Issue No. 131 I July, 2012

EDITORIAL

After we were toasted in the searing heat of June, the monsoon belatedly made its presence. The aroma of wet mud after the first rains on the scorched earth is very pleasing. The euphoria, however, was shortlived.. Through much of the month the clouds lingered only to deceive. Now we are staring at a drought.


We are not trying to be sanctimonious when we advise you about the responsibilities involved in keeping a pet. In spite of writing ad infinitum in these columns on the need to scoop the poop of your pet that litters the precincts of the colony, the advisory is followed more in the breach than in the observance. I get collared about this issue by miffed residents when I go for a walk as though I am the culprit. The population of canines having burgeoned of late, it is difficult to pinpoint the mutt that defecated on the road. While I am sure you love your pet, act responsibly and clean up after their constitutional so that others don’t despise you for owning a pet. Unfortunately, we become hypersensitive about our rights as residents but lackadaisical about our responsibilities.


Talking about responsibilities, residents were advised not to keep potted plants in the staircase or on the landing as its weight and the water that seeps through and enters the crevices are very bad for the structure. Our staircases are all cantilevered and not supported by any columns, therefore there is a dead load on it even without the pots being placed. Over the years the misuse has so severely corroded the structure that Mr. Narayanaswamy, who is a structural engineer, had warned of serious consequences if we continue to keep pots and water them. While pots were removed by all the residents from the stairs a couple of years ago, they have reappeared in some staircases. Kindly have them removed; else the Society will be constrained to have them removed.


The rain dance on 14^th July was greeted with glee by the children as it gave a welcome relief from the torrid heat. The inflatable pool remained flaccid as the closing valves were missing. Nevertheless, the kids made merry under the sprinkler and the garden hose. The adults who ventured to the lawn to get a douse included Seema, Kunal, Prema Manoj, Srikanth, Aditi Rao, Venkatesh and me. There were quite a few others who were loath to get wet and watched with amusement from the sidelines. These wary souls included Shekhar Nair, Anu Nair, Meera Varma, Gita Rastogi, Madhuri, Soumya amongst others. There was Bollywood music to entertain everybody. It was well past 8 pm and the children wanted the splash and douse to continue but in the interest of conserving water, the motor was turned off and the children were reluctantly dragged away to their homes by their parents. Pictures of the rain dance can be viewed in the Yamuna Photo Album.


Through the initiative of Mr. P. K. K. Nair, efforts are being made to regularise the allotment of flats. To this effect a Special General Body meeting was convened on 29^th July, 2012 to get approval for providing an indemnity bond to the Registrar from the President and Secretary indemnifying the Registrar from any claims if the list of allottees is challenged by anyone. We hope that we have the most eagerly awaited and vital document from the Registrar in the coming months . I am sure you are all cognisant of the fact that Power of Attorney through which sale and purchase of the flats in Yamuna had been taking place has been banned from 1^st October, 2011. Effectively, that makes us all squatters in a way with no rights at all of either selling our flats or taking loans against the flat. We must celebrate if the turn of events goes our way.


Another Bollywood legend bids adieu to this world. Rajesh Khanna’s death coming close on the heels of the passing away of the evergreen Dev Anand, has left us bereft of the candyfloss heroes of yesteryears. Their infectious charm left legions of female fans swooning. Their twisty dance, twinkling eyes and unique dialogue delivery has left an imprint that is hard erase from the minds of the generation who grew up during their heydays. There is a clamour to hold a musical night in their honour. When the weather gets kinder we will have a karaoke night to raise a salute to these matinee idols. Let us not forget the iconic Dara Singh who overhauled the much heralded King Kong in the ring. Not everybody’s typical hero, he nevertheless left a lasting legacy. We mourn his passing away also.


After mid-year cultural vacuum, we enter that phase of the year when better weather and a spate of religious holidays usher in our peak programme season. At the tail end of this newsletter you will find the calendar of events for the rest of the year. If that does not leave you salivating in anticipation nothing else will. Please plan your tour programmes and holidays in such a manner that you are present for all the exciting happenings in Yamuna.


Mr. Ramabadhran of E-202, has been a very generous contributor to Yamuna. Yet another example of his largesse has been the gift of a coffee making machine to the Yamuna store. Now you can get South Indian filter coffee while you shop in the store.

SNIPPETS

A packed hall was witness to Mallika Mahesh’s Arangetram at India International Centre on 7^th July, 2012. Mallika who has a Bharatnatyam dancer’s features, embodied the art with her grace, poise, expressions and balance in the Nrittas and Abhinayas. She enthralled the audience to such an extent that the Chief Guest, the famed Indian classical dancer, Dr. Yamini Krishnamurthi was moved to heap encomiums on her and her guru, Smt. Kanaka Srinivasan. The joy on Mallika’s grandmother, Mrs. Bhagirathi Eswaran’s face was immense. She was instrumental in Mallika taking up dance. I believe Mrs. Sukanya Sundaresan also had a role in grooming Mallika as a dancer. The vocal backing by Sudha Raghunathan was also excellent. All in all it was an enjoyable evening. Yamuna was very well represented. Mahesh was the perfect host.


Jazz dancing has taken Yamuna by storm. There are a number of Yamuna residents who are honing their skills at this form of dance. Seema Savarkar, Sahana Savarkar, Netra Sundaresan, Anjali Menon and Kavya Narayanan performed at the Talkatora Stadium to a full house on 7^th and 8^th July, 2012. They were all part of group ensembles, hence spotting them in them in the group was a challenge. Anyhow, the dances were superb and the atmosphere electric. We hope they showcase some of their moves at the Annual Day variety entertainment programme.


