#Indian food abroad

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Annapurna Culinary Diplomacy: Celebrating India’s Food Influence

The Annapurna Award marks a new era in India’s cultural diplomacy by honoring Indian restaurateurs abroad. Celebrating India’s rich culinary heritage, it bridges cultures and challenges stereotypes, showcasing the diversity and depth of Indian cuisine. New Delhi’s initiatives like this highlight how food can foster unity and mutual appreciation across borders.

[edugoabroad]

One of the first things we think about when we land in a new place, with all the abundant and wonderful possibilities it inhabits, is food. Nothing elicits joy or dismay, brings people together or polarises them quite like food. Landing up in Germany, particularly to study in Germany, comes with its own anxieties -the newness of it all can be both exciting and daunting. In this scenario, nothing brings a dash of much-needed comfort and helps you immerse yourself in the local culture quite like food. Food, in the larger context, enables you to understand the history that shaped the cultural landscape of said country, and relate with the prevalent culture.

When it comes to mouthwatering food, Germany has plenty to go around. In this blog, we shall highlight some must-try dishes that you must give a go! So while you’re excitedly waiting for your German student visa to arrive, you can trust us to whet your appetite by listing some amazing dishes that you would fall in love with and come to crave throughout your student life in Germany.

Don’t worry - if meat, eggs or even dairy are a big no-no for you, we’ve got you covered! Without further ado, let’s dive right in.

1) Halloumi Im Brot

A semi-hard, unripened cheese made from a concoction of goat and sheep milk, the origins of Halloumi are said to lie in Cyprus although Egypt has also laid claim to it. Bit of a "who came first - the chicken or the egg" conundrum right there and the debate continues to rage, but one thing's for certain - it's delightfully scrumptious.

Over centuries, Halloumi went from being a staple in Cypriot to a celebrated ingredient to many a delicacy across the Mediterranean and the world. Halloumi im Brot, in particular, refers to a sandwich which features a grilled or fried halloumi. Combining the homeliness of bread with the savoury, rich elements of halloumi, the dish also features vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce along with a drizzle of olive oil or a squeeze of lemon juice. This dish is hearty while encompassing a variety of flavours and textures.

Fun fact: In 2021, the European Union granted halloumi Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status, ensuring that only cheese produced in Cyprus following traditional methods can be labelled as "halloumi."

It’s super duper healthy too, and has plenty to offer in the protein and calcium department, so feel free to help yourself to a few!

2) Sauerkraut

This one’s especially for the meat-connoisseurs and the trivia lovers - Sauerkraut has been an essential sidekick to plenty of incredible meat-based dishes. It is essentially fermented cabbage, although in present-day there’s a chance you might mostly find the pickled variety. It bears a distinct sour flavour and given that it is made from lactic acid, forming from bacteria that ferments sugars present in the cabbage leaves.

What’s in it for the trivia lovers, you’d say. Well, it’ll come as a surprise to you, but Sauerkraut isn’t from Germany! It was actually conceived in China 2000 years ago by workers who were only provided with shredded cabbage and rice to fend for themselves. They began to store their food in rice wine, which helped with extending shelf life while also landing themselves a nutritious, highly durable source of nutrition. When you’re hungry and need something to keep you going while being inundated with assignments and deadlines, Sauerkraut should keep you in good stead and give you a loaded dose of dietary fibre, Vitamin C, Iron, and Potassium with each serving.

3) Spätzle

While it remains an ever-favourite in Germany, Spätzle isn’t exactly well-known outside of the country. If you’re craving something rich, cheesy and buttery, these fresh egg noodles should make your tummy extremely happy. In theory, the dish is redolent of mac & cheese, but trust us - it’s so, so, so much more than that!

Spätzle are squeezed through a press, shaved off the edge of a board or sliced straight into the boiling water. Afterwards, the simmered Spätzle are drained and then fried in butter. After that it is either baked with grated cheese (KäseSpätzle), or served as a side dish.

It’s taken pretty damn seriously in the region of Swabia - The European Commission made Schwäbische Spätzle and Knöpfle into protected types of pasta. If they have been produced in Swabia, they are permitted to bear the quality seal of “protected geographical indication” which is valid throughout the EU.

4) Pretzels

They never fail to hit it out of the proverbial park when it comes to bakery in Europe. This is all the more applicable to Germany, which is home to a plenitude of delicious baked items, namely the infamous pretzel. This knot-shaped treat is famous the world over, usually coming as a savoury snack one can have when craving something baked. They can make for a very filling treat whilst remaining low-fat, although nutritionists do not exactly swear by its virtues given that it is high on sodium and carbs. So while you can munch on a fair few, moderation is essential.

5) Apfelstrudel

This list wouldn’t be complete without apfelstrudel, which is a traditional German pastry dish made with thin layers of dough filled with sweetened apple slices. Like pretzels, it’s popular all over the world and if you enjoy baklava, you’d definitely want to try this! Historically, the apfelstrudel is linked to Austria but has multicultural origins so when you have it, you’re having a dish which has been evolved through the contribution of myriad culinary approaches.

Conclusion

When you finally kickstart your dream to study in Germany, and begin your university life, it is absolutely essential that you relish your time there as it’s not only about the university you’d attend - it’s also about gaining exposure to new cultures and ways of life, and as we established earlier, trying the local food can play a massive role towards you doing that. Life in Germany for Indian students is filled with opportunities to explore German culture and lifestyle, and diving into the local cuisine is a fantastic way to start. Enjoy these dishes and let them be a delicious part of your student life in Germany!

