Street foods for breakfast in Kolkata

People of Kolkata love to have breakfast in the form of singara (samosa) or kachuri and jiipi (jilebi). This is a combination that many households follow even though they might have regular breakfast later. The bottom line is their inherent weakness for these items. Believe it or not, the vendors begin their activities much before the day breaks. The singara and kachuri are deep fried stuff and require some preparatory work. Once they are ready, the items vanish before the snap of the finger. The next batch of customers have no other option but to wait.

As to the jilebis – these are sweet. Those who live in Kolkata love sweets. Yes, many of them know that these are harmful to health, especially those who are diabetic. In spite of this, they feel items like jiliebis can bring zing into life. This item are fried in full view of the public. They are then immersed in a huge container of sugar syrup, removed and sold to the customers. These, like the singara and kachuri, are fast moving items and vanish in the twinkling of the eye. Those who arrive late have to repent.

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Old age home for senior citizens

India is a unique country. Here, the sons hold their parents in high esteem and have a responsibility towards them. As the child grows into an adult, he begins to worry about the wellbeing of his parents. It does not pose much problem if he lives with them because he can share his feelings straightaway. However, in the world of today, he might get a job in another city. In such a scenario, he has to worry about his aged parents. They might suddenly face issues related to health. That has created a new lifestyle – it is the old age home.

Old age brings with it innumerable problems. One of these is dementia or loss of memory. The person might not only forget the names of close friends and relatives but even the schedule of taking medicines. Moreover, he might meet with an accident like slipping in the bathroom or on the stairs or in the bedroom. If the senior citizen does not have anyone to give him company, he might miss getting prompt medical attention. The old age home provides a solution. It has its team of in-house staff to attend to emergencies. Members of these homes bond quite easily because they have one thing in common. They do not have their near and dear ones with them in case of emergencies.


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Health is an important issue for senior citizens above 60

A person gets a new lease of life once he reaches the age of 60. By then, the individual has gained enough experience to know what is right and what is not. He has to manage not only his health but his wealth as well. Some of the following factors decide how he would pass his twilight years. He has to be choosy about his food habits and avoid anything that might look attractive but could have ill effects on the body. Diabetes is common among this group of people and they should not succumb to the temptation of items loaded with the sweet stuff. Another common complaint is about blood pressure and the heart disease. By the time he has crossed the threshold of 60, he must have passed through periods of breathlessness, inability to have sound sleep, perspiration etcetera. These indicate trouble if ignored. Nowadays, home kits are available to check blood pressure and blood sugar levels in the comfort of your home.

In India, hospitals offer attractive health packages. However, the best policy is to take care of your health by yourself. The human body is, after all, a machine that runs 24X7 and has to be given due care. In order to ensure the longest possible service, it needs to be pampered. All around us we see men in their 80s who go for morning walks, who use the stairs instead of the elevators. They want to exercise their bones and muscles in order to keep the mechanisms in working condition.


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Didi invited to Poland and Russia (satire)

There was once a time when Didi had never ventured out of her familiar surroundings but, then, she visited Singapore followed by London and even Italy and Germany – in her search for the elusive industries. Now she has been invited by Poland and Russia.

‘You will need new dresses for your visit,’ Omit Misra said. He was happy that the future could see real investment from these countries. Installing a duplicate of the Big Ben was fine but unless real industries arrived, it was difficult to convince the people.
‘Shall I ask some dress designers to drop in?’ Moo Cool asked. ‘They can show you samples and you can have your choice.’
‘Don’t be silly,’ Didi chided him. ‘I am not attending any fashion show. It is going to be a business trip. They came to our program, now I will go to their program. I want to build bridges.’
‘That is a good idea,’ Patro Chatto joined in. ‘There are hundreds of bridges that have outlived their lifespan and must be replaced. We must replace them.’
‘I know just the right person,’ Show Van spoke. ‘I handle all those contractors and know them like the back of my hand.’
Didi listened and it was clear that there was something on her mind. Normally, she would be pacing up and down the chamber. Probably, she is allergic to remain standing at one place. Or it could be linked to her health – she has to keep pacing up and down to maintain the circulation of blood in her limbs. Or - a stationary Didi might not be an effective orator or a leader who can command respect.
Suddenly the door opened and Dee Wreck entered. He looked after the publicity aspects.
‘Is your homework over?’ Didi asked.
‘Yes,’ Dee Wreck said and took his seat opposite her. ‘You can carry samples of chanachur – it is a product that they would love. I’ll ensure that they are packed in attractive packaging and, to promote it, there’ll be a music video. I’ve talked it with singers on that TV reality show and they’ll do it for a pittance’
‘Good,’ Didi said. ‘It will be a change from the pickles, amsatta and nalen gur that I keep carrying. Upload the video on the net and let people know that I mean business.’ (to be continued …)


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Doctor’s advice to Didi – walking is good for health (satire)

Didi has, of late, taken to walking. Her physician has said walking is a wonderful way to build stamina and, when a leader has to keep talking to convince the electorate, a simple exercise like walking can play a very important role.
‘How many roads have I traveled so far?’ Didi asked Moo Cool.
‘You have walked at least five kilometers every day for the last ten days.’
‘And how much have I covered?’
‘Quite a lot of territory,’ Moo Cool said. ‘You have really proved the point that walking is good for health. It gives additional stamina and power to shout down the opposition.’

‘Opposition? Where is the opposition?’ Patro asked. He was another of her close aides. ‘They can try to dislodge you but cannot succeed. That is why they have begun the mudslinging mission and their sting activities.’
‘We ignore such things. Anyway - what is the route you have selected today?’ she asked Patro.
‘We’ll begin from here and walk down to the Dorina Crossing.’
‘Good – but, you must select a time that will not disturb the traffic.’
‘Don’t worry, the police will take care of that aspect. They know exactly how to go about it. They have done it earlier also and it is not new to them.’
‘I don’t want school children to get caught in my walks.’
‘There are no schools in your route, you can rest assured.’
‘Fine. Now – who will be in the front line with me?’
‘I’ll be there,’ Moo Cool said. ‘And I know Patro Chatto will also be there and Omit Misra, Fear Had, Dee Wreck, Show Van, and Abhi Shake.’
‘And – what about the crowd?’
‘That is no problem. Whoever joins will get free lunch of fish curry and rice – machh bhaat.’
‘Add a cold drink also,’ Didi said. ‘There is a party who wants to market his lebur jal – he will gladly sponsor it. It will be a refreshing innovation. I bet no one else would have thought about it. Lebur jal in this summer heat will be an added attraction. By the way - what about Arra Bull and Money Rule? I hope they will be in the walk.’
‘I have given them the task of bringing in the crowds,’ Patro explained. ‘They have tremendous convincing powers and can bring truckloads within no time.’
‘I know,’ Didi said. ‘They are also useful members. OK then, let us get ready for our walk.’ (to be continued …)


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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