The most used word in the past few days in the blogosphere is INSPIRE !! But before I write about people who inspire me, I would like to share my thoughts about a news item that disturbed me a lot.
Tussauds is a world famous museum of wax statues of famous personalities in London. Around two weeks back there was a news item on TV where many Indians who visited the museum expressed there displeasure over Mahathma Gandhi’s wax statue being placed near a garbage bin.
I have never seen garbage bins being placed in the main display area in any museums or art galleries I have visited. Visitors are usually not allowed to carry eatables or smoke in such places. These measures are taken to protect the exhibits from collecting dust. Usually a garbage bin may be placed in a remote corner near rest rooms. Wax being a very sensitive surface will require extra care. I wonder where is the need to have a garbage bin along with the exhibits in this world famous museum!! Just imagine the plight of the artist who created a beautiful replica of the Mahathma! The statue of Mahathma is the property of the Tussauds authorities. What can one say of people who do not value their own invaluable possessions? How can we expect such people to understand the greatness of the Mahathma?
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Black night shade ( Manathakkali) keerai Thogayal
Ingredients
- Black night shade leaves/ greens(Manthakkali keerai)- 1 cup tightly packed
- Grated coconut – 2 tablespoons
- Urad dal – 2 tablespoons
- Hing – a small piece
- Red chillies – 2 nos
- Oil – 1 teaspoon
- Mustard seeds – 1/2 teaspoon
- Salt – to taste
Method
- Wash and drain the Keerai.
- Heat oil in a kadai and add mustard seeds. When it crackles add urad dal, red chillies and hing. Fry till golden brown.
- Add the keerai and coconut and saute till dry for 2 minutes.
- Allow to cool. Add salt, little water and grind to a smooth chutney.
Black night shade greens are good for all stomach ailments. You can serve this thogayal with rice or as a side dish for dosa. It can be easily grown in the kitchen garden.
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Our very dear blogger friends Asha, Siri, Kamala and Swati have felicitated our blog with Inspiration award! It is great pleasure and honour to receive this award from all of you! A big thank you and Hugs to Asha, Siri, Kamala and Swati!! 🙂
Some famous personalities and my teachers have inspired and influenced me to a great extent!
* Mrs.Janardhan was the school principal when I was studying at Keyes High School at Secunderabad. She had a soft and husky voice and we have never seen her scold or punish any student. All the students used to assemble for morning prayers and keep talking, but only till we see our principal. Once we see her get out of her room and walk towards the assembly there will be pin drop silence! She commanded that kind of respect! We should understand the difference between commanding and demanding respect! I always feel inspired and motivated when I think of this great person! 🙂
* Another teacher who influenced me much was our math teacher, Ms. Ammani John. Those days the prescribed text books were available only in Telugu and English medium students had to follow books by other authors. Since our teacher did not want us to miss out on any sum that might appear in the final question paper, she used to translate and dictate all the sums from the prescribed telugu text book and see that we work them out in the class itself. I used to marvel at her dedication! Translating and dictating all the sums to every class, everyday, year after year! Amazing!! My dear ma’am has inspired me do give my best shot, whatever I do!
* Mr. Moge was our HOD when I was doing my B.Com. Once he calculated the amount of time and money spent to educate every student. He said that if women are not allowed to use this education for building the economy, it is such a national waste! That day I understood that God has bestowed upon each one of us, some talent and we should use it for a productive purpose!
* Other great personalities who always inspire me are Mahathma Gandhi, Mother Teresa , Dr. C. Rajagopalachari
I am passing on this award to all food bloggers who successfully completed the recipe marathon! So the award goes to,
* Dear Siri and Dhivya who pamper me with their love! 🙂
* Mela queen Srivalli , for her energy! 🙂
* Cute Raaga, her recipes are a part of my weekly menu! 🙂
* Bhags, who can cook and blog delicious recipes from a hotel room! 🙂
* Dear Swati, I feel I know her since ages! 🙂
* Arundathi, Ranji and Divya , I would love to know more about these bloggers who are laks great friends! 🙂
* My dearest daughter Lakshmi, Who makes me feel complete! 🙂
* Two more bloggers, I like to pass on this award are my BFF Asha, not a day passes with out thinking about you dear! 🙂 Bharathy who is always there to help and made me popular as lathamma! 🙂
Sure 🙂
And I remember we had a patch of garden where manathakkali used to grow… Amma used to make vathal and we would eat the black small berries just like that. I miss that house!
Gosh that keerai looks great…and I was thinking on the same lines lathamma abt Mahatma’s statue!
Thanks for the award!..but you too calling me mela queen!..heheh..sounds funning coming from you!..for your energy and all!