[idlistreet]

Happy Holi-2024- Idli Street

We wish you a happy Holi filled with happy moments and memories that will cherish you forever. Happy Holi 2024. www.idlistreet.com #EatHealthy,LiveStrong. Traditional South Indian Food Franchise in India. idli street is now open for PAN India. With Low investment models and High in revenue generation. ” Eat healthy, Live strong” visit us at www.idlistreet.com For a franchise call…

[mokshconsultant]

MBBS in Belarus for Indian Students 2024

The MBBS program in Belarus spans 5.8 years, which includes a one-year internship, allowing students to enter the workforce earlier than in traditional programs. Additionally, the Medical University of Belarus provides English and biology preparatory courses to facilitate a seamless transition for international students.

Degrees obtained from Belarusian universities are acknowledged and recognized by several authoritative bodies, including:

National Medical Council (formerly MCI)

World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)

WHO and FAIMER

As a result of the MEA's acknowledgment of Belarusian universities, Indian medical graduates are now eligible to practice in India after passing the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE). This global recognition opens doors for graduates to pursue medical careers in both India and abroad, contingent on successfully completing the requisite licensing exams.

[room-surprise]

do you think the lamb stew kabru mentioned could be some variation of rogan josh?

omg anon I'm so sorry, you sent this message just when my life was going completely insane (tree fell on house, living in a hotel, etc), and I wanted to answer you but I just didn't have time... So I forgot.

And then another anon (or maybe it's still you!) sent me another, similar ask!

Which reminded me that I needed to answer you-- and now them, too!!

Food is not an area of expertise for me, so I had to look up all of these dishes. I'd heard the term "gorkhali" before, and heard of rogan josh, but that's as far as my knowledge went.

Let's talk about what we know about where Kabru comes from and what foods he likes, the food culture of South Asia in the real world, and then we can discuss if any of these dishes might be Kabru's childhood lamb stew!

I've written about the real world cultural references Kui has made with Kabru's character before. Evidence that Kabru is from a fantasy version of South Asia (India/Nepal), and Where exactly in fantasy South Asia is Kabru possibly from?

Two additional data points that suggest Kabru could be from a fantasy version of South Asia are his love of tomatoes, and mutton stew being an important dish from his childhood. What does that mean?

THE CULTURAL OVERLAP BETWEEN INDIA, NEPAL AND TIBET

An important thing to note while discussing the cultures of this region is that all three modern countries have a lot of cultural overlap. So many of the foods eaten in one country are also eaten in the other two, with minor variations.

I'm attempting to generalize and speak broadly as best I can, but I am not an expert, so I apologize for any errors on my part. Sometimes finding English-language information on these topics is challenging.

The cuisine of Nepal is a mix of Nepal's own unique culture, plus the influence of its neighbors, India and Tibet.

The Nepali diet primarily consists of rice, wheat, corn, lentils coupled with fresh vegetables and meats. A typical Nepali every-day meal can be characterized by Dal (lentil soups), Bhat (steamed rice) and Tarkari (vegetables), also known as "The Trinity", supplemented by some meat.

STEW OR CURRY?

Though many people think of them as two distinct things, curries are a type of stew, so I think it's valid to look at both stews and curries when trying to identify Kabru's childhood stew.

TOMATOES IN THE CUISINE OF THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT

Tomatoes turn up in dishes all over the Indian subcontinent, but they are not a traditional ingredient in the local cuisine. Europeans introduced New World foods like chilies, potato and tomato to the region in the 16th century, at which point they were added to the food culture, and in many cases the modern version of these recipes has completely eclipsed the traditional one, both on the Indian subcontinent and abroad.

But while potatoes and chilies were adopted almost immediately, the tomato did not catch on until centuries later, in the 1860s, and they did not become a widespread part of the local culture until the 1960s.

Because of this, the popular global idea of food from the Indian subcontinent often has tomatoes in it, while traditional recipes do not... And this is interesting because Kui tells us Kabru's favorite food is tomatoes! I'm guessing she chose tomatoes because of how common they are in modern Indian food.

Did Kui not know that tomatoes aren't a native part of the cuisine of the Indian subcontinent? It's possible her research didn't go that deep and she just assumed the modern food isn't that different from ancient food.

It's also possible that Kui knew that tomatoes aren't native to the Indian subcontinent, but that Dungeon Meshi has already experienced their version of the Colombian Exchange, because the east and west have had extensive contact with each other for (probably) thousands of years, so then the use of tomatoes in the West (where Kabru is from) would make sense, and doesn't need any further explanation.

MUTTON IN THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT

Mutton (the term for goat, sheep or lamb meat) is the most consumed red meat in the Indian subcontinent. Goat is the most popular, most likely because it is the cheapest out of the three.

MUTTON IN NEPAL

Like in the rest of the subcontinent, mutton is very popular in Nepal. It is considered a major delicacy, and goat stew/curry is often eaten by Nepali families during important holidays, and for many Nepalis, goat stew/curry is associated with big family gatherings, similar to how Americans think of eating turkey for Thanksgiving, or ham for Easter.

Let's talk about some of the dishes anon(s) asked me about!

ROGAN JOSH

Rogan josh is an aromatic curried meat dish originating from Kashmir. It is made with red meat—traditionally mutton—and colored and flavored primarily by alkanet flower (or root) and Kashmiri chilies. It is one of the signature recipes of Kashmiri cuisine.

A number of origins/meanings of the name have been suggested, such as "stewed in ghee" or "red meat/red juice."

Its characteristic deep red color traditionally comes from dried flowers or root of Alkanna tinctoria (ratan jot) and from liberal amounts of dried, deseeded Kashmiri chilies (lal mirch).

