Ye all who yearn for a Nobel in economics here is a case study for ye.
Have you heard of the phenomenon where you do not notice a thing till someone spells it out for you.I had the self same enlightenment a couple of years back. To be able to come home to prepared food is a luxury.Not that I call what our maid bakes food but it suffices to fill the ravenous four that our room is.Accepted that it is once in a blue moon that our "bai" (ahem maid) chooses to show up and invariably when she's expecting salary, however she does turn up sometimes.
However what I noticed is the number of rotis she makes.Very often she would ask how many of us neanderthals are actually eating.Most of us expecting no food at homestretch take the liberty of fulfilling our basic demands else where mostly with hyderabadi biryani and sometimes with chicken gravy.In hyderabad , inspite of the myriad names chicken gravy is basically the same. But that is not what i wanted to point out here.
So the interesting part is that the raw ingredients to our daily food however does not change with the number of people eating.The amazing part is notwithstanding the demand the supply remains constant.
Our maid is a genious.Talk about the indian food needs.Our agriculture department could do a lot with her at the helm.(I hope she's more well versed in education than some of our political big weights.)What I fail to understand is how dough for two suffices for four at times.In times of population explosion (and seriously indian's need sex education) I would deem it important that this travesty of demand supply chain be explored into.Who knows there might actually be an Indian who would win the Nobel on economics.
And no I guess Amartya Sen is not Indian.Not that he has NR whatever status; but to the fact that the prodigal daughter needs to learn to tie that saree around.(wrt Tango Charlie)
Amen
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Hyderabad for Dummies
Some points to note for people new to hyderabad.
A) People here use the vigorous head shake for a affirmative and the negative.You need to be a mind reader to know if the yes is a yes or a no.I would advise that please look out for the word "nakko".That is the most definitive answer you can squeeze out of the vocally impaired.
B) A friend of mine had been to the local cd wallah to get a couple of pirated movies . When after perusing the long list of W(J)ackie chan's and Bruce Li's I think he surrendered to the abyss and asked for one.The answer he received shook him to the core.No offence meant for our gay counterparts but the part was a little shocking for my hapless friend. The cd wallah told him in what i quote "kal touch karo , mein batatun". Apparently translated to human readable language that means : "touch me tomorrow and then I will tell you". After a few very uncomfortable moments my friend got the import of the diatribe.
C) Whilst I was new to hyderabad; the myriad pallies, chowkis and bads were alien to me.So in absence of all directions on the roads I had to take recourse to asking people directions. Those days it was either public transport or my two good legs. Evertime I asked directions the average hyderabadi would look up from his Irani chai, point to a vague direction and say those fatal words : "Ageich Hai.Thoda chalte chalo."
Literally translated to human readable form its just in the alley ahead.Walk on. After a few trials I found that just ahead here does not signify distance.Hyderabadi's are good with directions and the tend to overtly exaggerate on the distance on the lower side. So invariably when asking the average Hyderabadi spare a moment to ask them, Can I walk to the place or do I need transport ? Next time you are here be forewarned.
I will endeavour to find more of the hyderabadi quirks.Stay tuned. In the meanwhile get hold of that local movie called Angrez .Trust me that is hilarious.
Signing off with
"Wo nakli scent tera baba lagata"
And please its called Yellow.There is no god damned word aello.
A) People here use the vigorous head shake for a affirmative and the negative.You need to be a mind reader to know if the yes is a yes or a no.I would advise that please look out for the word "nakko".That is the most definitive answer you can squeeze out of the vocally impaired.
B) A friend of mine had been to the local cd wallah to get a couple of pirated movies . When after perusing the long list of W(J)ackie chan's and Bruce Li's I think he surrendered to the abyss and asked for one.The answer he received shook him to the core.No offence meant for our gay counterparts but the part was a little shocking for my hapless friend. The cd wallah told him in what i quote "kal touch karo , mein batatun". Apparently translated to human readable language that means : "touch me tomorrow and then I will tell you". After a few very uncomfortable moments my friend got the import of the diatribe.
C) Whilst I was new to hyderabad; the myriad pallies, chowkis and bads were alien to me.So in absence of all directions on the roads I had to take recourse to asking people directions. Those days it was either public transport or my two good legs. Evertime I asked directions the average hyderabadi would look up from his Irani chai, point to a vague direction and say those fatal words : "Ageich Hai.Thoda chalte chalo."
