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Indian Summer Food Stories

By Kayva Gokhale 

While summers in India can be brutal, they also have a silver lining. Summer brings with it a host of delicious fruits, as well as traditional dishes and drinks, all of which are perfect combinations of taste and nutrition. We have gathered fascinating facts and legends around some of the most popular summertime foods and drinks that make Indian summers unforgettable. 

Mango
Illustration: Tithee Dixit

There is no fruit that is as strongly associated with Indian summers as the mango. Throughout history, from Mughal emperors to classical poets, no one has been able to resist the charm of the King of Fruits. It is believed that Emperor Akbar was so fond of mangoes that he planted up to 100,000 mango trees. The great poet Mirza Ghalib’s love for mangoes is apparent in his writing. He wrote a famous poem, ‘Dar Sifat-e-Ambah‘, solely dedicated to this fruit. He is also believed to have mentioned mangoes in more than 60 letters that he wrote to friends. Similarly, the poet Amir Khusrau called mango ‘naghza tarin mewa Hindustan‘ or the ‘fairest fruit of Hindustan‘. Even Rabindranath Tagore dedicated a poem called ‘Aamer Monjori‘ to this fruit. 

Jamun
Illustration: Hritoparna Hazra

The tiny Jamun, packed with nutrients, is a common ingredient in summer dishes such as ice creams, sherbets, coolers and syrups. This purple fruit also finds place in some fascinating legends of India. Rama’s skin is often compared to the rich colour of the jamun and he is said to have lived on this fruit during his 14 years in exile. It is also said that Megha, the god of rains, descended to the earth in the form of a jamun, which is why the colour of the fruit is like that of a stormy sky. 

Ice Gola
Illustration: Hritoparna Hazra

In India, summer holidays are synonymous with little children happily enjoying refreshing ice golas from street vendors. This preparation, made with shaved ice and flavoured syrups, has many names. It is called barf ka gola, chuski or gola ganda in different parts of the country. The ice gola is popular even outside of India. In North America, it is called a snowball or snow cone. In Mexico, ice golas are called raspa and are often spicy and tangy. In Malaysia and Singapore, it is called Ais Kacang and often has red beans as toppings. Ice golas are extremely popular even in Japan, where they are called Kakigori. In fact, it is believed that the dish might have been invented in Japan during the Heian period. 

Aam Panna
Illustration: Tithee Dixit

Aam Panna, also called kairicha panha, aam jhora or aam pora, is a refreshing summer made from raw mangoes. The drink derives its name from the Sanskrit word ‘paaniya‘, meaning ‘something one drinks.’ Aam Panna finds its mention in a large number of ancient texts, which indicates how popular it has been for centuries. The drink is described in a number of ancient Ayurvedic texts, as well as in the writings of Sanskrit playwright Kalidasa. Aam Panna was also popular among the Mughal emperors since it is described in Ain-e-Akbari, a 16th-century record of Akbar’s court as well as the Baburnama, which are Babur’s memoirs. 

Thandai
Illustration: Hritoparna Hazra

Thadai is a popular summertime drink made with milk, sugar and various nuts and spices. Containing the word ‘thanda‘, meaning cold, thandai is not only a refreshing beverage but also has a special place in Indian mythology. It is believed that after Shiva drank the poison that emerged out of Samudra Manthan i.e. the churning of the ocean, he flew into a terrible rage. In order to calm him down, he was offered thandai. It is said that ever since then, the thandai has been Shiva’s favourite drink. This is why thandai is prepared and consumed during the festival of Mahashivratri, especially in North India. 

Sattu Sherbet
Illustration: Tithee Dixit

Sattu sherbet is a summer superdrink that is both delicious and extremely nutritious. This drink is made from Sattu flour, which in turn is prepared by grinding together various grains, pulses and cereals like wheat, barley, jowar, etc. This drink is such a powerhouse of energy that it has been used throughout history in wars and conflicts. The armies and traders of the Kalinga dynasty often carried Sattu during long voyages. Even Chhatrapati Shivaji’s army would consume this drink during their guerilla wars against the Mughals. There are also some legends that suggest that Tibetan monks would carry Sattu during journeys.

Famous Quotes #17

These words by the legendary Bengali writer, poet, philosopher and social reformer Rabindranath Tagore tells us that creation is an act of love.

