On a table were two huge kettles filled with
piping hot tea and two helpers were pouring
out tea into nice big ceramic mugs. I had
never tasted tea and I wondered whether
I would be able to drink the tea in proper
style. I picked up my mug and also one bun
and sipped slowly, each sip burnt my tongue
and I shuddered. But this hot cup of tea was
soothing was invigorating and above all
essential for this cold hill-station and also the
real chilly morning. My first cup was extremely
memorable and the taste and feeling lingers
till date. I somehow had my bun and tea and
went out to join the girls’ who had assembled
as per their houses to go for the morning jog.
The discipline was unimaginable and in about
ten minutes everyone was out and in their
respective files waiting for the signal to start
on the onward journey. From nowhere the
teacher was out and blew a whistle. All the girls
started doubling in their place and in a moment
started moving up the road and then took a
turn and doubled ahead onto the main road. As
we were forging ahead I breathed in the clean
morning air, and felt totally refreshed. All along
I took deep breaths and looked around at
nature’s bounty. We crossed the church, which
I had observed on my way to the hostel on the
day of entry to the hostel. As we jogged ahead
I said the same prayer once again and thanked
the Lord for his grace. The group moved ahead
in the beautiful chilly morning on the daily
route. Of course then I had guessed it would
have been the daily route, and it turned to be
so. What a sight every inch of the road was a
creation of some artist, God had been extra
kind to this hill- station. It was nothing short of
a Heaven on earth.
The road was clean and plain and the macadam
road did not have a single hump or bump. I later
knew that Lovedale housed the school and its
staff only, hence maintenance was by school
fund. In our thirty minutes of jogging not a
single vehicle crossed us. The tall pine trees
on both sides of the road added to the glory.
We then crossed the entry point the square,
which had the principal’s house. It looked regal
in the daylight. We forged ahead silently no
one talked only our feet went pitter- patter on
the road. Pin drop silence prevailed and I was
enjoying the view and the pine fragrance. Of
and on the silence was broken by a woodpecker
pecking into a tree. The twittering of birds also
was music to the ears. My heart’s desire was
to pen all this to my siblings back home. I was
sure my description would prompt them to
believe that I was in some fairyland. We had
already jogged for one and half kilometer away
from the hostel when the whistle blew loud
and clear. With army precision the whole group
about turned and doubled towards the hostel.
27
The journey back was equally invigorating and
joyous. This beautiful experience of doubling
in synchrony early in the morning in God’s
own land was novel and awe-inspiring. We had
already jogged so much and with such speed
that in spite of the morning chill most were
wiping away drops of sweat. Where was I and
what was I doing here. These thoughts came
crowding to my childish mind.
We did double around in the play- ground in our
physical training classes back home in my old
school but all of this under the hot after-noon
sun, hating every moment of this regime. Oh!
I must write to my school mates back home
and up-date them about jogging and its fun.
I felt perfect and pure in this short while. The
fresh air had also freshened the mind and I
was making up my mind about getting back
and getting ready quickly with the new schooldress, books and satchel et al, so that I could
make a good impression on the first day of
school. Before my thoughts could end we were
back in the hostel. I was now perspiring on a
cold February morning in Lovedale. Of course
most lawrencians who were jogging were
perspiring too.
Strange but true no tiredness, no rest,
straightaway I got ready and in half an hour
I was down in the dining hall for breakfast.
Keeping to routine and time was the motto of
the school. Students had trickled in, I cozied
to Meenu my guide and new friend but she
showed me my seat, which was different and
a little away from hers. Sharp at eight the bell
tingled and jingled pin-drop silence prevailed.
All stood up and said a prayer and sat down
for breakfast. Twenty five minutes later we
all went to the study picked up the satchels
came out and lined up to march to school. As
I stood in the file I was supposed to ( Pankaj
House file), I once again thanked God for the
exposure to this discipline and this super elite
school. I felt bad for one small thing. I realised
in my heart of hearts that if I had maintained
the discipline till date I would have been a
healthier person. Long live Lawrence School
for it had taught me a lifetimes lesson, to be
treasured for a lifetime too.
Do you Know?
Manju Prasad
• If you are right handed, you will tend to chew
your food on your right side. If you are left
handed, you will tend to chew your food on
your left side.
• If you stop getting thirsty, you need to drink
more water. For when a human body is
dehydrated, its thirst mechanism shuts off.
• The reason honey is so easy to digest is that
it’s already been digested by a bee.
• Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep
you from crying.
• Every time you sneeze some of your brain
cells die.
• Bats always turn left when exiting a cave.
• The verb “cleave” is the only English word
with two synonyms which are antonyms of
each other: adhere and separate.
• Men’s shirts have the buttons on the right,
but women’s shirts have the buttons on the
left.
• The owl is the only bird to drop its upper
eyelid to wink. All other birds raise their lower
eyelids
• When you blush, the lining of your stomach
also turns red.
• The lion that roars in the MGM logo is named
Volney.
• Google is actually the common name for a
number with a million zeros.
• It cost 7 million dollars to build the Titanic and
200 million to make a film about it.
• The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are
called aglets.
• The only part of the body that has no blood
supply is the cornea in the eye. It takes in
oxygen directly from the air.
• The only 2 animals that can see behind itself
without turning its head are the rabbit and
the parrot.
• Intelligent people have more zinc and copper
in their hair.
28
29
Of Sahibs and Memsahibs
'Vignettes from
the British Raj'
Smita Shah
T
he Brits have left
long ago. Mercifully,
times have changed for
the better. However,
some vestiges of the
past still remain mostly in
the form of old bungalows of Commissioners
and Collectors all over India, where most
of us have spent some part of our lives. I am
sure we can relate to some of the anecdotes
I have recapitulated here. The Brits have left a
large legacy by way of writings which is like a
portrayal of the social history of the period as
seen through their eyes.
We all know that there existed a deep hiatus
between the Men Who Ruled India and their
subjects, the so called “natives”. But gradually
they started interacting with the high ups of
Indian Society in various fora like clubs, garden
parties, institutes, bridge games, hunting
expeditions, polo matches etc. Here, limited
interaction would take place. The Sahibs lived
in big bungalows with big gardens and an army
of domestics - cooks, khansamas, bawarchees,
bhishtees, bearers, ayahs, orderlies and
jamadars to run the household for them. The
Memsahibs lived in a dream world of their own,
imperiously commandeering their retinue,
often treating them as subhumans. They loved
to treat them as slaves.
The snippets, I am about to recount, have been
gathered from here and there, through the
years, and I would like to share them with you.
North Indian summers were as scorching then
as they are now. So it was customary to pack
off Memsahibs and children to back home or
30
to hill stations like Nainital, Mussoorie, Simla
or Darjeeling. In those days without electricity,
all you had was pulley fans. Then Khas curtains
came up where one could sprinkle some
water and bring down room temperatures.
So the Sahib was left high and dry. In order to
quench his needs he depended on the women
of the Sagarpesha or servants quarters. The
obsequious servants were often too scared to
protest and willingly or unwillingly sent their
wives or daughters submissively. What could
they do but bow down to the authority of the
sahib? There is one such tale doing the rounds
about one such lascivious Sahib. Returning
from a tiring day at office he would call out for
his head orderly, Abdullah and say “ Abdaal. Ik
Chota Bara Lao and Jamadar ki Larki ko Saaf
Karao”. Translated literally this would mean,
Abdullah, bring a small and large peg and get
the sweepers daughter cleaned up.
Every dog has his day, and so did this docile
servant who had not forgotten this insult
to his pride. Writhing in agony of hurt pride
he waited for his opportunity. As summers
ended the Memsahib returned. The nights had
become pleasant but not quite so, indoors. So
they used to sleep in the garden with separate
cots, each with a mosquito net on them. One
such night there was a huge commotion,
waking up the Sahib and the Memsahib. The
staff came running up to them and what they
saw was startling. There was a pair of rustic
chappals by the side of Memsahib’s bed and
the mosquito net on her cot was lifted from
one side. The suggestion was obvious that
someone was in the bed with the memsahib
and on being discovered had scampered
“There is no such
thing as a private life
for an official, in
India, whether Civil
or Military. --- I don’t
mean to say, for a
moment, that a man
who was a duffer at his
work would get plum
postings, just because
his wife was well bred
and charming- though I
admit that has happened
in some cases. But if
there were two fellows
with equal capabilities
and one had a lady for
his wife while the other
did not, the man with
the lady would be given
preferment and quite
rightly too. Women
count for a great deal
in official life out here.”
by Alice Perrin
leaving the chappals behind! The whole retinue
witnessed this sight and what tales they might
have carried is anybody’s guess! There were
whispers galore and Memsahibs reputation
was mud by next morning. Memsahib must
have got to the bottom of the story too. As
far as the father of the girl was concerned the
Sahib had got his just desserts. He had surely
plotted his revenge in such an ingenuous way.
Another story that I remember is of a friendly
and gentle Collector who was very sympathetic
to the locals and was loved by them.
Unfortunately he had to suffer one day because
of a goof up by his staff. This was somewhere
in Bengal during Indian National Movement.
There were demonstrations against the British
Raj in most districts by patriotic nationalists.
But in this district, things were peaceful
because of the gentleman Collector, who was
admired by the people. One day, a group of
local Congressmen wanted to meet him and
he gave them time. He was going to the club
for his game of tennis so he told his Jamadar
or head orderly to welcome them and serve
them tea as he might get a little late. Upon
return he greeted them and unwittingly got
angry at his bearer , “Oh God, you have served
them dog biscuits with tea. Good Heavens! Get
them other ones.” All hell broke loose. The
Nationalists got up angrily.” So you treat us like
dogs,” they said. And that is how the national
movement came to that district.
There is this snippet about the Joint Magistrate
or Junt Sahib as he was popularly called,
straight out of the boat. It was his first contact
with India. Small things fascinated him like the
Dhobi or washerman caring loads of clothes
on his donkey’s back. He was also practising
his flirtation with Hindi language. He saw the
washerman carry the load of clothes on the
back his donkey and deliver it to the District
Magistrate’s House. He saw him do the same at
the ADM’s House. When his turn came, he was
deeply disappointed to find that the washerman
was carrying a head load of his clothes to his
house. Being very hierarchy conscious he felt
insulted that his clothes did not get the honour
of being carried on the donkey’s back. Angrily,
he accosted the Dhobi and admonished him
and said- “Bara Sahib Gadha, Chota Sahib
Gadha, Hum Gadha Nahin? Bolo Hum Gadha”.
The dhobi stammered - “Aisi gustakhi main
nahi Kar Sakta”, he insisted submissively that
there was no way he could utter such profanity
and call the Junt Sahib a Gadha. This went on
for a while, till one of the orderlies intervened
and interpreted the Junt Sahib’s injunctions to
the Dhobi! The poor dhobi realised his mistake.
Since the Junt sahib was alone and the size of
his wash was small he had not brought it on the
donkey.
31
Manipur, The Cynosure Of
North East
Kiran Bala Dewangan
B
eautiful clear skin,
shining straight hair,
perfectly
manicured
hands, not to forget their
chic dressing – were
some of the things that
caught my attention when I was in Miranda
House, my alma mater. These charming girls
from North East rarely engaged with others
or sought our friendship. However, once they
opened up, they would long for their native
place, showered praises with such beautiful
adjectives that it was hard to digest. We would
ignore them as pure concoctions since we could
hardly relate to our distant inaccessible North
Eastern belt or its unexplored pristine beauty.
