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Number 704 CONTENTS ARTICLES Sri Rama And New India.................................................................. 5 Jhoolelal: The Saviour Of The Sindhi Faith................................... 7 Meditation........................................................................................ 10 What India Needs............................................................................ 11 Practical Tips On How To Make God Real In Daily Life............ 12 The Spirit That Is God.................................................................... 16 Sister Shanti: Child Of God............................................................ 17 Thought Vibration........................................................................... 18 Types Of Worship............................................................................. 19 Faith Moves Mountains!................................................................. 21 Anjali: An Offering.......................................................................... 24 Where Is Thy Home?...................................................................... 26 The Victory Song!............................................................................ 29 What Do You Wish To Be?.............................................................. 30 FEATURES Thoughts and Aspirations............................................................... 23 Stories That Stir............................................................................... 32 Simple Rules Of Health................................................................... 36 Laugh Your Way To Health............................................................. 38 Recipes For The Month.................................................................. 40 Children’s Corner............................................................................. 42 What’s Happening In East And West............................................ 43 Current Affairs................................................................................. 47 Book Reviews.................................................................................... 49 The Nuri Granth.............................................................................. 50 Cover: Sri Rama Sanskar Channel Satsang Channel Bhakti Sagar Channel Soham Channel
REV. DADA J. P. VASWANI’S TALKS Monday to Friday at 6:15 a.m. (Hindi), Saturday at 6:15 a.m. (Sindhi) and on Sunday at 7:45 a.m. (English) Monday to Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday 6:40 a.m. Monday to Saturday 11:30 a.m.
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SRI RAMA* AND NEW INDIA SADHU VASWANI No nation may hope to achieve greatness without the inspiration which comes of honouring its heroes. And has history a richer record of heroism than the story of Sri Rama? It is a story not much remembered by the Englisheducated, but it lives in the hearts of India’s millions and is sung every night in many an Indian village. It is not right to say the Indian masses are ignorant. They have in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata a rich inheritance of culture. The regrettable thing is that the “educated” classes are becoming strangers to them. For centuries was the life of India’s people influenced by the Ramayana and other national epics. The minstrel sang them, the schoolmaster and the preacher recited them and
expounded their great message of shakti. They were the apostles of education in the olden days. In any revival of ancient Indian Culture, the story of this Epic Hero of Hindusthan must have an important place. Is not the Ramayana, I am asked by the “educated”, a tradition? And must we not reject traditions? But, surely, there are traditions and traditions. Whatever in the ancient documents be dead or devitalising we must reject wholeheartedly. But there are treasures enshrined in tradition. Life, indeed, is more than tradition: for life is creative. Therefore let not tradition play the tyrant. But to reject the treasures of thought and experience enshrined in tradition is to impoverish ourselves, and reject life itself. For creative life has a continuity and is not cataclysmic. Does not the Ramayana, I am asked, refer to an age in history when man was uncivilised? And, therefore, does not this Epic reflect a lower culture than our own? Is noise, I ask, a test of progress? Civilisation, as I understand it, is humanisation: and there *April 19 is the sacred Ramanaumi Day.
