Nutmeg, the super spice

At one time it was considered as the best of spices. Bloody wars have been fought over it, particularly by the Dutch and the British. A person who had a few of these in his possession was acknowledged as a rich man. It was an accepted ingredient in cuisine from Penang to Europe. Some men consumed it on the sly because of its reputation as an aphrodisiac.

That is nutmeg, Myristica fragrans.

The original home of nutmeg was the Banda Islands of Indonesia. That was under Dutch control. In fact the Dutch almost monopolized the nutmeg trade till WW II. But the English East India Company had its share. They propagated the plant in British possessions like Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka and the West Indies. Nutmeg is Granada’s national symbol. That country’s flag has an image of the fruit on it.              

There is not much seasonal variation in the yield. The flowers have an appealing smell. The fruit is almost pear shaped. It has a fleshy covering outside. As the fruit matures, the flesh turns yellow, sometimes with a touch of red. It would break open if not plucked in time.

When the outer flesh is removed you can see the nut covered by lacy aril or mace. In India it is called jathipatri. The colour may be red or light brown depending on the area where the plant grows.
 

The aril is gently removed by hand and dried. The nut is also dried. Both should be stored preferably in airtight containers and kept away from sunlight and heat. Do not keep in freezer. Incidentally, the flesh can be candied or pickled. Once, in a Planters Club bar in Kerala I found it served fresh as a snack with drinks!

In cooking, the aril and the nut go well with several meats, vegetables and cheese. They are also used in pastries and cocktails. For recipes, see http://www.food.com/library/nutmeg-333?oc=linkback

Now, about the medicinal uses, apart from the aphrodisiac aspect. But do consult your doctor before trying any of these treatments.

There are four distinct areas where nutmeg is used for treatment from ancient times to this day. The first is for stomach ailments like loose motion, nausea, gastritis, and indigestion. It is said that for this, a nut should be grated, mixed with honey and a quarter of that taken twice or thrice a day.

Nutmeg contains myristicin and elemicin which are considered to be brain stimulants. Eugenol in nutmeg oil gives toothache relief and prevents bad breath. For joint and muscular pains also the oil is suppose to be good remedy.

Nutmeg may not be a king of spices anymore, but is there any kitchen which does not keep a few of them?

(All images fare from Wikimedia Commons under GNU License.)

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Malayalam Cinema: The Celluloid Controversy

Poster from the web.

Within 24 hours of Kamal’s Celluloid winning seven awards including Best Film and Best Actor (Prithviraj) at the Kerala State Film Awards on February 23, 2013, a major controversy erupted. It was ignited by K. Muraleedharan, son of the former Chief Minister K. Karunakaran. He claimed that the film insulted his father and a bureaucrat who had worked under him.

The debate was fuelled by the politicians. The Minister for Cultural Affairs condemned Kamal. Neither he nor Muraleedharan had seen the movie. The movie industry stands solidly behind Kamal. They point out that Karunakaran’s name is not mentioned in the movie.

Celluloid is a biographical picture about JC Daniel, the Father of Malayalam Cinema. He was the man who produced the first Malayalam movie. It was a silent film named Vigathakumaran (Lost Child). Daniel wriote the story, directed the film and also played the hero’s role. He sold his land reportedly for Rs.400,000. With that money he established the studio Travancore National Pictures in Trivandrum in 1926 and started the production of Vigathakumaran. Most of the Indian films then were based on the puranas but this one had a social theme.

A still from Vigathakumaran

Wikipedia..

Malloor Govinda Pillai a leading advocate of those days inaugurated the screening at Trivandrum’s Capitol Theatre on 7 November 1928. The invitation card reproduced here shows a different date. Probably that was not for the original show.

 Invitation to the screening.

Wikipedia.

Vigathakumaran immediately ran into problems. Those were the days when women who acted on stage or cinema were considered immoral. Daniel settled for a scheduled caste worker named PK Rosie as his heroine. A low caste woman playing a Nair lady was unacceptable to the orthodox groups. She was not allowed to watch the screening. Finally she had to run away from Trivandrum.

Daniel’s movie was a financial flop though it played in Nagercoil, Quilon, Alleppey, Trichur and Tellicherry also. He was down and out. He went back to his native place. He approached the Kerala Government for the Rs.300 per month pension for artists in distress. That was rejected on the contention that the place where he lived had been transferred to Tamil Nadu State. The Government also decided that Balan produced in 1938 was the first Malayalam movie.

Daniel died in 1975. In 1992 the Government introduced the J.C. Daniel Award for lifetime achievement in Malayalam Cinema. Too late for the pioneer.