All my doubts and trepidations were brought
to rest, though after a decade, when I visited
Manipur after my marriage. The first impression
after my landing is nothing to brag about. The
airport and the road leading to Imphal city were
full of convoys of army patrolling the city as if
I have reached a beleaguered city marred by
insurgency. All my initial euphoria died seeing
the ramshackle houses, potholed roads, long
queues for petrol/diesel, no electricity for days
and frequent bandhs that threw normal life out
of gear. Remarkably, amidst all this chaos, the
people were totally unperturbed about this
disorganized state of affair.
As strife torn state gave way to peace and
development, it turned into heaven for
adventurous tourists. Manipur, an oval shaped
valley is surrounded by nine ranges of bluish
green hills intertwined with cascading rapids,
tripping rivers, carpets of flowers, exotic
blooms and lazy lakes. It has aptly inspired
descriptions such as “Switzerland of East”.
Manipur boasts of both, hill and valley districts,
its inhabitants both Hindus (Meities), Christians
and tribal living in harmony. Its green pastures
and meadows coupled with a pleasant climate
through out the year beckon all the nature
lovers as well as its rugged mountains with
its welcoming chill away from the heat of
the valley is very conducive for trekking and
mountaineering.
Before, I goad you with all the enchanting
locations of this heavenly abode; let me tell you
that Manipur is a paradise for adventure seekers.
The Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking
Association (MMTA), The Manipur Adventure
and Allied Sports Institute (MAASI) and
Adventure Academy of Manipur are engaged
in promotion of these facilities. There are
numerous land, water and air based adventure
sports sites across the state, such as the Loktak
Lake: for water sports, the Barak river for river
rafting, the Mount Iso along with Dzuko valley
and Shirui Hill famous for the rare Shirui Lily: for
mountain climbing and trekking, the Tharon
Khangkhui Caves: for caving adventures and
the Koirengei Old Airfield and Nongmaiching
foothills at Wakha: for hand gliding, parasailing
and paragliding. I know the names of these
places sound very intimidating, but Manipur is
establishing itself for some of these celebrated
adventure sports and eco-tourism.
Following my fetish for adventure and sports to
allure the youths, let me now take you through
32
its serene and mesmerizing landscapes.
Moments after landing at Imphal, the capital
city, its pleasant clear skies which is sometimes
overcast or could be accompanied with light
drizzle simply livens up your spirit. The best
season to travel being October to March,
one can walk through the city’s IMA market
(all women’s market), visit the Kangla Fort,
Zoological garden to see graceful brow antlered
deer (Sangai), Khonghampat Orchidarium
housing rare varieties of Orchid and its endemic
species among other things.
Once we move forward, basically it’s a road
journey, serenading through picturesque
terrain, our first halt is at Loktak Lake, 48 km
from Imphal. It’s the largest fresh water lake
in India’s North East, a great picnic spot and
absolute fun for the kids. Bunglow set atop
Sendra Island gives a spellbinding view of life
on the lake on small islands that are actually
floating weeds. One can savour a luxurious
break at the cafeteria there after enjoying
boating and other water sports.
The only floating National Park - Keibul Lamjao
is located on the Loktak and is natural habitat
for Sangai, Hog deer, Otter, water fowls and
migratory birds. Its soul stirring view in the
early hours of morning is not to be missed while
enjoying the hospitality of the rest houses by
the Forest Department.
Moreh, in Chandel District offers the experience
of a commercial town located on Indo Myanmar
border. One can have a peek into the foreign
city of Tamu in Myanmar, just 5 km away
across the border. While Moreh is flooded
with all electronic items to daily consumables,
Tamu proudly displays its jewelry made from
unadulterated 24 carat gold as well precious
and semi precious stones like ruby, emerald, and
amethyst among other things. One needs to be
loaded with cash (Indian rupee is accepted) as
cards are useless here.
Adventure Sports at Lamdan
Loktak Lake
Sadu Chiru Waterfall
Handloom and Fashion
The hill district of Manipur like Ukhrul, have
unique Shirui Lily growing at the height of 8500
feet. Deep gorges, mysterious cave (Tharon),
splendid Barak waterfalls, Buning Meadow and
exotic orchids in Tamenglong district are simply
breathtaking, making you feel living in the lap of
nature which is undisturbed and unblemished.
33
Matching the stunning and formidable aura
of the region, are its liberated and uninhibited
womenfolk. Mary Kom is the shining example
of their strength, courage and individuality.
Women, here run cooperatives for silk/ cotton
weaving and market their own exotic pieces
of silk/cotton sarees, cotton bed sheets having
traditional Manipuri stamp on them. Possessing
one of these is a mark of pride. Here modern
fashion is about creating a balance between
traditional handloom and foreign fabrics.
Imphal to Mandalay and then to Bangkok in
Thailand would become a reality in near future.
If you are looking to escape from the humdrum
of city life, you can safely choose North East
as your destination to relax and rejuvenate
yourself. Manipur hogs the limelight amongst
other North East states because the people here
are quite open for new ideas and progressive.
While one touches Manipur, they can easily visit
Nagaland via Mao through Senapati district and
from there to Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh.
The scope and choices of travelling further east
are endless. Moreover, travel by road from
My humble attempt to bring these less travelled
parts closer to the mainstream and to bridge the
gap between the two societies, which are like
part of the same family but unaware of each
other’s presence will hopefully, strike a chord
with my readers. I have yet to delve into their
culture, folklore, dances, indigenous games,
martial arts, cuisines, exotic handicrafts that are
invested with the mystiques of nature. However,
I would leave that for our next encounter. Till
then, its happy travelling, bon voyage……
If connectivity is bothering you, kindly note it is
well connected by both Airways and Roadways.
New luxurious hotels are coming up to meet the
needs of inflow of tourists. Once this unexplored
part of North East catches the fancy of our high
flying tourists, days are not far when Manipur
and its neighbouring sisters will be considered
as the most treasured, sought after picturesque
locales dotting the map of India.
A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE
MANJU MOITRA
Lansdowne is one of
the most beautiful hill
stations, still retaining
its old world charm.
Much of it is an army
cantonment. That is, no
doubt, the main reason why it has retained
its pristine purity. The incident I am going to
34
narrate took place during a weekend trip to
Lansdowne. There were five of us in the team,
my elder brother, his wife, my husband, our
daugher and myself.
The journey was quite an experience. The road
winded through valleys and steep hills, without
any sign of human settlement once we left the
plains. On one side was a swift flowing river. On
the other side was the hill full of cider, spruce,
pine, deodar and many other nameless trees.
It took us about an hour and a half from the
railhead-Kotdwar to reach our hotel. It was an
old bunglow overlooking the valley. In the cool
salubrious mountain environment, it did not
take us long to shake off our travel weariness.
After lunch and a short rest, we decided to
visit the main bazaar. It wasn’t easy for us to
persuade our male companions to stay back.
Three of us ladies were keen to try the walk to
the bazaar and back on our own. It was about
three kilometers, which, in hill stations, with
all its ups and downs could be quite an ordeal.
On the way we didn’t feel anything, for it was
mostly a downhill walk.
We spent a while in the market, buying a few
trivial things and a cup of tea. It was then time
for us to leave. The manager of the hotel had
warned us about the danger of venturing out
in darkness. But we were comfortable with
time. There was still an hour to go. We did not,
however, anticipate the unpredictable weather
conditions of the Kumaon Himalayas.
We hadn’t noticed the dog till then. Or even if
we had, it did not appear to be anything out
of the ordinary. It was like any other black
mountain dog, quite furry and healthy looking.
The few locals, who were busy closing down
their shops, were also getting little worried
about the plight of the three ladies who were
obviously tourists unaware of the the local
conditions. They also repeated the oft quoted
warning about leopards venturing out in the
dark and occasionally straying in the locality.
We then recalled the warning signs while
coming that it was not unusual for leopards to
be cited along the road.
We soon fell into a rhythm. The silence broken
only by our foot-steps and the occasional cry
of a night-bird. We were both worried and
exhausted and somehow did not have the
energy to converse with each other. Slow and
steady our walk continued. We realized that
without our canine companion there was not a
soul around. The dog knew what it was doing.
It showed no sign of familiarity or affection.
It was just carrying out the task which it was
destined to do. At last our long walk came to
an end. We could see the hotel light. Soon we
were inside the hotel gate. There we found
everyone huddled in an excited conversation.
It is beyond me to describe the look of relief on
their faces on seeing us.
After a while, we suddenly realized that in all
the commotion we had forgotten all about our
protector, the mountain dog. Then we noticed
that it was sitting quitely on its haunches. It
sat for a while, no doubt enjoying the praise
we heaped on it, narrating our experiences to
those present. Out daughter went inside and
brought a few biscuits. It looked disdainfully at
the biscuits offered, gave a last look of approval
towards us; as if to say well I have now brought
you safely home and it is time for me to go to
my home. It turned back, casting a parting look
at our grateful faces and started its trot back.
Many years have passed since then. Even now
whenever there is a heavy thunder-shower, I
recall our near super-natural experience. Who
knows at that very moment perhaps the dog
was in the midst of escorting another group of
weary travellers on their way home.
But then there was nothing else we could do
and started our slow walk back. It had grown
quite dark by then. Fortunately we had a torch.
It was pitch dark all around. After a few steps
we realized that the dog had started walking
ahead of us. At first we thought that after a
while it would go on its own way. But, the dog
continued to walk along, no doubt guarding us
and acting as our guide. It appeared as if our
prayers have been responded and the dog was
the answer.
35
Day one … Devikulam…
THE JOY OF FLOWERS
Mimi Ghosh
Usha Srinivasan
W
aking upto the
sounds of birds
and
waterfalls
and
smells of cardamom
and wild flowers…..that
was my first day, rather
morning of my life as sub
collector’s bharya(wife)
at Devikulam.
Married just as I was completing my teens
and my graduation (B.Sc. Hons., Chemistry)
from Miranda House, Delhi University, moving
straight from Delhi to Devikulam was a huge,
pleasant fairy tale adventure for me!
Devikulam - the lake of the Devi, is a
small hill station about 16 kilometres
from Munnar in Idukki District, Kerala. It
lies 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) above sea level.
According to legend, goddess Sita bathed in the
beautiful Devikulam lake waters surrounded by
lush, green hills, now named Sita Devi Lake.
The sub collector’s residence was built in the
colonial style on a small hillock amidst lush
green forest and surrounded by a moat and a
wooden draw bridge leading to the gates! Was
it real or a dream?
As I came out of the front porch, the sight
around me was amazing- Rose bushes and
climbers, Dahlias, Magnolias and other wild
flowers in various hues and shades spreading
their fragrance in the backdrop of dense foliage
of trees. There was the November chill and
the cool breeze carried the fragrance of green
cardamom.
I could really say” If there is a heaven on Earth,
it is here, it is here and it is here….”
There were no other habitation or human
settlements within a radius of five km. And we
had the company of our Jeeves, Mr. Krishna
Iyer, the cook .When my husband was leaving
for work, I was given strict instructions that I
should not venture out alone as there were wild
elephants, boars etc. in the surrounding forest.
But that did not deter me from sneaking out as
36
soon as his jeep was out of sight. I informed
Jeeves that I was just going to cross the bridge
and see what is beyond. He muttered”Sir said
you should not go out….You are new to the
place..”. Before he could complete, I had already
run out of the gate and crossed the bridge.
As I walked into the forest, I crossed many small
waterfalls and rivulets, trees and plants and
of course the cardamom plants. As I walked,
I started collecting flowers, leaves and small
twigs, thinking about the flower arrangements
that I would make in the various cut glass and
ceramic vases (They were a part of the furnished
house) as a surprise for my husband.
But soon I was getting into very thick forest
and I came across fresh elephant dung and the
sounds of breaking tree branches and sensed
danger. I started running - I did not know the
way back to the house or even way out of the
thick forest. I kept running and thank god I saw
a clearing and breathed a sigh of relief. As I was
wondering how to find the way back home, I
came across a cowherd- god in human avatar!