Illustration: Sushmita Lama

The Story of Easter

By Kayva Gokhale 

Easter, also known as Pascha or Resurrection Sunday, is a major Christian holiday that is celebrated all over the world. The day marks the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, three days after his death by crucifixion. Easter marks the end of Lent, which is a period of 40 days during which Christians pray and observe fasts and acts of penance. The week before Easter is known as Holy Week since it includes the commemoration of Jesus’ Last Supper as well as observance of Good Friday, the day of his crucifixion. Easter does not fall on the same date every year, since it is based on the lunisolar calendar. Generally, Easter is therefore celebrated on the first Sunday after the ecclesiastical full moon, which occurs soonest after 21 March. 

Script: Rev. Dr. Drakshathota Arunliah; Illustration: Pratap Mulick

Easter is a day of happiness for Christians everywhere since it marks the joyous Resurrection and triumph of Jesus Christ. The day can be seen as a symbol of the victory of goodness, hope, life and resistance against oppression. In the period before the crucifixion of Christ, he continued spreading his message of peace, love and forgiveness, despite being aware of the risks. He knew that he would eventually be punished for his beliefs and work, yet he persevered without fear or doubt. Therefore, Easter is a true celebration of Jesus Christ, his faith, his courage and his message for his followers. 

Easter celebrations vary across the world and have changed quite a bit over the years. In most countries that have a significant Christian population, including India, Easter and Good Friday are public holidays. Since the festival falls on a Sunday, schools and other institutions are usually closed anyway. In India, Easter is celebrated mainly through church services and mass, where people congregate together for prayer. While the tradition of decorating Easter eggs is more popular in the Western world, people in India often gift small children chocolate eggs. Apart from that, feasts and cakes are prepared, families and friends meet and gifts or lanterns are exchanged to mark this joyous occasion. 

The Story of Ramzan

By Krithika Nair

As one of the five fundamental practices of Islam, Muslims across the world observe a month of fasting, praying and service to society. Ramzan, or Ramadan, is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, during which adult, able and healthy Muslims are expected to fast from sunrise to sundown and refrain from activities that are considered sinful. The month is observed for 29 or 30 days according to the Lunar calendar, so the date shifts by about 11 days every year. The beginning and end of the month are determined by the sighting of the crescent moon.

This practice is a celebration of Prophet Muhammad’s first revelation, where he was visited by the angel Jibril and was imparted knowledge that would go on to become the holy Quran. Hence, the month is considered holy, wherein the benefits of sawm (fasting) and salat (prayers) are heightened and people can build better relationships with each other and god. It is said that observing Ramzan gives people a chance to learn patience, compassion for the less fortunate and break bad habits.

During the month of Ramzan, Muslims wake up early to have Sehri, a meal before dawn, and end their fast at dusk with a meal called Iftar. People suffering from illnesses and women who are menstruating, breastfeeding or pregnant, are exempt from fasting. Apart from food and drink, people observing Ramzan refuse to partake in tobacco products and sexual activities.

As a service to their community, Muslims also give to charity (zakat), host iftar dinners for the poor and needy and conduct nightly prayers called Tarawih at the mosque. The practices and traditions related to Ramzan differ from place to place. Commonly, streets, mosques and houses are decorated with lights and the Quran is recited. Some Islamic nations even have laws forbidding public eating, the use of tobacco and the sale of alcohol.

Famous Quotes #16

These words by the Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi reveal the meaning of wisdom and reminds us where true happiness lies.

Illustration: Aakanksha Patil

Interesting Facts About Indian Mathematician Aryabhata

By Srinidhi Murthy

Aryabhata I was an Indian mathematician and astronomer, who lived during the reign of the Gupta empire. One of the world’s most acclaimed mathematicians, he is known as the ‘Father of Indian Mathematics’. Here are some interesting facts about the great thinker. 

Illustration: Kavya Mittal
Birth year

Aryabhata mentions his age in his book Aryabhatiya. He mentions that he was 23 years old during the composition of Aryabhatiya and also noted that 3600 years had passed since the beginning of Kali Yuga. The implied year corresponds to 499 CE and thus suggests that Aryabhata was born in 476 CE. 

Spell Check

There is a common tendency to spell the name of the mathematician as ‘Aryabhatta’, with the suffix ‘bhatta’. But it is interesting to note that the mathematician himself had mentioned his name as ‘Aryabhata’, with the suffix ‘bhata’, in the beginning and end of his book Aryabhatiya. Therefore, the correct spelling of his name would be Aryabhata.

Birthplace 

There is still some debate among historians regarding the birthplace of Aryabhata. While some believe that he was born in Pataliputra (present-day Patna), others believe that the mathematician-astronomer was born in Kerala. 

Aryabhata I or Aryabhata the Elder

Aryabhata is also known as Aryabhata I or Aryabhata the Elder to distinguish him from the tenth-century Indian mathematician with the same name. Aryabhata II also discussed theories, similar to the works of Aryabhata I, such as algebra, geometry, and their applications in calculating the longitudes of planets in his books.

