The turmeric plant

In a village called Avantipura, there lived a turmeric plant. He grew green and tall with beautiful leaves. The garden, which was his home, was small, yet cosy and comfortable.

He was an innocent and happy plant until one day a passer-by made a remark. 

He was strong and green...

“Hey, look at this plant! He looks so green and strong, yet he bears no fruit or flowers!”

The remark of the ignorant man left the plant very sad. A lemon plant that took root near the turmeric plant tried to cheer him up, but to no avail!

Soon the turmeric began sulking and brooding...

Day after sad day the turmeric brooded over his useless existence. He had no way of ending his misery. He started becoming pale and weak.

He would look at all the other trees around him that bore fruits or flowers and would continue sulking. One day a small young boy came to the garden looking for a lost ball. He crawled through the plants trying to locate the ball. As he crawled he upset the soil around the turmeric plant, revealing the beautiful yellow stems that grew underground.

Soon the boy called out to his parents and shared his find with them.

His grandmother, on hearing the commotion came out of the house. She gently firmed up the soil around the young plant and explained the various uses of turmeric to the boy.

She told him how turmeric plant serves people selflessly as a medicine, as a dye and as a spice. Even the leaves of turmeric are used to make a sweet dumpling known as patholi.

Both the boy and the plant listened with a deep intent.

“When will you make patholi for me, grandma,” the little boy asked innocently. His grandmother chuckled mildly and told him that she has to take permission from the plant to use his leaves!

By now, a very happy and relieved plant, the turmeric shed one of his leaves for the young boy’s sake!

After they all left, the turmeric turned to the lemon plant and said,

“Is it not so strange that you have all your talents lying right under your feet and yet you are the last one to realise it! The journey to a successful and happy life begins when you are humble enough to bow down and look right under your feet!”

The lemon tree was mighty thrilled for his friend!

The lemon was proud of his friend!

Author’s note:

Patholis are made from rice flour, coconut and jaggery. It is usually made during the Ganesh Chaturthi in the Konkan belt.

Mix rice flour and a pinch of salt in water to make a thick paste.

Grate coconut, powder the jaggery and cardamom and mix them well.

Wash the turmeric leaves well. Smash or scrap the thick central vein of the turmeric leaf, so that it is easy to roll it.

Cover the leaf completely with the rice batter. Add the coconut/jaggery filling along the centre of the leaf, over the rice paste.

Fold the leaf vertically along its vein. Cut the leaves to a comfortable size.

Steam the leaves over an idli plate for about 15 minutes. Once they are steamed, gently remove the cover and spread the leaves over a plate. While still hot, remove the turmeric leaf.

Patholis, the pride of every turmeric leaf!

Patholis taste best with ghee or milk!

Formless words...

The war of words has taken a centre stage in the scheme of global happenings as much as it wreaks havoc within families.

Humanity needs to take a pause and analyse intentions more than it analyses words. This, in my opinion is an urgent need.

When we have crossed this barrier as far as words are concerned, we have the second barrier to cross. Often we find people promising to deliver great things, but they go only as far as their intentions take them.

Delivering small deeds in action makes us more trust worthy than promising to deliver greater things and failing. Such failure results in both physical and mental fatigue. Slowly we become abusive and even ordinary words uttered by others hurt us. 

Let not the formless words uttered by others be the basis on which we form our opinion about the speaker. Dive deeper into their intentions, better still, wait for their actions to speak about their character!

Physical means vs. financial means...

Rahul was an enthusiastic young man. His vibrant character attracted people towards him.

He joined a reputed firm at the junior most level. His hard working nature pleased his bosses and soon Rahul was travelling in the right direction as far as his career went.

Very soon Rahul climbed the twisted twines of corporate heights. Neither his marriage to his childhood sweet heart, nor the birth of his child affected his career greatly. AS he grew in his financial status, Rahul was pleased with himself and proudly declared to his father that he would be able to live the rest of his life within his financial means.

He started funding small time business establishments. Though he was satisfied with his growth, he constantly compared himself with his seniors and his thirst for more growth, grew.

It was at this stage that his father warned Rahul to take it easy and spend more time with his family. Rahul was running a race and he thought he would lose if he paused to look over his shoulder. So Rahul continued to run.

The day Rahul turned 40, his CEO called him to congratulate him on becoming the associate director of his company.

Rahul spent time talking with his father.

“Dad, I have ensured that even my children can now live within my financial means,” Rahul declared proudly.

His father was happy with his son’s growth, yet was apprehensive about his health. His son was going through a great deal of job related pressure. He did not have time to eat well or sleep well, exercising was a distant dream.

He would reach his car by taking 12 steps after finishing his breakfast. Every single personal job of his was taken care of by people around him. Whatever he needed reached his table with a single press of a switch.

Rahul’s prosperity made its appearance not only through his attitude, but also by way of excess weight and a protruding belly.   

In due course he started accumulating lifestyle related disorders. The day he was diagnosed with high sugar, Rahul slowed down for the first time. That night he went to his father with his blood report.

“Rahul, you always held your head high when you showed your report card to me,” his father’s pride was unmistakable.

“Yes, dad. For the first ever time, I am ashamed of my report card,” Rahul’s voice choked.

His father held his son close and comforted him.

“Rahul, in trying to live within your financial means, you never lived within your physical means. It is never too late. Change your lifestyle slowly. Any drastic change will not last long. Take your wife on long walks. Most importantly give yourself time to recover and stop pushing yourself too hard,” his father concluded.

Rahul began thinking about what his father had just told him. He had never realised that means meant both financial and physical!