Category: Learn

Categories
Learn

PETA had goats for dinner

The animal rights organisation threw a party for goats on Bakri Eid day. Meanwhile, the city celebrates with full gusto.
by The Diarist | thediarist@themetrognome.in

It’s the same story every single year. Goats and sheep are taken across the city to Muslim homes, where families eagerly await them every Bakri Eid day. But a recurring theme in the celebrations, is that the animals end up dead even before they are cut – many times during transport, at other times because they are artificially fattened up in a very short period of time, thus making them very ill.

A seller who spoke to us on condition of anonymity said, “Orders are increasing every year. Sometimes, we find that the animals don’t survive very long after selling. Some customers say that the animal was unconscious after the sale, others say that it couldn’t walk properly and kept collapsing.”

In the midst of this, animal rights champion People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) told The Metrognome that PETA had goats for dinner this year. In an email sent to us by Corporate and Government Affairs liaison, PETA India, Sarfaraz Syed said, “This Eid, PETA had goats for dinner, not as food but as the guests of honour. We urged people to join us in using this auspicious occasion to celebrate, not take, life and to give alms such as fruits, vegetables, breads and pulses to the people and animals who need it the most.

We’ve pushed the Ministry of Environment and Forests to ban all animal sacrifice in the country. As per the Slaughterhouse Rules, slaughter is supposed to happen in a licensed slaughterhouse, not on the streets. Most cases of sacrifice/slaughter are conducted in temples or on the roads, against the Rules.

We also have a case on in the Indian Supreme Court against year round illegal treatment of animals during transport and slaughter. Goats, buffaloes, sheep and other cattle are crammed onto vehicles on their way to slaughter in such high numbers that many break their bones and die en route. Those who survive are hacked to death with dull knives in full view of one another.

Our year round focus is on raising awareness on the benefits of going vegan for the animals, our health and the environment in a variety of ways so that it reaches the maximum number of people.”

 

Categories
Learn

When I met Gary and George

Our writer had a ringside view of Masterchef Australia’s Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris doing the judging – in Mumbai!
by Pooja Palani

“Indian food has still not made that niche that it deserves in Australia as yet. Indians should come up with more variety in their cooking internationally. There are very few famous Indian restaurants in Australia,” he said. Then he added, “I love the flavours in Indian food, I love the spices that dominate Indian recipes.  The only thing I miss in the Indian food we get in Australia is the ethnicity.”

I was speaking to Gary Mehigan. And George Calombaris. Of Masterchef Australia. In person. In Mumbai.

I was at an event where Gary and George were judges for food cooked by the Kohinoor International Management Institute’s School of Hospitality Management students, for the Oz fest conducted by the Australian consulate General Mumbai at Hotel Kohinoor Elite. The popular duo was more than friendly, and very encouraging of the food presented to them.

Admitting that they were “amazed” with the food put up for their judging, they spent a long while telling the students how to improve on certain aspects of their cooking. Given George’s track record of breaking into a big sweat when eating anything spicy, I waited to see how he would react to the tandoori chicken. But surprisingly, he was very happy with it, and when I suggested that he was probably ‘bazzled’ (his favourite word, that he uses freely on Masterchef Australia), he broke into laughter. “You’ve been watching the show!” he exclaimed.

When asked about their judging style on Masterchef, Gary said, “We don’t believe in de-motivating students by shouting and demoralising them, unlike other celebrity chefs like Gordon Ramsey.” Ouch.

The two also tried their hand at making naan in the hotel’s tandoor, apart from being very impressed with jalebis and rabri, which the students served for dessert. George even said he would include the dishes in his restaurant in Australia. I asked him about Matt Preston, the third portly component of their famous trio, and who is very familiar with Mumbai street food. “Yeah, I really miss him in today’s food fest,” he said.

A student asked about international audiences’ expectations of Indian food and how it should be presented. Gary simply said, “Be aesthetic and traditional. The food should be served and eaten the way it is traditionally done at home. There is no need to add frills and fancy to the dish if it doesn’t demand it,” here he picked up a drumstick wrapped in foil, considerately served that way so nobody would get their hands dirty. “The recipe should do the talking,” he said.

I wanted to know more about Indian influences on Australian food – which, curiously, is not an identifiable cuisine but a mix of several cultures – having been in Australia myself for a year. “India is an important trading partner for Australia, and there are many Indians living in Australia for several generations,” Gary explained. “But Australia is a multicultural country, it has a bit of an Indian influence in the cooking style. For example, the barbeque is very widely used to cook in Australia, as well as in India, but here you just call it a tandoor.” Both the men spoke at length about how Masterchef Australia had been a stepping stone for many of the Indian contestants who were in the show.