Many modern interpretations of this dish add tomatoes to the sauce. This is especially common with ready-made pour-over cooking sauces to the point that Rogan josh is often described in the modern day as a tomato-based dish.

GORKHALI LAMB

The word Gorkhali (गोर्खाली) is historically synonymous with "Nepali," so Gorkhali lamb could also be called Nepali lamb. The name change, from Gorkhali to Nepali, occurred in the 1930s.

(In the modern day, Gorkha is usually used to refer specifically to military units in the British or Indian army that were made up of men from the North Indian/Nepal region. Starting in 1816 the British East India Company frequently recruited these men as mercenaries, and over time the Gorkhas became very distinguished as exceptional soldiers.)

I couldn't find much about Gorkhali lamb aside from recipes, most of which just echoed the same information, and many of them didn't seem to come from very authentic sources.

From what I've been able to piece together, you make Gorkhali lamb by marinating lamb meat (usually meat on the bone) and cooking it over a charcoal grill. Once it's done, you coat the grilled lamb with a sauce made with chilies and tomatoes, and serve with rice or roti.

I'm not an expert, but it seems like Gorkhali lamb isn't a stew or a curry, it's a sort of marinated, grilled lamb with a sauce. If someone knows more about Gorkhali lamb, please let me know!

Like the Rogan Josh, the addition of tomatoes is a modern invention.

THUKPA

Thukpa is the Tibetan word for any soup or stew with noodles. Thukpa can be prepared in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian variations; the most popular non-vegetarian variation includes chicken, but it is sometimes made with mutton as well.

The Nepalese version of Thukpa is predominant vegetarian, and has a spicier flavor. The protein ingredients are replaced with vegetarian alternatives such as various types of bean.

However, non-vegetarian thukpa is also enjoyed in Nepal, and egg thukpa is probably the second most popular type.

Thukpa is made like most other noodle soups. Some modern recipes include tomatoes in the soup paste, most likely a modern addition.

INDIAN MUTTON CURRIES

There's many different variations of mutton curry (Kosha mangsho, Mansa kasa, Tapelu, Rezala etc.) throughout the entire Indian subcontinent. Some recipes include tomato, some don't, and as with everything else in this post, the tomatos are a modern addition.

NEPALI MUTTON CURRY

As I said before, mutton is incredibly popular in Nepal. It's reserved for special occasions and celebrations, like Dashain, Nepal's biggest festival. There are many different types of stew and curry in Nepal that feature mutton, and mutton is a popular meat to use in momos or fried rice as well.

SO WHAT IS KABRU'S GOAT STEW?

Unfortunately we still don't have enough information to give a definitive answer.

However, I would say that thukpa and Gorkhali lamb can both be ruled out, since noodles are the core of thukpa and Kabru doesn't mention that his stew is missing noodles. Meanwhile Gorkhali lamb doesn't seem to be a proper stew.

So then what we have left is Rogan josh, and Indian or Nepali mutton curries. Based on all the little tidbits we know, I'd be inclined to assume Kabru's stew is one of these Nepali curries, since they are so iconic of Nepali cuisine and are a big part of the local culture, and that seems to match what Kui tells us in the manga - that this food is a cherished childhood memory.

I've sprinkled some links throughout this post, but you can read more about Nepali mutton curry, and other Nepali food at all of these sites:

https://nepalicooking.tripod.com/lamb.htm

https://www.buzzfeed.com/anupkaphle/here-we-goat-again

https://www.buzzfeed.com/anupkaphle/keep-calm-and-curry-on

https://www.foodpleasureandhealth.com/nepali-style-goat-pakku/

MUSHROOM POSTSCRIPT: I have seen some people get confused by the goat stew page in the manga. They think that when Kabru says "my mother used to make this stew for me" he is talking about Milsiril, the elven woman who took care of him after his birth mother was killed.

Though we do not know 100% for certain, I think this is an objectively incorrect reading of the text. I may make a more comprehensive post about this another time, but:

Kabru says he ate this stew as a child, that he hasn't had it in a long time, and that he's looking forward to having it again. He says he is relying on childhood memories in order to make the stew.

If this stew is something Milsiril made for him, why did she stop making it? Why hasn't Kabru had it in a long time? Was there a goat blight for the last 10 years? Did she stop making it to punish Kabru for wanting to leave her? This seems like important information Kui would have told us.

The much more logical assumption is that Kabru's birth mother, who died when he was 7, is the one that made lamb stew, and that's why Kabru hasn't had it in a long time, struggles to remember how to make it, and also why he's so excited to eat it.

This is in direct contrast with the elf fruit cake that Milsiril forced Kabru to eat as a child. Kabru's birth mother made him something he loves, that he is eager to eat again, while Milsiril forced him to eat elf cake so often that it has become his most disliked food.

Kabru and Ryoko Kui never refer to Milsiril as Kabru's mother, the phrase “foster parent” (養母 or 育ての親が, lit. meaning “parent who raised me” in contrast with a birth/blood parent) is used instead in both the manga itself and in the World Guide.

There are several other things like this (how Kabru talks about Milsiril) which I think makes it clear that Kabru probably doesn't call Milsiril mother willingly, and that he goes out of his way to put distance between her and himself. He doesn't hate her, but he doesn't want her to be a part of his life.

Milsiril is a wealthy noble in a society where women are equal to men. It's unlikely that she personally does much cooking, and even if she does cook as a hobby, it's unlikely that Kabru watched her butcher a goat - servants or the butcher would prepare the meat for her.