Kamal, one of the top directors in Indian cinema, depended on two books for scripting Celluloid – Vinu Abraham’s novel Nashta Naayika which is based on the life of the heroine Rosie, and Chelangatt Gopalakrishnan’s biography of JC Daniel. Gopalakrishnan has clearly stated in his book which came out two years ago that K. Karunakaran and the bureaucrat Malayattoor Ramakrishnan did not help Daniel.

Today’s Deepika has given a photo of their issue dated Tuesday, October 28, 1930 which carried a detailed review of Vigathakumaran. Does the Kerala Government still believe that Balan was the first Malayalam movie?

What the Malayalam director’s organization says is that one should see the movie before criticising it. Reportedly, Muraleedharan has referred to Kamal as a third rate director. Shocking.

What is the difference between the people who opposed Vigathakumaran 80 years back and those who are criticising Celluloid now?

Addenda on February 28th morning. The latest news is that K. Muraleedharan has stated that the Celluloid controversy is closed because he watched the movie and found nothing objectionable in it.  Well...well...well... Now, where does that leave the Minister for Cultural Affairs?

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A Syro-Malabar Church Wedding

Syro- Malabar Church with its headquarters in Cochin is the second or third largest Rite in the Catholic Church. It is also the largest denomination among the different factions of the original pre-Portuguese Malabar Church.

There is a great deal of similarity in the matrimonial customs among the various Christian segments in Kerala. Some of the procedures are even common to those practiced by the Hindus. But regional, cultural and status-wise variations do exist.  

Though the number of love marriages is rapidly increasing, arranged marriages are still common. The avenues for this are mainly matrimonial advertisements, marriage bureaus, relatives and common friends. Both sides make enquiries about the other and if compatibility is indicated on critical factors, the boy and the girl meet, may be several times.

If they like each other, Kalyana nischayam is held. It is sometimes called Kalyana Urapeer and means formally fixing the marriage. In the past, only a few senior men from both sides used to attend such meetings, at the boy’s place. But now ladies also take part.

The next important step is Manasammatham or betrothal conducted by the bride’s side. This is a big event though it has no Canonical or legal value. The boy and girl declare to the priest in the parish church that they are willing to marry each other according to the laws of the Church. The boy puts a ring on the girl’s finger. The priest blesses them. Then they sign a register. It is witnessed by one person from each side and countersigned the priest.  

But before the betrothal takes place, the boy and the girl have to attend separately a two day stay in Marriage Preparation Course at an approved facility. This is a very good system. Various important aspects of family life are explained to those who are about to get married. It can be of great help.

In my family, Parayil, the priest used to come to the house and conduct the Manasammatham function. I think we were the only ones who were permitted this rare privilege. But after many generations it was stopped about ten years back by Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil, the then Head of the Syro-Malabar Church.

After the betrothal, the bans are notified at the parish churches of the boy and the girl.  If any one has sufficient valid reason that the notified marriage should not take place he is obliged to report the matter to the parish priest. But if there is no objection, the parish priest issues the required certification to his counterpart at the church where the function is to take place.

On the wedding eve there are evening parties at the boy’s and girl’s places. This is known as Mathuram Vekkal meaning ‘giving sweet’. Close relatives and friends would be present. The sweet used to be either a conical savoury called ayani churut or grated coconut mixed with honey and a bit of salt kept on the side of the plate. These days mostly cakes are used. In the case of the bride her sister and husband, and for the boy his sister and husband usually performs this.

There used to be a practice of the bride’s eldest maternal uncle taking her around the house after Madhuram Vekkal in the light of a koluvilakku in what is called ‘bidding goodbye to the paternal home’. One purpose of this was to give the tenants and workers who would not be attending the wedding an opportunity to see the bridal ornaments. Now this is rarely done.   

Usually, the boy’s side conducts the marriage. Before proceeding to the church the boy and the girl pay respects to their elders and take their blessings. Formerly weddings used to be held only on Monday and Thursday mornings. Now it can be on any day. But on Sundays weddings or betrothals can be blessed only after 12 noon. This is because the Catechism classes are held in the morning.

After the actual function is over, the bride and the bridegroom, one witness from each side and the priest sign the Wedding Register. (These days the couple go through the civil marriage registration as well.) After that there would be another Madhuram Vekkal wherever the reception is held. That would be followed by lunch, tea party or dinner.

Reproduced below are some photographs of a wedding held last August. 

The boy placing the engagement ring on the girl's finger 

at St. Martin de Pores Church, Olavipe

Our tharavad Thekkanattu Parayil where the betrothal function was held

When the boy and the girl reach the house from the church they 

are escorted with ceremonial umbrellas from the gatehouse to the 

main building.

Lunch goes on in the background. View from the outhouse (below) 

where refreshments were served.

Requirements for Madhuram Vekkal on wedding eve. On the left is kindi 

(water container with a sprout) and kolambi (spittoon). The bronze bowl in front with 

flower petals contains a tiny lamp.