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is no humanisation without self-control or tapas. In Sri Rama’s age there were asuras, rakshasas. But they recognised the superiority of tapas. A great message has this Ancient Book for the modern man, who, victim to a machine-civilisation and worn out in vulgar pleasurehunting, is becoming more and more forgetful of the Unseen Law which the Books name the Dharma or Dhamma. The call of the Law came to Sri Rama. How nobly he answered it! But a day before, preparations were on foot to crown him king. Suddenly, they were cancelled: the wheel had turned. Sri Rama was called upon to go into exile for fourteen years. With what spiritual calm and dignity he stepped out of the palace into the tapobana, the forest of his exile! Sri Rama accepted the call of the Law, the call of Destiny, in a heroic spirit. Sri Rama kissed the Cross. He realised that life became rich and radiant through tapasya. The Ramayana sounds a deep note of heroic optimism. Suffering exists, but cannot touch the soul. Evil exists, but can be conquered by tapasya. For life, in its depths, is divine, and man is of the Spirit. The word “Ramayana” means “The Wanderings of Rama”. More thrilling is this Ancient Story of Rama than that other one of the wanderings of Ulysses. Rama wanders in the Deccan, then settles down in an ashrama on the Godavari banks. He wears as clothes the barks of trees: he eats the roots and fruits which the wild jungle gives: he sleeps on
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the ground. He spends his time in communion with nature. Then his seclusion is disturbed, Sita is stolen away to Lanka by Ravana. Rama steps out of his seclusion as a hero. He recovers Sita. He vindicates the Moral Law. The tasks and pains of Hercules make him the greatest hero of Greek history. A greater than Hercules was Sri Rama. He was not merely a warrior. He was not merely a culture-hero. He was a dharma hero. Rama conquered in the power of dharma, Rama conquered by drawing upon the Eternal Life in atma-shakti. Hindu society has suffered much from over-individualism. It is the sin of egoism. Its corrective is the dharma-ideal so vitally revealed in the life of Sri Rama. There is a beautiful little story of Rama. He is at play. His father wants to see him. His mother calls him. And then the poet says: “Rama comes up smiling, with his hands full of mud.” Rama smiling, with his hands full of mud—that to me, is a symbol of Rama, the Friend of the poor. Are your hands soiled? Full of mud? Go to the poor, the depressed, the oppressed! Go to them in humility and love and say to them: “You are ours.” Bring them back into your society weakened by pride. Serve them, and in that service gather the new strength you need. Get a new shakti through fellowship with the poor. Then build society. Build a new Brotherhood of the Nation. Build not alone for yourselves. Build for a new Asia, a new Civilisation, a new Humanity.
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JHOOLELAL*: The Saviour Of The Sindhi Faith J. P. VASWANI Jhoolelal — Uderolal! The very name will fill Sindhi hearts with love and hope and faith. He came upon this earth to protect his people from persecution; he arrived as an avatara to defend their faith During one of the darkest eras in the history of Sind, the people faced a severe spiritual crisis. A cruel and tyrannical chieftain, Makrabkhan took over the reins of the province of Thatta. Incited by the Muslim population against the Hindus in his kingdom, he sent out to all his Hindu subjects the stark message: “Embrace Islam or die!” Ever since the Arab conquest of 711AD, conversion had been regularly thrust upon the Sindhis. The early Islamic rulers were determined to spread their religion in the Vedic land of the Sindhu. With threats, rewards or merely at swordpoint, they sought to convert Hindus to Islam. Sadly, many people gave in — either for fear of their lives,
or to save their loved ones from persecution. This was how Islam actually entered India. The ancestors of several Indian Muslims were actually born devout Hindus, but forced into conversion by fanatical rulers. But there were also benevolent rulers like the Samras who were not bigots, and made the Hindu population feel secure. Unfortunately, when Makrabkhan snatched the rule of Thatta from the Samras, the Hindus had to face the worst kind of persecution. The leaders from Hindu villages were summoned and peremptorily ordered to convert to Islam. In Thatta and its surrounding regions, it was his rule which held sway — and the Samras could not come to the help of the people. Calling himself Mirk Shah after he seized power, this chieftain was a bigot and fanatic. He believed that forcible, mass conversion of the Hindus would
*April 8 is sacred as Cheti Chand Day (Sindhi New Year’s Day).