Milsiril is a fussy eater, and hates most foods. Goat tends to have a strong flavor and is sometimes gamey. I don't think she'd eat goat... Meanwhile, as I stated previously, goat is a delicacy in Nepal, so it would make perfect sense for goat to be a special treat Kabru grew up eating.

Yes, Milsiril sometimes does things she doesn't want to do because Kabru asks... But both examples we have of this, she tries to turn it into a punishment. She explicitly says she's training Kabru so that he'll give up, not because she wants him to get strong and succeed. She wants him to fail. She takes him to her family reunion to prove to Kabru that it's unpleasant, so he won't want to go again. Both times this tactic doesn't work, but she clearly states that this is her intent.

I could go on about this for hours, but this post is really about goat stew!!! But just wanted to throw that in there in case anybody is confused about who exactly cooked goat stew for Kabru.

As I said, there's always the possibility that I'm wrong, but I think the evidence is pretty overwhelming that when Kabru says "my mother cooked this for me" he isn't talking about Milsiril.

[joooooniecore]

Fine line between a fan and a friend

idol!jiminxfem!reader, strangers to lovers, pure fluff, they are so cute

PLOT: an unexpected turn of events when you meet your idol.

*the reader's ethnicity is INDIAN for the sake of the plot*

WARNINGS: no warnings, pure fluff, A HIGHLY FICTIONAL PLOT PLEASE DON'T JUDGE, I AM DELULU

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Your POV

The drizzling rain and soothing weather made you snuggle up in your blanket more as you contemplated on whether you should attend university or not. You are currently in your dorm room and the weather outside deserves a day in but you still get up, dragging your feet to the washroom to rinse your face.

It has been few months since you have settled in this dorm in Seoul. Studying abroad, away from family has already taken a toil on you but you are trying to get used to this new norm. The university is planning a cultural meet today and unfortunately you are one of the volunteers. Being a person who socializes a lot and who is also better over average academically does come with its disadvantages. Every professor knows you by name and hence mostly chooses you in extracurricular activities.

The thought of disappointing them by staying in your bed sent shivers down your spine. You hate making people upset. It might seem like a sweet trait but sometimes it really ruins you mentally and physically.

After freshening up, you decide to go for a simple and cozy look with baggy jeans and a plain tee and threw in the jacket provided by the university. You apply light makeup as its gonna ruin anyway when you will sweat from running to and fro during the event. You decide to go with sneakers because there was no way you are gonna wear heels and survive till the end. You put some snacks in your bag, your charger, sunscreen, a book just in case, wallet and head out.

You walk to the nearby bus stop and wait for the bus to arrive. On normal days you would cook and eat in the dorm and then head out but the packed schedule today has forced you to reach college early and grab a bite from the canteen. The canteen food is actually not that bad but you love cooking so much that there is always something available to eat.

The bus arrives right on time and you settle in on a window seat, putting the headphones in your ear, tuning out the world and getting engrossed in the book you are reading.

Jimin's POV:

It's today. The day they are performing at the ____ University. The performance is a surprise to the students and the authority has made sure to not even let the volunteers know about it. It's something exciting but also nerve wrecking. He got up pretty early today and was lead to the company in the car. The moment he entered the designated room for dress and makeup, he can hear the chaos of his bandmates.

He opened the door and was greeted by a grinning Jungkook. "Jiminie hyung I really would love your opinion on this."

He rolled his eyes and gestured Jungkook to go along. They settled and Jungkook brought in two outfits, already ready from head to toe on hangers. One of them was a simple look, with the shimmery jacket and funky jeans while the other was a bolder look with a sheer turtleneck and designs all over it.

"I should wear this one, right?", came Jungkook's voice from behind the outfits. He was pointing at the bold one.

Jimin looked across the room in an attempt to read the atmosphere and realized that everyone has probably said no to the youngest's bold attempt of a look as after all it was a university event. Jimin smiled a little at Jungkook's cute antics and decided to go along with everyone. Well he can't risk some people hating on him.

"I don't think you should wear Jungkookie.", came Jimin's soft airy voice.

Jungkook stared at him wide eyed, definitely upset that he has no one else to ask to. He pouted and said, "But I even called you hyung huh!"

Jimin laughed as he realized the actual reason of the pleasant behavior he received a few minutes ago. Everyone around them cooed at how cute Jungkook looked. Taehyung decided to come forward, pinching the maknae's cheeks and asking him to keep the bold outfit for a different concert when they go on a tour. Jungkook despite being sad agreed to it and went inside the dressing room to finally get ready.

Jimin also got his outfit and changed into it. It was a simple outfit; they weren't doing any broad concepts today. He sat on the chair to get his makeup done while Namjoon briefed them about today's event. The plan was simple. They will get in the cars and will be led into the university through a different gate. Then they will stay in the VIP section of the building and the volunteers will be informed about the surprise event and they will lead them to the main stage through the corridors so as to avoid any attention. It looked very easy but they all knew that there were many loopholes.

Finally all seven of them were ready as they got in their respective cars and drove to the venue.

Your POV:

You reached university pretty early and decided to grab something to eat before you meet the coordinators. The event today was a large one and the stage looked beautiful. It almost looked like an award function stage and you were so impressed by the people who designed it. The authority has only decided upon five to seven main volunteers who will work directly under the head coordinator and will stay with them. The other volunteers will stay near the stage and will help maintain the backstage decorum. They will come to know about the decision on who are the main volunteers when they reach the meeting room.