“It’s great, how we get to taste various cuisines. But Indian food should get more publicised in Australia, like the other Asian cuisines like Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese food. We want Indian street food to go international. I am a big fan of south Indian food and I wish they start dosa bars in my country,” said Gary. George, on the other hand, loves the buttery garlic naans and parathas.

George could barely contain his glee as he explained his tour itinerary. “We are very excited to try the street food of Mumbai and Delhi. I am waiting to have the chicken bhuna masala and the mutton seekh kebabs from Bademiya and Khan Baba’s,” he grinned. The media asked if they would be visiting again, to which both men said they would come whenever invited. “Follow us on Twitter, you can suggest great foodie joints for us!”George said. After Mumbai, the duo were set for a tour comprising Delhi and Bangalore as well.

Overall, I had the greatest time. And it was made all the more better when I smiled at George, and he winked at me!

(Pictures by Pooja Palani)

Categories
Learn

Your fingers tell your secrets

Sudhir and Shweta Hattangadi can tell if you’re a compulsive liar, or if you’re better off pursuing sports than academics. A science called dermatoglyphics reveals all.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Imagine having your thumb print reveal the best and the worst about you. What’s more, under the right conditions and with accurate equipment, it probably will. For over two years now, former teachers Sudhir and Shweta Hattangadi have tested over 1,000 children and adults in Mumbai and other Indian cities, and come up with brain pictures that gave away the most intricate personality traits in 10 areas of human intelligence.

“We’ve been able to tell if a person can be easily influenced, or is a compulsive liar, or such factors as being better at research than analysis. We use a thumb print that helps map the person’s brain. We come to know what the person’s strengths are, and his or her weaknesses. Based on the inputs, we give an impetus to the strengths and help minimise the weaknesses. This is helpful especially for very young children, much before they are forced to make career choices that may not be suited to their natural aptitudes,” says Shweta.

If you think this seems a bit far fetched, think again. Sudhir and his wife Shweta are actually practicing a science known as dermatoglyphics – the scientific study of fingerprints. “The brain and fingerprints start developing at the same time at about 13 weeks for the foetus,” Sudhir explains. “The ages zero to six years are known as the ‘golden age’ for a child, because the brain is still developing and any corrective ideas can be implemented at this time. Ages six to 12 are when reformation happens, when ideas can be cemented. After 12 years, we concentrate on the strong areas only.” He says that behavioural alterations are possible in children up to 12 years old. “However, nutrition also plays a big part in correcting certain anomalies,” Shweta says.

This is how your brain can be mapped: your fingerprint is taken on a biometric device. Then it is recorded on a computer and relayed to a server in Thailand. The fingerprint is then classified into one of four types – whorl, loop, reverse loop and arch – and the final analysis is then generated back. “The analysis is quantitative, and Shweta then exhaustively makes notes on each case. We have about four to five sessions per person.”

Shweta recounts how the analysis may even give early warning signs of things to come. “We had analysed this boy who showed the tendency to be easily influenced by others. We told his parents this. Later, he and a friend killed his grandmother for money to buy a bike. We were stunned to learn of this,” she says.

The couple has tested close to 1,000 persons so far, most of them children. “However, this science can really come in handy for corporates, when they want to employ the right people. But the idea has not yet caught on amongst people. Even the children who come to us are brought by their parents because they exhibit some worrying symptoms. However, getting this test done at an early age helps children chart out their future better,” Sudhir says. “And why just children? Even couples can get their compatibility tested. Or employers can test potential employees for reliability, loyalty to the company, whether they can be trusted with money, and so on.”

The test costs Rs 5,000 and comprises of exhaustive discussions and analyses over five sessions. “Many parents are satisfied with just two sessions also. But I give them my notes to keep so that they have all the material about their child handy. Generally, students who are about to make a career choice come to us for testing. Our teaching experience and the training we’ve taken (from their Hong Kong-based trainer) helps us minutely analyse each case and offer solutions,” Shweta says.

Categories
Learn

Kids talking money

Jigisha Shah’s pint-sized protégés invest in gold, understand the share market, and know how to make the best money choices. And that’s not all.
by Beena Parmar | beena@themetrognome.in

Does your child save his pocket money? Does he keep an eye on silver and gold prices? Have you found him scanning the financial pages of your daily newspaper?

Do you think children and money don’t mix? You obviously haven’t met those trained by Jigisha Shah.

