'Culture' is something I've decided to write about in this post. The question of 'culture' has always intrigued me to no end. Especially, when you attend Cultural Fests or other such events which deem to propagate the 'culture'. Is it something static that has remained the same over the years, decades or centuries that you intend to propagate? Or, is it something dynamic that changes in response to the changing times, influence of other cultures, technology, or myriad other factors that affect daily lives? Do we think we can expect people to move about their daily lives in strange looking head-dresses, gowns, painted faces, garish costumes etc.? Do we expect people in such ensembles to work in say, computer labs, banks, schools, universities, companies, etc.? Do we expect our children to dress, behave, speak, dance, and, sing in the same way? If the answer to any of these questions is 'NO' then how can we expect to 'prop...
Recently I came across a movie on this theme and a moving story in a book called “The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle” by Matt Cainon, illustrating ‘love’ between two boys, who are presently in their 50s. The protagonists in both the movie and the book set me thinking. The characters in both cases indicate that, one, ‘love’ is a matter of choice, and, two, that is how ‘these’ people seem to be made. Recorded history in terms of ancient texts, pre-historic paintings, temple arts also depict such behavior in humans in the past. There have been recorded instances of animals exhibiting similar behavior in real life. But, that seems to be more of an aberration than a norm. Going through both of these narratives however made me realize that this behaviour is real and not ‘imagined’ i.e. it is not that the characters indulge in such kind of behaviour due to lack of opportunity or any other external compulsion. It is something very basic and primordial, which, I did not use to believe ...
Food and drinks have been a primordial habit with us? And, after we are weaned of ‘mothers’ milk, it is as ‘Sadguru’ would put it ‘What goes into us come from the mother earth (including the five basic elements – water, fire, air, aakash (ether) and will after a certain period of time return to earth.’ While the basic philosophy and dogmas related to it can be questioned and argued, the, basic question remains as to why some food🍲 is tastier than others. So, here I am going to argue purely from an operational point of view as to what are variables involved and how many different permutations are possible, and, is it possible to make the best (tastiest) food? Let us see (stereotypes) – Food made by mother always tastes best, Grandmas make the best savories, pickles, jams, marmalades; Wines think French, and, whiskeys, brandys from England etc. etc. Today I will take just one of these stereotypes and leave my readers to contribute the rest and maybe peace will prevail. So here we begin…...
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