He soon enough understood I was new to the
place and looking at me holding twigs, leaves
etc., asked me “why are you walking in the
forest collecting Jadi booti? Are you a vaidh?”
I laughed both at the question as well as with
relief. When he came to know that I was sub
collector’s wife, he was stunned and helped me
to find my way home.
Evening was approaching and Jeeves had
lighted up the living room chimney with logs and
he welcomed me with hot tea and reprimands.
I shared my experience with my husband
leaving out “the
irrelevant” details.
An eventful day
indeed!
This is
not the end Mere
dosthon, …Abhi
kahani bakhi hai…
I love the months of Feb and March, of
sunny April too ,
I love to see the dahlias bloom and sweet
peas peeping through
the tendrils clinging rapturously to the
wire netting .
A rush of colours of the phlox provide a
lovely setting.
The chrysanthemum’s a splendid flower
that fills my heart with pleasure
Its curled-up petals and tinted hues I
watch in unhurried leisure!
The antirrhinum’s hard to spell but it’s a
pretty sight
with a bunch of them wrapped round a
stem as if they’ve had a fright!
And pansies grow in marvellous shades
of purple, mauve and white
When they bloom together, they make
the flower-bed bright!
Slender’s the stalk of the gladiolus which
grows on a stem by the dozen,
And on a thick green stem the tuberoses
appear all white and frozen!
I see the sun shining
down upon their
scarlet crest .
I like to see the roses
with petals curled to
form
a pitcher or a tapered bowl well
protected from a storm !
Who can miss the petunias, those
flowers in the beds below
in different tones of white and mauve
they cause the place to glow!
Flowers fill our mind and heart with
happiness and joy,
Why pluck them, then throw them like a
discarded toy?
In spring they flourish, they’re God’s gift
to admire.
They’re an artist’s dream, a lover’s gift,
not to be thrown in the mire.
What would this Earth be sans flowers,
sans bunches of bright hanging bowers?
Without blood-red poppies and lilies on
their stalk,
Did I forget the red, red salvia that’s a
feast for anybody’s eyes?
Without flowers brightening up the
sidewalk?
If I were a judge I would give it a welldeserved prize!
No place for gentle people like thee !
A dull grey Earth this would be
The salvias grow, row ‘pon row looking
their majestic best
37
Picturesque Mosaic of
IASOWA Activities
Megh Malhar – Invoking
Rain God - With rhythmic notes
of songs, exquisite dance on
harmonious beats, hues of
blue and green, flowers of
spring………..
40
41
Prepare and Serve Salad
in Style- healthy, nutritious,
wholesome
42
43
Diwali Mela- Showcasing an
array of beautiful products
44
45
Annual Dinner – Sufiana
sama, Awadhi cuisine, mesmerizing
ambience…. The Royal Nawabi Feel
46
47
Picnic at Humayun’s
Tomb – Pleasure Jaunt at the
architectural marvel
48
49
Vibrant Colours – Different
strokes, Showcasing myriad of
hues, expressions on life, harmony
and rhythms of colours by IAS
officers’ and their spouse
50
51
Annual Lunch – A Perfect
afternoon with peals of laughter
on the Musical satire 'Red Tape Hit
Parade, 32.2FM'
52
53
My fair lady – A perfect
European Afternoon ………
High Tea with Respected retired
officers’ wives
54
55
Talk Show with
Smriti Irani – A candid
interface with a woman of
substance
56
57
Cook Easy, Eat Healthy
Cooking techniques by
Meera Dutt
58
59
Snack-all-day Diet Plan
Nidhi Prakash
T
Wholesome
Wellness
•Snack - All -day - Diet Plan – Nidhi Prakash
he stress of modern day living is causing enormous burden on healthcare
globally. Poor eating habits, sleep deprivation and sedentary lifestyle
have contributed to the growth of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes,
hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and obesity. All of these diseases can
seriously impact a person’s quality of life. People who are obese are twice
as likely to have hypertension. Obesity leads to many diseases such as Type
2 diabetes, infertility, arthritis, heart diseases, GERD and Cancer. W.H.O has
defined obesity as a lifestyle disease. A BMI of 30 or more is Obese. A BMI of
36 or more along with co-morbidities and life-threatening chronic illness is
called Morbid Obesity.
Obesity is measured using several parameters and the most common one is
Body Mass Index.
BMI= Weight (kg)/Height (m)2
W.H.O classification of BMI for Adults –
•Guide to Choosing Cooking Oil – Sapna Agarwal
•Concept and Methodology of Yoga – Anita Dua
•Meditation: Food for the Soul – Savita Bhutani
How do we gain Weight?
Any extra amount of food consumed gets converted into fat and gets accumulated in the body.
The recommended daily allowance for overweight or obese person having sedentary lifestyle is
1200 kcal/day for women and 1400 kcal/day for men. Eating only one extra piece of mithai or fried
cutlet containing approx. 100 calories everyday over and above the recommended 1200 kcal daily
meal plan will result in the following:
As 7000 calories energy is given by 1 kg of Adipose tissue (Fat)
Therefore 100 calories will give ____________ = 100x1
7000
= 0.014 kg /14 g
In 1 month it will be _____________________ = 0.014 x 30 = 0.42 kg /420g
In 1 year it will be ________________________ = 0.42kg x12 = 5.04 kg
In 5 years it will be_______________________ = 5.04 kg x 5 = 25.20 kg
61
Many behavioral factors play a role in obesity,
including our eating habits and daily activity
level. Other factors, such as stress, anxiety,
lack of sleep and genetic factors can also lead
to weight gain. Women may also have trouble
losing the weight they gain during pregnancy
or menopause. Certain medications, such as
birth control pills and antidepressants can also
cause weight gain. Medical conditions such as
hypothyroidism can lead to weight gain.
Benefits of Weight loss
Programs
•Life span increases by 10 - 20 years
•Co-morbidities (Type 2 Diabetes,
Thyroid, Migraines etc.) reduce by 7080%
•One Feels very light and becomes active
•Social life improves drastically
•Overall Quality of life of a patient
improves by 90-95%.
Jogging for 30 min
are burnt.
>> approx. 300 calories
>> To burn 1 kg fat
>> 23 days are required.
>>for a loss of 30kg
are required.
>> 690 days or 1.9 years
Therefore, one has to follow regular exercise
and restrictive diet pattern to be followed for
2 years to get the desired result in weight loss.
3.Medication- Use of weight reducing pills and
skin creams are banned by W.H.O as they
have steroids and chemicals, which have
various side effects on your body and skin.
4.Change in Behaviour – As people get hungry,
they are more likely to ‘binge’ during their
next meal, which leads to weight gain.
Various books and software programs are
available but are effective only for people
having BMI < 35.
Treatment Procedures
b) Surgical Treatments
a) Non-Surgical Treatments
Surgery is an option left to treat obesity when
one has tried other methods for losing weight
but has not been successful in maintaining
long-term weight loss.
1. Diet- One has to follow Low-Cal, High Protein,
and High Fiber Diet program under close
supervision of a qualified dietitian for a
significant and sustainable weight loss.
For Morbid Obese people ‘Dieting’ is not very
effective because:
•According to scientific studies, approx. 90%
people regain weight after 1 or 2 years. This
is called ‘Yo-Yo effect’ and this time they gain
5-6 kg more than they had lost.
•It is practically impossible for them to starve/
eat only salads and fruits everyday to cut
even 500 calories/day.
•Though various weight-loss plans are
available but none of them provides longterm weight loss maintenance to people of
BMI >35.
2.Exercise- Possible for obese people only
morbid obese people cannot exert so much.
62
Scientifically 1 kg of fat is lost when 7000
calories are burnt.
1.Liposuction – A Cosmetic Surgery, Only 2-5
kg fat is removed from the surface. It has no
medical benefit in resolution of co-morbidities.
Patients regain the lost fat in a short term
since it does not impact their basic diet.
2.Bariatric Surgery – The bariatric operations are
done using minimally invasive (laparoscopic)
surgery on the stomach. 3-4 very small holes,
measuring only half to 1 cm diameter, are
made on the lower abdomen, which causes
negligible pain. The surgery is done in many
ways like Lapaparoscopic Gastric Banding,
Gastric bypass, Sleeve gastrectomy etc.
Among all these LSG is becoming the most
popular method in India and abroad.
Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy
(LSG)
In this type, the Surgeon removes 75% of
the stomach leaving the stomach shape of a
‘Sleeve’. The capacity of the stomach reduces
from 1.5 liters to 200 ml only. The food is
absorbed normally along with all the vitamin
and minerals we eat. The Small stomach gets
full quickly with less food and brings early
satiety. Hunger hormone ‘Ghrelin’ that is
secreted by the part of the stomach is now
removed, resulting in ‘disappearance of hunger
pangs’. Only the eating pattern changes from 3
large meals to 8-10 small frequent meals (low
calorie and low fat) including nutritious liquid,
semi solid and solid diet.
Advantages of LSG:
•Stomach size is reduced, so the amount
of food intake too.
C.G.H.S approval
The Central Government Health Services
has approved Bariatric Surgery after
recommendation of an expert panel. A person
having BMI 37.5 with co-morbidities or having
BMI 40 or more can avail the facility of getting
the surgery done for free of charges in any of
the empanelled hospitals in Delhi. The current
rates for Bariatric surgery start from 2.25 lakhs
with only 3-4 days of hospital stay. Outside
India, the same surgery costs more than $5000.
‘Robotic Bariatric surgery’ which is also gaining
popularity now a days, costs above 5 lakhs in
India, which in my opinion, is not at all worth
as it gives the same results as any of the
Laparoscopic Bariatric surgery does.
Life style changes required after
surgery
•Do regular exercise to burn accumulated fat.
•Take small and frequent meals/Snacking allday (fruits, vegetables, pulses, whole grains,
egg whites and low-fat dairy products).
•Avoid long gap between two meals otherwise
rapid or excessive eating will induce vomiting.
People are generally scared of the term
SURGERY but now days it is done by
laparoscopic procedure causing least pain and
zero side effects. One can resume his/her daily
routine within a week’s time after surgery.
•Vitamins and Minerals are fully
absorbed as earlier through stomach.
•Patients loose 55% of excess weight,
which is highly sustainable.
•Highly effective in Type2 Diabetes,
Thyroid, HTN and Arthritis.
•Women facing infertility, PCOD etc.
are able to conceive after 2 years of
Bariatric surgery.
•Chances of Gastric leakage is less than
0.01 % as Stapling (a procedure in which
staplers are put on the remaining cut
sides of the stomach) is tested twice or
thrice by the surgeon.
63
Guide to Choosing
Cooking Oil
Other Seed & Vegetable Oils
(Soyabean, Sunflower, Corn, Canola Oil)
These should generally be avoided as they undergo a lot of processing which reduces their
nutrient value. They are high on Trans fats to
enhance their shelf life. They have been wrongly advertised as heart healthy and are linked to
cancer and heart-ailments.
Sapna Agarwal
C
ooking oil is inevitable while preparing a
dish. Whether it is a salad or main course, you
need to use oil. Technically, cooking oil is plant,
animal, or synthetic fat used in frying, baking,
and other types of cooking. It is also used in
food preparation and flavouring that doesn’t
involve heat, such as salad dressings and bread
dips, and in this sense might be more accurately termed edible oil. Choosing the right cooking
oil can save you from heart diseases, cholesterol blockages, obesity and digestion problems.
