Anjana Rajguru

At 20, most people are busy leading a life with friends, parties and loads of fun and frolicking as their main focus. But not Bharath Rao.  A second year undergraduate student, he is a man with a mission. He has already clocked four years in web hacking and is an expert Android developer and Youtuber. He is the Founder- CEO of Precily, a digital publishing company which publishes summaries of an entire book in two and fifteen minute reads.

On Precily and His Entrepreneurial Bent

Bharath shares "I am super excited about using new technologies on the mobile apps and web space. It amazes me how these can impact lives and also turn out to be extremely profitable for the creators. This is what led me to start exploring “business opportunities". 

Bharath is a whiz kid and apart from many notable achievements, he reported a security hack in iPhone in 2015 and a Facebook location bug in June 2016. He developed Precily MVP and launched it on Google Play Store in July 2016.

Bharath explains on his role as a founder "I pitch my idea to investors and as the CTO, I lead the app design and development". "Starting Precily was the turning point of my life. I drew courage and inspiration for doing something on my own from Anantha Rao who now works as the Chief Operating Officer at Precily. He advised me to look beyond college degrees to achieve great things in life".

                                                                                   Bharath with his team.

He elaborates "Initially, we started with non-fiction book summaries/ precis and built an MVP for Google PlayStore. The summaries are prepared by a team of content writers. We are exploring ways of moving towards an AI machine based summary process, though they are at a preliminary stage. We have now included self-publishing for both fiction and non-fiction authors. In fiction, we believe there are many new voices wanting to reach their audiences in non-traditional ways like writing based reader input rather than editorial input and writing with multiple endings based on different forks in the path to the end". Bharath informs that Precily has the support of some leading celeb authors who will publish exclusively for them. For non-fiction and educational books, they are in discussions with leading publishers. Bharath says " We have a "Mentors Column" where many of our mentors who are thought leaders have agreed to share their insights". These ideas have emerged after many rounds of discussions between Bharath, Anantha and other core team members, Rahul Narang (Marketing & Vendors) and Yogini Jhingan((Content Head).

Precily is on the verge of securing seed funding of nearly half a million dollars from a Bombay-based venture capital firm and a leading angel investor too is backing the start-up.

Future Plans

Speaking of their future plans, Bharath informs that they intend scaling up Precily to reach one billion people. He also wishes to work with his other partners and mentors to realise their respective goals.

Other Interesting Projects

As a growth hacker for 1M1B, Bharath worked with a variety of stakeholders ranging from the Government of Andhra Pradesh, UC Berkeley and the weaver community to demonstrate how the e-commerce website would work and how it would benefit each one of them. He adds "My involvement in 1M1B exposes to me newer areas and I see that as a great learning opportunity".  Bharath informs" 1M1B, 1 Million for 1 Billion, is an open innovation, entrepreneurship and a jobs creation initiative aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations. It is based on the principle "Small is the new big", the people and enterprises that they support address a very specific local issue which has the potential to create a big social impact in the community".

Inspirations

Bharath's inspirations are his dad, Richard Branson, Peter Thiel and Elon Musk. He says "My first mentor was my dad. I was an average scoring student throughout my school life due to which my father used to sit with me every night helping me with assignments while attending his late night meetings. Instead of completing the assignments, I always had random questions about his organization, bosses and as to why he deserved to be at that position. He never hesitated to answer any of my questions and this helped me gain knowledge on the workings of an organisation and understand its functioning". "I have also learnt a lot from Manav Subodh, Ashutosh Chadha and Ramachandra Budihal".

On Work/Studies Balance and Other Interests

Bharath says "College keeps me busy during the first half and the remaining part of the day is spent either meeting potential partners or working on my app". Bharath is also a volunteer for TEDx Delhi and has worked with guest speakers in the curation process. He has been working as a volunteer with United Nations since August last year.

Bharath loves to explore latest developments in gadgets, reading about achievements of leaders like Vijay Shekhar Sharma of Paytm and Peter Thiel (first investor in Facebook).

Advice

On his advice to young entrepreneurs, Bharath says "Believe in your idea, build a team who believes in the idea, and get going".

Navratri is celebrated with fervour and devotion all over India and by Hindus worldwide. Navratri comes twice a year and marks the  transition in seasons, winter-summer and summer-winter. The one in the beginning of summers is the Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratri is celebrated in the beginning of winters. During Chaitra Navratri, Ram Navami is celebrated on the ninth day and after Sharad Navratri, Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day which signifies the victory of good over evil.

Fasting for nine days is an important part of the rituals. There are certain dos and don'ts of fasting which vary from region to region. We feature here nine recipes of food eaten during the fasts which will leave you asking for more.

Mewe Ki Kheer

INGREDIENTS

Full cream milk - 1 liter Makhane - 4 cups Dry coconut - ½ cup ( grated ) Raisins - ¼ cup Chironji - ¼ cup Cashew nuts - 6 - 8 ( broken into pieces ) Almonds - 6 -10 ( broken into pieces ) Sugar - ¼ cup

METHOD : http://www.whiskaffair.com/2013/10/meve-ki-kheer.html

Alu Sabudana

INGREDIENTS

Ghee - 1 tbsp and for frying Potato - 1 cup ( Peeled and cut into small cubes ) Moongphali - ¼ cup Cumin seeds - ½ tsp Saboodana - ½ cup ( Soaked in 1 cup water ) Ginger - ½ tsp ( Finely chopped ) Green chili - ½ tsp ( Chopped ) Sendha namak to taste Lemon juice - 2 tsp Fresh coriander for garnishing

METHOD : http://www.whiskaffair.com/2015/10/aloo-sabudana-recipe.html

Rajgiri Ki Kadhi

INGREDIENTS

Rajgiri ka Atta - ½ cup Sour curd - 2 cups Water - 2 cups Ghee - 1 tbsp Heeng - ½ tsp Fenugreek seeds - ½ tsp Mustard seeds - ½ tsp Cumin seeds - ½ tsp Curry leaves - 15-20 Dry red chilies - 2-3 Ginger and Green Chili paste - 1 tsp Sendha namak to taste Fresh coriander for garnishing

METHOD : http://www.whiskaffair.com/2015/10/rajgiri-ki-kadhi-recipe.html

Carrot, Sweet Potato Kheer With Caramalised Makhane

INGREDIENTS

4-5 Medium Carrots 2-3 Medium Sweet Potatoes 200 ml Sweetned Condensed Milk 1 cup Milk 1 Bay leaf 2-3 Green cardamom Cashew roasted in ghee(Clarified butter) 1/2 cup Water plus 2 tbsp Sugar 2 tbsps Sugar + 1tbsp water 1 cup Makhana(Lotus Seeds)

METHOD : http://www.theflavoursofkitchen.com/carrot-sweet-potatoroasted-kheer-with-caramelized-makhanalotus-recipe