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open the doors of the heavenworld to him. Fear and panic gripped the Hindu leaders. Not knowing how to respond, they asked for time; it was granted to them. But alas, what could they do with more time? Count the last days of their faith before they surrendered it under pressure? Dark and terrible seemed their future. In vain they sought the help of powerful Hindus outside Thatta. But such was the terror in which Mirk Shah was held, that no one was prepared to come to their aid. Sore was the plight of these pious people, who had kept their faith, firm in the religious beliefs of their ancestors against all odds. Now, it seemed as if they would have to lose their life - or surrender their faith. In grief and despair, the Hindus of Thatta turned to their Gods. On the banks of their beloved Sindhu river, they assembled; for was not the Sindhu their lifeline, their mother? Was she not the holiest of the holy rivers, with her origins in the sacred Kailash, her banks and valleys sanctified by the utterance of the sacred Vedas? On these same sacred banks the Hindus congregated, praying, fasting, taking sacred dips, and offering worship to the River-God, seeking Varuna’s protection and blessings in their hour of crisis. It is said that they fasted and prayed for no less than forty
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days and nights; their hope was pinned on Him who was the Defender of the weak and defenceless — Deena bandhu, Deena nath. A miracle came to pass on the fortieth day. They heard the Divine Voice speak to them and promised them that deliverance was at hand for them. The RiverGod, would be born among them as Uderolal at Nasarpur! And so it came to pass! To Devaki and Rattanchand of Nasarpur, a child was born. It is said that the child revealed its divine identity to its parents when he opened his mouth — and there, they beheld the mighty Sindhu flowing, with an old man, serene, white-bearded, seated on a pala fish — a large sized salmon fish unique to the Sindhu. An avatara had appeared in answer to the people’s prayers! It is said that the cradle in which the infant was laid, rocked itself to lull him to sleep. Therefore, he was called Jhoolelal — The Lord of the Swing. The astrologer who cast his horoscope, predicted that he would be the Light of the Land — and therefore, his parents called him Uday. Holy men who came to visit the Divine child said that his name would ever remain immortal — and hailed him as Amar Lal, the Immortal One. It is believed that when the vazir of the region came to see the child, the child turned into
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a young man, a black-bearded mature man, and then into a white-bearded venerable old man, before his very eyes! The vazir, who had come to ‘investigate’ the miracle, bowed in reverence and awe before the incarnation! To his amazement, he saw the triumphant one leap on to a horse and gallop away, a sword upheld in one hand, a flag held in another! The vazir returned to Mirk Shah and told him that Uderolal was no ordinary child. He and his people were not to be trifled with. A regiment was sent out to arrest Uderolal — but they were simultaneously stopped by a flooded river and the burning towers of their own palace. It was as if the elements had combined to warn them of Him whom they sought to harm. Appearing before the panicstricken regiment, Uderolal said to them and their chieftain: “He whom you call Allah, and my people call Krishna, are but One and the same. All Humanity is one creation — His Divine Family. It was His desire that He made some of them Muslims and some of them Hindus. Unity in diversity is what He has ordained— so let it prevail! Do not persecute your Hindu brothers! Let unity prevail among the Sindhi people, so that Hindus and Muslims can exist in peace and harmony!” Mirk Shah was overwhelmed by the Divine injunction,
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and promised to follow the command of the avatara purusha. The fanatical tyrant had been transformed for life! The Hindus of Thatta built a temple to honour Uderolal — and the Muslims, for their part, built a Mausoleum close at hand. To this day, both communities worship at these shrines — the Hindus lighting lamps, the Muslims, saying their prayers. It is believed that Uderolal, mounted on his horse, was miraculously swallowed up by the earth opening underfoot at this very spot. The Hindus hail their saviour as Jhoolelal, Amarlal and Uderolal. The Muslims revere him as Zinda Pir. The auspicious day of Cheti Chand — the full moon day in the month of Chaitra — brings with it, dual celebrations for Sindhi Hindus — the New Year day according to the Hindu lunar calendar and the janam din of their ishta devata, the defender of their faith, Jhoolelal. From then, to now, Sindhis have passed through many trials and tribulations. They have left behind their homeland; their mother, the Sindhu, is far away from them. But wherever they are in the world, they remember the sacred river and the great avatara who arose from the river to protect them: Jeko Chavando Jhoolelal, Tahinja Theenda Beda Paar! Bolo Jhoolelal, Beda Paar!