Heating oil changes its characteristics. Different types of oils have different smoking point
(the point beyond which oil becomes useless
because fats in the oil start breaking down) and
therefore may not be suitable for all cooking
purposes. When choosing cooking oil, it is important to match the oil’s heat tolerance with
the cooking method. When you’re cooking at
a high heat, you want to use oils that are stable and don’t oxidize or go rancid easily. When
oils undergo oxidation, they form harmful
compounds that you definitely don’t want to
be consuming. Saturated fats and monounsaturated fats are pretty resistant to heating, but
oils that are high in polyunsaturated fats should
be avoided for cooking at high temperatures.
The fats in cooking oil can be broadly classified
as good fats and bad fats.
Good Fats- They are generally liquid at room
temperature. Monounsaturated fats, Polyunsaturated fats, and Omega-3 fatty acids are
known to help prevent heart diseases, cancer,
inflammation, Alzheimer’s etc. They also lower
bad cholesterol, has anti-ageing benefits, and
64
Olive Oil
enables absorption of certain vitamins.
Bad Fats- Saturated fats (generally solid at
room temperature), and trans-fat (used to
elongate shelf-life of products) are examples.
These are linked to heart diseases and diabetes as they reduce your good cholesterol and
shoot up your bad cholesterol.
Here is a comparative study of some commonly
used cooking oils -
Olive Oil
(Types-Extra Virgin, Virgin and Light Olive Oil)
It’s rich in monounsaturated fats and anti-oxidants. It is known to lower risk of heart diseases and breast cancer. Extra virgin oil is the
richest in good fats but has a very low smoking point and hence not suitable for cooking,
frying, sautéing or baking; best used for salad
dressing and drizzling. Virgin oil can be used for
sautéing or cooking at low and medium temperatures. Light olive oil can be used for baking
and high temperature cooking.
Coconut Oil
(Types – Refined and Virgin)
It’s rich in Omega-3 fats, and saturated fats that
make it the best for high heat cooking and impart long shelf life. It lowers the risk of neurological disorders, cancer, and also helps fight pathogens. However, it increases both good and bad
cholesterol levels. Virgin coconut oil should be
preferred for its higher nutrient value.
Ghee
Being an animal fat, it is high on saturated
fats and monounsaturated fats. However, it is
much better than butter as it does not contain
margarine. It is known to add flavor and compliment Indian food very well.
Canola Oil
It is the best out of this category with the highest amount of mono and polyunsaturated fats.
This comes closest to olive oil in terms of health
benefits but is highly refined. It compliments
Indian food pretty well.
Coconut Oil
The above comparison shows that different
oils cater to different needs and cooking styles.
According to leading health expert Shikha
Sharma, “changing or rotating oils is healthy
as it gives the body the different essential fatty
acids it needs; a healthy combination of mono
(50%), poly (30%) and saturated fats (20%).”
Quick Tips
•Use Olive for breakfast, pastas, salads, eggs, Sunflower and Coconut for
deep-frying, Canola and Ghee for Indian
dishes
•Daily consumption per person should
not exceed 3-4 teaspoons
•Keep oil in cool, dry, dark place to avoid
oxidation; buy smaller batches to avoid
damage
•Don’t reuse oil that has been used for
deep frying
Other Seed & Vegetable Oils
The issue of recycling
Proper disposal of used cooking oil is an important waste-management concern. Cooking
oil should never be dumped in the kitchen sink
as it contaminates water and causes blockages.
Proper way to dispose is to seal it in a non-recyclable container and discard it with regular
garbage. It can also be recycled for use as animal feed or fuel for biodiesel, soaps and other
industrial products.
Canola Oil
65
Concept and
Methodology of Yoga
Anita Dua
T
he concept of Yoga is
simple and a balanced
one. Yoga as understood
and practiced today is
essentially Yoga Asanas
or hatha yoga, purely, a
physical discipline! It has its tremendous benefits. If practiced correctly with right alignment,
timing and sequencing yoga asanas make us
physically and mentally alive in a unique way.
Medically proven, Yoga is a prevention and
cure for numerous ailments. Indeed a wholesome approach to healthy mind and body as
we advance in years.
However, the science and art of yoga goes much
beyond physical discipline. Physical asana being
the third step, there are further five steps which
completes the Yoga Practice. The ultimate goal
is to attain Samadhi, the final limb of yoga.
That is why Yoga cannot be mastered in 7 days,
7 months, it is a constant process! Ultimately it
grows on you and becomes a lifetime habit. As
our practice continues regularly over the years,
so does the advancement of the steps or the
limbs in our own unique individualistic way.
Eight Limbs or Ashtanga Yoga
The basic tenets of yoga are described in the
form of eight limbs, or steps, explained by the
founder of yoga, Sage Patanjali, in the yoga
sutras around 2000 BC. These tenets outline the
fundamental code of correct conduct for a Yogi.
It is a path that we should follow with some
awareness for a successful yoga session.
YAMA
Yama refers to general ethical principles – Non
violence, truth, non-stealing, self control and unselfishness. A tall order indeed.
66
NIYAMA: Niyama refers to self restraint and
personal discipline – cleanliness, contentment,
earnest effort, self-study and faith in God. An
important facet. As we continue with our yoga
practice, some of these qualities get automatically incorporated.
ASANAS: Asanas are the various physical pos-
tures. They not only purify mind and body but
also have preventive and curative effects on
our body, of which we may be totally unaware
of. As Sage Patanjali writes in Yog Sutra 11.28 “
The practice of Asanas destroys, the impurities
of the body and mind, after which maturity in
intelligence and wisdom radiate from the core
of the being to function in union with the body
, senses, mind, intelligence and consciousness”
PRANAYAMA: Prana means breath, life, vitality, energy and strength. Ayama means to
stretch, expand, contract, regulate, retain and
control the breadth. Patanjali in his Yogasutra (
Ch.2, Sutras49-51) describes pranayam as “The
controlled intake and outflow of breath in firmly established posture” Posture refers to Padama Asana (Lotus pose) or Sukhasana (easy
pose) and Gyanmudra, could be chinmudra for
pranayams like Kapalhati and Bhastrika. Chapter 11 further states “When breath is steady
or unsteady, so is the mind and along with it
the person. Hence the breath should be controlled.”
PRATYAHARA: PRATYAHARA refers to the
control of the senses – taste, touch, smell,
sight and hearing.
DHARNA: Dharna means concentration.
DHYANA : Dhyana means meditation
SAMADHI: Samadhi is the final goal of yoga,
a state of total absorption and union with God.
The first four steps are generally followed,
to some extent due to time constraints, in
our busy world. These steps make our bodies
healthy, free from physical/mental ailments
and we are in a state to proceed further. The
fifth step onwards, the cycle is somewhat as
follows: Pratyahara leads to mind control,
which is further intensified in Dharna through
single-minded concentration. Pointed concentration is normally spiritual. Prolonged concentration/Dhayana leads to meditation. In meditation/ Dhyana, you may experience release from
attachments freedom from pain or sorrow,
leading to total sense of peace and well being.
A blissful state indeed! A condition where self
awareness is lost, what remains is the pure brilliance of spiritual intelligence.
In short, Smadhi, the ultimate state is personal
and individualistic and cannot be effectively explained in words.
“Undisturbed calmness of mind is attained by cultivating friendliness toward the happy,
compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous, and indifference toward the wicked.”
― Patañjali, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
67
MEDITATION: FOOD FOR
THE SOUL
Savita Bhutani
Meditation is the most
simple
and
natural
phenomenon yet the
most misunderstood too.
People think meditation
is for people who are
mentally disturbed or that we need to go to
Himalayas to meditate or that it’s very difficult
to do. So many doubts linger in the mind about
which is the best technique of meditation or
when one should do it or where to learn it. Most
of the people find meditation very abstract
and vague. The reality is that meditation is as
natural and as essential as breathing. It is the
food for the soul ...unless we can connect to
our inner source or life or higher consciousness
of which we are a part, we feel incomplete,
lost and unhappy. Meditation leads to a very
deep state of relaxation, much deeper than
relaxation that we get during sleep, much
deeper than any rest we can ever have.
Our inner self is full of joy, peace, love, wisdom
and enthusiasm. When we let go of all that
we hold on to, relax and rest deep we can
experience real peace and happiness. We often
think that meditation is concentration, but it’s
just the opposite, it’s deconcentration, an art
of doing nothing, relaxing in our being. In fact
a good concentration is a result of meditation.
Through meditation we can achieve a balance
of a sharp and focused mind with a relaxed and
expanded consciousness and that is what leads
one to awakening of divinity.
Mediation is accepting a moment without
any anxiety, worry and doubt. It is living the
moment totally with depth and full awareness.
Is meditation foreign to us?. Absolutely not!
We have been in meditation for a couple of
68
months before our birth. We were in our
mother’s womb doing nothing. Everything
was done for us. That is meditation. So there
is a natural tendency in every human being, in
every soul, to crave for that state of absolute
comfort. You know why you want comfort? It
is because you were comfortable at one point,
because you have already experienced a state
of comfort called meditation. Meditation is
absolute comfort. So getting back to that state
which you have experienced before coming
into the hustle, bustle of this world is very
natural because in this universe everything
is cyclic. Everything wants to go back to its
source. That is the nature of the world.
From the moment we wake up in the morning
we are with people, our mind is busy with
thousands of worldly thoughts, so sometime
during the day it’s important to sit for a few
minutes, close our eyes, set aside everything
outside for that period of time and rest in the
serene and quiet space within. The natural
tendency to re-cycle all that you have collected
every day of your life as impressions, to get rid
of them and to get back to the original state
that you were in when you came to this planet,
is meditation. Becoming fresh and alive is
meditation. Getting back to that serenity which
is your original nature is meditation. Absolute
joy and happiness is meditation.
A pleasure without excitement is meditation.
A thrill without anxiety is meditation. A love
without hatred is meditation. Meditation is
food for the soul. There is a natural craving for
food. When you are hungry, spontaneously you
eat something. If you are thirsty you want to
drink some water. In the same way, the soul
yearns for meditation and this tendency is
in everyone. In meditation you get access to
the quiet mind, do that something which can
bring more energy to you, you get access to
the intuitive ability which is deep within you.
The main thing is to experience that something
that doesn’t change, that doesn’t die and that
doesn’t decay in you.
When you meditate it sends out such a peaceful
radiation, waves of light....like a laser light,
reaching the other side. There are many schools
of mediation, many techniques and methods
but one thing common to all is taking body to
a very relaxed state and as the body relaxes
mind expands and dissolves in our deeper self.
Most of the Buddhist meditations use fusion
of visualization, images and practices and
sometimes meditate on certain themes. Zen
meditation requires certain discipline usually
based on questioning or silent observation of
the self. In Vipasana, we begin with observing
our breath and in Sahaj samadhi, we slip into
mediation just by chanting a small mantra.
Inspired by H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Ayurvedic Cooking – a healthy way of life
• Ayurvedic cuisine encompasses dishes made with the combination of food that
balances vata, pita and kapha elements in the human body
• Ayurvedic cooking discovered how cooking and the time taken to cook, can change
the composition of food and its effect on the body
• Preserves the healing and medicinal properties of food
• Steaming is the best way of cooking vegetables
• It’s good to cook food in iron, steel, copper and clay utensils. Aluminium and nonstick
are not good
• Cooked food should be eaten in 4-5 hrs
• We shouldn’t eat fruits with milk
Kaushani Y Desai
Ayurvedic Cooking Expert
69
What The Stars Foretell
GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)
•You will be getting help from others in the
form of charity and gifts
•A woman is going to be very important in
your life
•Love and understanding between you and
your spouse
•End to problems and marked strokes of luck
CANCER (June 22 – July 22)
•You will have self-confidence, stability and
strength in times of stress
•Harmonious relations and emotional
contentment
•Rely on your instincts
•An important new business or relationship is
indicated
•An unstoppable movement will start in your
life
QUARTERLY HOROSCOPE (APRIL-JULY)
Lippi Parida
•You will be completing a project successfully
•Victory and conquest over difficult odds
•Unexpected good news
•You will be given an opportunity which you must not ignore
•Use your intuition to deal with a deceptive situation
•The start of love in your life
•Things will turn to the better
•At a time of adversity it is important to stand
your ground and not to give an inch
•A happy relationship in personal life or
business
•Ills are healed and harmony achieved
SAGGITARIUS
(November 23 - December 20)
•End to current problems and marked strokes
of luck
•Doorways of opportunity open
•You need to develop intuition to know which
one to go through
•A windfall awaits you
•Heavy duties and difficult tasks to complete
LEO (July 23 – August 23)
CAPRICORN
(December 22 – Jan 20)
•The path you are on may seem difficult
but continue along it because eventually
everything will turn out well
•An exciting challenge which raises the
adrenalin comes your way
•A friend helps you at a time of adversity
•Long term plans will bear fruit but be
persistent
•Renewed optimism and motivation in your life
•Your current worries will soon be resolved
•Wealth, success and honour.