Sama Ke Chawal Ka Dhokla

INGREDIENTS

FOR DHOKLA

1 cup Sama Rice 1/3 cup Sabudana/Sago Pearls 3/4 cup Buttermilk 1/2 cup Water (add slowly) 1/2 teaspoon Grated ginger (optional) 1/2 teaspoon Crushed green chili 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice 1/2 teaspoon Sugar 1 teaspoon Eno (fruit Salt) (see notes above) 1 teaspoon Jeera (Cumin seeds) Roasted and crushed Salt to taste 1 teaspoon oil to grease the bowl

FOR TEMPERING

2 tablespoon Oil 3-4 pieces of Green Chilies 8-10 leaves of  Curry leaves 1 teaspoon Jeera (cumin seeds) 1/2 teaspoon Sugar (optional)

METHOD : http://www.ruchiskitchen.com/recipe/vrat-ka-dhokla-or-sama-ke-chawal-ka-dhokla/

Sweet Potato Cutlet

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup Soaked Sabudana/Sago 1 big Sweet potato 1/4 cup Grated and drained lauki 2 tablespoon Cashew powder 1 teaspoon Dried mint leaves, crushed 1 teaspoon Roasted cumin seeds - crushed and sprinkle on top 1/2 teaspoon Red chili powder 2 tablespoon Chopped cilantro leaves Salt to Taste (Sendha Namak) 2-3 tablespoon Oil/Ghee 1 - 2 tablespoon Kuttu Flour (optional)

METHOD : http://www.ruchiskitchen.com/recipe/sweet-potato-cutlet/

Kuttu And Singhare Poori

INGREDIENTS

1 cup Kuttu Flour 1 cup Singhara flour/Singoda flour 1 large Boiled and peeled potato 1 medium Boiled and peeled arbi (omit if you do not eat in vrat) 15 -20 pieces of  Fresh Spinach leaves (omit if you do not eat in vrat) 1/2 teaspoon Coriander powder (omit if you do not eat in vrat) 1/4 teaspoon Red chili powder 1/4 teaspoon Haldi (Turmeric powder) (omit if you do not eat in vrat) Salt to taste (Vrat salt - Sendha namak) Oil for Frying/Toasting the rotis

METHOD : http://www.ruchiskitchen.com/recipe/kuttu-and-singhare-ke-atte-ki-poori/

Kashi Halwa

INGREDIENTS

750-800 grams ash gourd/ ash pumpkin / winter melon sugar as required * see notes 2 cardamoms husked and powdered 10-12 cashew nuts 10- 12 raisins 2 teaspoons ghee pinch of salt

METHOD : http://www.ruchikrandhap.com/2014/10/kashi-halwa-karnataka-style-ash-gourd.html

Raw Banana Kebab

INGREDIENTS

Vegetable Oil 1 tablespoon Raw Bananas/ Green Plantains / Kachhe Kele 2 Kuttu Atta or Buckwheat Flour 1/2 cup Ground Black Pepper Powder 1/2 teaspoon Green Chilli 1 finely chopped Chopped Coriander 1/4 cup Rock salt or Sendha namak to taste

Rasoi On Wheels’ kitchen is buzzing with activity at 5 a.m, cooks whipping out dishes to feed a thousand people. Every morning at 9 a.m, their van readies with the food which goes out for delivery to slum schools, orphanages, old age homes, outside AIIMS hospital, slum clusters and other places in Delhi and Gurugram. ROW was started by Atul Kapur and his partner Manika Bhadwar to feed underprivileged people everyday.  Atul Kapur who also is a partner in QBA restaurant says "Manika is the marketing force behind it and her passion & dedication towards the project has contributed significantly to its success. A dedicated kitchen team ensures good quality, hygienic, nutritious & tasty meals, no different what we eat, is prepared and distributed". The menu includes rice and rajma, roti, vegetables,mixed dal, puri halwa, vegetable pulao/biryani, veg chowmein, thalis and many more. One can pick from the menu which starts from Rs.31 and order food for distribution. Atul says “People can buy food from us and distribute it either themselves or take our help. However, we insist that they be involved in the distribution as well”.

The entire project is funded by Atul, Ashim and Manika Bhadwar; they invested in setting up the kitchen, vans, equipment and other sundry items needed to run a large scale kitchen.  Atul shares "The concept was born out of the langar / bhandara. There are many people with good intentions to serve the poor but despite the desire, the sheer enormity of the task prevents them from taking that one step. Rasoi On Wheels provided the solution by bridging the gap & making it easier for good souls to contribute & not shy away from it due to logistical issues. We provide all support &  get them closer to the receiver. ROW has no support from any organization, except that of the good people who are coming forward to support this initiative”.

Talking about the challenges faced, Atul shares that there are not many except the commotion that happens often when their van reaches a location as people tend to snatch and grab the meal boxes instead of lining up for the same. He says ”It is difficult to make people stand in a queue and take their meal boxes”.

Atul says about involving people in the initiative "We lay importance on getting people to be involved with the distribution & be personally present with kids & not just finance it. It is our "individual social responsibility ".

Atul, Ashim and Manika are surely rolling the right wheels.

Eight year old Labrador Abby was rescued last year by an animal lover in Bengaluru, India. When she was rescued, she had a very bad maggot infestation as well as tick fever which was treated at Charlie's Animal Rescue Centre (CARE). She battled both and survived and as luck had it, was adopted by animal lovers Bengaluru based entrepreneur Mayank and his techie wife Akshi Kinger.

Abby was adopted in March, 2016 and was Mayank and Akshi's preference as they were keen to adopt either an old or disabled dog as not many people come forward to adopt them. Mayank shares "I came to know about Abby through my network of animal volunteers at CARE and it was love at first sight. I just knew that I had to get her home ".

Abby would fall ill whenever Mayank travelled on work and both missed each other badly. Hence Mayank decided to take her for the road trip they had planned and do what is closest to his heart - create awareness on animal welfare. All three will leave for the trip on 6th October, cover 20 cities and clock 8,000 kms covering the Indian states of Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana and Gujarat. They intend connecting with animal welfare workers/ volunteers in these places, hold press conferences, and take out a rally in the cities.

Mayank says "Since Abby was not a young dog or pup, she had to be in the shelter for months before she was seen and adopted by us. People like to adopt pups because they look cute but when the pups grow up, sadly many people abandon them. Getting a pet home is a life-time responsibility. With our trip, we want to not only increase awareness on animal welfare and animal rights, but also encourage people to adopt senior dogs. We hope we are able to change mindsets and motivate people".

Elaborating on his trip, Mayank shares "We shall return on October 29 and intend covering not more than 450 kms per day. Abby will be taken care of and given supplements and plenty of liquids. She loves long drives and mostly sleeps through them. I am sure she is going to have as much fun as we will. We had earlier taken her to Kodaikanal by road and she loved it ".

Mayank is actively looking for sponsors for the whole campaign. He adds "CARE is our charity partner. After covering the expenses of our trip, the remaining amount will be used for CARE's day to day operations. Since this is a very large-scale initiative, we are looking for travel/ media partners/ collaborators/ sponsors who can help us with funds, media coverage and other assistance during the campaign. When a company opts to be a sponsor/collaborator, a sticker of their brand name/logo will be pasted on the car and during our media interactions, their role and contribution will be mentioned alongside names of individuals who sponsor. We have a Facebook page dedicated to this cause called “Abby Unleashed".