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Sister Shanti*: Child of God J. P. VASWANI Shanti was a pure child of God. She aspired to surrender all to the Lord in a spirit of faith, believing that the Lord takes the best care of His children. A friend of her girlhood days came to meet Shanti, one day. The friend had been married to a very rich man. Meeting Shanti, she said to her: “Permit me to leave some money with you.” “I have handed myself over to God,” Shanti said to her. “And He gives me all that I need.” “Are there any debts you have to pay ?” the friend enquired. “Yes,” replied Shanti. “A debt of obedience to the Will of God. For self-will hath led me astray, again and again, and I have turned my face away from the Will Divine. If for this the Lord take me to task, what will be my fate?” “I am referring to debts of money,” the friend insisted. And Shanti said: “The Lord hath been exceedingly kind. He hath taken care of me all these years. There is no debt I have to pay back, except the debt to God.” And the friend placed before Shanti a purse containing a bundle of notes. Shanti did not even look at it. “Money is a burden,” she said.
The eyes of the friend were touched with tears. “I brought it for you; I shall not take it back,” she said. And Shanti took the purse in her hands, offered a silent prayer over it, and returned it to the friend, saying: “The Lord hath accepted your offering. Go and spend it in the service of the poor and broken ones, and you will be blessed!” To Shanti faith in God was as natural as breathing. Trust in Him, she said again and again; for He taketh care of us in all conditions of life. On a cold, wintry day, Shanti pointed to the cloud-laden skies, and said: “When the sun peeps through the clouds and enfolds me in its warm rays, my heart is touched with gladness. And I exclaim: ‘The sun was there all the time; the clouds but hid its face for a while.’ Even so, God is with us all the time. Clouds of doubt and disbelief hide Him from us, but only for a while. His radiant Face shines once again, more effulgent than ever before.” True it is, that God is with us all the time. Wherever we are, He is. His love takes care of us. His wisdom guides us, His Power upholds us.
*April 25 is sacred as the Birth Anniversary of Sister Shanti.
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THE VICTORY SONG! Jai Jai Sri Rama! And I have in these rough, hard days Communed with th’ Hero—Warrior bold Who still renouncing ease and gold, Did fight and win: not thought of praise Nor censure of the sons of men: He only thought of Duty done: And when his victory great was won, He praised and blessed his Foe, and then To a valiant son of Lanka’s Land He gave the Crown which he could own: So rich in God had his life grown ! A Hero he, he made a stand Gainst Forces dark with fearless eyes, The Powers of darkness took their flight: Beyond the night he saw the Light, And he did see the morning rise! He stormed the hosts of hell and won: For Lanka’s Land in pain did groan: He wins who holds not as his own, His life and glory, too, doth shun! So celebrate this Victory Day, Ye sons and daughters of the Land! So build this day a Freedom’s Band, And your debt to your Hero pay! Be glad that Rama, Pure and Strong Did bless your Ancient Motherland! Her Freedom hath Sri Rama Planned: Awake then! Sing the Victory Song: Jai Jai Sri Rama! Jai Jai Sri Rama!
—Sadhu Vaswani
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SIMPLE RULES OF HEALTH
HEALTH TIPS FOR HEART, MIND AND BODY STRESS MANAGEMENT What happens when you are stressed? Stress is what you feel when you have to handle more than you are used to. When you are stressed, your body responds as though you are in danger. It makes hormones that speed up your heart, make you breathe faster, and give you a burst of energy. This is called the fightor-flight stress response. Some stress is normal and even useful. Stress can help if you need to work hard or react quickly. For example, it can help you win a race or finish an important job on time. But if stress happens too often or lasts too long, it can have bad effects. It can be linked to headaches, an upset stomach, back pain, and trouble sleeping. It can weaken your immune system, making it harder to fight off disease. If you already have a health problem, stress may make it worse. It can make you moody, tense, or depressed. Your relationships may suffer, and you may not do well at work or school.
