Chronicles Of Sam Q


Dearest Diary,
Has the world gone mad, or am I just seeing too much into things? Things that I "think" I should overlook, because the rest of the world sure is. I know, I know, people who are heavily into nitpickings might agree with me, some might even say I have got way too much time on my hands, and some might even be flummoxed enough to blurt out and say, "these observations actually matter?" But to me, it does. In my analytical, Virgo mindset, stupid things matter. So diary, today you are going to get a sneak peek in my overzealous, maze of a mind.

My first pet peeve is, why do well-known business groups, while advertising their products, display white people (read: Caucasian) in their advert promoting their wares? What?? A Bangali, local, deshi face will not sell their stuff?? Hello!! Do they not realise that the people they have targeted as potential customers are mostly, Bangalis? This truly is a land of the 'Fair and Lovely'. This national obsession of pale skin being beautiful is here to stay. And no.... it does not end here. After all this I come across another advert.... a coaching centre, advocating how good they are, with good teachers... blah... blah and more blah, and what is their final selling point?? A sea of smiling white students, in their blue gowns and caps.... um… graduating. Couldn't they at least have a mixture of faces, like the United Colours of Benetton?? Aren't there any pictures of Bangali students graduating? God, Diary! If only exasperation could be spelled into a sound.

Secondly, now that we are living in this highly volatile world already, do we really need more encouragement for violence? I could not believe my eyes when I saw that the toy industry has also turned mercenary. They have introduced an AR-15 Rifle for girls. How I know it is for girls, is by its Barbie pink colour. It was bad enough that we bought toy guns for our boys when they were growing up, and now to have our girls playing with guns is surely a bad sign for society. Then to my utter horror, I flick on the TV the other day & what do I see.... an award show on some Indian channel, having a fashion show, where the model was wearing a T-shirt which said, "down with teachers" and to give the message more oomph, he was parading a fake machine gun look-a-like with much practised grace. What's wrong with everybody? Don't they read the papers or watch CNN or BBC? Haven't they heard about the Virginia-Tech incident??

On a lighter note Diary, I think people should not lack those certain “have-to-have” qualities if they decide to work in the media world. In one of our local cooking shows, this “apparently” knowledgeable cook was showing a recipe called the "Grilled Chicken”, only… she was frying it. And there was another lady cooking something in the microwave oven, only to be setting it at gas mark number 5. Whoa! A microwave oven runs on Titash Gas? In my opinion, the ladies were up to their childhood tricks…. not doing their homework right. And one more question I have is, in the whole production unit, didn't anybody see these gaffes? There sure seemed to be a hell lot of people in the credits after the show was over.

Anyway Diary, the above-mentioned issues, at least I feel are thought worthy. But some are the ones I am just plain critical of. Like the one diamond ad where the bride is sitting under a beautiful gossamer canopy with family members and the groom is seen putting the red, powdery 'sindoor' on her head to proclaim to the world that they are married. And now what does the “supposed” coy bride do? She leans over to her new husband with such come-hither looks and husks… “You may now kiss the bride”. WHY??? Please if the makers of the ad could explain to me why would the bride having a sombre, traditional wedding, say something like that? Even in jest, it is not funny. But you know what was funny?? The look on the groom's face. It was scaredy-cat kinda funny. Anyway Diary, I could go on and on, but what would be the use? Would anybody sit up and take action? I don't think so. And to prove my point home I am going to give one last example. Last month, there was this huge banner in front of a lighting shop in Gulshan 2, which said in bold, red, letters, “MARRY CHRISTMAS” for two whole weeks. And to put your niggling mind at rest Diary, yes, I did point it out to the person looking after the shop, that the spelling was incorrect, but the way he was looking at me without saying anything made me feel as if I was speaking Latin to him. And I guess since it was still up there till Christmas, I must have been speaking Latin.

So Diary, thank you for being my sounding board. You are the best.
So, have a good day the Sam Q. way.

South Indian Chicken curry
Ingredients:
1kg chicken
3 large onions, chopped
3 tomatoes, chopped
2 tbsp oil
A few sprigs curry leaves
2 tbsp ginger paste
2 tbsp garlic paste
1½ tsp red chilli powder
1½ tsp jeera (cumin) powder
1 tsp haldi (turmeric) powder
1 tsp garam masala
2 cups coconut milk
1 cup water
Juice of one lemon

Method:
Clean and wash chicken and place on a colander for the water to drain off. Meanwhile chop onions and tomatoes. In a vessel heat oil and add a few sprigs of washed curry leaves. When they begin to splutter, add the onions and fry till golden brown. Add ginger-garlic paste and cook further. Put in the tomatoes and red chilli and jeera (cumin) powder. Add 1 tsp each of haldi (turmeric) and garam masala. Fry on a slow fire till the oil separates from the masala. Add the chicken pieces and salt to taste and stir till well coated with the masala. After this pour the coconut milk along with one cup of water. Let it boil and allow it to simmer on a slow fire for 10-15 minutes till the chicken is tender. Add the juice of a lemon to add to the flavour. Serve with rice or chapatti.

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By Shakhawat Imam Rajeeb