Designed by the principal architect of Wadesign, Jatin Hukkeri, the pub Hangover, located in Bengaluru, India is spread over 7000 sqft of floor space in an old-time bungalow. The bungalow was converted into this airy pub and incorporates the best of Bengaluru’s outdoors and indoors to exude that casual chic ambience. Hangover breaks the monotony of standard industrial interiors with some creative inclusions. The design is such that regardless of where one is seated, the entire space can be viewed in its totality, including the outdoors. The design is funky and has interesting elements like the Bajaj Matador that has been converted to a Volkswagen camper van to serve as a bar.  All cocktails are served in Bangkok styled big buckets. Lit up in a funky style, this van bar is visible across the pub and even faces the main road. The lighting has been kept minimal but adds significantly to the overall ambience. The mix of colours used  is unconventional for a bar. The indoor space is designed using wooden floors, leather couches and casual artwork to provide a warm look. The bent copper pipe light feature, bar and seating areas that are lit from under and the mix of greens, cement and metal make for some interesting dynamics all through the space.

Let us take a peek into this beautiful pub and be left with a hangover of awesomeness!

The unmissable camper van mounted atop this ground and first floor structure is the most visible and talked about feature of this project.

Seamless marriage between the indoor, semi-covered & outdoor spaces, all making for an interesting blend of spaces where one gets to see the space inside out or outside in without an obstruction.

Large sliding-folding shutters on the right keep the semi-open completely protected during a downpour with the option of locking it. A touch of green changes the dynamics completely though brick, cement and metal have been predominantly used.

The lighting feature on open brick face wall comes alive at night and makes for a good conversation point while adding to the 'mood lighting' at the same time.

Indoor space with warm wooden flooring, leather couches and casual artwork keeps the space abuzz at all times. A bent copper pipe light feature add to visual fun.

A long view of the indoor space.

Bar on the first floor with a good mix of elements - bottles, wood and coloured lights.  

A large communal table just by the side of bar.

Vertical gardens near the bar counter interspersed with other elements like open faced brick walls, polished cement floors, smart coloured furniture and DIY lights, guarantees the space on the first floor an uber energy & renders it with a never-want-to-leave feeling.

A Bajaj Matador converted into a camper van sits atop the building facing the main road. This commodity is used as a second bar on the first floor and is amongst the most favourite spots in the restaurant. 

The ground and first floor of the space are interconnected with two large cutouts and are connected by a bridge where most guests love hang out.

The connecting bridge to the left and the camper van to the right makes for an interesting element.

The bar on the ground floor has a great appeal and is the most noticeable thing upon walking-in into the space on the Ground Floor.

The Bar bottle display on the ground floor has bottles with vertical gardens blending into the space.The lighting from the bottom creates a stunning visual appeal.

The bar facade on the ground floor is clad with distressed wooden planks rendering it a grungy yet warm appeal. The open brick face wall just by its side complements the bar.

25 year old Mahesh Raghvan is lighting up the internet with his Indian classical fusion of songs of international artists and electronic versions of Carnatic music. His videos are garnering millions of views and innumerable shares on social media platforms. Raised in Dubai, Mahesh has an MSc in Digital (Music) Composition and Performance from the University of Edinburgh and a Bachelors in Audio Production from SAE Dubai.

Mahesh is a full-time music producer who is revolutionising the Indo-Western fusion music scene. He runs a YouTube project called FLAIR - Carnatic Music 2.0  where he does modern electronic versions of popular Carnatic music pieces and Indian style versions of Western pop songs. Mahesh adds "Other than music, I’m also interested in technology and design. I initially started FLAIR by doing just proper Carnatic fusion and I needed a strategy to make my music reach a larger audience. Hence, I decided to Indianise popular international songs so that more people could relate to it, and the idea has worked wonderfully. Also, it has helped introduce Indian classical music to a large audience". He uses a lot of technology to produce his music. The iPad app he usually plays is called GeoShred, which simulates the sound of the electronic guitar and other stringed instruments. Other than that, he has been recently experimenting with the ROLI Seaboard Rise and the CME XKey Air which according to him, are both great instruments.

Talking of his favourites, Mahesh says "I wouldn’t say favourite, but the one I had the most satisfaction in producing was ‘Krishnaa Nee Begane’, since it took a lot of time and effort and it was worth it in the end. Out of my Indianised covers, I loved making the ‘Game of Thrones’ one as I’m a huge fan of the original theme. Incidentally, the Game of Thrones Indian Theme is also the most popular video". He adds "While I was creative director at the 2016 IndianRaga Fellowship in Boston, we wanted to create something that would be totally entertaining for a general audience. So I decided to take my 'desi cover' concept to the next level and do a proper 'kutcheri' style presentation for the most trending song at that time - Cheap Thrills. I had access to some extremely talented musicians and it turned out to be fantastic in the end".

Mahesh also teaches music production at university level whenever he gets the time as he believes that it is important to spread the knowledge that one has. He shares "I am currently working on a course with an organization called IndianRaga, which gets musicians started with the basics of how to Indianise western melodies/songs”. 

Inspirations

Mahesh says "I grew up listening to AR Rahman’s music and was inspired by him to create music using technology. Nowadays, I mostly listen to Indian Classical music as that’s where I get my ideas from. Artists like Dr. Balamurali Krishna, MS Subbulakshmi, Ravi Shankar etc. are regulars on my playlist". Taking of the possibility of getting into film music  he adds "I don’t wish to get into film music, nor have I taken up any film projects. Personally, I prefer music just on its own and I support independent artists and music".

Six year old Chef Kicha a.k.a Nihal Raj became the youngest Indian to be invited to Ellen's show. Son of Rajagopal Krishnan, Branch Head - Central Advertising Agency & Ruby Rajagopal - a lecturer turned home baker, Kicha grew up watching his mother bake. Ruby says "Kicha would ask me whether he could help me. Instead I would give him small recipes which he could make. One day, he wanted to make ice popsicles and insisted that his dad take a video and upload it on Facebook". Seeing his interest, his mother gave him kid friendly recipes which involved no cutting, chopping or cooking over fire. Ruby adds "If any recipe demands cutting or chopping, I help him out and Kicha mentions the same in the video but mostly, the recipes I select are baked or refrigerated ones ".

Kicha, a first grade in Choice School, Kochi was interested in starting his own toys Unboxing channel (toys reviews) when he was four but it didn’t go well as he was more curious in playing with the toys than reviewing it! At age four, Kicha aspired to be a Youtuber.  Kicha took his dad’s help to start a Youtube channel which he named “Kichatube”, inspired from the famous “Evantube”. He is now a " veteran" with two years as a Youtuber! His mother Ruby says that he has this innate ability to grasp things quickly and is a natural in front of the camera. Kicha's videos are all shot at home either by his father or sister Nidha who is a final year commerce student.