You quickly ate your sandwich and a small bowl of mixed fruits and headed towards the meeting room. You were the third one to reach there. The two who came before you were your friends. You sat beside them gossiping about everything as the other volunteers filled in the space. You all were waiting for your coordinator to arrive and brief you all about everything.

Ms. Kim soon came in and briefed you about the rules and regulations and what to do in certain situations of mishap. You all listened carefully, nodding when required. Events these huge needed strong headed people to maintain the order. People can do things that are rowdy and it is the work of the volunteers to make sure that one person's action doesn't disrupt the entire equilibrium of the event.

The coordinators then discussed among one another and spoke, "We will be choosing 7 main volunteers. Who are interested?"

Obviously almost every hand went up in anticipation. You decided to not raise your hand because you seriously wanted to see the concert and not work in the main building. But your friend held your hand, forcefully raising it up.

The head coordinator, Ms. Shin chose very carefully and wrote the seven names in the notebook she always carries with her.

"I will definitely get chosen. They are bringing some VIP people, maybe film stars so they will need pretty volunteers."

You knew the girl somewhat. She is in one of your classes and her obnoxious attitude just makes it worse. She always has the idea that anyone who looks her way, falls in love with her which is plain ridiculous. You decided to maintain silence because unnecessary talking was never your favorite thing to do, especially when there are higher authorities present.

Ms. Shin looked up from his notebook and cleared her throat which brought everyone's attention back to her stern face. Ms. Shin might look like the strictest teacher ever but she is an absolute sweetheart too. You remember when you first joined the university, you had some issues because of the language barrier and Ms. Shin made sure that no one bad mouthed about you in Korean language because you were still on a learning stage of the Hangeul.

You smiled at the memory and decided to pay attention. Ms. Shin spoke in her deep undertone, "I have chosen seven names and I will write them on the whiteboard."

Everyone held their breath, in anticipation.

She one by one wrote the names and when the seven names came into view you laughed a little because your name was there and that obnoxious girl's wasn't. You don't even know her name to begin with. She tried to convince the teachers present that she deserves this role but they were very strict about the decision they made. They asked the seven of us to stay while the others were asked to look into the back stage matters before the event begins.

The seven of us sat down on the conference table with Ms. Shin as the head. She had a very strict expression on her face which was weird because normally she would soften after a few minutes. We all waited for her to speak. She seemed to collect her thoughts and began.

"This is a very important thing and you all will not only be volunteering but basically will be making this program a success. The fate of this program is in your hand. We have invited very special guests and it should stay confidential until they make a presence on the stage."

You somehow guessed it to be some sort of band and became a bit nervous because you didn't want to embarrass yourself in front of celebrities.

"We have invited the members of Bangtan Sonyeondan to perform at the event."

Everyone's eyes sparkled and you? You were spellbound. Never in thousand years you have imagined to meet your ultimate idols this casually. You became even more nervous but you didn't want to show that to anyone. You were internally screaming for sure.

"I know it is exciting but they will enter the building in a discreet manner and you seven will volunteer each of the members till the concert begins. No one outside of this conference room should know about this. That is why we didn't allow all the volunteers here to discuss this. And it is in your hands now. If you all can maintain this secret till the evening, then this program will definitely be a success."

You scanned your eyes across the room, taking it all in. The seven boys and girls who were chosen were all known to you as extremely loyal. You have worked with them before in various events and they are actually very good at maintaining confidential information. You sighed in relief and focused on the schedule that was provided. Ms. Shin spoke after everyone was fine with the schedule.

"I have no wish to show favoritism so I have prepared seven chit papers and the one you pick will decide the member you get."

Everyone laughed, the atmosphere loosening up a bit. This was seriously so creative of the authorities to let us play a game of luck. We one by one put our hand in the bowl and picked up a piece of paper. On the count of three, we all opened it in one go, screams and giggles following the reveal.

You on the other hand stood still. The chit in your hand opened, and the name revealed which made your heart skip a beat and your soul drop to your stomach. You got Jimin. The. Park. Jimin. Your bias and the member you adore and relate to the most. You seriously thought this was all a dream and you couldn't scream or laugh. Your friend took notice of you sitting still and nudged you. You stared at her and slowly showed the small piece of paper in your hand. Your friend went wide eyed, knowing very well how much you fangirl over the boy and hugged you tight.

***

Time skip to when the cars arrived.

Jimin's POV:

The members slowly got down from the cars and were escorted to the VIP section in a rather peculiar manner. When they have finally settled down, Hoseok spoke first.

"Wah we look like gang members just by the way we came here all hidden.". Everyone laughed about it as the coordinators entered and greeted them.

Jimin sat beside Taehyung, discussing about the songs they were planning to perform today. The organizers settled down and discussed about the schedule of the event while the all nodded about it.

"We have carefully chosen seven volunteers for each one of you as if you are escorted together, then it might attract attention so we will be sending one member at a time. Is that okay?"

Namjoon discussed it with the manager and spoke, "Its fine but we want to meet the volunteers first."

His voice was stern which was obvious because some people would take this as an opportunity to hurt the idols which can cause a lot of issues. The coordinators nodded and asked one of the assistants to go call the volunteers in.

They waited for a while as 7 university students filled in the space, wearing id cards that indicated them as chosen volunteers. They all greeted in unison, a little flustered probably as Jimin noticed. He smiled a bit at the shyness of the seven boys and girls and laughed how the age gap is so less between him and most of them. He scanned the seven nervous faces, eyes stopping on one girl in particular.

She was definitely not Korean is what Jimin concluded. Her big eyes were the first thing he noticed, which were very beautiful and slightly nervous as she ducked her head whenever she made eye contact with any of the members. Jimin was sitting on the far-right corner and so he was able to take in her look completely without getting caught as creepy.

