Friday, August 22, 2008

India Independence Day

Independence Day

Independence Day, August 15, commemorates the day in 1947 when India achieved freedom from British rule. It is celebrated with flag hoisting ceremonies and cultural programs in the state capitals. The Prime Minister's speech at the Red Fort in Delhi is the major highlight.

All Government Organizations have a holiday as 15th August is a National holiday . In the capital New Delhi most of the Government Offices are lit up. In all the cities around the country the Flag Hoisting Ceremony is done by politicians belonging to that constituency.

In various private organizations the Flag Hoisting Ceremony is carried out by a Senior officer of that organization. On Television, various Independence related programs are telecasted, reminding us of the hard times faced by the freedom fighters.

In almost all the schools and colleges around the country, no academic work in done on this day, but all the students and staff members are present on this day and there is a sort of gathering of the entire school/college within their respective premises and the flag hoisting ceremony takes place,(usually in the presence of the principal)and singing of the National Anthem. After this there are various cultural activities held in the school / college and the celebration continues till late evening.

History

At the stroke of midnight, as India moved into August 15, 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, read out the famous speech proclaiming India's independence.

The moment ended three centuries of British colonial rule. The land was no longer the summer retreat of British sahibs who fancied spices, shikar, elephants and snake-charmers.

Independence was also the end of nearly a century of struggle for freedom, battles, betrayals and sacrifices. It also created a situation where we were responsible for ourselves.

But it wasn't a period of unqualified joy. For a lot of people, in spite of a new era promised by independence, partition was a painful reality and so was the bloodshed that accompanied it. That was 53 years ago. Much has changed; the struggle for freedom lives on in history books and memoirs, and on the tombstones of valiant martyrs. Politics has undergone a personality change from fiery idealism to a pragmatic cynicism. Karma drives the nation on its way forward, and population has crossed the billion mark.

But, come August 15, and the people put their troubles behind them for a while, as they stand up as a nation for the National Anthem. Along with the soaring cadences of the anthem, the hopes and dreams for a better tomorrow are renewed in political speeches and replays of the deeds of those who earned us our freedom.

Independence Day is an occasion to rejoice in our freedom and to pay collective homage to all those people who sacrificed their lives to the cause. But it is more than that. It also marks the coming together of more than 400 princely states into one nation - India. This was probably our biggest diplomatic success.

Each year, August 15 gives us the reason to celebrate all this, and do much more - it is a time to contemplate what we have and how we achieved it.

Though India had no dearth of religious and community festivals, there was, till Independence, no true national festival that the whole country could partake of. Independence Day, beginning as a day to commemorate the greatest moment in Indian history, has now come to signify a feeling of nationalism, solidarity and celebration.

Independence Day remained the sole national festival till India declared itself a republic in 1950. On January 26, 1950, Republic Day became the second Indian national holiday.

Background to the freedom struggle

Before the 18th century, India's relationship with the West had been predominantly trade-related. All this changed when the forces of the East India Company defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Calcutta.

That signaled the arrival of the British as rulers. Till the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, the East India Company, with the Governor General as its head, ruled the subcontinent. After that, the Crown took over the administration, with the Viceroy as its representative.

In the 20th century, the country witnessed the rise of many leaders such as Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Banded under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and his doctrine of non-violence, the freedom struggle moved ahead with new vigour. Milestones like the Quit India Movement, Non-Cooperation Movement, Khilafat Movement and Gandhi's Dandi March brought the inevitable freedom closer.


Celebrations

August 15, Independence Day, is celebrated in a mood of abandon and joy - no rituals, just festivities. It is also a national holiday, with educational institutions, private and government organisations remaining closed, but for official celebrations in the morning.

Schools and colleges mark the day with cultural activities, drills, flag hoisting and distribution of sweets. Government as well as private organisations celebrate it similarly.

Families and friends get together for lunch or dinner, or for an outing. Housing colonies, cultural centres, clubs and societies hold entertainment programmes and competitions, usually based on the freedom theme.