On The Facebook Deal

Ruby shares "One day we got a mail from a casting company asking us for the rights of Mickey Mouse Mango Ice-cream and then we received an agreement from Facebook to acquire the rights! We were shocked and Kicha became an overnight celebrity! He is the youngest person to sell a video to Facebook. He is aware of it but is very cool about the deal and wasn't overexcited". Kicha was paid $2000 for the video rights.

Future Plans

Kicha will be continuing with his channel kichatubehd and there are plans of doing food reviews too. Ruby shares "He wants to be an “Astronaut Chef” and wishes to cook in space! He also want to invent a machine which has gravity that will help to cook in space. That’s what he says but I am not sure how long this interest will last. We have left it on him and will support whatever he likes".

On Being On Ellen's Show

Kicha's mother says that they never applied nor tried for any show but got a mail from the producer of Ellen's Show inviting Kicha for the segment which features "Adorable Kids". She adds "There were a few Skype chats with the producers and later they confirmed and gave us the recording dates. All the travel, hotel and other expenses were taken care of by them. We flew on 19th September and the program was recorded on 22nd September and aired the next day in the United States. I am not sure when it will be aired in India though, perhaps before 26th September".

At the show, Kicha gave a cooking demo and taught how to make Kerala's traditional breakfast Puttu. His excitement and confidence was evident in the show. He even taught Ellen to pronounce Puttu Kutti, the vessel in which Kuttu is made.

Speaking of the special treatment given at the show, Ruby elaborates "We really don't know from where Ellen's team got to know about Kicha and how we landed there! He was treated like a celebrity and the hospitality was amazing. He was given a dedicated room room filled with his favourites like candies, fruits, juices etc. A chauffeur driven car received us and the entire staff seem to have known Kicha forever! They made him feel so comfortable and of course, Ellen was simply awesome with Kicha. We call it miracle"!

In times of yore, our forefathers had far greater physical activity than us. There was little or no television, a large part of the Indian population engaged in agriculture/farming, children walked to schools and adults to offices. There were no fancy electrical kitchen gadgets and women engaged in much more physical activity while cooking and doing household chores than they do now. Gadgets have seemingly simplified our lives and made it easier for us. But have they made it healthier? We are hooked to television, computers, play stations, video games, cell phones, I- pads and what not and we are doing all this by just sitting all day long. Earlier, there were no e-commerce sites selling you grocery with home delivery options. People walked to grocery and other stores to buy what they wanted. Nowadays, with the so-called advancements, one need not step out of the house for anything. 

There weren't too many apartments and far less those which had elevators. People took the stairs but now, we press the elevator button if we have to go even one floor. There wasn't the crazy traffic that we experience today in every major city. Most households have more than one vehicle but earlier people travelled lesser distances and mostly used public transport, which meant walking to the bus stop or tram/train station or even cycled to their destinations. But now, we take out our vehicles for even walkable distances. Students are spending more time sitting in schools and colleges, and office-goers during their commute to work, apart from being seated in their offices all day long.

Over the years, the time that we spend on physical activity has reduced drastically. Our sedentary lifestyles have taken over us and are threatening our lives. The World Health Organization(WHO) defines physical activity as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure. Physical inactivity has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality causing an estimated 3.2 million deaths globally and the WHO says that one in ever 3 adults is not active enough and people who are insufficiently active have a 20% to 30% increased risk of death compared to people who are sufficiently active.

How Prolonged Sitting Affects Us

Sitting, according to recent studies, has been found to be deadlier than smoking. Sitting for long hours leads to many physical and even mental problems. It affects the blood flow and can lead to deep vein thrombosis and even cause varicose veins as blood pools in the legs due to lack of movement. Research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed that women who sit for 10 or more hours a day may have a significantly greater risk of developing heart disease than those who sit for five hours or less. Sitting reduces the blood flow which in turn leads to muscles burning less fat which means more fats clogging the heart.

Risk of Type 2 diabetes goes up significantly as the body develops insulin resistance. 

Risk of metabolic syndrome increases.

Risk of various types of cancers like breast, colon, rectum, prostate and the lungs goes up significantly due to inactivity.

Neck, hip, back, spine and shoulder problems increase when you sit in front of a computer or play video games for too long. The spinal disc gets compressed and become stiff when you sit for long and that can be very painful.

Over time, inactivity leads to weak bones which makes one prone to fractures.

Digestion slows down when you sit for too long. Walking after a meal has been shown to aid digestion and even lower blood sugar levels.

Since you burn lesser calories, the rick of obesity too increases manifolds. Obesity is the cause of other major health problems.

Muscle atrophy and degeneration sets in. Inactivity leads to loss of muscle strength.

You are more likely to be depressed if you are not active. Physical activity causes the release of feel good hormones like endorphins and serotonin. So, if you don't indulge in physical activity, you are more likely to be broody.

Research has suggested that sitting for eight hours cannot be compensated by an hour of exercise. Apart from regular exercise, in every hour, if you are sitting for 50 minutes, ensure ten minutes are spent standing, walking or engaging in any physical activity. In a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, prolonged sedentary time was independently associated with deleterious health outcomes regardless of physical activity. Researchers looked at 47 studies examining the relationship between sitting and mortality and found that people who sit for long periods were 24 percent more likely to die from health problems during the studies, which lasted between 1 and 16 years, compared with people who sat less.

If you are leading a completely sedentary lifestyle, make a small beginning. Something is better than nothing. Our bodies are like machines, if they are not used regularly, they malfunction and body processes stall. Make a conscious beginning today, however small it might be. The human body is not designed to sit all day long. Keep moving. 

Diabetes is a condition where there is too much sugar in the blood which causes a host of serious problems. If you suffer from diabetes, you need to eat something every few hours to ensure that the blood sugar is within healthy limits. If you are under treatment for diabetes and you miss a meal, the blood sugar levels may drop drastically making you feel giddy and nauseous. Likewise, bingeing may increase your blood sugar levels. Hence, it is best to eat smaller meals every few hours.

Sugar is a type of carbohydrate and carbs are responsible for increasing the blood sugar. As a diabetes sufferer, ensure that you keep an eye on your carbs intake. 

Consume foods high in fibre as the body does not digest the fibre,hence the blood sugar isn’t affected, but fibre makes you feel full and helps in digestion. You can get fibre by eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole-grain foods. The skin of the fruits is where the fibre is loaded, so where ever possible, have the fruit/vegetable with the skin intact. Women require at least 25 grams of fiber a day; men need at least 38 grams a day.

Don’t reach out for anything merely because it says “sugar-free” as these could be loaded with carbohydrates which could impact your blood sugar levels as much as sugar laden foods. Many sugar-free products contain sorbitol which are high in carbs. Always check the labels for nutritional information. 

As a diabetic, you don’t need to completely give up on carbs but choose the relatively healthier ones. Skip white bread made of refined flour which is stripped of nutrients and fibre and has only carbs which causes the blood sugar to spike; ditto with white pasta and white rice.

Sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamins, potassium, and fiber and don’t raise the blood sugar like white potatoes do.

Berries are high in fibre and nutrients and have low carbs. Greek yoghurt, eggs, beans are also some great snacking options. Greek yogurt is high in protein and low in carbs and is also an excellent source of probiotics which helps in healthy digestion and helps manage diabetes. 

