Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Apple pork slices
here,s my recipe for apple pork slices thet i stumbled into one boring day at home.ingredients:pork chunk(ribs or thigh) 1 kg
onions 250gm
garlic 100 gm
ginger 100gm
Red chillies(whole) according to taste
honey 2 tsfOil(any )
soy sauce 1 tbsp
Apples 250gm
Method:boil the pork or pressure cook it for about 6 whistles, after then cool it down and cut it into 5x5 slices and about 0.5cm thick.Fry half the onions until golden brown along with the ginger-garlic paste in oil.add the pork slices and cook for 5 mins add the whole chillies after it is soaked in boiling water and mashed with a pestle along with the remaining onions cut into huge chunks(halved or quatered.add the honey and soy sauce.and cook for another 5 mins after that, add the apples cut into quaters,cook for another 3 mins.your dish is then done, decorate with coriander leaves and serve hot as snacks for a heavy drinking session or as a side dish.The sweet and sour taste along with the subtle flavor and aroma is great.
Guranteed 100% original recipe of mine which i discovered by mistake as oneday when i was about to cook to cook i was wondering aboutwhat to do with the few apples lying in my fridge that nobody wanted to eat.try this, sorry i dont have any photo of it, have to buy one of those digital things as i have only en outdated slr of the romantic era of films
onions 250gm
garlic 100 gm
ginger 100gm
Red chillies(whole) according to taste
honey 2 tsfOil(any )
soy sauce 1 tbsp
Apples 250gm
Method:boil the pork or pressure cook it for about 6 whistles, after then cool it down and cut it into 5x5 slices and about 0.5cm thick.Fry half the onions until golden brown along with the ginger-garlic paste in oil.add the pork slices and cook for 5 mins add the whole chillies after it is soaked in boiling water and mashed with a pestle along with the remaining onions cut into huge chunks(halved or quatered.add the honey and soy sauce.and cook for another 5 mins after that, add the apples cut into quaters,cook for another 3 mins.your dish is then done, decorate with coriander leaves and serve hot as snacks for a heavy drinking session or as a side dish.The sweet and sour taste along with the subtle flavor and aroma is great.
Guranteed 100% original recipe of mine which i discovered by mistake as oneday when i was about to cook to cook i was wondering aboutwhat to do with the few apples lying in my fridge that nobody wanted to eat.try this, sorry i dont have any photo of it, have to buy one of those digital things as i have only en outdated slr of the romantic era of films
Friday, May 12, 2006
O Manipur
O’ MANIPUR
Deserted streets; burning tires,
Bandhs, rallies, boycotts.
Burned-out effigies, deadly Molotovs
Grim faced men in battle fatigues.
Armored cars, shrieking sirens.
Guns, guns, and even more guns.
Ambushes, blasts, cross fires.
Blinding bombs; trampling boots.
Sacred white; splattered with crimson blood.
Burning pyres, weeping widows.
Anguished wails, chest-thumping mothers.
Blood and tears mingled.
Hushed tones, fearful eyes.
Repressed laughter, sighs of resignation.
Broken dreams; bleak horizons.
Corruption, shattered economy.
Lawlessness; trepidation at every step.
Drugs, HIV, AIDS.
Muddy pockmarked faces.
Caught in the tentacle of AIDS.
A new breed of widows,
orphans, flesh sellers, deserted by fate.
Teenaged moms; raped innocence.
Spineless leaders; vultures of politicians.
Pseudo intellectuals, misplaced patriotism.
Lost ideals; rebels without a cause.
Mushrooming greedy, faceless groups.
Rule of the gun; reign of terror.
Forsaken villages, bald hills;
Charred tree stumps.
Flood with rains; drought without rains.
Water, water, everywhere...
But not a drop to drink.
What has become of you,
O’ mother?
Forgive us,
for we know not,
where we’re heading.
Deserted streets; burning tires,
Bandhs, rallies, boycotts.
Burned-out effigies, deadly Molotovs
Grim faced men in battle fatigues.