Literally translated to human readable form its just in the alley ahead.Walk on. After a few trials I found that just ahead here does not signify distance.Hyderabadi's are good with directions and the tend to overtly exaggerate on the distance on the lower side. So invariably when asking the average Hyderabadi spare a moment to ask them, Can I walk to the place or do I need transport ? Next time you are here be forewarned.
I will endeavour to find more of the hyderabadi quirks.Stay tuned. In the meanwhile get hold of that local movie called Angrez .Trust me that is hilarious.
Signing off with
"Wo nakli scent tera baba lagata"
And please its called Yellow.There is no god damned word aello.
cannibal"istically" autists
Have been thinking on writing this up for aeons now.
I live in hyd which has its usual complements of autisms.
Hyderabad is biryani country. From the birth of the infant to the grave the number of chicken"s" an average hyderabadi"y" consumes in biryani can feed somalia for decades.What escapes me in totality how can one have the hallowed dish for brunch,lunch,dinner and supper. Beats me.
However the case in point is not about biryani.I just love the way hyderabadis sell chicken.Everyday I pass through this road en route to office. There is a poultry ki dukaan (shop i.e.) that says live skinned chicken. Yes i accepted that this means they skin the chicken live and the available product is live. With a great deal of pepper , salt and irani chai i accept that.The average clientele of the shop I guess are more than swayed by the public exhibition of the butchered birds than to fall for the firang calligraphy.
What did it for me was the caterer at the office.(Food I cant complain about .. judge yourself).
One fine day I reach the cafeteria and was looking at the menu under "A La Carte".Yes they used the word without a spelling mistake.The first innocuous entry read : LIVE CHICKEN CURRY. Oh I get it they butcher it live, skin it live, curry it live and serve it (yuck) live.Nobody it seems spared a thought about my poor appetite.The same stayed on the menu for a couple of months and the coward that I was ,I never had the heart to talk to the guys.Well it was fun while it lasted.
My latest tummy turner is : CHICKEN ROGAN JUICE.I am off liquids for a couple of months now.
I live in hyd which has its usual complements of autisms.
Hyderabad is biryani country. From the birth of the infant to the grave the number of chicken"s" an average hyderabadi"y" consumes in biryani can feed somalia for decades.What escapes me in totality how can one have the hallowed dish for brunch,lunch,dinner and supper. Beats me.
However the case in point is not about biryani.I just love the way hyderabadis sell chicken.Everyday I pass through this road en route to office. There is a poultry ki dukaan (shop i.e.) that says live skinned chicken. Yes i accepted that this means they skin the chicken live and the available product is live. With a great deal of pepper , salt and irani chai i accept that.The average clientele of the shop I guess are more than swayed by the public exhibition of the butchered birds than to fall for the firang calligraphy.
What did it for me was the caterer at the office.(Food I cant complain about .. judge yourself).
One fine day I reach the cafeteria and was looking at the menu under "A La Carte".Yes they used the word without a spelling mistake.The first innocuous entry read : LIVE CHICKEN CURRY. Oh I get it they butcher it live, skin it live, curry it live and serve it (yuck) live.Nobody it seems spared a thought about my poor appetite.The same stayed on the menu for a couple of months and the coward that I was ,I never had the heart to talk to the guys.Well it was fun while it lasted.
My latest tummy turner is : CHICKEN ROGAN JUICE.I am off liquids for a couple of months now.
we peculiar indians...a cab in a nutcase
Ho and a lot has been said about the way we pickle the english grammarye...
No wonder then Mrs Mountbatten preferred Nehru ... Anybody read the discovery of India..
Anyways I am no big fan of history.So for starters ; found this on a(n) ad space:
As Is Customary, All Drivers Are Provided With The Cars. All Of Them Are In Uniform And Presentable In Terms Of Neatness. We Ensure That All Drivers Are Literate, Have Comprehension Of The English Language And Can Communicate In It Too.
Oh yes the other cab companies send in the chauffeurs (uh em drivers) without the cars. Fantabulous service.
No wonder then Mrs Mountbatten preferred Nehru ... Anybody read the discovery of India..
Anyways I am no big fan of history.So for starters ; found this on a(n) ad space:
As Is Customary, All Drivers Are Provided With The Cars. All Of Them Are In Uniform And Presentable In Terms Of Neatness. We Ensure That All Drivers Are Literate, Have Comprehension Of The English Language And Can Communicate In It Too.
Oh yes the other cab companies send in the chauffeurs (uh em drivers) without the cars. Fantabulous service.