High Glycemic Index (GI) foods rapidly affect blood sugar, while low GI foods have a slow digestion and absorption, and produce a more gradual rise in blood sugar. Below 55 is considered low GI. So the lower it is, the better and the higher it is, the faster it affects blood sugar..

Include non-starchy foods like leafy vegetables, green beans and peppers as against corn or white potatoes. Artichoke, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, eggplant, carrots, okra, baby corn, leeks, mushrooms, tomatoes, green peppers, onions, bean sprouts, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cucumber and greens are some great non-starchy vegetables that you can consume generously.

Diabetics are at a high risk of cardiovascular diseases and need to keep a check on their salt intake. Limit your salt intake and avoid processed and canned foods. Have no more than 2300 mg of sodium per day which is the recommended amount.

Include whole grains in your diet like oats, muesli, brown rice, wholewheat pasta and skip their refined counterparts. Amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa,millet and bulgur are other great options.

Blueberries contain both insoluble and soluble fiber which improves blood sugar control. In a study by the USDA, people who consumed 2 ½ cups of wild blueberry juice per day for 12 weeks lowered their blood glucose levels. Blueberries contain anthocyanins which is a natural chemical that stimulates the release of adiponectin, a hormone that regulates blood glucose levels.

Wild salmon, mackerel, sardines and tuna are full of healthy omega - 3 fatty acids which have anti-inflammatory properties and are very good for the heart too. The American Diabetes  Association(ADA) recommends having oily fish at least two times per week.

Include nuts in your diet as they reduce the bad cholesterol and are nutritionally rich. Apply moderation.

Limit your intake of saturated and avoid trans fats. Animal proteins such as beef, sausage, hot dogs and bacon contain saturated fats. Trans fats are found in processed snacks and baked goods.

Supplement your diet with flaxseed. In a study reported in the Journal of Dietary Supplements, researchers found that when people with type 2 diabetes supplemented their diets with ground flaxseed, fasting blood glucose levels decreased 19.7%, total cholesterol decreased more than 14.3%, triglycerides lowered 1.5%, and low-density LDL (bad) cholesterol declined 21.8%.

Reduce intake of chips, cookies, cakes, full-fat ice cream, etc.

An apple a day does keep the doctor away. The Harvard School of Public Health examined the diets of 2,00,000 people and found that those who reported eating five or more apples a week had a 23 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with subjects who did not eat any apples.

Include fenugreek seeds powder in your diet. Drinking water in which fenugreek seeds have been soaked overnight is also shown to help diabetics. Fenugreek seeds are high in soluble fibre  which helps lower blood sugar by slowing down digestion and absorption of carbohydrates. In a study in India, researchers found that adding 100 grams of defatted fenugreek seed powder to the daily diet of patients with type 1 diabetes significantly reduced their fasting blood glucose levels, improved glucose tolerance and also lowered total cholesterol, LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol.

Raspberries are in the list of super foods of the American Diabetes Association as they contain ellagic acid, which along with other components in raspberries has been studied for its effects on insulin resistance and lowering blood sugar. Reach out for whole fruits with the peel instead of fruit juices which strip the fibre. Pears, apples, oranges, cherries, grapefruit, plums, strawberries, guavas, and kiwi fruit are some other good options. As a diabetic, you can have occasional sweet indulgences, of course, with your doctor’s approval who can suggest what you can eat based on your sugar levels. When eaten on their own, sweets shoot up the blood sugar but when eaten with other healthy foods, the blood sugar doesn't rise as rapidly. Also have small portions of sweets if you crave for the same or reach out for fruits instead. Find healthier options to satisfy your sweet tooth. For instance, have a small piece of heart healthy dark chocolate, rather than a milk chocolate bar. 

Look out for hidden sugars in packaged foods and always read labels. Added sugar can also appear as  fructose, dextrose, lactose, maltose, invert sugar, agave nectar, cane crystals, corn sweetener, evaporated cane juice, high-fructose corn syrup, malt syrup, and many more. Do not blindly pick up products which have the word "healthy" written on the package. It may mean little.

If you suffer from diabetes, there are plenty of food choices to satiate your cravings. Reach out for those which are low in carbohydrates and sugar. Consult your doctor before making any diet modifications and follow your doctor’s advice on foods that are right for you. With a healthy diet, exercise and medication, diabetes can be managed with relative ease.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of people with diabetes has risen from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014. The WHO estimates that 90 percent of people around the world who suffer from diabetes suffer from type 2 diabetes. 

People with diabetes either have a total lack of insulin (type 1 diabetes) or they have too little insulin or cannot use insulin effectively (type 2 diabetes).

What Is Type 2 Diabetes?

The pancreas makes a hormone called insulin which lets your cells turn glucose from the food you eat into energy. People with type 2 diabetes do make insulin, but their cells are unable to use it effectively. This is called insulin resistance.The cells become resistant to the action of insulin. Initially the pancreas makes the extra insulin but over time it can't make sufficient insulin to overcome this resistance. Sugar builds up in the bloodstream instead of helping the cells to use the sugar for energy.

In type 2 diabetes, the body struggles to convert the carbohydrates in food into energy whereas in a healthy person, insulin helps turn food into energy.  There is risk of serious conditions like cardiovascular diseases, blindness and nerve and organ damage which may happen over a period of time.

Symptoms

Type 2 diabetes can strike people of any age though the odds are higher as one ages. One-third of the people do not know they have the condition as they have no symptoms of the same or the symptoms are very mild to be noticeable. Some symptoms which could signal the disease are:

Increased thirst Dry mouth Frequent urination Presence of ketones in the urine Fatigue Irritability Headaches Increased hunger Blurred vision Slow-healing sores Frequent infections Frequent yeast infections. Recurring urinary tract infections Itchy skin Unusual weight loss Impotency

Who Is At Risk?

Sometimes it is difficult to say why some people have this condition though they have none of the typical risk factors. However, there are some medical conditions or lifestyle related habits which could be responsible and these include:

Smoking Being overweight, more so at the waist Sedentary lifestyle Eating excessive sugars/sweets,red meat and high-fat dairy products Unhealthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels    

The above factors are mostly within our control but there are some which are not, like our ethnicity. Native Americans,Asians,Hispanics and African-Americans are more prone.

If it is in your genes and have a parent or sibling with the disease, your odds are higher. Women who have polycystic ovary syndrome or delivered a big baby above 9 pounds and pregnant women with gestational diabetes and their babies have a higher risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life. The risk of Type 2 diabetes increases with age.

How Is It Diagnosed?

A blood test reveals the sugar levels; there are tests to determine the average sugar levels in the last few months too.

How Does One Manage The Condition?

If you are overweight, the first goal is to knock off the excess weight through exercises and diet modifications. Monitor your fat, carbs and protein intake.

Exercise regularly and take long walks. Do not lead a sedentary lifestyle; it is suicidal.

Practice yoga and meditation and keep stress at bay.

Take medicines/injections on time, as prescribed.