•Peace, friendship and family happiness that
is going to last
•A wish will be fulfilled and everything will
work out for the best
VIRGO (Aug 24 – September 23)
ARIES (March 21 – Aril 20)
SCORPIO
(October 24 – November 22)
•Good health, happiness and popularity
•All affairs of the heart will prosper
•You will be having a successful and
prosperous partnership with somebody
•You will complete a project successfully
•Prosperity begins in your life
TAURUS (April 21 – May 20)
LIBRA
(September 24 – October 23)
•You have to sacrifice something to get something better
•Destiny drives you on to achieve great things
•There will be a sudden change in your life which will make you a better
person
•Excellent social life
•An obstacle that stood in your way will be removed
•A happy relationship in personal life or in
business
•A good friend brings offers and opportunities
•A new decision will affect the rest of your life
•Happiness and reunions are foreseen
AQUARIOUS (January 22 – Feb 19)
•Your life is going to be transformed
•Enjoyment of the comfort that money can
buy
•Something has to be sacrificed so that
something greater can be gained
•An obstacle stands in your way and you need
to work around it
PICES (February 20 – March 20)
•Your luck will be picking up
•Travel is foreseen for you
•A good family life
•Use your intuition to deal with a deceptive
situation
•Gifts come your way
71
Savoury Snacks
Smita Pande
CUP-A-BOONDI
Ingredients
Recipes
Corner
•Cup-a-Boondi – Smita Pande
•Spicy - Saucy Cauliflower Chops – Smita Pande
•Spinach Kebabs – Meenakshi Aggarwal
•Chhena Jhilli – Anuradha Panda
•Broccoli Pesto Pasta – Geeta Goyal
•Mediterranean Couscous Salad – Kiran Bala Dewangan
•Rang Biranga – Shashi Kapoor
•Mushroom Cocktail Salad – Ashima Deepak
•Tiranga - Rangon ki Umang – Shalini Sharma
Potatoes..........................................................6-8
Dry boondi.......................................................150 grams
Green peas (boiled).........................................250 grams
Tomato puree..................................................4 tomatoes
Cumin seeds (roasted and powdered) -
2 tsps
Black salt and pepper......................................½ tsp each
Red chilli powder.............................................¼ tsp
Coriander leaves..............................................a few sprigs
Green chillies (optional)..................................2-3
Salt to taste
Method
Take the tomato puree and add salt, chilli powder, boondi and boiled peas. Keep aside for 20-25
minutes (or till the boondi soaks up the puree). Now add green coriander and green chillies (cut
fine). This is the filling for the cups.
Boil potatoes al dente (not too much) and cut each one into half lengthwise. Scoop out the centre
portion. Cut a little from the bottom too so that they can stand well on a plate. Take the powdered
masalas – cumin, black pepper, black salt and red chilli on a plate and mix well.
Now take the prepared cups and roll out the outer surface on to the ground masalas so that the
masala can stick to the outer side of the cup.
Fill these cups with the already prepared
mixture of the boondi.
Garnish with green coriander leaves, sprinkling
of grated cheese to add more taste.
Serve immediately so that boondi and the
potatoes do not become soggy. Serve with
green chutney and tomato sauce.
A TIP: For a slightly different taste, one can also
try putting pomegranate seeds in the cups. The
potato cups can even be deep fried to get that
extra zingy, crispy taste. ENJOY!!
73
Super Antioxidants
SPICY – SAUCY CAULIFLOWER CHOPS
Ingredients
Cauliflowers.........................2
Cheese.................................1 cup (grated)
Onion...................................1 big (chopped)
Green chillies.......................chopped (fine)
Ginger..................................3 cms pieces
Garlic ...................................8 cloves
Flour.....................................3 tbsps
Garam masala......................1 tbsp
Cumin seeds........................1 tsp
Black pepper........................½ tsp
Oil ........................................for frying
Eggs.....................................4
Salt to taste
For the sauce:
Apples..................................2-3
Lemon..................................1 (juice)
Vinegar.................................1 tsp
Sugar....................................1 cup
Salt a pinch
Method
To prepare the sauce – peel the apples and cut into small pieces. Soak them in salted water. After
10-15 minutes, cook in about 2 cups of water for 10 minutes or till the apples soften up. Mash. Add
sugar and the juice of lemon. Simmer for another 5 minutes. Add vinegar and stir. Remove from
the fire.
To make chops – cut the cauliflower into large pieces. Discard the thick, centre stalk. Soak in salted
water. Wash thoroughly after 10 minutes. Grind onion, ginger, garlic, chillies and spices to a fine
paste. Take a non-stick pan. Heat 3 tbsps of oil and sauté the paste. Add the cauliflower pieces. Stir
for 7-8 minutes. Add salt and let
them cool.
Beat the eggs. Add flour, salt
and cheese. Mix. Heat some
oil in a deep pan. Coat the
cauliflower pieces with the egg
batter. Fry them over low flame
till golden and crisp. Drain well.
Serve hot with the prepared
sauce.
Can garnish with onions cut in
circles and kept on top of nicely
washed lettuce leaves.
74
Meenakshi Aggarwal
I
magine a harmful substance roaming around freely in your body. These are
called free radicals. If left unchallenged, they have the potential to cause
various chronic diseases and in many cases, cancer. Now if a substance comes
in which would react with these free radicals and form a harmless chemical,
wouldn’t that be great?! This is where antioxidants come into picture. They
themselves fight the free radicals to protect you. They act as your shields!
Some foods are packed with antioxidants. We shall call them “super foods”. Think “chotta packet,
bada dhamaka”. To get enough nutrients in our body, we must go the natural way since supplements
have side effects as well. Super foods not only provide antioxidants, but also taste good. Fruits
such as grapes, blueberries, red berries etc. are super foods. Nuts and various vegetables like green
leafy veggies (also endorsed by Popeye!) are also rich in antioxidants. Organic green tea is another
super food item.
Spinach Kebabs is one such super food, which is not only full of antioxidants but also delicious and
easy to make. Time for you to become SUPER MUMMY!
SPINACH KEBABS
Ingredients
Spinach leaves (plucked)...... 1 kg
Hung Curd.............................. ½ cup
Garlic...................................... 1 to 2 cloves
Green Chillies......................... 1 to 2
Bread...................................... 1 slice
Honey..................................... ½ teaspoon
Salt – to taste
Method
Wash spinach leaves thoroughly.
Blend the raw spinach leaves, garlic and
green chillies together in a blender.
Cook the mixture on high flame till it
becomes dough-like consistency (it gets reduced to half a cup of spinach).
Add hung curd, bread, honey and salt and mix thoroughly.
Make small flattened balls (kebab shaped).
Cook both the sides with a little oil on a hot griddle till golden brown.
Serve hot with green chutney or tomato ketchup.
75
Italian delicacy
Cottage Cheese Dessert
Geeta Goyal
Anuradha Panda
Chhena Jhilli
O
Broccoli Pesto Pasta
Ingredients
disha has a rich tradition of preparing variety of sweetmeats from
homemade cottage cheese - Chhena in Odia. Chhena is used in
innumerable delicious ways, be it baked, steamed, shallow or deep fried and
the outcome is a finger licking gastronomic delight. Chhena Jhilli is basically
a cottage cheese based sweet which can be easily prepared at home and in a jiffy. Though a rich
preparation, it’s a delight to savour. The word Jhilli is essentially the shape of the sweet, like that of
a jalebi, except that it is thicker with lesser turns. Nimapada, a small town in Puri district, is famous
for its variety of delectable Chhena based sweetmeats including Chhena Jhilli.
Grated Parmesan Cheese.......................... 4tbsp
Ingredients
Oregano..................................................... 1tsp
Chhena (Cottage Cheese)..............500 grams
Maida/Refined Flour.......................50 grams
Broccoli...................................................... 500gms
Fuseli Pasta................................................ 500gms
Loosely Packed Mint Leaves..................... 1cup
Olive Oil...................................................... 3tbsp
Roasted Almonds...................................... 3tbsp
Garlic cloves............................................... 4-5
Salt and pepper as per your choice
Sugar...............................................700 grams
Method
Water..............................................1 ½ ltr
Boil Broccoli in enough water, till just tender.
Drain it and reserve the water.
Ghee................................................700 grams
Cardamom powder........................¼ tsp
Bay leaves.......................................3 to 4
Boil pasta as per the instruction on the packet
till al dente with the reserve broccoli water and
reserve the water again.
Method
Heat a pan, add 1 tbsp olive oil and sauté the
garlic
Squeeze out the whey from chhena completely. Mix the chhena and cardamom powder on a big
plate and knead well. Add the maida and knead again thoroughly for sometime.
Blend garlic, broccoli, mint, oil, salt, pepper and
2 tbsp almonds in mixer to make coarse paste.
Melt the ghee in a shallow pan until it warms up. Make sure it does not become very hot. Take
a thick piece of clean cloth and make a small hole in the middle. Put some of the chhena on the
cloth and hold it in one hand like a piping bag. Grease your other palm; squeeze the chhena out by
twisting the cloth while making circular movements of the hand. The chhena will come out in shape
of a jhilli on the greased palm. Slip the jhilli into the pan for frying. Repeat the process to add more
jhillis to the pan. Allow to cook on a low flame until they become golden in colour, then raise the
flame until they have turned brown. Drain well and put them into the syrup. Let the jhillis soak for
a while in the syrup.
In a pan mix broccoli puree mixture and boiled
pasta with 2 tbsp of reserved water and toss.
Check the seasoning.
Add Parmesan cheese, left over almond slices,
chili flakes and oregano.
Serve hot.
For syrup - Boil the sugar and water and bay leaves together for sometime to form a slightly thick
consistency. The syrup is ready when it forms a thin thread when touched with fingers.
Serve Chenna Jhilli hot for the perfect taste.
76
77
Prize winning salad recipes
1st PRIZE
2nd PRIZE
3rd PRIZE
SPECIAL PRIZE
Mediterranean
Couscous Salad
Rang Biranga
Mushroom Cocktail Salad
Tiranga - Rangon ki Umang
Kiran Bala Dewangan
Ingredients:
100 grams Couscous
200ml vegetable stock
2 spring onions
1 red pepper/yellow
1/2 cucumber
50 grams feta cheese cubed
1/4 cup fresh chopped basil
Dressing
1 lemon juice
2tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic minced
2tbsp chopped oregano
1 tbsp chopped basil
Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
Tip couscous into a large bowl and pour
over the stock. Cover and leave for 10
minutes, until fluffy and all all the stock has
been absorbed. Meanwhile dice cucumber,
pepper and onions. Pour the dressing over
the couscous and stir until well combined.
Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour to blend
flavours. Mix in the rest of the ingredients
before serving, sprinkle with cheese.
78
Shashi Kapoor
Ashima Deepak
Ingredients
Ingredients
Red, Green and Yellow Capsicum
Carrot
Cucumber
Apples
Grapes
Guava
Lemon Juice
Honey
Salt to taste
Black Pepper, Oregano
Groundnuts, Walnuts
Method
Cut the fruits and vegetables. Add all the
seasonings. Mix Well and Serve.
Button mushrooms blanched &
quartered
450 grams
Hung yogurt 1 cup
Fresh cream 1/4 cup
Tabasco sauce 2 teaspoons
Tomato ketchup 2 tablespoons
Olive oil 1/2 teaspoon
Lemon juice 1 tablespoon
Honey 1 teaspoon
Chives chopped
2 tablespoons
Parsley chopped
1 tablespoon
Salt to taste
Lettuce leaves shredded
5-6
Chilli flakes 1/2 teaspoon
Method
To make the dressing- blend together the
yogurt, cream, Tabasco sauce, tomato
ketchup, olive oil, lemon juice, honey,
chives, parsley and salt.
Shalini Sharma
Ingredients
Cucumber
Olives
Apple
Macaroni whole wheat
Pomegranate
Lettuce
Olive oil
Homemade dressing
Method
Chop fruits, olives and cucumber. Boil
macaroni keep aside. Mix all ingredients in
a bowl . Add honey, olive oil, chilli flakes and
dressing. Serve in a salad plate with some
sandwiches and juice.
Take four individual martini glasses, place
some lettuce leaves at the base.
Combine the mushrooms and dressing in a
bowl and mix well. Spoon this mixture into
the glasses and top with a pinch of chilli
flakes. Serve immediately.
79
Team IASOWA
Executive Committee 2014-15
Amal Seth
Archana Singh
President
Geeta Goyal
Secretary
Lippi Parida
Joint Secretary
Cadre Rep AGMUT
Babita Sisodia
Rupam Jha
Anuradha Panda
Haryana
80
Savita Bhutani
Assam & Meghalaya
Himachal Pradesh
Kiran Bala Dewangan
Prajakta Neelkanth
Priti Gupta
Manipur and Tripura
Meenakshi Agarwal
Maharashtra
Namrata Tripathy
Odisha
Treasurer
Renuka Sant
Punjab
Joint Secretary
Cadre Rep UP
Cadre Representatives
Andhra Pradesh &
Telangana
Vanita Khaitan
MP and Chhattisgarh
Tamil Nadu
Shanta Ravishanker
Uttaranchal
Rashmi Chopra
West Bengal
IASOWA Volunteers
Anita Aggarwal
Bihar and Jharkhand
Sapna Agarwal
Jammu and Kashmir
Chanchal Sharma
Gujrat
Shailja Dutt
Karnataka
Ashima Deepak
Aanchal
Tita Patnaik
Computer Centre
Neha Kumar
Web Manager
Sadhna Mishra
Aanchal
Manju Prasad
Stitching Centre
Abha Jain
Stitching Centre
Abha Garg
Prerna School
81
IASOWA Members' directory
Name
Spouse
Batch
Mobile No
Email Id
Monica Kumar
Vijay Kumar
1992
9892329320
monicakohli96@yahoo.com
Seema Goyal
Prashant Goyal
1993
9868835075
simgoyal@yahoo.co.in
Sumitra Bagchi
J.K.Bagchi
1963
9810206035
sumitrabagchi@hotmail.com
Neelam Sinha
K.K.Sinha
1963
9810508629
neelanmsinnha10@gmail.com
Manju Sinha
R.P.Sinha
1965
9899105976
manju48sinha@gmail.com
Chhanda Dutta
Rangan Dutta
1966
9871321406
Anjana Prakash
J.P.Parkash
1966
9871933189
anjanaharmony@gmail.com
Gyanvati Singh
J.P.Singh
1966
9899670000
pallaviabhijitsingh@gmail.com
Nirupama Mishra
C.P.Mishra
1966
9818292527
nmishra1945@hotmail.com
Anusuya Misra
B.K.Misra
1967
9717105133
anusuyamisra@hotmail.com
Ranjana Saikia
Late Ashok Saikia
1971
9811043319
ranjanasaikia@gmail.com
Poonam Arora
Ashok.k.Arora
1974
9810229280
parora3@hotmail.com
Meenakshi Gupta
Sharad Gupta
1977
9999567491
meenakshigupta1956@gmail.com
Raminder Kaur
J.B.Singh
1983
9899539055
jatinderbir@gmail.com
Jyoti Bhalla
Ajay Kumar Bhalla
1984
9810282772
jyotibhalla29@gmail.com
Sanjana Kumar
Sanjeeva Kumar
1986
9968289702
sanjukumar@yahoo.co.uk
Shefali Chaturvedi
Atul Chaturvedi
1986
9717768327
shefali.chat@gmail.com
Kusum Singhi
L.C.Singhi
1990
9313439601
singhikusum@yahoo.com
Niti Singh
Vijayendra
1991
8750222025
nitisingh026@gmail.com
Savita Bhutani
Dr. Ashish Bhutani
1992
9873687577
savita.bhutani2010@gmail.com
Dr.Saroja
Vaidyanathan
C.R.Vaidnathan
1953
9810546646
saroja_vaidyanathan@ hotmail.
com
Usha Bhardwaj
Lt. N.K.Bhardwaj
1956
9810637590
ushabhardwaj@rediff.com
Kusum Jaitley
J.C.Jaitley
1957
9810337477
kusumjaitley@yahoo.in
Renu Arora
R.C.Arora
1957
9313624269
Sheila Sahay
B.B.Sahay
1958
9810707322
Asha Mishra
P.K.Mishra
1959
9871860397
Iffat Hoda
Anwarul Hoda
1962
9810101615
iffathoda@yahoo.co.in
Meera Jakhanwal
S.P.Jakhanwal
1963
8130907262
spjakhanwal@yahoo.com
Nikhat Mahdi
Shahid Mahdi
1963
9810367869
Krishna Singh I.A.S.
N.P.Singh
1966
9810971204
krishna66singh@gmail.com
Amrita Datta
J.K.Datta
1970
9716725224
datta_amrita@yahoo.co.in
Abha Ghosh
A.Ghosh
1971
9650001674
abhaghosh@hotmail.com
Meera Dutt
G.S.Dutt
1973
9871118363
meeradutt@yahoo.com
Neera Seth
S.P.Seth
1975
9868143163
Renu Upadhyay
Anil . K. Upadhyay
1975
9810502735
Shobha Kumar
Naveen Kumar
1975
8826105550
navinpatna@gmail.com
Monmayee Basu
N.Basu
1976
9818097258
monbasu@rediffmail.com
ASSAM- MEGHALAYA
Name
Spouse
Batch
Mobile No
Email Id
ANDHRA PRADESH
Chander Vepa
Dr Ram K Vepa
1954
9810193481
Karuna Dar
V.K.Dar
1955
26442840
Shantha Krishnan
P.S.Krishnan
1956
9910039596
shanthakrishnan10@gmail.com
Usha Kumar
Late Sushil Kumar
1957
9650524582
ushasushil@hotmail.com
Sanghmitra Mohanty
Satya N. Mohanty
1980
9650972958
sangha.1165@gmail.com
Noopur Kumar
Binoy Kumar
1983
9818259264
noopurkumar@yahoo.com
Usha Vijay Kumar
T.Vijay Kumar
1983
9868829196
pushpathallam@gmail.com
Seema Chandra
Satish Chandra
1986
9899951050
seema192@yahoo.com
Suchitra
Sameer Sharma
1987
9560550649
cmasi2005@hotmail.com
Babita Sisodia
R.P.Sisodia
1991
9810163206
babitasisodia@gmail.com
Jyoti Jaju
Sanjay Jaju
1992
9849904722
jjaju2002@yahoo.com
AGMUT
82
Indra Prakash
Virendra Prakash
1959
9811556674
indrapr_akash@yahoo.com
Aruna Mathur
K.K.Mathur
1960
9013289861
lipiparida@gmail.com
Shukla Ahuja
R.K.Ahuja
1962
9013097616
shukla.ahooja@gmail.com
Meera Mishra
D.C.Mishra
1965
9810891700
mishrameera46@gmail.com
Pramod Kapur
R.D.Kapur
1966
9811066500
pramodkapur66@gmail.com
Kamal Pradhan
Ashok Pradhan
1967
9871254731
Sudha Prasad
Narendra Prasad
1968
9811425906
Geeta Singh
Virender Singh
1969
9868986858
Mala Bhattacharya
Dr.G.K.Bhattacharya 1969
9899215751
Shashi Sankhla
D.C.Sankhla
1969
9871232222
Kumkum Chandra
Satish Chandra
1970
9810877644
Jaishree Ramesh
Ramesh
Narayanaswami
1971
9818320201
jaishree_ramesh@yahoo.co.in
Chitra Saxena
B.B.Saxena
1972
9899174950
chitrasaxena73@gmail.com
Kamal Kelkar
O.P.Kelkar
1972
9717864399
Simran Kaur
J.P.Singh
1977
9910282563
singhfamily@hotmail.com
N.Dadoo
J.K.Dadoo
1983
9868304215
nitadadoo@gmail.com
Madhumeeta
Jalaj Shrivastava
1984
9871074147
madhumeeta02@gmail.com
Lippi Parida
Manoj Parida
1986
9650980318
lipiparida@gmail.com
Swapna Sundari
Anshu Prakash
1986
9810099309
vilasininatyam@yahoo.co.in
Amita Das
S.C.L.Das
1992
9910107171
amitadas71@gmail.com
gkb204@hotmail.com
BIHAR
sheilasahay@gmail.com
83
Name
Spouse
Batch
Mobile No
Email Id
Name
Spouse
Batch
Mobile No
Email Id
Nilima Thakur
Ajay Kumar
1976
9899558479
nilimathakur@yahoo.com
Anita Chaudhary IAS
V.K.Chaudhary
1976
9899111169
anitach123@hotmail.com
Sandhya Sharma
Shahikant Sharma
1976
9810422166
sandhya.sharma01@gmail.com
Neelam Sharan
Ajit Sharan
1979
9871148489
sharanneelam@gmail.com
Roopa Sinha
B.K.Sinha
1977
8860181951
Manju Singh
Chhatar Singh
1980
9999456444
manoramas.61@gmail.com
Dr Rashmi Kumar
Ajit Kumar
1980
9899303477
rashmikr.in@gmail.com
Novel Lavasa
Ashok Lavasa
1980
9810621356
novel.lavasa@gmail.com
Manju Prasad
Dr.Arbind Prasad
1980
9818831566
manjupd1@hotmail.com
Sapna Prasad
Madhusudan Prasad 1981
9810444216
sapnaprasad@gmail.com
Prof. Rama Patnaik
P.K.Patnaik
1980
9811554662
ramapatnaik@gmail.com
Hemlata
Dr.Dalip Singh
1982
9971540888
Charanjit kaur
J.P.Singh
1981
9868140986
jsburjia@hotmail.com
Kanchan Jalan
K.K.Jalan
1982
8527929666
kanchanjalan@gmail.com
Sulu Mathew
A.Santhosh Mathew 1985
9810207679
sulumathew@hotmail.com
Rajni Sekhri Sibal
1986
9958822519
rajnisekhrisibal@gmail.com
Shashi Panwar
Rabindra Panwar
1985
9910658380
shaship66@hotmail.com
Veena Singh
Devinder Singh
1987
9958533377
Aradhana
Sunil Baithul
1989
9810271583
aradhana@gmail.com
Bindu Bajaj
Tarun Bajaj
1988
9711067661
bindu_bajaj@yahoo.com
Nidhi Singh
Udai Singh
1993
7838593095
nidhitondon@hotmail.com
HIMACHAL PRADESH
Shikha
Vipin Kumar
1996
8512055565
vipins1232002@yahoo.com
Anjula Tandon
B.B.Tandon
1965
9868894483
tandonbb@yahoo.co.in
Vandana Mohapatra
Asok Mohapatra
1972
9650057776
asokmohapatra@hotmail.com
Renu Kumar
Arun Kumar
1965
9910640388
renukumar33@hotmail.com
Neera Dhingra
Ravi Dhingra
1972
9810088224
dhingraneera@yahoo.co.in
Vanita Khaitan
C.K.Khaitan
1987
8130919092
vanita.khaitan@gmail.com
Shobhana Vijay Kumar
S.Vijay Kumar
1976
9871052828
shobhanavk@yahoo.co.in
Rajlaxami Pingua
Manoj Kumar
Pingua
1994
9425210033
rajlaxmipingua@gmail.com
Abha Jain
R.K.Jain
1981
9810364983
abhajain2803@gmail.com
Gita Mehta
Arvind Mehta
1984
9717869509
gitasarupmehta@yahoo.co.in
Azra Khan
H.K.Khan
1956
9811677808
hamidkhan@gmail.com
Sadhana Agarwal
B.K.Agarwal
1985
8826123965
agarwalasadhana123@gmail.com
Chanchal sharma
Late Vinay Sharma
1961
9868049482
chanchalsharma10@gmail.com
Meeta Pant
Kamlesh Pant
1993
9560627377
meetapant@hotmail.com
Juhi Sinha
Late Arun Sinha
1962
9811014820
sinhajuhi2@yahoo.co.in
Anuradha Panda
Subashish Panda
1997
8447919192
anupanda1@yahoo.co.in
Mimi Ghosh
Shyamal Ghosh
1965
9868204242
mimighosh@hotmail.com
Dolly Garg
Rajneesh Kumar
1997
8130077248
mrsdollygarg@gmail.com
Aparna Basu
Dipankar Basu
1966
9818405134
aparnabasu.dr@gmail.com
Charu Singh Rajput
Puspendra Rajput
1999
9650065556
charusinghrajput@gmail.com
Vibha Bajpai
D.C.Bajpai
1966
9718815186
dcbajpai@hotmail.com
Madhu Mishra
P.K.Mishra
1972
9825792959
madhumishra1959@gmail.com
Aarti Khosla
M.P.Kosla
1962
9868104343
Nalini Chawla
Ashok Chawla
1973
9873888704
ashokchawla73@gmail.com
Vandana Jain
Pankaj Jain
1978
9650918796
Ritu Varma
Keshav Varma
1976
9999219117
ritugvarma@yahoo.com
Rekha Jain
Pramod Jain
1985
9999402446
Devina Takru
Rajeev Takru
1979
9313778134
devinatakru@gmail.com
Sapna Aggarwal
K.B.Agarwal
1985
9871530958
sapna.agarwal05@gmail.com
Soma C. Bannerji
Ranjit C. Bannerji
1979
9099927561
scbannerji@hotmail.com
Sonam Pandey
Sudhanshu Pandey
1987
9868350596
sonampandey5@yahoo.com
Ranjana Bhattacharya
Amitabh
Bhattacharya
1980
9811913382
ranjanabhattacharya1960@gmail.