What can you do about stress? The good news is that you can learn ways to manage stress. To get stress under control: • Find out what is causing stress in your life. • Look for ways to reduce the amount of stress in your life. • Learn healthy ways to relieve stress and reduce its harmful effects. How do you measure your stress level? Sometimes it is clear where stress is coming from. You can count on stress during a major life change such as the death of a loved one, getting married, or having a baby. But other times it may not be so clear why you feel stressed. It’s important to figure out what causes stress for you. Everyone feels and responds to stress differently. Tracking your stress may help. Get a notebook, and write down when something makes you feel stressed. Then write how you reacted and what you did to deal with the stress. Tracking your stress can help you find out
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what is causing your stress and how much stress you feel. Then you can take steps to reduce the stress or handle it better. To find out how stressed you are right now, use this Interactive Tool: What Is Your Stress Level? How can you avoid stress? Stress is a fact of life for most people. You may not be able to get rid of stress, but you can look for ways to lower it. You might try some of these ideas: • Learn better ways to manage your time. You may get more done with less stress if you make a schedule. Think about which things are most important, and do those first. • Find better ways to cope. Look at how you have been dealing with stress. Be honest about what works and what does not. Think about other things that might work better. • Take good care of yourself. Get plenty of rest. Eat well. Don’t smoke or drink alcohol. • Try out new ways of thinking. When you find yourself starting to worry, try to stop the thoughts. Or write down your worries and work on letting go of things you cannot change. Learn to say “no”. • Speak up. Not being able to talk about your needs and concerns creates stress and can make negative feelings worse. Assertive communication can help you express how you feel in a thoughtful, tactful way.
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• Ask for help. People who have a strong network of family and friends manage stress better. • Sometimes stress is just too much to handle alone. Talking to a friend or family member may help, but you may also want to see a counselor. How can you relieve stress? You will feel better if you can find ways to get stress out of your system. The best ways to relieve stress are different for each person. Try some of these ideas to see which ones work for you: Exercise: Regular exercise is one of the best ways to manage stress. Walking is a great way to get started. Write: It can help to write about the things that are bothering you. Let your feelings out: Talk, laugh, cry, and express anger when you need to with someone you trust. Do something you enjoy: A hobby can help you relax. Volunteer work or work that helps others can be a great stress reliever. Learn ways to relax your body: This can include breathing exercises, muscle relaxation exercises, massage, aromatherapy, yoga, or relaxing exercises like tai chi and qi gong. Focus on the present: Try meditation, imagery exercises, or self-hypnosis. Listen to relaxing music. Try to look for the humour in life. Laughter really can be the best medicine.
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Laugh Your Way to Health A man in a supermarket was pushing a cart which contained, among other things, a screaming baby. As the man proceeded along the aisles, he kept repeating softly, “Keep calm, George. Don’t get excited, George. Don’t yell, George.” A lady watched with admiration and then said, “You are certainly to be commended for your patience in trying to quiet little George.” “Lady,” he declared, “I’m George!” *** Husband: Don’t put that money in your mouth. There are germs on it. Wife: Don’t be silly. Even a germ can’t live on the money you earn. *** “What would you say if I asked you to be my wife?” “Nothing. I can’t talk and laugh at the same time.” *** The trouble with being a good sport is that you have to lose to prove it. *** “Your age, please?” asked the census taker. “Well,” said the woman, “let me figure it out. I was 18 when I was married and my husband
