Ragi mudde November 7, 2009
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Ragi – In the botanical common language, finger millet, also called African millets, the botanical binomial – Eleusine coracana
Many of them do not know this is also cultivated in the arid upper Himalayas and is called Mandua there.
Humble man’s food in South Eastern districts of Karnataka, South Western Andhra Pradesh and North West Tamil Nadu. This millet is supposed to have been introduced many centuries ago from the continent of Africa. Far from the west coast and in the Himalayan pockets it has carved a niche for itself and yes in the hearts of many.
The flour deep reddish-brown in colour, it is passed off as black.
Ragi is a victim of food apartheid, many people consider it below their dignity to eat black ragi. Little do they understand that this high carbohydrate fibre rich food is a beautiful source of iron. It is cooling and nourishing to the body.
Being a millet, it is milled and the flour is consumed. Obvious!?!
Rotis yes, savouries… endless kinds of them.. ok .. yes, porridge yes, Popped millet flour…oooh OK,Mudde??? what is mudde ??? (pronounced moo like a cow’s call only don’t drag it long and they like in english refering to them ….whom ever?!)
Mudde is simply a lump in Kannada. Someone got a brainstorm once and called it “ball” Yeah eat balls!!! Only these “balls” are made of ragi. Thanks to Devegowda Mudde got its popularity. I got to hear it as balls too when Deve gowda was the PM
During Deve Gowda’s term as a PM, many did think this Ragi mudde will now become the National Fudd.
Some people refer fat dark people as ragi mudde too. Had a classmate once who told me this. Some times one must concentrate to figure out which mudde is eating which…… may be, like in the case of an ex PM
Unfortunate ragi mudde is not identified as lump, but became balls, because it is simply shaped that way…. now how can a lump be shaped round???
Bland to taste it is accompanied with strong flavours, and dominant tastes. The combination is mind-blowing. The acquired will relish it with buttermilk and pickle…….. this is a divine combination too. Whatever the combination the morsel is not chewed!!! it is swallowed…Swallow tiny lumps!!!
Making this lump is not anyone’s cup of tea… it is a talent. Not enough if it is simply passed on from mother to daughter… it is indeed a skill that is mastered. People were indeed humble to call this mastery “lump” mudde.
The creation of a mudde, eating of a mudde both are skills.
And then one can say make the lump and eat it too….well I can
Winter in the air November 1, 2009
Posted by Tag a star in Reminiscence, Uncategorized.Tags: night, winter
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It is half past one at night. I stood by the window, it was a quiet moment. Something was not like everyday I thought. I figured that the street light has not been turned on this night. The realization made the night more calm.
Coolness touched my face and it made great relief to my eyes. I closed my eyes and drew an intentional, deep breath.
Cool air filling up my lungs, its passage through my nostrils, hitting the nasal cavity, the throat and then the pressure down the diaphragm made it a moment being present to the present.
This quite moment did trigger some distant memories.
Sweet memories.
The memories of winters from the past. As a ten-year old, as an eighteen-year old, a twenty-one year old.
Fragrance of the night made me feel so fresh.
Winter was in the air already. Today was the last day of October this year. It is November in the morning. Winter arriving!!!
I like the smells of the tree, leaves and bark in winter dawns and nights.
This is Bengaluru; the coldest winter I experienced here was 16°C. There is no musty odour in the air. Very few people light up a fire to keep warm. The scent in the air is pure.
Fond memories are from the walks I took in the misty mornings, in the midst of maize, fodder grasses on mud track. Mud tracks often crossed by trails of slugs and snails.
Pleasant memory of hearing an orchestra of chirping birds in the forests just before day-break.
Scent of the eucalyptus suspended in the mist.
Dew drops on the grass blades and on leaves of the hedges. Highlighted spittlebug nests on the hedges. Visual memories also came vividly alive by this fragrance of winter nights.
The star strewn nights we watched for endless hours of night. Crescent moons setting in the west, Venus Jupiter Mars and Saturn jewels in the starlight. An occasional comet. We saw comet Herschel in the north-western sky.
Moonsets! crescent moons setting behind tall trees……like a hammock being untied. Winter’s treats for the nocturnal soul.