The madhuram - grated coconut with honey and salt.

The girl washing hands before taking Madhuram.

Koluvilakku.

The priest lighting nilavilakku before the matrimonial services start at Edapally Church.

The requirements for the ceremony. The essentials are banyan leaf shaped thali (it is not clearly seen here but is on the red thread and will be later shifted to the gold chain) Manthrakodi (a saree which is equivalent to Pudava in Hindu custom) and rings to be exchanged.

The bridegroom ties the thali. The woman is to wear it for the rest of her life.

Mantrakodi is placed on the bride's head.

Swearing by the Holy Bible.

 The boy's sister would take the Manthrakodi, fold it and place it 

on the girl's left arm 

 The couple cutting the wedding cake at Le Maredien, Cochin 

where the luncheon party was held.

A smile from the bride, my youngest daughter. The trend these days is that the bride 

does not wear too much jewellery. The contrast is shown in a photo

from the web given below.

All photographs except the last one are by Chackochen of Thycattusserry.

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JJ Murphy remembered

I am getting back to Kerala’s much loved Irish planter, JJ Murphy about whom I have already written so much. There are two events that I have to report.

The first is that The Mundakayam Club which Murphy built in 1912 is holding a one year long Centenary Celebration and so much is being said about Murphy. Incidentally, my post Short Story: DANIEL OF THE MANMALAI CLUB would give you an idea of how club life was for the planters during the last century.

Given below is the portrait of Murphy in the Mundakayam Club:

It seems different from his photo which is in An Indian village remembers its Irish ‘father’. I am reproducing that one here:

 

 Did the artist take too much liberty or did Murphy’s appearance change in his old age? 

 

Now, the Rubber Board of India is honouring this pioneer planter. They want to build a memorial at Murphy’s tomb at the St. Joseph’s Church Cemetery at Yendayar. The required land has been transferred to the Ribber Board by the Vijayapuram Diocese.

The following photo shows the Vicar, Fr. Peter Nelson handing over the relevant documents to Ms. Shiela Thomas IAS, The Chairperson of Rubber Board. Between them is Dr. J. Thomas, Rubber board Commissioner.

Incidentally, the photo is reproduced from Deepika, the oldest Malayalam newspaper which started in 1887. I am proud that my family, Parayil, played a key role in founding it.

A new public road is being built to the Murphy Memorial. A local committee has been formed to assist in the related activities. The people are proud that Murphy wanted to be buried in Yendayar to which he contributed so much.

Some time back there was talk about a movie on the Irishman. But I have not heard anything further about it.

Let me conclude with this statement – Murphy ruled over the area. Every one of his people loved him and he wanted to be buried amongst them..

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Other related posts:

Irish father of Indian cardamom, rubber and pepper planting

Irish planter, punter, soldier, playboy

J.J. Murphy: An Irish jewel on the South Indian High Ranges

 

 

Apollo Tyres - the beginning

Two days back a former colleague from Apollo Tyres telephoned to invite me for his son’s wedding. I was quite touched because we had no contact for about three decades. And the call kind of opened the memory box for me.

The idea of an automobile tyre factory came to my mind during the visit of the General Manager of Hungarian rubber industry to Ruby Rubber Works, Chenganacherry, Kerala. That was in 1968 or 1969. I was then the marketing manager of Ruby.

I mentioned the idea to Mr. Mathew Marattukulam who was my Managing Director.  He was interested in the suggestion and told me to go ahead. It was a really bold decision. I was made the General Manager of Ruby’s automobile tyre project.

The first steps were to get a license from the Government of India and to tie up a good technical collaboration. I met Dr. Rama Varma who was then the Chairman of Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC). Earlier he had been the chief of the Rubber Board of India. He was from the Cochin Royal Family, and a friend of my uncles.

The project idea appealed to Dr. Varma. He even suggested that the new tyre company could also take over Premier Tyres in which the State Government had substantial shareholdings.. That became a reality three decades or so later. At Dr. Varma’s request Mr. Achuthan Menon, the then Chief Minister of Kerala wrote a personal letter about our license application to Mrs. Indira Gandhi who was the Prime Minister. And Ruby got the license.

Mr. KT Chandy followed Dr. Varma as Chairman of KSIDC and took keen interest in the tyre project. In fact, he was the one who suggested the name Apollo Tyres. We were already on the search for a technical collaborator. Finally we tied up with General Tires, one of the five major tyre companies in US at that time.

The project cost estimate escalated considerably with the oil crisis in the early 1970s and the original promoters found it difficult to raise the funds. That was when Mr. Raunaq Singh stepped in and took over Apollo Tyres Ltd. But for him, the project might have been dropped.