Armored cars, shrieking sirens.
Guns, guns, and even more guns.
Ambushes, blasts, cross fires.
Blinding bombs; trampling boots.
Sacred white; splattered with crimson blood.
Burning pyres, weeping widows.
Anguished wails, chest-thumping mothers.
Blood and tears mingled.
Hushed tones, fearful eyes.
Repressed laughter, sighs of resignation.
Broken dreams; bleak horizons.
Corruption, shattered economy.
Lawlessness; trepidation at every step.
Drugs, HIV, AIDS.
Muddy pockmarked faces.
Caught in the tentacle of AIDS.
A new breed of widows,
orphans, flesh sellers, deserted by fate.
Teenaged moms; raped innocence.
Spineless leaders; vultures of politicians.
Pseudo intellectuals, misplaced patriotism.
Lost ideals; rebels without a cause.
Mushrooming greedy, faceless groups.
Rule of the gun; reign of terror.
Forsaken villages, bald hills;
Charred tree stumps.
Flood with rains; drought without rains.
Water, water, everywhere...
But not a drop to drink.
What has become of you,
O’ mother?
Forgive us,
for we know not,
where we’re heading.
HIV and AIDS In Manipur
HIV/ AIDS—lip service?
1st December, another world AIDS day comes and goes. Seminars, workshops, rallies, fairs, even concerts and beauty contests but to what end? The big question on everybody's mind is- "has it really served the purpose?" Or is this all lip service? The daily headlines runs ‘$120 million given by the US for fighting AIDS in India’ and ‘$100 million donated by Bill Gates of Microsoft’ and a lot of others before that. But does this money really at the very least, trickle down to the people who need it the most- persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA)? Almost 16 years have elapsed since the first HIV case was documented in this country from the state of Tamil Nadu. Still medical care facilities for PLWHA are in their nascent stages and is also secondary on the agenda of both the govt. and the innumerable Non Govt. Organizations (NGOs) working in this field. Doesn’t it seem rather strange that even after so many years and a possible epidemic looming large we still have no plans to fight this disease with a more focused, scientific and humanitarian strategy. The principal aim of the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), which dictates national and state policy on HIV/AIDS, remains “prevention and control of the disease”. However mention is made of “improving services for the care PHWHA in times of sickness both at hospitals and at homes through community care”. While the primary aim has been laudably well executed, a similar intensity in implementing the latter clause has been missing. Today’s scenario of HIV/AIDS warrants a dual policy of combining prevention with care. No longer can we ignore care of PLWHA with the plea that funds are limited while continuing to shout hoarse about prevention only. It is something akin to treating the symptoms of a disease other than the disease itself. True, treatment is pretty expensive for a PLWHA, costing anything between Rs.1,800 and Rs.2,400 a month for a drug regimen alone. This requires phenomenal financial commitment by the state, but it is also a fact that there is a lot of money coming into this sector. A little jugglery here and there and then there may be enough money for care. For instance under the Govt.’s Mother to Child Transmission project, expensive anti-retroviral drug therapy is being given in select centers. But there is no plan to provide therapy for all PLWHAs who should be direct beneficiaries of any Government AIDS policy. Serious thought must also be given for setting up of special clinics/hospitals for HIV/AIDS for it is true that these patients have to face discrimination in general hospitals. There are so many conflicting figures about HIV&AIDS in India, NACO estimates about 3.8 million people to be having HIV/AIDS presently in India. The latest figures for Manipur released by MACS is 13979 HIV +ves. These data are mostly based on reported cases from Govt. hospitals and Antenatal Clinics but the majority of the people use private health facilities and so, such cases go unreported. In our state the figure of death due to HIV/AIDS reported so far stands at about 250. But, this is true that everybody knows somebody or the other who have died of this disease and this leads to the question of how far our data is correct. Yet, regardless of the actual numbers of infected people, it is quite evident the disease is spreading rapidly and is almost reaching epidemic proportions. The need of the hour is the political will, integrated approach and commitment to impeccable medical practices-clean gloves, syringes, blood transfusion techniques so that we can meet the challenge posed by HIV/AIDS head on.