com
Amita Mehta
Arun Kumar Mehta
1988
9818428659
mehtaamita@hotmail.com
Hemani Narula
Umang Narula
1989
9810140099
hemanid@gmail.com
Saloni Kishore
Rajesh Kishore
1980
9978405717
rajesh1955@yahoo.com
Ruchi Gupta
Dheeraj Gupta
1993
9013496233
ruchijk@gmail.com
Madhumita Pujari
P.K.Pujari
1981
9971009662
madhumitapujari@yahoo.co.in
Anita Choudhary
N.K.Choudhary
1994
8800984460
anitachoudhary3@gmail.com
Abha Ravi
O.Ravi
1983
9650539007
Kiran Sharma
A.K.Sharma
1988
9968585732
Dr Rajlaxmi Rath
Dr A.K.Rath
1973
9810187143
gituaug19@gmail.com
Anita Agarwal
Dr. Vinod Agarwal
1980
9891549477
anitaagarwal14@gmail.com
Pammi Gauba
Rajiv Gauba
1982
9810389717
pammigauba@ hotmail.com
Divya Tripathy
Sudhir Tripathy
1985
8285259870
divya008@gmail.com
Shailaja Dutt
Barhm Dutt
1973
9910213463
shailja.dutt53@gmail.com
Archana Sudhir
Sudhir Kumar
1977
9871611400
sudhirkumar@gmail.com
CHHATTISGARH
GUJARAT
aksias@gmail.com
HARYANA
84
Usha chandra
Late Ishwar chandra 1951
9910777863
ushachandra100@yahoo.com
Asha Bhagwan
Vishnu Bhagwan
1965
9891604437
vishnubhagwan@gmail.com
Manju Kumar
Dhamendra Kumar
1968
9810900018
ashamanju@hotmail.com
Pushpa Pandarwani
Pius Pandarwani
1972
9650602288
JAMMU & KASHMIR
JHARKHAND
KARNATAKA
85
Name
Spouse
Batch
Mobile No
Email Id
Name
Spouse
Batch
Mobile No
Email Id
Padmaja Khuntia
subash Khuntia
1981
8826724494
leena.kuntia@gmail.com
Swati Agarwal
Rajesh Agarwal
1994
8800953560
rajswati.a@gmail.com
Jayashri Sridharan
R.Sridharan
1983
9999615765
jayashrisridharan@gmail.com
Dr.Vandana Sinha
J.K.Sinha
1996
9013807751
shubhvandana@gmail.com
Rama Prasad
D.V.Prasad
1984
9013095971
dandarama_devi@rediffmail.com
NAGALAND
Juhi Chandra
Subhash Chander
1986
9717790921
subhash59@hotmail.com
Alka Gaur
V.N.Gaur
1978
9810861851
alkagaur@gmail.com
Gargi Singh
Rakesh Singh
1989
9013501220
jgis@nic.in
Asha Bhalla
Dr.D.K.Bhalla
1986
9818130209
asha121163@hotmail.com
Nuti Namita
A.K.Tiwari
1990
9868363519
namita.nuti@gmail.com
Runjhun Kumar
Pankaj Kumar
1987
9868933325
runjhun1962@yahoo.co.in
Aparna Bansal
Rajiv Bansal
1988
9899759004
rajivaparna@yahoo.com
Huma Alam
Jane Alam
1991
9868470772
huma95alam@gmail.com
Anu Garg
Sanjay Kumar Garg
1992
9968818009
anugarg1991@hotmail.com
KERALA
Usha Srinivasan
Dr.K.Srinivasan
1965
8800229848
ushus68@hotmail.com
MADHYA PRADESH
Dipa Pandit
V.K.Pandit
1963
9810550108
panditvinod15@yahoo.com
ODISHA
Amrita Mankad
Piyush Mankad
1964
9871169444
nanimankad@hotmail.com
Ratna Bhattacharya
J.K.Bhattacharya
1959
9871294448
bhattacharyajk@rediffmail.com
Veena Kaul
V.N.Kaul
1965
9312642429
vknkaul@yahoo.co.uk
Meera Kanungo
Sovan Kanungo
1960
9868122695
sovankanungo@yahoo.co.in
Venita Mehrota
P.K.Mehrotra
1965
9717361973
anvita76@gmail.com
Chandana Basu
S.K.Basu
1962
22753904
Meenu Baijal
Pradeep Baijal
1966
9810400489
baijalmeenu@gmail.com
Niti Mubayi
Ashok Mubayi
1963
9810321183
neetiaina@gmail.com
Keerti Katoch
Ranjan Katoch
1979
9868472448
keertikatoch@gmail.com
Renu Ghosh
S.Ghose
1964
9971217291
renu.ghosh@gmail.com
Anju Chandra
Raghav Chandra
1982
9971853026
anju.g.chandra@gmail.com
Arati Bagchi
D.P.Bagchi
1966
9873098678
dpbagchi@gmail.com
Arpita Reddy
Gopal Reddy
1985
9303133669
arpithareddym@yahoo.com
Pushpa Gupta
D.C.Gupta
1967
9810922220
guptadinesh11@hoitmail.com
Divya Chaturvedi
R.k.Chaturvedi
1987
9425696444
chaturvedidivya01@gmail.com
Parminder Khurana
I.J.S Khurana
1968
9818586771
pkk2000@gmail.com
Aarti Singh
Shailender Singh
1988
9868922751
artisingh1967@gmail.com
Asha Chahar
H.S.Chahar
1976
9868892423
asha1007@yahoo.in
Nandita Sanyal
Nilanjal Sanyal
1979
9958419158
nsanyal2004@mail.com
MAHARASHTRA
Anita Dua
Ajay Dua
1971
9810989433
anitadua@rediffmail.com
Binati Jamuda
R.L.Jamuda
1981
9810944447
bjamuda@mmtclimited.com
Geeta Goyal
Shamlal Goyal
1985
9868859911
geetag89@yahoo.co.in
Rita Panda
Arun Panda
1984
9654190873
ritapanda98@gmail.com
Manju Sagar
Dr.R.C.Sagar
1986
9717275507
r.c.sagar53@gmail.com
Archana Singh
U.P.Singh
1985
8800788228
iasowa.secretary@gmail.com
Rachita Ratho
Subrat Ratho
1986
9322247736
rathorachita@gmail.com
Sumitra Tripathi
S.N.Tripathi
1985
8586928696
sumitrathripathi1@gmail.com
Meenakshi Aggarwal
Rajesh Aggarwal
1989
9004621623
meenakshi.rajeshaggarwal@gmail.
com
Madhu Gupta
L.N.Gupta
1986
9873823203
madhugupta1264@gmail.com
Vandana Agrawal
Sanjeev Kumar
1993
9560276349
vandana.agrawal001@gmail.com
Namrata Tripathy
A.K.Tripathy
1986
9711270234
namtrip19@gmail.com
PUNJAB
Rachna Rakesh
Rakesh Johri
1972
9999796862
rakjoh@gmail.com
Sashi Kapur
S.L. Kapur
1960
9953599434
sashikapur14@gmail.com
Kiran Mangotra
Ashok Mangotra
1978
9810147597
kiran.mangotra@gmail.com
Tita Patnaik
Gokul Patnaik
1969
9810020990
titapatnaik@hotmail.com
Sadhna Mishra
R.C.Mishra
1978
9868258473
sadhnamishra61@gmail.com
Dr.Vandana singh
R. Singh
1978
9818682083
vandanasingh@gmail.com
Aruna Panda
Sanjay Kumar Panda 1980
8974006980
arunapanda@gmail.com,
arunapanda11@gmail.com
Namrita Kalsi
Nirmaljeet Singh
Kalsi
1984
9811446655
nkkalsi@gmail.com
Pushpa Tyagi
Dr.D.k.Tyagi
1981
9810429515
pusphatyagi@yahoo.co.in
Anita Goel
Arun Goel
1985
9716600005
pikugoel@gmail.com
Ranjana Jha
Ajay N.Jha
1982
9871202770
vivyos@gmail.com
Kamala Siva Parsad
K.Siva.Parsad
1993
9910446616
kamalabds@gmail.com
Shagun Thakral
Vinod Thakral
1982
9868093072
thakral_shagun@rediffmail.com
Rakhi Bhandari (IAS)
Rahul Bhandari
1997
9717641505
rarabhandari@yahoo.co.in
Rajshree Jha
Nikilesh Jha
1984
9717279450
rajshreejha@gmail.com
Prajakta Neelkanth
NeelKanth Avhad
1999
8587026669
prajataneelkanth@yahoo.com
Shipra Singh
Shambhu Singh
1986
9871157608
shiprasingh60@gmail.com
Kiran Dewangan
Vivek K.Dewangan
1993
9818669711
kbaladew@gmail.com
Kusum Dhaundiyal
Late B.N.Dhaundiyal 1957
9891576697
Sandhya Garg
Anil Garg
1994
9999677887
sandhyagarg@hotmail.com
Shobha Behel
Lt.Premnath Behel
1957
9810730162
Veena Kumar
Anil Kumar
1965
9868936505
MANIPUR - TRIPURA
86
RAJASTHAN
veena.anil@yahoo.co.in
87
Name
Spouse
Batch
Mobile No
Email Id
Name
Spouse
Batch
Mobile No
Email Id
Priya Bhargava
Sudhir Bhargava
1979
9910524087
priyabhargava@yahoo.in
Neelam Srivastava
Lalit Srivastava
1973
9910055324
neelam200049@gmail.com
Amal Seth
Ajit Seth
1974
1123012494
amalseth@gmail.com
Kanak Chaturvedi
Atul Chaturvedi
1974
9312961798
chaturkanak@yahoo.co.in
SIKKIM
Ranjana Rawat
Alok Rawat
1977
9868155449
Anita Gupta
Suresh C. Gupta
1986
9910789238
aaanita2011@rediffmail.com
Alka Chaturvedi
Prabhat C.