Kumar Chiplunkar and Meghna are so enamoured with Yamuna that, when the landlord of A-208 asked them to vacate, they did not mind moving into a smaller flat in E-003 rather than move out of Yamuna. Both Meghna and Kumar being designers, they have very tastefully done up their flat. Once inside their flat you could be fooled into believing that you have entered a very pretty and cosy Goan cottage. Such residents really embellish the colony and we hope they extend their skills to make Yamuna prettier.


Tanvi Savarkar of C-207, the pint sized dynamo of trivia, representing DPS team, humbled many of her fancied rivals by trumping 100 other teams in the largest inter school quiz competition. Her achievement comes as no surprise at all, as the Savarkar family is oozing with talent from every pore. Henceforth, accomplishments in quizzing must be measured by the Savarkar Index!

LARDER MANAGEMENT

Storing Food the Right Way!

How often have you stocked up on food-grains or veggies, only to find bugs romping in your rajmah or saag gone soggy in the refrigerator? Here are a few tips on how to store grains and other foodstuffs so they remain fresh and full of flavour:
Rice - Dry 50 gm of mint leaves, powder them and add to 10 kg of rice. Not only do the mint leaves keep insects at bay, they also impart a delicious flavour to the cooked rice.
Spices - Keep spices and herbs away from heat, moisture, and direct sunlight. These elements hasten their loss of flavour and aroma. Avoid storing above the stove, sink or near a window.
Flour - Add some neem leaves to your flour container to keep atta insect free.
Garlic - Garlic is best stored in a cool, dry place. After you bring garlic home from the market, immediately take the garlic bulbs and place them in an airtight container or plastic bag, then store them in a cabinet, ensuring a cool, dark environment. The first thought for many people is to store garlic bulbs in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator or in the freezer. The cold temperature spoils the taste as well as the texture of the garlic cloves.
Ginger Roots – A common mistake is to store fresh ginger root in the refrigerator. Refrigeration dries out the ginger root and diminishes its flavour. Therefore, once you have taken the portion you need for your cooking, wrap the remainder of the root in aluminium foil with the ends folded down to completely seal or enclose the root.
Lemons - Place unpeeled, whole lemons in a bowl. Stack the lemons no more than two to three fruit deep. Otherwise the weight from the lemons on top might bruise or crush the fruit on the bottom. Set the lemons on the middle shelf of the refrigerator.
Lentils - Lentils should be stored in an airtight container and can be kept for up to a year. Although they can be used past this date, the colour will start to fade, and the lentils will take longer to cook. In the past, lentils were considered a staple food in many areas because of their extremely long shelf life. Keep the container in a cool area away from sunlight. If you purchase pre-packaged lentils, keep them in this package until you're ready to use them. Once opened, transfer to a container.
Cilantro (Dhaniya Patta): Keep the stems of the cilantro bunch dipped in shallow glass of water in the refrigerator. This keeps the herb fresh and alive for many days. You could also add a plastic bag on top to cover the leaves from overexposure in the refrigerator. Open the cilantro bunch and lay out the stems on a paper towel or newspaper. Roll this like a scroll and store in the refrigerator. This prevents the leaves from getting soggy. Alternatively, Pick the leaves off the stems and store them in an airtight container/Tupperware to prolong their freshness.
Fresh curry leaves - Curry leaves can be dried and stored. Remove the stalks, wipe clean and roast them lightly until they are completely dry. Store in an airtight box for up to six months. Another way to store them is to powder the roasted leaves in a dry grinder.

(Sangeetha Srihari - E103)

Date and Time	Event	Venue
10.8.12  7.00 PM	JANMASHTAMI-RAS LEELA & DAHI HANDI	BADMINTON COURT
15.8.12       9.00 AM	FLAG HOISTING/SINGING OF PATRIOTIC SONGS/KITE FLYING	BADMINTON COURT
28.8.12   8.00 PM	ONAM FEAST AND POOKOLAM	COMMUNITY HALL
13.10.12  6.30 PM	SCREENING OF MOVIE & POT LUCK DINNER	BADMINTON COURT
20.10.12  6.30 PM	QUIZ COMPETITION WITH SUMATHI	BADMINTON COURT
23.10.12   6.30 PM	DANDIA AND FOOD STALLs	BADMINTON COURT
24.10.12  6.30 PM	RAM LEELA & BURNING OF RAVANS EFFIGY	MAIN LAWN
3.11.12   9.00 AM	SPORTS DAY	MAIN LAWN
10.11.12   5.30 PM	DIWALI MELA	BADMINTON COURT
13.11.12  6.30 PM	RANGOLI AND ILLUMINATION COMPETITION	BETWEEN THE BLOCKS
24.11.12  5.00 PM	ANNUAL DAY (DATE SUBJECT TO CHANGE)/FOOD STALLS	MAIN LAWN
23.12.12  10.00AM	HERITAGE WALK	FROM A BLOCK GATE
24.12.12  6.00 PM	CHRISTMAS CARNIVAL-STAGE SHOW/GAMES/FOOD STALLS	BADMINTON COURT
31.12.12-MIDNIGHT	MIDNIGHT CAKE CUTTING TO USHER IN 2013	COMMUNITY HALL