He wasn't someone who took notice of the skin tone, but the honey burnt skin color was something he has always loved and this girl was beautiful. Her hair ending just below her waistline in soft curls and the oversized jacket made her look even more adorable. In the life of a celebrity as popular as them, Jimin has seen many beautiful ladies with such polished looks and exquisite behavior but to see someone so simple yet eye catching truly made him blush.

Taehyung nudged him and softly spoke, "You have been staring at her for more than five minutes dude."

Jimin blushed harder and realized that no one else has taken notice of his sneaky behavior, he looked at Taehyung and just shook his head in defeat. "Not my fault. She is extremely beautiful."

"Our Jiminie is in love I see. You should ask for her number.", teased Taehyung.

"Yah, I know dating among idols is allowed but that doesn't mean I am brave enough to ask pretty girls out.", Jimin said through gritted teeth.

It was true. Even if the media showed a side of Jimin who was known as a very flirtatious person, Jimin was very shy in real life. He would really hide in the background whenever the group went to any social event and would only talk to people he is comfortable with. Someone who knows Jimin personally, will say he is a very funny person but he rarely shows that side of himself to strangers which makes it hard for him to find any potential dates.

He came out of his thoughts as the coordinator spoke.

"We have allotted one volunteer to each member. If it is okay with you all, then we can reveal the names of each person."

Namjoon seemed pretty satisfied after having some conversation with the volunteers. He has always been someone who can easily see through lies and these students were able to win his trust in a short period of time. The problem basically was that no guards could be allowed with the members because it might draw in attention so the volunteers will work as guards and will use the corridors (which are empty) to take the members to the back stage.

There was no actual threat and there are security members allotted in each nook and corner of the building so there was no particular headache of the managers and members. Namjoon asked the coordinators to continue with the plan and let them know about the details.

The coordinators one by one called out the names as the volunteers stepped in and informed about the band member they are asked to escort. When it finally came to Jimin's turn, he paid attention finally.

"For you sir, we have allotted Ms. ____."

Jimin's eyes slowly went up the direction the organizer was pointing and he silently thanked his luck. He will be able to talk with the girl who has caught his eye from the very beginning. Namjoon could see the mischief hidden in his bandmate's eyes and softly pulled him in and whispered.

"I know you want to know more about her but please don't drag it too much if you don't decide on actually dating her."

Jimin knew this. He would never lead anyone on and then leave them. He has never been like that. The dates he goes on, always goes on well but the decisions of never meeting again are mutual. So he simply nods and gives a gentle smile.

Your POV:

The nerves have exploded and you might be in heaven right now. You are seeing The Park Jimin in front of you and he is absolutely breathtaking in real life too. The way he softly smiles and his eyes crinkle up into crescents is making your heart flutter a bit. When you got briefed about all the threats by Namjoon, you couldn't keep your head straight. Namjoon talked so professionally but was gentle about everything he said. It was really visible how he cared about his members well-being.

You listened carefully to everything he said and nodded. He asked you few questions personally and you answered them honestly. You weren't going to jeopardize the safety of such popular people. After the briefing the coordinators started calling out names of the allotted volunteers and you just waited for your turn nervously.

The moment your name got called, you looked up and walked forward greeting the members once again. Then you turned towards Jimin and he was already staring at you with an unreadable expression. His face soon softened and he gave his famous smile as he moved towards you and shook your shaky hands.

"Your hands are so cold. Are you nervous Ms._____.", Jimin softly said, his eyes giving away the mischief in his voice.

You blushed, retracting your hands away and nodded, "Well its not everyday I get to meet my idols."

Jimin laughed, patting your back and saying you to relax a bit. He asked you to sit beside him as you both got used to each other. It was necessary because you both will be spending the next few hours together and it might get boring. You settled down, sort of nervously and were very conscious about your surroundings.

No one's POV in particular:

Jimin might seem very calm and professional, but he is squealing inside. His eyes were unable to leave your pretty eyes as you ducked your head, a habit of yours definitely. He allowed you to settle in comfortably on the sofa beside him before asking you about yourself.

"Tell me about yourself. Let's start from there."

"Umm okay so my name is ____, that you know obviously. I am from India. I have been here as an exchange student."

The close proximity was making you all nervous as you couldn't take your eyes off the handsome face of his. He looked so perfect from this close and you just wished to capture this moment in your heart forever. You were a bit scared to ask for a selfie so you pushed that idea out of your head.

"Wow that might have been tough right?"

"In the beginning yes but then I took some language classes to become fluent in the native language and it was fine after that."

Jimin nodded and said, "Well hello I am Park Jimin, I am a singer."

You laughed at the antics of him trying to make this a normal conversation between two strangers but you knew he would definitely freak out if he saw the amount of postcards you had of him. Nevertheless, you decided to play along.

"Nice to meet you Jimin. Do I know any of your songs by any chance?", you smiled, teasing him.

Jimin looked at you in shock and then doubled up in laughter as he looked at Taehyung and said, "See I knew I would vibe with her."

Taehyung who was listening to the conversation laughed too. The mood lightened as many more questions were asked and you both shared your interests and dislikes. He was shocked when he came to know that you have never been to a single Bangtan concert and promised you to send a ticket personally next time.

The conversation then went to favorite books, movies and hobbies. You loosened up a lot and shared everything as he did the same. You talked about your love for dance which was a common ground for both of you and he seemed very interested in the form of dance you knew and asked several questions about it.