The Prime Minister sets the mood by hoisting the national flag and addressing the nation from the Red Fort, the historical monument in Delhi. This is accompanied by a march-past of the armed and police forces. Similar ceremonies are held in all the state capitals. The Prime Minister's address and the march-past are relayed live on national television.

In cities, one sees a sudden burst of saffron, green and white, the Indian tri-colour. The media goes to town with a variety of contests, promotions and programmes related to Indian independence. Television channels show patriotic movies and relentlessly play patriotic songs from old and new Hindi movies. Billboards on roadsides for different brands pay their tribute to the nation.

Everyone seems to have something going for them. Shops and petty tradesmen sell a range of Independence Day merchandise such as flags, stickers, tee-shirts and greeting cards. Street urchins hawk paper and plastic flags and tri-coloured balloons to motorists at traffic signals.

Though a trifle commercial and jingoistic, what lies beneath the celebrations is the national spirit of gaiety, pride and hope for a better future. A spirit and hope that is renewed each year.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Ceasar Salad

INGREDIENTS
  • 1 bunch of lettuce
  • 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 tablespoon ground mustard
  • 1 clove crushed garlic
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups garlic croutons (Bread: Diced & fried till crisp)

DIRECTIONS

  1. Clean lettuce thoroughly and wrap in paper towels to absorb moisture. Refrigerate until crisp, at least 1 hour or more.
  2. In a bowl or jar combine oil, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, mustard, garlic and lemon juice. Whisk until well blended.
  3. Coddle egg by heating 3 cups of water to boiling. Drop in egg (still in shell) and let stand for 1 minute. Remove egg from water and let cool. Once cooled crack open and whisk egg into dressing. Whisk until thoroughly blended.
  4. To assemble, place torn lettuce leaves in a large bowl. Pour dressing over the top and toss lightly. Add the grated cheese, garlic croutons and freshly ground pepper, toss. Serve immediately!

Friday, August 1, 2008

Turdal Dosa

Ingredients :
250 gms. Rice
100 gms Turdal
Coconut
Madras Chillies
Kashmiri Chillies
Cumin Seeds
Coriander Leaves
Tamarind
Onions
Oil
Salt

Method :
Soak rice & turdal for 4 hrs. Grind to a fine paste. Take scrapped 1/2 coconut along with 3 chillies each, 2 tbsp. cumin seeds & lemon size tamarind & grind it to a fine paste. Mix both the batter well with salt to taste & mix chopped onions & coriander leaves.

Apply oil to the pan & pour the batter to make crispy dosas. Serve hot.

PATHRADE (Mangalorean dish)

Ingredients :

15 units Alu leaves, 10 Nos. Red Chillies dry, 3 tbspn. Cumin seeds, 8 tea cups boiled rice, 1/2 grated coconut, 1 pinch turmeric powder, lemon size tamarind & salt to taste

Method :

1. Wash the rice well, and soak it for 2 hours.
2. Pick the leaves. Remove the stems, which can be used for other recipes. After washing the leaves, cut them into small bits, by rolling them, and cutting them into small lengths.
3. Grind the soaked rice with grated coconut, chillies, cumin seeds, tamarind and saffron (turmeric), to a fine dough.
4. Mix the cut leaves, with the dough and blend thoroughly.
5. Fill water in the thondor, reaching below the center plate. On the center plate, spread a muslin cloth or a clean banana leaf, and spread the dough on it. Start steaming the dough in the thondor, and when it is done, (when a fork is pierced in the cake, no batter should stick to it), put the stove off.
Note: Instead of banana leaf, you can use almond leaf. Dough can be rolled in the leaf to form elongated cakes.
6. Pour sufficient water in the lower basin of the Thondor, so that it will be able to boil without evaporating for an hour or so.
7. Spread a cloth, or banana leaf on the middle tray of the Thondor, and spread the dough on it. Or place the dough in a round vessel, about 1 or 2 inch high, preferably of aluminum, and spread the dough in it, and place it on the inner tray of the Thondor.
8. Start the gas, and let the water boil, and steam the dough.

Cut into pieces & serve hot or else apply oil in a pan & fry the pieces till crispy brown.