Monitor sugar levels regularly. Nowadays there are many easy to use home kits available for the purpose.

Complications

Over time, if the condition is not controlled, there is a risk of major complications like:

Cardiovascular disease

Chronic kidney disease

Blindness

Nerve pain

Heart Attack

Injuries/ wounds on the foot which do not heal may in extreme cases require amputation of the foot.

Gum Disease and tooth problems due to excess plaque build up.

Prevention Better Than Cure.

Preventing Types 2 diabetes is all about healthy living. Unlike Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 can be prevented with lifestyle modifications. Do the following regularly to keep the condition at bay.

Exercise for minimum 30 minutes a day and engage in physical activity even if it is in small amounts, throughout the day. In short, avoid a sedentary lifestyle. According to WHO, The Diabetes Prevention Program found that weight loss and increased physical activity reduced the development of type 2 diabetes by 58 percent during a three-year study period.  Amongst older subjects (60 years or older), the reduction was 71 percent.

Monitor your diet and weight. Eat healthy.

Quit smoking.

It is estimated that by 2035, there could be more than 600 million living with Type 2 diabetes; it is a rising silent epidemic. Silence in this case is surely not golden.

Bananas are believed to have originated in South-East Asia sometime between 10,000 to  5000 BC. Bananas grow in most tropical and subtropical regions. Though bananas originated in Asia, they are now grown in other parts of the world like Australia, South America, Latin America and Africa. Banana is now cultivated in more than 120 countries. India ranks number one in the list of banana producing countries in the world. The other major banana producing countries are Uganda, China and Philippines. More than 3 crore tonnes of bananas are grown every year and the Americans are the biggest consumers of this fruit with an average consumption of 26 pounds per year. Britain alone consumes 5 billion bananas a year!

More than a hundred billion bananas are consumed annually worldwide. Ugandans consume the maximum number with the daily average consumption being 3 per person!

Bananas are very healthy. They aid in digestion, help lower blood pressure and are even supposedly good for weight loss. 

They are regularly consumed by sportsmen as they provide almost instant energy and prevent muscle cramping. On an average, a banana contains 30 g of carbohydrates which makes it an ideal source of energy for sportsmen. Bananas are also high in magnesium and just one banana takes care of 16% of recommended daily intake of magnesium. Muscle cramps are a result of dehydration. There is 358 mg of potassium in 100 gms banana.The potassium in the banana helps the body retain fluid and process salt. Low levels of calcium and magnesium can also increase the likelihood of muscle cramps.   

There are a thousand different types of bananas in the world but most are unpalatable. The Goldfinger banana is one of the few which is palatable though it tastes more like an apple!

Banana grows on plants and not trees. It is the  largest herbaceous flowering plant and its "trunk" is actually a "false stem".

A single banana is called a finger and a cluster of bananas is called a "hand". 

A banana is actually a berry!

Banana - the feel good fruit. It is the only fruit which contains tryptophan, amino acids and Vitamin B6 which together help the body produce serotonin - the happy hormone.

Bananas are loaded with potassium and have almost zero fat and very less calories. Though a banana contains 14-15 grams of total sugar, they have a low glycemic index (GI). The sugar content is the highest in bananas which have brown spots.

According to FDA, bananas can help lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Bananas are high in fibre and one banana takes care of 10 % of your daily fibre requirement.

Bananas are naturally radioactive as they are very high in potassium; they contain Potassium- 40 which is a radioactive isotope of potassium.

Eating bananas becomes risky only if you eat too many. The USDA recommends that adults eat about  two bananas everyday.

One-fifth of all the bananas in the world is grown in India and most of it is consumed domestically. Have you consumed yours, one today?

The benefits of walking everyday has been long known. However, recent researches have shown that it has more health benefits than ever thought or known before. According to the  American Heart Association, just 30 minutes of walking every day can reduce your risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, improve your blood pressure, blood sugar levels and blood lipid profile, maintain your body weight and lower the risk of obesity, apart from enhancing mental well-being, reducing the risk of colon and breast cancers and reducing the risk of osteoporosis.

A Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, study of post-menopausal women found that 30 minutes of walking each day reduced their risk of hip fractures by 40 percent. Women who walked 30 minutes a day reduced their risk of stroke by 20 percent and by 40 percent when they stepped up the pace, according to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. Age related memory decline was also found in another study to be lower in people who walked longer. The longer you walk, the better it is.

Benefits of walking are aplenty but how much is enough? The 10,000 steps a day being the benchmark for healthy living has no scientific origins but simply started when in the 1960s, pedometers sold in Japan were marketed under the name "manpo-kei," which translates to "10,000 steps meter". This kind of went down well with walkers/walking groups there who increased their daily walking to 10,000 steps and found considerable health benefits from the same. 

If you walk less than 3000 steps a day, you are certainly leading a sedentary lifestyle and if it is around 5000, you are somewhat active. Sitting down for long hours has been found to be deadlier than smoking. There are many other ill-effects of leading a sedentary lifestyle and walking surely is a great way to keep the joints working, blood flowing and in general enhancing the feeling of physical and mental well-being.

Mayo Clinic suggests a long-term goal of 10,000 steps a day, if you aren't already there. The same can be monitored with the help of a pedometer; these are in-built in many smartphones too. A pedometer is not essential but is seen to motivate people to walk more as they can watch and monitor their daily results. 10,000 steps is approximately 8 kms considering that an average stride length is between 2 to 2.5 feet. A pedometer will help you know the number of steps as well as kms you walk in a day. If you have been leading a sedentary lifestyle, gradually increase your steps by 500 to 1000 a week and step it up. Don't be overenthusiastic and do 10,000 steps at the very beginning especially if you have clocked lower physical activity before. Depending on the pace of your walking, it could take up to 1.5 hours to take 10,000 steps; you could spread this over the day but if you walk continuously for at least 30 minutes at a time, your heart rate and metabolism increase and this helps the body burn more calories. This is helpful if weight loss is on your agenda too. If walking 30 minutes at a stretch is difficult, spread it over 10 or 15 minutes each.

No matter how many steps or minutes you start with, make a beginning today and reap the benefits of this simple form of exercise which needs no investment except a good pair of walking shoes. Needless to say, the more you can clock in, the better. If you meet the recommendation of 150 minutes of physical activity daily, you are definitely walking the right path.

Hippocrates rightly said, “Walking is a man’s best medicine.”

Till date more than a thousand people have tested positive for the vector borne disease Chikungunya in Delhi alone and out of these, there have been five confirmed deaths. Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. The primary symptoms are fever and severe joint pain which could be accompanied by rash, headache, nausea, muscle pain and fatigue. Since many symptoms overlap with dengue, it is often misdiagnosed. The joint pain is debilitating and in Hindi, the disease is hence referred as haddi tod bukhar or bone breaking fever.

Transmission

Chikungunya is transmitted to humans by infected female Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. Transmission between humans occurs when a mosquito bites an infected person and then carries the disease to other humans through bites. These disease carrying mosquitoes are mostly found biting during the day but could also bite during the night. After the bite of an infected mosquito, illness usually occurs between 4 and 8 days but incubation period could be between one to 12 days. Transmission from an infected mother to child during childbirth is rare and there have been no reported cases of transmission due to breastfeeding.