Soon it was time for them to be escorted to stage. The plan was to take one member at a time. Starting in age order, Jin was the first one to be escorted. The volunteers were asked to stay in contact through their in-ear pieces. The first member reached safely to great relief and slowly the other members were escorted one by one.

When it was Jimin's turn, you got a bit nervous. You were scared to mess this up but still listened to the instructions and escorted him.

When you both were finally out of the room and walking towards the backstage, Jimin spoke suddenly.

"Don't worry _____, I will protect you.", he had a cheeky grin plastered on his face.

You rolled your eyes a bit and said, "I strongly believe it is my duty to protect you."

Jimin laughed, which lightened the mood as he patted your shoulder. You definitely would never get used to him being so friendly with you. He so easily warmed up to you and acted like you both have been friends for years now.

"By the way I forgot to ask you something.", said Jimin thoughtfully.

"What is it?"

"Who is your bias in Bangtan?"

Your brain short circuited. He knew that you were a fangirl but he shouldn't know that you are basically devoted to his postcards. You at first decided to avoid the question with an intelligent reply but knew that's not gonna work on him so you gave in.

"It's you and please don't get uncomfortable.", you were scared that he will go stiff.

On the contrary Jimin, smiled, his eyes crinkling up as he seemed very satisfied with this discovery.

Jimin was all giddy inside. He kept the façade perfectly and acted like he was just pleased with the answer despite the fact that the prettiest girl has him as her bias is something he is gonna boast about forever. Despite all this, he was too shy to ask for your number.

"So you have my picture as your wallpaper huh?", teased Jimin, still maintaining the giddiness.

You blushed profusely and nodded, reaching into your pocket to take out your phone and handing it over to him. There was indeed a picture of him smiling at the camera, probably a screenshot from one of his lives as the laugh was too candid to be a picture he clicked voluntarily.

"Wow did you take the screenshot?", Jimin was genuinely impressed.

"Yes, I did and then edited it."

"It still looks a bit blurry but cute."

You laughed, taking your phone back. As you saw ahead, you have almost reached the stage and you informed the organizers about the safe arrival. He joined his members as you stood along with your friends in the background for any help they needed. Basically you were his personal assistant for a day. Soon all the members came in and the announcements began. They were ready to go on stage as the makeup artists touched up their makeup and the volunteers including you helped them with their in-ear pieces.

You could see the atmosphere growing tense as the members nervously cleared their throat and got ready to perform while warming up. When their names were announced, the entire arena boomed with screams and cheers as you volunteers wished them luck. You looked at Jimin, indicating him a silent 'all the best' to which he nodded, smiled and winked before he followed the others.

Your friend slowly came up to you and nudged you out of your shocked state.

"Wow that was some intense level flirting I just witnessed."

You blushed and scolded her, "Shut up. He was just being nice. He is a professional."

"Looks like he wants more than just professional from you."

"No he doesn't you idiot. He is just super friendly."

You all fell into silence as you waited for any further orders. This gave you some time to think about how today went and you were grateful you decided to attend university. You saw the performance through the TV they have set up in the backstage. After three songs, they came back and while the others got ready for their next performance, Jimin was supposed to do a solo act. You helped him by handing him water and wipe off any sweat that was on his face, making sure to not remove the makeup.

Jimin got changed into a delicate white top and white jeans. He was supposed to perform a contemporary dance which was based on an angel like concept. The makeup artists added some stones around his eyes and gave him beautiful, intricate jewelry to go with the outfit. You were in awe by the way he looked unearthly.

"I think I lost you _____.", Jimin teased, snapping his fingers in front of your face.

"Well sorry that I am seeing my idol in front of my eyes in a beautiful attire."

"I am flattered actually.", laughed Jimin. He still had ten minutes before the filler performance ended and he was talking with you to keep his nerves in check. It was something about you and the way you never panicked that kept him grounded.

Then suddenly Jimin got this mischievous idea and snatched your phone out of your hand, opening the camera. You stared at him in shock as he raised the phone to perfect level and clicked few pictures. Then he asked you to sit beside him and clicked a selfie with you.

"What was that for?", you asked, still shocked.

"I didn't like the picture you had of me as your wallpaper so now you have options to choose from.", Jimin said, rather proud of himself.

You were in shock at this sudden decision he made but smiled nonetheless. Then he was called for the performance and you helped him with the devices. After everything was over, they got changed into comfier clothes and came out to officially thank the volunteers. They gave a motivating speech about how the volunteers did a great job and one by one the members thanked their assistants for the assistance they gave.

_______________________________________________________

Time skip: 2 months later.

Your POV:

You were having a busy week and the schedule was packed with exams and assignments. The pressure of scoring good and keeping your position of a good student intact was getting more and more difficult. You have finally completed 50% of your degree and the higher courses were tougher than anything. You spent most of your days in the library, studying and collecting required notes as you got ready for the finals.

After the finals you will be going on a trip with your friends to LA for few days. It was the only thing that kept you motivated. Bangtan were supposed to hold a concert there and your friends have secured some good seats there through the relatives who stay there. You were very excited to see them finally as an audience but also a tiny part of you expected Jimin to recognize you even though it wasn't something that was possible.

You still remember the event fresh as if it happened yesterday and your heart beats faster every time you think about it. You have actually used the pictures as your wallpaper and it gives you a beautiful memory to hold on to. Even if your eyes look tired in the selfie, and you have your hair up in a messy bun because of the heat, you could see your smile was genuine and that gave you some sort of comfort.