Robert Kiyosaki, financial guru and author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, which continues to rock the financial world even today, teaches people to become millionaires. Jigisha Shah 37, a Kandivali-based educationist, read Kiyosaki’s financial teachings comprehensively while doing her CA internship. “I realised that the subject of financial literacy has been widely ignored in our society. Most people struggle to take quick and correct financial decisions due to financial illiteracy. As a result, we see economic and social challenges in the country,” she states.

Following Kiyosaki’s teachings, firm in her belief that imparting financial education to children at an early age builds a strong foundation for their future, Jigisha started her FLP (Financial Planning Programme) in 2006, to help bring up generations wise in real life education. “My goal is to train people, especially children, with true knowledge and power to take control of their financial future to achieve their goals and dreams,” she informs.

But why deal with children, not adults? There’s an interesting back story. Jigisha initially started taking money seminars for adults. These produced excellent results, as some of her participants effectively saved thousands of rupees. However, during a seminar for women, a mother shared her concern about her son not valuing money and over-spending, and Jigisha was hit by the urgency to take programmes for kids.

“This mother’s concern was not an isolated case, but a reflection of slow and steady change in the behaviour patterns among children in double income families. In cities, where both parents are working, they are unable to give sufficient time to children. They usually compensate this feeling of guilt by fulfilling the material demands of their children. As a result, their children do not learn to value money,” Jigisha explains.

In just three months, she created a detailed programme for kids. Her biggest challenge was to make money interesting for kids. Hence, she created the Money Education Plan, which was realistic and fun to learn. The programme immediately became popular with children and Jigisha took it forward.

One of the modules is ‘Build money IQ’ which enhances children’s financial IQ. Another one is ‘Smart Kids Score’, which she has planned keeping numeric ability, relative analysis, value demonstration and accountability of money in mind.

So far, Jigisha has educated more than 600 students through seminars in public and private schools, and summer camps. “These children are now aware about money and are empowered to take conscious money decisions from their formative years,” she claims. Initially it was challenging to make parents understand the need for such a programme for kids. But she now feels that things have changed.

“Our country is being influenced by western culture, where loans and borrowing are fast becoming a part of life. Now more and more disposable income in the hands of the younger population is becoming a matter of concern. Educated parents with young kids have begun to understand the situation. They are getting into proactive thinking mode and so can relate to my programme,” she explains.

The kids are all right

While Ajit Mhatre, a 13-year-old student admits that he learnt about goal-setting, pyramid of life, saving and investments, how money travels and about banks, coins and currencies, Jigisha was amazed by the learning of 12-year-old Kunal, who participated in her workshop two years ago. “Last month, he came to me and said that he had collected Rs 6,000 in two years, and bought silver to invest the saved money. I was happy at his thoughtfulness about his first ever investment at the age of 10,” she beams.

But she was even more stunned when Kunal said, “I bought silver now, and when silver prices go up, I will convert it into gold, because gold will give me lots of money in the future.”

Parents are thrilled with Jigisha’s programme. “She needs just five minutes with your child, and she can exactly tell you which area your child needs support in. Her workshop has made my daughter Pari so aware about money, that when asked what she learned from Jigisha aunty, she answers in Marwari, our mother tongue, ‘Paisa waste ni karma’ (don’t waste money),” says Anita Bafna, an advocate and Pari’s mother.

Jigisha has two sons, Vatsal (10) and Jayaditya (9). Both have participated in her seminars, are money smart and have made different money investment choices. While Vatsal  has bought 100 grams of silver, Jayaditya has been investing his money in bank fixed deposits for the last three years.

Over the years, Jigisha has noticed some gender-specific behaviours among her participants. “Girls wish to save for buying things that give them emotional satisfaction, like jewelry, clothes and gifts. Boys mostly opt for sports gear and electronic gadgets,” she smiles.

Schools benefit, too

Jigisha has taken her FLP to two BMC schools inGrant Road, where almost 300 children participated. “I got a great response from the children. They were eager to learn. I emphasised on saving early and its benefits, and everyone in the programme promised to start saving,” she shares.

Iravati Mane (name changed), principal ofManavMandirSchool, Grant Road, was delighted with the FLP. “If I had the opportunity to learn from such a programme in my childhood, my life today would have been more fulfilling,” she says. But though Jigisha would like to continue such programmes in BMC schools, the lack of coordination between schools and students is keeping her from implementing her programme in a bigger way.

“It is necessary that we consciously impart money education to kids at an early age. Parents should not hesitate sharing financial information with their children,” she concludes.

 

 

 

 

 

Exit mobile version