Works of Aryabhata

Aryabhatiya, one of the major works of Aryabhata, was written in 499 AD and has survived to modern times. The book consists of 108 verses and covers many branches of mathematics such as arithmetic, algebra and trigonometry. Aryabhata also composed another work on astronomical computations named Arya-Siddhanta, whose contents are lost to modern historians. The existence of Arya-Siddhanta is known through the writings of the ancient astronomer Varahamihira. The book has also been mentioned in the commentaries of later mathematicians including Bhaskara I and Brahmagupta.

Major Discoveries

Aryabhata came up with the approximation of Pi and concluded that π is irrational. He also worked on the place value system and discovered zero for the first time. Some of the rules made by Aryabhata for the calculation of cube roots and squares by the arithmetical method, are still in use. In addition to this, Aryabhata also provided the circumference of the Earth as 39968.05 km and the radius of the orbits of nine planets. He also said that the Earth rotates on its axis and concluded that this is the reason we have days and nights.

Relation with Nalanda University

Aryabhata mentions in his book Aryabhatiya that he had been honoured in Kusumapura. Both Buddhist and Hindu traditions along with the reports of Bhaskara I, who provided commentary on Aryabhatiya, identify Kusumapura as Pataliputra, the capital city of Magadha. Since the University of Nalanda was situated in Pataliputra during that period and also because Aryabhata was mentioned as Kulapa (Head of Institution) in a verse, it has been speculated that he might have been the head of Nalanda University too. 

Translations

The works of Aryabhata were translated into Arabic language from its original Sanskrit version. It also influenced the works of Persian polymath Al-Khwarizmi and Arab Astronomer Al-Zarqali. For instance, after Aryabhatiya was translated into Arabic around 820 CE, the approximation of Pi was mentioned in Al-Khwarizmi’s book on algebra.

Legacy and Honours

In 1975, The Indian Government launched its first satellite named Aryabhata to honour this great astronomer. The image of the Aryabhata satellite is featured on the reverse of an Indian 2-rupee note. A species of bacteria discovered by ISRO scientists in the Earth’s stratosphere was named Bacillus Aryabhata after him. 

Kalbelia Dance

By Kayva Gokhale

The Kalbelia tribe belongs to the Thar desert region of Rajasthan, who used to be professional snake charmers. Traditionally, this is a nomadic community, serpents are an important part of their livelihood, the Kalbelias revere these reptiles, especially the cobra. The killing of any snake is considered a sin and the tribe advocates for humane treatment of serpents, even if they enter homes and other domestic spaces. 

Illustration: Mitushi Sharma

The Kalbelia dance is an important part of the culture of this tribe. This dance is performed as a celebration of their identity and culture and traditionally takes place in the desert, in front of a large bonfire. The men and women of the tribe gather around the fire, where the men play instruments and the women perform the Kalbelia dance. The clothes worn during the performance are also significant.  The women wear lehengas, or long flowing skirts in red and black hues. When they perform the dance, the skirts swirl in the air, replicating the movement of a snake. The colours and patterns on the clothes too, represent various aspects of serpents and other animals reared by the tribe. In 2010, the folk dances and songs of the Kalbelia tribe were included in UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage List. 

Note: Snake charming has been banned in India under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

The Many Benefits of Ginger

Ginger is best known for giving flavour to the distinctive Indian Masala Chai. However, it also has a host of other uses, take a look at some of the essential ones.

The Story of Tamil Nadu

By Srinidhi Murthy

Tamil Nadu is the southernmost state of India, located in the southeast of our country. The kingdoms and empires of Tamil Nadu have played a major role in the history of British colonization in India and the region has a proud history of many freedom fighters who fought bravely against the British Empire in the freedom movement.

ACK Design Team
 Age of Empires

Ancient Tamil Nadu was home to three monarchical kingdoms, known as the Cheras, the Cholas and the Pandyas. In the early centuries, the Pallava dynasty ruled a large portion of South India, with Kanchipuram as their capital, around the 7th Century. The Pallavas were replaced as the dominant kingdom by the Chola Dynasty. Raja Raja Chola and his son Rajendra Chola built the famous Brihadeeswara Temple of Thanjavur. However, the Chola dynasty also witnessed a decline with the rise of Pandyas in the 13th Century. There are records that Marco Polo, a Venetian merchant, mentioned that the Pandya empire was the richest empire in existence during that period. The Cheras, who were in conflict with both the Cholas and the Pandyas, ruled parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Around 1370, Tamil Nadu saw the rise of the Vijayanagara empire. The Vijayanagara empire thrived for the next two centuries until its defeat in the Battle of Talikota by the Deccan Sultanate in 1565.