1st December, another world AIDS day comes and goes. Seminars, workshops, rallies, fairs, even concerts and beauty contests but to what end? The big question on everybody's mind is- "has it really served the purpose?" Or is this all lip service? The daily headlines runs ‘$120 million given by the US for fighting AIDS in India’ and ‘$100 million donated by Bill Gates of Microsoft’ and a lot of others before that. But does this money really at the very least, trickle down to the people who need it the most- persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA)? Almost 16 years have elapsed since the first HIV case was documented in this country from the state of Tamil Nadu. Still medical care facilities for PLWHA are in their nascent stages and is also secondary on the agenda of both the govt. and the innumerable Non Govt. Organizations (NGOs) working in this field. Doesn’t it seem rather strange that even after so many years and a possible epidemic looming large we still have no plans to fight this disease with a more focused, scientific and humanitarian strategy. The principal aim of the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), which dictates national and state policy on HIV/AIDS, remains “prevention and control of the disease”. However mention is made of “improving services for the care PHWHA in times of sickness both at hospitals and at homes through community care”. While the primary aim has been laudably well executed, a similar intensity in implementing the latter clause has been missing. Today’s scenario of HIV/AIDS warrants a dual policy of combining prevention with care. No longer can we ignore care of PLWHA with the plea that funds are limited while continuing to shout hoarse about prevention only. It is something akin to treating the symptoms of a disease other than the disease itself. True, treatment is pretty expensive for a PLWHA, costing anything between Rs.1,800 and Rs.2,400 a month for a drug regimen alone. This requires phenomenal financial commitment by the state, but it is also a fact that there is a lot of money coming into this sector. A little jugglery here and there and then there may be enough money for care. For instance under the Govt.’s Mother to Child Transmission project, expensive anti-retroviral drug therapy is being given in select centers. But there is no plan to provide therapy for all PLWHAs who should be direct beneficiaries of any Government AIDS policy. Serious thought must also be given for setting up of special clinics/hospitals for HIV/AIDS for it is true that these patients have to face discrimination in general hospitals. There are so many conflicting figures about HIV&AIDS in India, NACO estimates about 3.8 million people to be having HIV/AIDS presently in India. The latest figures for Manipur released by MACS is 13979 HIV +ves. These data are mostly based on reported cases from Govt. hospitals and Antenatal Clinics but the majority of the people use private health facilities and so, such cases go unreported. In our state the figure of death due to HIV/AIDS reported so far stands at about 250. But, this is true that everybody knows somebody or the other who have died of this disease and this leads to the question of how far our data is correct. Yet, regardless of the actual numbers of infected people, it is quite evident the disease is spreading rapidly and is almost reaching epidemic proportions. The need of the hour is the political will, integrated approach and commitment to impeccable medical practices-clean gloves, syringes, blood transfusion techniques so that we can meet the challenge posed by HIV/AIDS head on.
Clarion call
WAKE UP CALL
The storm has almost blown over; this time also, we have shown to the world the might of the Manipuris. But the real battle lies ahead; we have to restore the lost glory of our motherland Manipur and should divert this recent tide of unity to flush out lawlessness, corruption and the other evils that have besieged our society.
First, We have to weed out the sheeps in wolf’s clothing, saboteurs, provocateurs and Judases who have revealed their true colors in the recent upheavals. We also have to do away with this present breed of silly, power hungry opportunistic and highly corrupted politicians and leaders. With elections being planned in the very near future, we do have a great opportunity to have a final say in this matter.
Second, we have to deal with the lawlessness and reign of fear brought about by mushrooming faceless groups. Who, with their lost ideals and misplaced patriotism, are just rebels without a cause and are out to just make a fast buck for them-selves.
Third, we have to deal with the burning problem of drugs, HIV and AIDS on a war footing instead of just paying lip service or else we will all be consumed in this terrible epidemic which is spreading like wildfire.
