The ubiquitous Malabar Parotta – and its meandering
journey I love the Malabar Parotta, and ever since I first tasted it
during our college days in Calicut in the 1970s, it has remained a favorite.
There was even a time when we only ate it during vacation visits to India since
there was just one Pak…
The Parotta Story
The ubiquitous Malabar Parotta – and its meandering
journey I love the Malabar Parotta, and ever since I first tasted it
during our college days in Calicut in the 1970s, it has remained a favorite.
There was even a time when we only ate it during vacation visits to India since
there was just one Pak…
A discussion on its etymology The state is making headlines, and several discussions will
soon begin in the media - on social platforms, and of course, on TV. The
official name Kerala, as written in the constitution when the state was formed
in 1956, will soon be changed to Keralam at the request of…
The fate of AI 101 Kanchenjunga VT - DMN is well
known to many interested in Air India and to those who have studied India’s
nuclear developments. Simply put, this commercial flight, a Boeing 707-437
operating between Bombay and New York via Delhi, Beirut, Geneva and Paris, took
off without inciden…
Preethi Vinod Chellappan’s painting – ‘Vasco de Gama’s
first audience with the Zamorin in Calicut (AD 1498) It all started last year when I was researching the history
of the Tali Temple. After getting off the auto-rickshaw, I went to the Tali
Temple offices in Calicut and asked to meet the person i…
The adventures of an enslaved Nambiar from Chirakkal Some years ago, I wrote a short note on Ayaz Khan, but it
was incomplete and required much revision. In the meantime, journalist
Ramachandran had also covered this man's story and referred me to C. Kunjirama
Menon's book on Velluva Kumaran…
An eminent anthropologist's pioneering work in Kerala I came across her seminal work and read several papers she wrote on Nair kinship many years ago while trying to understand the history of the Nairs of Kerala, and as part of my effort to grasp some of our customs. The
first time I got hold of…
Although many Malayalis are familiar with this fascinating
character from folklore, and quite a few probably know of Naranathu Branthan
(who is similar to the Greek mythological figure Sisyphus), his brother, the
lunatic from Palghat, I haven't come across any thorough studies on Pakkanar.
Kott…
Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse, ABB, Hitachi, and me… The other day, I visited some historic sites related to
Tesla and Westinghouse, which brought back memories of my time at ABB and
Hitachi, both of which had links to Westinghouse over the years. While you
might find stories about Tesla, Edison, and …
Sambhar – the curry and its origins The other day, we discussed the origins of Idli, and a few
days later, I came across a different version of Rasam, popularized by a
well-known wedding caterer, cook, chef, and restaurateur, Nataraja Iyer, which
turned out quite good. (However, it should be even be…
Panchavankadu Neeli a.k.a Kalliankattu Neeli Two days ago, we watched the exciting Malayalam film Lokah –
Chapter 1, starring Kalyani Priyadarshan, and it was a fantastic experience.
Kalyani brought the character to life vividly on screen as Chandra, an
incarnation of the Venad Yakshi - Kalliyankat…