was 30. He is now 60, or twice as old as he was then, so I am now 36.” *** First man: I think we should all confess our faults one to another. I’ve got a terrible habit of stealing! Second man: I’ve got a terrible habit of lying! Third man: I beat my wife! Fourth man: When no one is around, I get drunk! Fifth man: I’ve got the terrible habit of gossiping, and I can hardly wait to get out of here! *** Husband: Now look, Lucy I don’t want to seem harsh, but your mother has been living with us for 20 years now. Don’t you think it’s about time she got a place of her own? Wife: My mother? I thought she was your mother! *** One Sunday as a farmer was getting in his hay crop, his minister stopped by. The pastor asked the farmer if he had been to church. “To tell the truth, I would rather sit on the hay load and think about the church than sit in the church and think about hay.” ***
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Stranger: Good morning, Doctor. I just dropped in to tell you how much I benefited from your treatment. Doctor: But you’re not one of my patients. Stranger: I know. But my Uncle Bill was, and I’m his heir. *** “Why are you so sad, Bill?” “My wife said she wouldn’t talk to me for 30 days.” “Why should that make you sad?” “Today is her last day!” *** Adolph Hitler was an avid believer in astrology and consulted with his special astrologist before making any decisions. One day in consulting with him, Hitler asked, “On what day will I die?” “You will die on a Jewish holiday,” replied the astrologist. “How can you be so sure of that?” asked Hitler. “Any day you die will be a Jewish holiday,” replied the astrologist. *** Applicant: Before I take this job, tell me: Are the hours long? Employer: No, only 60 minutes each. *** A parishioner had dozed off to sleep during the morning service. “Will all who want to go to heaven stand?” the preacher asked. All stood, except the sleeping parishioner. After they sat down, the
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pastor continued: “Well, will all who want to go to the other place stand?” Somebody suddenly dropped a songbook, and the sleeping man jumped to his feet and stood sheepishly facing the preacher. He mumbled confusedly, “Well, Preacher, I don’t know what we’re voting for, but it looks like you and I are the only ones for it.” *** “When I was a child I used to bite my fingernails; and the doctor told me if I didn’t quit it I’d grow up to be an idiot.” “And you couldn’t stop, huh?” *** Son: Why do the ladies always bring their knitting when they come to visit? Father: So they will have something to think about while they talk. *** Every day Mr. Smith’s secretary was 20 minutes late. Then one day she slid snugly into place only five minutes tardy. “Well,” said Mr. Smith, “This is the earliest you’ve ever been late.” *** Wife: I’m happy to see that the neighbours finally returned our lawn mower before they moved. They certainly had it long enough. Husband: Our lawn mower? I just bought it at the garage sale they’re having. ***
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Recipes for the Month KHATTAA MITHAA KARELAA (SWEET AND SOUR BITTERGOURD)
Ingredients: Bitter gourds (karelaa)...................................6 Salt (for marinating bitter gourd)..........3 tbsp Onions - chopped............................. 3 medium Tomatoes - chopped......................... 3 medium Green chillies - chopped.................................2 Ginger - chopped......................................1” pc Turmeric powder (haldi)..........................½ tsp Coriander seed powder (dhania)..............1 tsp Cumin seed powder (Jeera) .....................1 tsp Bay leaf (tej patta) ........................................1 Sour yogurt.............................................3 tbsp Tamarind pulp..........................................2 tsp Sugar.......................................................½ tsp Oil...........................................................3 tbsp Salt.......................................................to taste Coriander leaves, chopped.............for garnish Method: • Prepare the bitter gourd (karelaa) by peeling and washing the bitter gourd properly. Cut each bitter gourd in half, lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds with the help of a teaspoon. Cut the split bitter gourd into 0.5 inch thick slices. • Then, in a mixing bowl, marinate the bitter gourd with the salt, to remove its bitterness.