Fourth, we should look into how best to utilize our resources in Agriculture, horticulture, sericulture, floriculture, tourism, Manpower, IT, trade with the S-E Asian countries etc. or whatever may be best so that we can at least become a self-sufficient economy first and then follow the Asian tiger’s road to prosperity.
Fifth, we should encourage sports and the arts like never before, for they have done us proud and made us hold our heads high even in the bleak recent past. Nothing short of a revolution will help to stem the rot that has eaten into the very fabric of our society and economy. We need far-sighted leaders who can selflessly look beyond narrow personal and political gains and usher our motherland into this new millennium.
We, the public too have to make many sacrifices to reach this goal, only a collective and concerted effort can lead us to the road of peace and prosperity that have eluded us for so long. There is no need to cry hoarse for outside help, we have to help ourselves I dream of the day when we can hold our heads high as Manipuris, see the golden sheen return to the domes of the sacred Shree Shree Govindajee Temple, watch a languid game of polo at the Mapal Kangjeibung, Appreciate the nuances of a Ras leela at the Shree Shree Govindajee Mandap or experience the sheer power of the colorful procession of the Lai Haraoba, snaking its way through the streets of Khwairamband Bazaar.
We are now at the crossroads of an important juncture, it may be make or break for the Manipuri race. In the past too, we have stood against all odds and have won, this time is no different. Leaving petty differences aside, let us all join hands to achieve this dream of a golden Manipur.
"You may say I am a dreamer
But I am not the only one"
(With apologies to John Lennon)
The storm has almost blown over; this time also, we have shown to the world the might of the Manipuris. But the real battle lies ahead; we have to restore the lost glory of our motherland Manipur and should divert this recent tide of unity to flush out lawlessness, corruption and the other evils that have besieged our society.
First, We have to weed out the sheeps in wolf’s clothing, saboteurs, provocateurs and Judases who have revealed their true colors in the recent upheavals. We also have to do away with this present breed of silly, power hungry opportunistic and highly corrupted politicians and leaders. With elections being planned in the very near future, we do have a great opportunity to have a final say in this matter.
Second, we have to deal with the lawlessness and reign of fear brought about by mushrooming faceless groups. Who, with their lost ideals and misplaced patriotism, are just rebels without a cause and are out to just make a fast buck for them-selves.
Third, we have to deal with the burning problem of drugs, HIV and AIDS on a war footing instead of just paying lip service or else we will all be consumed in this terrible epidemic which is spreading like wildfire.
Fourth, we should look into how best to utilize our resources in Agriculture, horticulture, sericulture, floriculture, tourism, Manpower, IT, trade with the S-E Asian countries etc. or whatever may be best so that we can at least become a self-sufficient economy first and then follow the Asian tiger’s road to prosperity.
Fifth, we should encourage sports and the arts like never before, for they have done us proud and made us hold our heads high even in the bleak recent past. Nothing short of a revolution will help to stem the rot that has eaten into the very fabric of our society and economy. We need far-sighted leaders who can selflessly look beyond narrow personal and political gains and usher our motherland into this new millennium.
We, the public too have to make many sacrifices to reach this goal, only a collective and concerted effort can lead us to the road of peace and prosperity that have eluded us for so long. There is no need to cry hoarse for outside help, we have to help ourselves I dream of the day when we can hold our heads high as Manipuris, see the golden sheen return to the domes of the sacred Shree Shree Govindajee Temple, watch a languid game of polo at the Mapal Kangjeibung, Appreciate the nuances of a Ras leela at the Shree Shree Govindajee Mandap or experience the sheer power of the colorful procession of the Lai Haraoba, snaking its way through the streets of Khwairamband Bazaar.
We are now at the crossroads of an important juncture, it may be make or break for the Manipuri race. In the past too, we have stood against all odds and have won, this time is no different. Leaving petty differences aside, let us all join hands to achieve this dream of a golden Manipur.
"You may say I am a dreamer
But I am not the only one"
(With apologies to John Lennon)