Symptoms

Sudden onset of fever with joint pain is the first sign of Chikungunya. The joint pain normally lasts for a few days but in some people, it is seen to last over several months and even years. Fatigue, rashes, muscle pain and headache are also commonly seen. Complications are not common but in rare cases, there could be those related to the heart, nerves and the eye. It is more likely to be fatal in the elderly.

Diagnosis

Blood tests are done to determine if a person is infected with Chikungunya. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) method may confirm the presence of IgM and IgG anti-chikungunya antibodies.

Treatment

There is no treatment for Chikungunya and only symptoms are controlled with medicines which are mainly anti-pyretics and analgesics. Currently there are no vaccines either.

Prevention

People living in close proximity of mosquito breeding sites are most at risk. On our part, we must ensure that there is no stagnant water lying around our houses including in drums, buckets, plant pot plates, coolers, flower vases etc. Clear any stagnant water in gardens and keep the surroundings clean. Garbage should not be dumped in the open. Wear long sleeves and trousers during a disease outbreak and use mosquito repellents. Fogging at regular intervals can be undertaken by resident welfare associations to prevent and control breeding.

Unless as a nation, we make hygiene our top priority and take the responsibility of keeping not just our homes but even public places clean, we cannot control the breeding of mosquitoes and the spread of disease therefrom. The government on their part has to ensure that there is no garbage accumulation and the same is cleared efficiently everyday and drains and water bodies are regularly cleaned.

There are somethings which are not in our control but then there are some which we surely can take care of with little effort and awareness. Let's make hygiene and cleanliness a habit and help the nation be free of these preventable diseases.

Wharton School of Business and Kellogg School of Management educated Tina Chulet was not one to be resting on her husband's laurels but chose to follow her dreams. Married to Pranay Chulet, the Co-Founder and CEO of Quikr, Tina charted out her own path, given her extraordinary interest in entrepreneurship, and started Jivaana, the one-stop e-store for all things ethnic, from jewellery, clothing, accessories to juttis.

Born and brought up in Chicago, Tina stepped out of home when she was just 18 years old to attend The Wharton School followed by management consulting at the age of 22. But the charm soon wore off when Tina realised she did not want to play it safe anymore. In 2008, she sold everything she owned and moved to New Delhi for a job with an international advisory firm – Endeavor, which focused on young entrepreneurs. Tina says "It was a time in my life when I could afford to give up my possessions in exchange for adventure and opportunity.  After my stint at Endeavor, I joined Suminter India Organics and then CitrusPay – both VC backed startups in India. I returned to the USA to complete my MBA and after that, came back to India to venture out on my own. I found India to have a nascent but bubbling industry in startups. It seemed like a good opportunity to stay here and start something on my own".

On Jivaana

Jivaana was started in March 2016 and offers a wide mix of carefully-curated ethnic clothing, bright jewellery, bold accessories, and playful footwear. Tina elaborates "It all started when we realized that we didn’t want to hunt through dozens of pages of western sandals to find a chappal. We like to reveal new designers and products weekly to have the element of surprise and freshness on every visit to our site".

Tina's Husband Pranay Chulet's Role In Her Venture

Tina shares "Pranay gives me courage. He is a mentor and a major support system. He truly believes that anything is possible. For me, the biggest hurdle in starting a company was to gather the courage to take the leap, and knowing Pranay stood behind me made it easier. After watching Pranay nurture Quikr for 7+ years, I have been fortunate enough to learn a lot – often through overhearing phone calls on car rides"!

Tina says "If only just by knowing someone successful, one could find success themselves!  While business acumen is obviously a key aspect of success, I think the most difficult aspect is to be able to predict whether the market will accept your product or service.  If they accept your product, then it’s a race to see who can execute the same most efficiently and effectively to grow at a pace which brings the business to profitability. Throughout my venture, Pranay has been a sounding board and advisor".

On Her Meeting Pranay

Tina shares "Pranay and I were introduced by mutual friends in 2010. My friend had moved to India from New York with her husband. One day I went for a movie with them and Pranay was there. My friend's husband and Pranay went to IIM-Calcutta together. I don't know if it was an intentional set-up. However, my friend did tell me later that they thought Pranay and I would get along"! Tina and Pranay had a destination wedding in rural France in 2014.

Challenges Of Being A Woman Entrepreneur

Tina thinks that being a woman entrepreneur is advantageous as ultimately they are building a product and a service for the female consumer.  She smiles "Who better to understand the Jivaana customer than someone who herself is a Jivaana customer? In an industry which is dominated by men, I think that women can and do bring something very different to the table. Perhaps that may be even be their competitive advantage against men – just simply being a woman"!

Future Plans

Tina plans to grow and scale her venture and aspires Jivaana to become the ultimate destination for woman’s ethnic occasional fashion.

Advice To Budding Entrepreneurs

Tina feels that no matter how great an idea may seem or how positive the market research is, until the same is tested  in the market, it is difficult to judge whether something will be accepted. She adds "Once your idea is released in the market, there are so many worthy ideas that come back from the initial tests. But pivoting too soon or trying too many things makes it unclear what your company stands for. But that said, responding to the market on a small scale is never a bad idea! Make sure it works before you pivot or go big. Finally, raising Series A does not mean that you have overcome all challenges which has catapulted you into guaranteed success. From everything we have seen in the market and watching Quikr grow, building a long-term sustainable business is a marathon and not just a race".

Onam is one of the biggest festivals celebrated in the Southern Indian State of Kerala. It marks the home-coming of the mythical King Mahabali. Onam is celebrated in the beginning of the month of Chingam, the first month of the  Malayalam Calendar. Every Indian festival has to have special festival dishes and so does Onam. Onam Sadhya is a vegetarian meal which typically has around a dozen dishes and is traditionally served on a plantain leaf. We feature here some traditional and few atypical dishes you could try this Onam.

Kerala Style Rasam

Ingredients

Whole coriander - 2 tsp

Black pepper corns - 1 tsp

Cumin seeds - 1 tsp

Green chili - 1

Ginger - ½ inch piece

Garlic - 6-8 cloves

Coconut oil - 1 tbsp

Heeng - ½ tsp

Dry red chilies - 3-4

Curry leaves - 10-12

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp

Fenugreek seeds - ½ tsp

Tomato - 1 cup ( chopped )

Turmeric powder - ½ tsp

Tamarind - lemon sized ball

Jaggery - 1 tsp

Method : http://www.whiskaffair.com/2015/08/kerala-style-rasam-thakali-rasam-onam-sadya-recipe.html

Moru Curry

Ingredients

Butter milk - ½ litre

Coconut oil - 2 tbsp

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp

Fenugreek seeds - ½ tsp

Cumin seeds - ½ tsp

Dry red chilies - 3-4

Curry leaves - 10-12

Ginger - 1 tsp ( Grated )

Garlic - 5-6 cloves ( Crushed )

Green chilies - 2 ( Slit into halves )