I have been to Tussuad’s many times when we lived near London, don’t remember the garbage bin but I am sure it’s not intentional. NOBODY loves Indians and India more than those British people. Believe me when I say that even though they call us Pakis etc, they do love us dearly! I am sure they don’t mean to do that! :))
Never heard of Black night shade greens. It is very green, looks delicious! I made your yummy stuffed Brinjal y’day, will link in July!:)
Thank you for the award. Me too, will think of you and L atleast once a day!! We are crazy people, aren’t we? ;D
You have many inspiring people in your life, good for you!:)
Asha, I still find it ridiculous that a garbage bin should be present near an exhibit at a place like Tussauds – whether it was intentional or a pure case of oversight – its still ridiculous – 😀 – Lakshmi
Yeah i totally agree with Asha. Remember when lagaan didn’t get the oscar the Indian press shouted Racisime which was not true at all.I have no ideawhat that bakc night is, but this first piclooks like beautiful beeds inbetwee,.
I miss manathakalli Lathamma ..I make puzhikuzhambu with manathakali..Congrats on ur awards
I didn’t know that manathakkali was called black nightshade! Thanks for that bit of info. Or that the leaves could be used as food.
I’ve only used the vathal so far.
Dear Lathamma,
Lovely post about ur principal at Keyes HS. I must have visited that school for various competitive exams many times! didn’t u studied there..:D Congratulations for the deserving award amma and Thank you for passing on to us!
..and I never heard this dish.. looks yummy!
Hugs,
Siri
correction: didn’t know u studied there!!!..:)
what a lovely post lathamma!!!so nice to hear abt ppl who inspired u…. i am very much inspired by u even though i also came to know of u only recently ..i was touched by the post on ur mother…i loved reading each and every bit of it…I t is a pleasure to know ppl like u and an honour to receive an award ..thank u so much lathamma :)..this one will be very close to my heart 🙂
i have no clue what they are called in elugu , but looks such a healthy dish. Wow lathamma you went to keyes ?? I went to St francis college closeby … I still miss those days …
thank you so much for the award! 🙂 would love to get to know you better too – i’ve heard so so so much about you! that was a really great post – thanks!
Have never heard of this dish Lathamma..That was so sweet of u passing on this award to me..Would love to know more about u too..
Lucky you!! We have no source of manathakkali keerai here… Your thogayal looks delicious!! Congrats on the award! 🙂
That pic of the greens with the urad dal is yummy! I tend to use all greens in dal – will this go with dal? Congrats on the awards.
It was nice reading about your teachers….just like my father telling me about his teachers, and I wondering how they would have been in those days……..It was very generous of you to pass on the award to us
Hi
I just voted for your blog for Bloggers Choice Awards.
Would you please return the favor at:
http://www.bloggerschoiceawards.com/blogs/show/21620
Thanks,
SpEdLaw2
keerai thogayal looks lovely… i haven’t seen this green here in my neck of woods since ages!!!
garbage bin next to mahtma’s statues huh??? let me think again… mmm… i don’t think they have one…
apparently they did for a while and then they changed. – L
Hi Latha
I stumbled upon your blog while trying to find other Keyes High Girls. Ms. Ammi jahan was my math teacher too and later my principal when I worked for a short period at Keyes High School. Mrs. Leela Maniyam was the principal when I completed my 10th in 1982.
Another friend of mine who managed to reach me thro’ classmates.com and I are trying to find ‘our gang’ from way back. Any ideas on how to reach more from Keyes High School?
Btw I love your blog.
Hi Anusha
I am also from Keyes High School. Completed my 10th in 1983 and would like to know more about you and Latha. Do get in touch with me at
krajshri@gmail.com
Thanks & Bye
Rajshri
I grow Manatakkali at my garden in Malaysia. This is good for the mouth and stomach ulser. I stir fry the leaves and also the furits. But did not know can make chutney out of these leaves…was amazed….Have featured your recipe in my blog.
Hi Latha!
cool blog!
Like Anusha and Rajshri, I too came across your blog while searching for keyes high school alumni! Sad to see our nice school does not have a website or email id posted anywhere. I have such fond memories…
Nice to see three ladies who studied there. Mrs Janardhan was my principal too, I passed out in 1973, she taught us biology. Ammijan taught us maths as well. Mrs Iyengar – chemistry, Sarojini social studies (she was also the primary section head), I forgot what Mrs Aravinda and Lalitha taught us.. We were 42 girls in the B section, Kalpana Shenoy, the 2 Umas (nagarajan and tyagarajan), saraswati, usha, mukta, vaidehi, asha, ashalatha, raka vishin, shanaz, shaheen, rakshanda khan, kusumbala, oh my god, how the names are coming back… wonder if anyone knows where they all are and what they are doing now…..
I used to be in touch with one of the umas for along time after school and i spoke to kalpana several years ago while visiting hyderabad, but i lost touch with everyone. anybody know any one from my list???
Hi to everyone from keyes,
I too studied in Keyes Passed out in 1986. Very few of that period are in the social networking sites. Yeah, my favourite teacher was Ms. Ammini John. She was strict but very effective in her teaching skills. It would be a great joy to connect with my class mates or even batch mates. Looking forward to it.
I am mamtha Agarwal from 1990 batch great to know that u have ur recipe blog …