The Impact of Anglo-French Conflict

In 1739, the French occupied the territory of Karaikal. Joseph Francois Dupleix was appointed as the Governor of Pondicherry. Soon after, a political conflict emerged between the British and the French. Chanda Sahib had been made the Nawab of the Carnatic with the assistance of the French Governor but the British fought for the cause of the previous incumbent, Mohammed Ali Khan Walajah. In 1751, British commander Robert Clive assisted Mohammed Ali in his war and took possession of Chanda Sahib’s fort in Arcot. Though the French assisted Chanda Sahib to drive Clive out of Arcot, they were defeated by the British forces. The outcome of this war, along with the growing British influence in 1765, made the Emperor of Delhi issue a decree, acknowledging the British possessions in southern India.

The First Spark of Rebellion

In the 1790s, a Palayakarar chieftain named Kattabomman rebelled against the taxes imposed by the East India Company. After the First Polygar War, he was captured and hanged in 1799. On 10th July 1806, the Vellore mutiny marked the first instance of a huge rebellion by the Indian sepoys against the East India Company. The slow and growing discontent over the actions of the company finally exploded in 1857 and transformed into the Sepoy Mutiny, famously known as the First War of Indian Independence. As a consequence of this war, the Act of 1858 was enforced by the British Government, to abolish the powers of the East India Company and transfer the government directly to the British Crown.

Freedom Fighters from the State

Direct rule in India was assumed by the British Crown in 1858. Soon, the desire for independence slowly gathered pace in the country. In this struggle for independence, revolutionaries in Tamil Nadu joined the fight against British rule. Tamil Nadu produced many freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the freedom movement. Notable freedom fighters were Tiruppur Kumaran, who sacrificed his life holding the Indian flag during his protest against the British, the poet Subramania Bharti, who wrote revolutionary poems in Tamil, Aurobindo, the philosopher, who gave refuge to freedom fighters in Pondicherry, V.O Chidambaram Pillai, who launched first shipping service between India and Srilanka to compete against the British ships and Captain Lakshmi Sahgal, a prominent leader in the Indian National Army’s Rani of Jhansi Regiment, founded by Subash Chandra bose.

Post-Independence 

Post Independence, Madras Presidency was reconstituted as Madras State. Madras State included present-day Tamil Nadu, parts of Kerala, coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh and south Canara district of Karnataka. Soon, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka were separated from Madras State based on their linguistic preferences. In 1969, Madras State was renamed Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu experienced significant economic growth in the 1990s, particularly in the service sector. Currently, the economy of Tamil Nadu is the second highest in India and the state ranks 11th in the Human Development Index (HDI) among the Indian states.

The Significance of Gopalkala

By Kayva Gokhale 

Gokulashtami, or the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, is one of India’s most beloved festivals. In Maharashtra, celebrations in most places are largely centred around the dahi handi. Almost every neighbourhood sees young boys and girls forming intricate pyramids to reach the pot of food strung up high above. While dahi handi literally translates to ‘pot filled with curd’, this description is not exactly accurate, since the pot actually contains a specially made festive dish called ‘Gopalkala’.

Illustration: Ram Waeerkar

Gopalkala is a typical Maharashtrian, yoghurt-based dish which is filled in the dahi handi and also offered as prasad on the festive day. This dish contains a myriad of ingredients such as curd, milk, cream, puffed rice, flattened rice, pulses,  cucumber, guavas, apples, spices, pickles and much more. The absence of an exact recipe is one of the most interesting aspects of Gopalkala and it ties in with the significance of the dish itself.

Lord Krishna is believed to have favoured curd and other dairy products, and so, they occupy a prime position in Gopalkala. However, apart from curd, the other ingredients of the dish are largely variable, to signify the importance of equality and togetherness.

According to common customs, Gopalkala is meant to be prepared potluck style, with members of a neighbourhood or community each bringing one or two ingredients of the dish, which are all mixed together in the end. Since communities are made up of economically disparate families, the inclusion of common household foods such as spices or flattened rice is significant in promoting togetherness despite outer differences. People are able to bring whatever food they have at home and become part of the festivities with their communities.

Lord Krishna is known to be one of the most humble gods in our mythology. Having spent his childhood as a cowherd among milkmaids and farmers, Krishna personifies the values surrounding community, equality and solidarity. Thus, Gopalkala is not simply a festive dish or a prasad. Rather, it is a material reminder for people to inculcate the values Lord Krishna stood for.