Here are some old photos:

L to R: Mr. Thomas Vellapally of Joseph & Markos, our lawyers, me, Senior Vice President, General Tire International, A General Tire executive, Mr. KT Chandy, Chairman, KSIDC, Mr. George Prekopa, who was originally following up their India projects, and Mr. Mathew Marattukulam, MD, at General Tire International HQ in Akron, Ohio, USA.

Mr. John Porosky. He was the General Tires man for the project. Earlier he had been involved in erecting the Ceat Tyre plant in Mumbai. We became good friends.

Mr. TV Thomas, the then Industries Minister, Kerala, at the Foundation Stone laying ceremony. He had been of great help to the project. I am in the background. Those days I used to sport a mustache.
 

I am with Mr. AC George,
former Central Minister. He was instrumental in Mr. Raunaq Singh taking over Apollo.

Three of the early Directors. L to R: Dr. Thomas Varghese

(Dr. Thomas Varghese Kalekattil – a man to ride the river with),

, Mr. Jacob Thomas, and my eldest maternal uncle Mr. Jose Kallivayalil.
Dr. Thomas Varghese and Mr. Kallivayalil resigned from the Board when Mr. Raunaq Singh took over, but Mr. Jacob Thomas continued. 
After some time he was not on the Board for one or two years, but came back.

Unfortunately I do not have a good photo of Mr. Raunaq Singh.

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Republic Day 2013

On this Republic Day

let every Indian male swear that he

will always honour Bharath Matha

and her daughters.

 

 The painting is by Raja Ravi Varma.

Both images from Wikimedia Commons.

A dismal beginning to 2013

After the last year ended with the shock of Nirbhaya’s tragic end, everyone was hoping that things would be better in 2013. Sadly, the first two weeks of the New Year are loaded with a shocking array of crimes against women and children and absurd statements by people in important positions.

We have the habit of getting focused on just one point when a tragedy occurs. Now of course, it is crime against women. Blame the government, blame the police, and blame the judicial process. Make a lot of noise. Bring in Bharat, India, Sita, Ravana, Lakshmanarekha. Blame the female for getting raped.

Go back to women being confined to the home, to cook and attend to other household chores. Of course, shayanesu veshya which was considered to be an important quality of a wife has not been openly mentioned.

To find a meaningful solution, a problem has to be first understood and then analyzed in its totality. Recently two emails came requesting me to sign mass petitions to the President, CJI and the Justice Verma Committee about sexual crimes. Many of you too would have received the same.

Now, the question is whether these institutions would give importance to the number of signatures on the appeal or its contents. Perhaps a more effective action would be for each citizen to write to his/her Member of Parliament giving suggestions. I am sure that at least some of them would effectively take up the matter with Justice Verma Committee and other appropriate authorities.

The dilemma we are facing today is not just crimes against women. One is raping a woman by boys or men. Then there is sexual abuse of girls and sodomy on boys by senior men. Perhaps there is forced lesbianism as well. Women raping boys is not very rare. Incest and sex sale (a broad term which covers a lot of sins) are reported too. An equally unacceptable criminality is the tormenting of senior citizens by younger people sexually or otherwise.

Newspapers of the first two weeks of 2013 carry reports of almost all these crimes. The latest is from Punjab where a woman was reportedly gang-raped by seven men in a bus. A shocking situation indeed. How do we find a solution?

I do believe that the society has equal responsibility as the government to take effective steps. India or Bharat is a country which does not want the girl child. Sambandam which I mentioned in Rape & Punishment is no longer there, but we still allow chinnaveedu (a different house with a second wife or keeping a mistress) and certain sexual forays by men.

Today’s Deepika carried a statement by Dr. Sunitha Krishnan. She says that we teach girls from childhood to forgive everything. The girl child is always in the background. Unless this is changed a female cannot live fearlessly.

About Dr. Sunitha Krishnan -  At the age of 15 she was gang raped by eight men. She fought back to life and went on to take a Doctorate in Social Work. (I am proud that she studied at my alma mater, St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore.) She runs Prajwala. The institution helps women who have been trafficked and also finances education of thousands of AIDS infected children. Her work has been internationally acclaimed. It is touching to read Sunitha's blogspot. Incidentally, Sunitha is Bangalore born in 1972. Her parents are from Palghat, Kerala. 

All of us cannot be such a remarkable person. But in our own small ways we can try to bring about a social change. A boy and girl talking or walking together does not mean that they are about to have sex. A reasonable freedom can only improve things.

Let us make a beginning in each home. Let us spread the message that a girl child is as much lovable as a male offspring. Let our schools teach the children, and public programmes educate the adults the importance of respecting women and elders. The government has the responsibility to enact appropriate laws and ensure effective policing and other safeguards.

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