Shallots - 6-7 ( Thinly sliced )

Turmeric powder - ½ tsp

Salt to taste

Method :http://www.whiskaffair.com/2015/08/moru-curry-kerala-style-seasoned-buttermilk-curry-onam-sadya-recipe.html

Pumpkin Errisery

Ingredients

Oil (use coconut oil for being totally authentic) 1 tbsp 

Mustard seeds - 1.5 tsps 

Urad dal - 2 tsps 

Curry leaves -  handful 

Dry red chillies - 3 to 4 

Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp 

Fresh coconut to be ground - 1/2 cup

Cumin seeds - 1 tsp 

Fresh grated coconut to be toasted - 1/4 cup 

Chopped yellow pumpkin - 300 grams

 Salt to taste  Method :http://www.sinamontales.com/onam-recipes-pumpkin-errisery

Pineapple Pachadi

Ingredients

Peeled, cored and chopped Pineapple - 1 cup 

Turmeric powder  - 1/2 tsp 

Chilli powder - 1 tsp 

Salt to taste 

Curd - 1/4 cup 

To be ground to paste

Fresh coconut - 1/3 cup 

Cumin seeds - 1 tsp 

Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp

For the seasoning 

Oil (for the most authentic one use coconut oil) - 1 tsp 

Curry leaves - handful 

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp

Method: http://www.sinamontales.com/onam-recipes-pineapple-pachadi

Healthy Quinoa Apple Kheer

Ingredients

Cooked Quinoa - 1 1/2 cups

Ghee- 1 teaspoon

Apple, finely chopped -1

Skimmed Milk - 750 ml

Saffron - 10strands

Crushed Cardamom - 1 teaspoon

Sugar- 1/4 cup

Chopped Pistachios - 2 tablespoons

Sliced Apples for topping

Method : http://www.myfoodstory.com/healthy-quinoa-apple-kheer-recipe

Raw Mango And Turmeric Brown Rice

Ingredients

Raw Brown Rice - 1 cup

Oil - 2 tablespoons

Mustard Seeds - 1 teaspoon

Urad Dal (black gram skinned) - 1 teaspoon

Chana Dal (split gram) - 1 teaspoon

Dried Red Chilies -2 Large

Onion, sliced - 1

Raw Mango, peeled and grated -1 

Red Chili Powder - 1/2 teaspoon

Turmeric Powder - 1/3 teaspoon

Curry Leaves - 2 sprigs

Salt to taste

Method : http://www.myfoodstory.com/raw-mango-and-turmeric-brown-rice-recipe

Sambaram

Ingredients

Thick curd - 500 g

Water - 3 cups

Salt - 1 tsp

Green chili - 1 ( Chopped )

Curry leaves - 15-20

Ginger - 1 inch piece (julienned)

Method : http://www.whiskaffair.com/2015/08/sambaram-kerala-style-spiced-buttermilk.html

Vermicelli Rose Water Cardamon Kheer

Ingredients

1.5 l full fat milk 1 cup Vermicelli 7 pods  of green cardamom 3/2 cup sugar (use more if you like it sweeter) 1 tsp rosewater 2 tbsp crushed pistachio 3 tbsp raisin 1 tbsp almond flakes few strands  of saffron 1  tbsp ghee 2 tbsp condensed milk

Method : http://lapetitchef.in/recipe/vermicelli-rose-water-cardamom-kheer

Beetroot Thoran

Ingredients

2 cups of grated beetroots 1/2 cup of grated coconut 1 tsp of cumin seeds, jeerakam 2-3 shallots, ulli 1 tsp of red chilli powder 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder 1 tbsp of coconut oil 1/2 tsp of black mustard seeds 1/2 tsp of split urad, uzhunnu parippu 1 strand of curry leaves 1 tsp of salt (adjust to taste) 1 clove of garlic

Method : http://www.cookingandme.com/2013/02/kerala-beetroot-thoran-recipe-onam.html

Cherupayar Payasam

Ingredients

1/4 cup of cheru payar / pasi paruppu / moong dal 3/4 cup more or less of grated jaggery (or brown sugar, but it’s a poor substitute) 3 heaping tbsp of ghee 10 plain, unsalted cashewnuts A few of raisins 1 cup of thick coconut milk (onnaam paal) 3-4 cups of thin coconut milk (rendaam paal) 4-5 cardamom pods, crushed

Method : http://www.cookingandme.com/2011/09/cherupayar-payasam-kerala-parippu.html

As per Section 62 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Indian States can send a list of wild animals to the Centre with a request to declare them vermin and enable their killing. The Central Government has the power to, by notification, declare any wild animal vermin, other than those specified in Schedule I and part 11 of Schedule H of the law, for any area for a given period of time. Till the notification is in force, these animals will be deprived of any kind of protection whatsoever under that law. Vermin are wild animals which are harmful to crops or people.

A notification was issued on March 14, 2016 by the Central government, declaring monkeys vermin in Shimla for a period of six months and vide another notification in May this year, to treat monkeys as vermin for a period of one year in 38 tehsils of the State.The Himachal Pradesh government has sterilised one lakh monkeys till date out of the two lakhs plus reported monkeys in the State. The government has stated that these monkeys have lead to an economic loss which runs in hundreds of crores. The Himachal government has the power to cull monkeys after they were declared vermin.The H.P government announced an amount of Rs.300 per monkey to anybody who kills them outside the forest area.

Dhyan Foundation (DF), an NGO which actively works in the areas of animal welfare, has announced a reward of Rs.300 for every monkey saved in Himachal Pradesh. The announcement comes in the wake of recent decision of the government to reward those who kill monkeys in the state of Himachal Pradesh. "To claim the reward, just show us a video of saving the animal, that is enough. We will award a cheque if the local journalist community approves it" explains Ruchi Kale, a volunteer at DF. DF has been feeding monkeys daily at the Jhaku Temple, Shimla and urging the authorities to revoke the vermin status of monkeys, and instead work towards their rehabilitation for which the Foundation is willing to extend all possible help. Yogi Ashwini, the Guiding Light of Dhyan Foundation says ”We are breaking no law; we are implementing the law of humanity and will continue to do so. We are feeding them at government designated points. There are funds which are given to agencies for feeding monkeys but these are siphoned off and the land mafia is usurping the forests”. It is strange that we have laws like these which arbitrarily give the right to the Government to declare any animal vermin and allow its culling. First, we take away their homes and remove forests all in the name of development and then claim their place as ours. We have uprooted them from their natural habitat and now want them not to be in places which we now call ours but which originally belonged to them. Animals depend on nature for their survival and if we make their food sources disappear, they are surely going to invade fields in search of food. Humans interfere in the natural food chain of animals and alter the balance they create in nature. The state of Telengana has made a great move in proposing to plant trees across the state and increasing the forest cover from around the current 25% to 33% in an effort to provide habitation to monkeys and restrict them to the forests. A monkey rescue and rehabilitation centre will  also be set up in Adilabad district.

We need to understand the reasons behind the monkey menace which have been largely created by us humans.  Nature has its own ways of creating ecological balance. It sure does not need us to monkey around with it.