Cover and keep aside for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, wash the bitter gourd thoroughly in a sieve to eliminate the excess salt. Squeeze the bitter gourd to remove the excess water. Keep aside. • Mix all the ingredients in a pressure cooker. • Cook over a low flame for 10 minutes. • Then, cook over a high flame and pressure cook for 2 whistles. • Open the cooker. If the mixture still contains water, dry it, by cooking over a high flame for a few more minutes. • Garnish with coriander leaves. • Serve hot with rice or Indian Bread. METHEE PANEER (CUBED COTTAGE CHEESE COOKED WITH FRESH FENUGREEK LEAVES)
Ingredients: Oil......................................................for frying Paneer, cubed..................................... 400 gms Tomatoes, chopped.......................... 2 medium Turmeric powder (haldi)..........................½ tsp Coriander seed powder (dhania).............½ tsp Red chilli powder......................................1 tsp Salt.......................................................to taste Water.................................................... 250 ml
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Grind to a paste Onion....................................................1 small Ginger, chopped......................................2 tbsp Garlic................................................... 3 cloves Fenugreek leaves (methi patta)......... 100 gms Green chillies..................................................2 Coriander leaves, finely chopped.......... 50 gms Method • Heat the oil in a pan and shallow fry the cottage cheese (paneer) on a medium flame till it turns golden brown in colour. Drain on absorbent paper and keep aside. • Grind the onion, ginger, garlic, fenugreek leaves, green chillies and coriander leaves to a paste. Keep aside. • Heat the oil in a pan and fry the coriander paste for 3-5 minutes on a medium flame. • Add the tomato, turmeric powder, coriander seed powder, red chilli powder and salt. • Cook over a low flame, till the oil starts to separate from the mixture. • Then, add the fried cottage cheese (paneer) and mix well. • Add water, a little at a time. • Let it simmer for 10 minutes, till most of the water gets absorbed and the mixture is almost dry. • Serve hot with rice or Indian bread. VARYOON PATAATAA (FLAVOURED LENTIL DUMPLINGS WITH POTATOES) Ingredients: Baby onions, peeled................................... 2-3 Oil...........................................................3 tbsp Dried lentil dumplings (vadis)..................2 pcs Onions, finely chopped........... 3 medium sized Tomatoes, chopped................. 3 medium sized Green chillies, chopped...................................3 Ginger, finely chopped............................ ½” pc
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Turmeric powder (haldi)..........................½ tsp Potatoes, peeled and diced.............................4 Garam masala powder............................¼ tsp Salt.......................................................to taste Water............................................. as required Coriander seed powder........................1½ tbsp Coriander leaves, chopped.............for garnish
Method • Make cross-sectional splits in the baby onions and dust a little salt into the slits. Keep aside for 5 minutes. • Heat oil in a frying pan. Break the vadis into large pieces and lightly fry them in the oil. Drain the excess oil with a tissue paper. • In the same oil, over a medium flame, stir fry the medium sized chopped onions till they turn brown in colour. • Add the tomato, green chillies, ginger and turmeric powder. Cook till the mixture attains a thick gravy-like consistency. • Now add the potatoes, garam masala powder, salt, coriander seed powder and red chilli powder. • Saute the mixture for a few minutes. Then, add water and cover the pan. Let it simmer over a slow flame for 10-12 minutes. • When the potatoes are almost cooked, add the vadis and the slit onions. • Simmer the mixture for another 6-8 minutes. • Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with steamed rice or rotis.
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Children’s Corner HIDDEN OBJECT Kishore and Sadhana would like to make a garden, but they do not know what to plant. Help them by showing them the hidden vegetables. Find green beans, green onions, a potato, a tomato, a pumpkin, a squash, a carrot, a radish, a cucumber, a pod of peas, a beet, a green pepper, an eggplant, an ear of corn, a head of lettuce, and a stalk of celery.
PUZZLES 1. What has a face and two hands but no arms or legs? 2. What is the easiest way to double your money? 3. What has a thumb and four fingers but is not alive? 4. What has to be broken before you can use it? 5. What has a neck but no head? 6. What gets wetter as it dries?
7. What goes up and doesn’t come back down? 8. What belongs to you but is used more by others? 9. Everyone has it and no one can lose it, what is it? 10. It’s been around for millions of years, but it’s no more than a month old. What is it?
Answers: 1. A clock!, 2. Put it in front of the mirror of course!, 3. A glove, 4. An egg, 5. A bottle, 6. A towel, 7. Your age, 8. Your name, 9. A shadow, 10. The moon.
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