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ODOC - Looking beyond the meat

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ODOC - Meat of the matter One District One Cuisine ( ODOC ) initiative of the Uttar Pradesh state government is in the news.  My initial reaction was that Uttar Pradesh has since long accorded food the priority it warrants. Today too, besides taste and variety, it respects seasonality, celebrates harvests, and prioritizes home-cooking – per capita usage of food-delivery apps here is way lower compared to other states! Why mess with the food when there is a lot else in the state that can do with some change? The sheer diversity of Khoya at Khoya Mandi Chunar ( Mirzapur district ) I then took a step back and read about the initiative. First, the number of cuisines (208) way exceeds the number of districts (75) so why is it one district one cuisine to begin with. Secondly, at-least half-a-dozen districts have Samosa as their cuisine or one of the cuisines. Samosa which is consumed across the country in millions each day and even tops the food-delivery platform lists! Third, at-lea...
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Enjoying the rains

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A season of longing and desire Title: The fragrance of rain  Publisher: Aleph Book Company First published: 2026 ISBN: 978-93-6523-030-7 Pages: 140 Price: 499/- Thanks to the team at Deccan Herald; the review on their website here . The Fragrance of Rain drenches you from page 1. The author enjoys being amidst the rains, and writing; and this book allows him to share these joys with us. His deep connect with Landour, its biodiversity, is apparent, “ Here in these delicate yet resilient landscapes, the rain means as much to those minuscule species as it does to us”. He also takes us to Goa and Kerela. He brings in references, walks in forested lands, and also engages with people to bring out, to highlight, monsoon’s role in our lives. This he does with an uncommon grace and flair in language. The length of the book, 140 pages, 10 chapters - 11 to 17 pages each, belies its scope and the depth it explores.  I have waited a long time for someone in love with rains to write on...
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Climate Change: Beyond Awareness

Some thoughts on reading a newspaper article a few days ago ~ Title: For GenZ, climate awareness isn’t turning into action Author: Siddhant Sarang Date: 9th May, 2026 Newspaper: Indian Express Belling the Climate Cat This is a succinct article on climate awareness. There is a lot to concur with the author’s views from how our urban English speaking Gen Z are aware of the details of AQI and IPCC while the farmers affected by climate change are not part of the climate conversations at all to warning that carbon offset is a sham and reminding us that reels are not a solution! However, I disagree with the author’s premise that the reason why Gen Z, our most climate informed generation so far, indulges in actions that harm the planet without giving a second thought, is political failure and not hypocrisy. Gen Z which is well aware of the intricacies of climate change will also be aware how it can contribute as individuals to help contain global warming and carbon-dioxide levels. COVID also...
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Banaras: Learning Spaces

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Behind the Chai , Mithai and Paan in Banaras A slighted edited version appears in The Hindu . Warm thanks to friends at each of these learning spaces and Eesha. A lot has been said about Banarasi’s lanes being home to some of the finest chai, mithai and paan one can savour. Locals affirm that some of these older stalls and shops are, akin to the ghats, very much a part of Banaras' identity. Over almost a decade that I have put in at Banaras I have visited and revisited some of these stalls and shops. Initially I was blown away by the regularly high quality of the chai , mithai , and paan that permeated my senses. Some of the tastes, textures and smells I experienced here were new for me as were the sensations they aroused in my body. Over a period of time I realised that at these spaces perfection is the norm. As I put in more time I observed, and engaged with, the people who ran these spaces; people behind the perfection. These people, centred beings, live in the moment ( the ...
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Publication list

Finally worked on the layout of the publication list ~ 2026 A season of longing and desire, ( The fragrance of rain: A brief history of the monsoon by Stephen Alter ), Deccan Herald , Blog (Book Review, Rains) The quiet discipline of Varanasi’s chai, mithai and paan makers, The Hindu , Blog (Travel, Food, Banaras) School s in India today , Teacher Plus blog , Blog (Education) Caste in the classroom , Teacher Plus , Blog (Education, Books) Tryst with words , Sahyadri Newsletter, Blog (Education) A book on rails that often derails , ( The social life of Indian trains: A journey by Amitava Kumar ), Deccan Herald , Blog (Book Review, Trains) 2025 Striking a balance in the world of children , Deccan Herald , Blog (Education) Is craft centered education the way to go? (Gender and craftwork in rural society: The role of education by Nidhi Gaur ), Teacher Plus , Blog (Book Review, Education) Making economics accessible ( Poor economics for kids by Esther Duflo and Cheyenne ...
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