Chaturvedi
1975
9013299999
alkapc@hotmail.com
Veena Singh
H.M.Singh
1956
9650930303
singhhm@bol.net.in
Sangeeta Mishra
P.K.Mishra
1976
9811167495
sangeeta_misra@yahoo.com
Sunita Chhabra
K.M.L.Chhabra
1957
9811398425
kmlchhabra@gmail.com
Kalpana Sudhakar
P.D.Sudhakar
1976
9818390689
sudhakarpd2@gmail.com
Lopamudra Das
Shaktikanta Das
1980
9717720982
lopamudra18@gmail.com
Shuchi Mishra
Arun Mishra
1976
9868534050
shuchi.mishra777@gmail.com
Priti Gupta
A.K.Gupta
1981
9650341007
gpritigupta@yahoo.com
Neeru Mittal
D.K.Mittal
1977
9810140073
neerumittal77@gmail.com
Smita Chaubey
R.N.Choubey
1981
9818652652
rnchoube@rediffmail.com
Rajni Chaturvedi
G.C.Chaturvdi
1977
9958873611
rajnichaturvedi26@gmail.com
Varsha Shekhar
Shashi Shekhar
1981
9810392931
amrrit.varsha@gmail.com
Reena Agarwal
Sekhar Agarwal
1977
9717393019
reenagarwalfamily@yahoo.com
Shalini Sharma
Ambuj Sharma
1983
9968621717
shalniniambuj@hotmail.com
Roopa Sinha
P.K.Sinha
1977
9868709220
roopasinha23@gmail.com
Madhurvani
Chandramouli
C.Chandramouli
1985
9650155511
athru98@gmail.com
Renu Agarwala
Lt.Pankaj Agarwala
1978
9811679494
renuagrawala@gmail.com
Stuti Narain Kacker
Dinesh Kacker
1978
9313789775
stutikcker@nic.in
Amarjot Bajaj
J.S.Bajaj
1987
8750755166
amarjot_bajaj@gmail.com
Amita Mishra
Anoop Mishra
1978
9810744031
dps.amita@gmail.com
Indu Anand
B.Anand
1987
9654642944
induanands@rediffmail.com
Asheema Singh
Lt.Harminder raj
Singh
1978
9818332082
asheema.singh@gmail.com
Gomti Vyas
Late D.D.Vyas
1956
9899879081
Neera Agarwal
Sudhir Bhargava
1978
9868116898
nra1959@gmail.com
Meera Dar
Rajkumar Dar
1958
9810743246
Vandana Chandra
Saurabh Chandra
1978
9818774011
vandanachandra123@yahoo.com
Hemi Surendra Singh
Surendra Singh
1959
9910232945
hemisingh@gmail.com
Neeti Aggarwal
1980
9811151510
neeta.aggarwal@gmail.com
Uma Vasudevan
Vasudevan
1959
9871200351
vasuma2006@gmail.com
Mr. Shankar
Aggarwal
1961
9560326019
latasingh1000@yahoo.com
Abha Garg
Rekesh Garg
1980
9868669111
abhagargat@gmail.com
Neiti Kher
Rajiv Kher
1980
9560206784
neitikher2013@gmail.com
Abha Prasad
Sharda Prasad
1981
9868923948
shardaprasad81@nic.in
Priyadarshini Bishan
Anuj.K.Bishan
1981
9910117650
bishnoi.priyadarshini@gmail.com
Neha Kumar
Balwinder Kumar
1981
9810756682
nehakumar2009@gmail.com
Ruchi Swarup
Anil Swarup
1981
9899060488
ruchiswarup70@gmail.com
Surekha Chaudhry
Devender Chaudhry
1981
9811273230
schaudhry64@gmail.com
Ashima Deepak
J.S. Deepak
1982
9910028275
ashima_deepak@yahoo.com
Madhu Gupta
Neeraj Gupta
1982
9654341414
madhu-gupta@hotmail.com
Rooma Singh
Dinesh Singh
1982
9810174864
a_singh_1@yahoo.com
Varuna Srivastava
Avinash Srivastava
1982
9873442377
varuna_28@yahoo.co.in
Renu Singh
Harbhajan Singh
1983
9958141156
renu212@hotmail.com
Anju Sinha
A.K.Sinha
1983
9899183330
anju1965@yahoo.com
Renuka Pandey
Anoop Pandey
1984
8447343766
acp_in@yahoo.com
Dr.Asha Sarangi
Dr.Parbhat Kumar
Sarangi
1986
9811477933
ashasarangi@gmail.com
Renuka Sant
Anil Sant
1988
9711386896
sant.renuka@gmail.com
Rashmi Singh
Manoj Kumar Singh
1988
9810590919
rashmi.nct@gmail.com
Rajshree Bhoosreddy
Sanjay Bhoosreddy
1989
9968704747
rajasreebhoosreddy@gmail.com
Rani Prasad
Amit Mohan Prasad
1989
9868656135
rakaprasad2010@gmail.com
TAMIL NADU
UTTAR PRADESH
Lata Singh
88
Toshi Chanana
V.K.Chanana
1963
9910108820
Gita Verma
Arvind Verma
1963
9810361771
vermaarvind@hotmail.com
Naomi Saxena
N.C.Saxena
1964
9818490123
nareshsaxeena@gmail.com
Sucheta Banerjee
N.R.Banerjee
1964
9873321784
Anjali Ghate
P.B.Ghate
1965
9958349550
anjalighate19@gmail.com
Kiran Khattar
Khattar
1966
9811088788
kiran.shahsingh@gmail.com
Sunalini Vasudev
C.M.Vasudev
1966
9811943498
sunavasudev@hotmail.com
Vibha Chaturvedi
B.K.Chaturvedi
1966
9810712911
chaturvedibibha@yahoo.com
Smita Shah
Rajeeva Ratna Shah
1967
9818657700
9910232768
smitashah48@yahoo.com
Kiran Tripathi
S.C.Tripathi
1968
9910232769
kirantripathi50@yahoo.com
Niharika Pathak
Om Pathak
1969
9810011524
nehap49@yahoo.com
Amita Rawal
P.C.Rawal
1969
9910813399
rawalamita@gmail.com
Nisha Malhotra
V.K.Malhotra
1970
9810526998
mnisha_03@yahoo.com
Veena Jain
Ajit Kumar Jain
1970
9818018359
veenajain4@yahoo.com
Anita Sethi
Ravi Mohan Sethi
1970
9811153987
anitasethi44@gmail.com
Poonam Sharma
C.K.Sharma
1971
9313034752
ck.sharma1@yahoo.com
Sunita Gupta
H.C.Gupta
1971
9717062316
hcgupta48@gmail.com
89
Name
Spouse
Batch
Mobile No
Email Id
Prachi Srivastav
Anurag
1992
8527157070
Mrs. Naureen Mustafa
Mohd. Mustafa
1995
9717347711
naureen.mustafa@gmail.com
Madhavi Devraj
M.Devraj
1996
9013301606
madhavidevraj@gmail.com
Vijaya Anand
Vishwanath Anand
1965
9811103345
anandvijaya312@gmail.com
Mallika Ramachandra
M. Ramachandra
1972
9910635588
mallikaramachandran@hotmail.
com
Upma Gupta
Rajeev Gupta
1979
9560054525
Shanta Ravishankar
N.Ravishnakar
1980
9717962380
sravishankar@yahoo.com
Sumitra Pandey
B.P.Pandey
1983
9968098610
sumtirapandey7@gmail.com
Sunita Singh
Shatrughna Singh
1983
9971156981
sunitauas@gmail.com
Harleen Kaur Sandhu
Sukhbir Singh
Sandhu
1988
999902062
harleensandhu@gmail.com
Sreelata Chaudhuri
Inderjit Chauduri
1963
9871549755
sauryajit@rediffmail.com
Sarita Rani Lal
K.M.Lal
1964
9873189830
lalandlal@hotmail.com
Manju Moitra
Mihir K. Moitra
1965
9818023836
manju_moitra@yahoo.com
Suvosree Sanyal
Jayanta Sanyal
1965
9810831303
suvosree2@gmail.com
Tessymanavalan
Davy Manavalan
1965
9873904846
tessy.manavalan@gmail.com
Deepa Bannerji
P.K.Banerji
1966
1142804122
deepabanerji@rediffmail.com
Meena Subramanian
V.Subrmanian
1971
9818682285
meenasub24@gmail.com
Poornima Chatterjee
Bijay Chatterjee
1973
9910836983
pchatterjee@hotmail.com
BubBul Sen Sarkar
S.K.Sarkar
1979
9999862888
bsensarkar@gmail.com
Sandhya Agarwal
A.K.Agarwal
1981
9810272449
sandhyaagarwal29@gmail.com
Smita Pandey
Hem Pandey
1982
9818837241
smitapande@hotmail.com
Poonam Singh
Raghvendra Singh
1983
9818889524
raghupoonam@hotmail.com
Manjushree Chaudhuri Sumanta Chaudhuri
1985
9873209990
saminaswiss@gmail.com
Rashmi Chopra
Sanjeev Chopra
1985
9810850208
fga.ddn@gmail.com
Alpana Verma
Talleen Kumar
1987
8800168415
alpver@gmail.com
Nidhi Prakash
Mr. Naveen Prakash
1987
9999632346
nidhiprakash17@gmail.com
UTTRAKHAND
WEST BENGAL
90
With best compliments from:-
“M/S. SATYAM INDUSTRIES”
(MANUFACTURER OF ISI GRADE M.S. TMT BAR)
TAPHOU
SENAPATI DISTRICT
MANIPUR
PIN CODE: 795106
‘A unit of Satyam Group of Industries having
operational presence in Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal
Pradesh & Manipur has the credentials of being the
largest manufacturer of M.S. TMT Bar in the North
Eastern Region’
Paintings by members of
Team IASOWA
Lippi Parida
Sapna Agarwal
94
Manju Prasad
Shailja Dutt
Meenakshi Aggarwal
Priti Gupta
96
ICS/ IAS OFFICERS’ WIVES ASSOCIATION
Design & Print Naveen Printers F-11B, Okhla Phase-1, New Delhi-110020 Phone: 01140523313, 26814680