You are currently on your way back to your apartment. Yes, you have shifted to a new apartment, and you finally can experience living alone. You love staying alone at home and spending your time as you please which wasn't possible in dorms. You have also planned to get a job in Seoul itself so investing in a good apartment was the first step towards stability. Your parents flew in and helped you shift your stuffs and also buy you some new furniture that were required. The apartment is a 1 BHK flat and is cozy and perfect for one person. You like your space small and you have personalized the interior as you pleased.

You walk up to the gate and the security guard stands up to give you some parcels you have received. Your family and friends sometimes send you gifts and since it has been just a month since you shifted, the house warming gifts were still coming in.

You got into your apartment and freshened up. You grabbed some leftover food and ate that. After that you decided to open the parcels. Most of them were from friends and family as suspected but there was one parcel that had no address on it except yours. You were a bit suspicious about it. You slowly opened it to see a beautiful set of ghungroos (used in some Indian classical dances)

You had no idea who.

could have given you that because firstly, not many knew about your love for dance and secondly it is rare to find this in a foreign country. You looked inside the box to find a letter.

Dear _______,

I am really bad at writing letters so I will just say this. Hope you loved the gift. It might sound a bit stalker like of how I knew where you lived but please don't be mad at me for that. I hope you continue your dance as you said it makes you feel whole again. And this might be risky but here's my number if you want to thank me you know. (winking emoji)

(a phone number)

Yours, Jimin.

You were in utter shock as the letter slipped from your hands. Never in your wildest dreams you would have imagined this to happen. Your hands were shaking due to nervousness and excitement. You quickly grabbed the phone and put the number in. At first you contemplated as it was pretty late and you might be disturbing him so you settled on texting him instead.

You

Hello. This is _____.

You locked your phone and threw it on the sofa so that you don't stare at it like a maniac. It would be embarrassing if it were a prank from your friends. And maybe its just a wrong number they randomly put in.

Just then your phone pinged with a new notification.

Unknown Number

Hello _____. I believe you have received my gift.

You

Yes, I have. But umm is it really you? Jimin?

Unknown number

Wanna find out?

"Huh? What did he mean by that?", you said to yourself. Just then your phone starting ringing, notifying an incoming video call. You panicked slightly, brushing your hair with your hand to make yourself look presentable even though you would be disappointed if it was seriously a prank.

You answered the call, the screen lighting up but the other person's face really wasn't visible. Your assumptions of it being a prank were coming true as you squinted your eyes and said, "Well I can't see you."

"Oh sorry.", came a response and a soft light got switched on, probably a night lamp.

That's when you saw him. No it wasn't a prank. It was Jimin. Definitely Jimin. The angelic face, his cheeks red from blushing because he was embarrassed he forgot to turn the lights on. You stared in shock as your mouth opened but no words came out.

"You really thought it was a prank, right?", Jimin laughed.

You pouted a bit and said, "Well I haven't heard much cases of idols sending gifts so."

"I am not an idol though.", Jimin said in a soft voice.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I am not an idol right now _____. I am in my room, my personal space where I am not The Park Jimin. I am simply Jimin. The Jimin who is shy and keeps to himself. The Jimin only his family members and close ones know about."

You were in utter shock as the words slowly settled in. Yes he wasn't an idol right now. He is simply someone who wants you to be in his personal world. The world where he doesn't have to keep a façade on. You smiled, genuinely and thanked him for allowing you to be his friend.

Jimin asked you again to continue dancing and send him videos once in a while. You kept the phone on a stand and wore the ghungroos to show him how they are tied and how they look.

"They are very heavy though. Are you comfortable?"

"Yes Jimin. I have worn heavier ones."

The moment you put them on, you felt like a happy kid again, who first fell in love with dancing. You danced a bit, reminiscing the lessons you once learned and were shocked that you can still dance well. When you finally came out of your own tiny bubble you realized that you have kept Jimin on call. You picked up the phone.

"Sorry. I got too engrossed in it."

"Its fine. I loved watching you dance. You looked so beautiful."

You will never get used to how he compliments so effortlessly. You blushed but decided to tease back.

"You shouldn't give out compliments so easily. People might think that you like them."

Jimin laughed at your fired up demand and said, "Well I only compliment people whom I like so."

You thought you glitched because you definitely heard that wrong or didn't get the meaning correct.

"Huh? W-What do you mean?"

"Gosh you are dumb ____. I like you. I have liked you since the day I saw you. I couldn't muster up the courage to ask you then and so this is my way of asking you to go on a date with me."

You were definitely gonna faint because Park Jimin was asking you out but then you realized that this isn't the idol image that is talking, it is his real human feelings that he spoke and you kind of hated yourself for fangirling in this situation.

"I will go on a date with you but we have to first know each other more than an idol and a fan for us to make it official. Because I have been your fan for so long and I don't want that to create a heart eye filter whenever I see you. I need to learn who you are as a person first. Is that okay?"

"Yes! Perfect. I will make sure that we get to know each other better."

"Now that this is sorted, how did you get my address?"

Jimin's eyes bulged open in shock as he blushed a little and ducked his head in the pillow.

"Oh umm yeah so you booked VIP tickets for our LA concert, right?", he said rather carefully.

"Yes?"

"You put your address there for the tickets to arrive at your house. I saw your name on the list and asked the staff members for the address saying that you are my school friend who I lost contact with."

"That was definitely stalker like Mr. Park Jimin.", you laughed, teasing him about it.

"A man was desperate okay. You looked so pretty that day that I was so excited when I saw your profile there."

You were actually pleased and smiled. You both talked till late night and decided to meet for a date soon.

________________________________________________________

Author's note: I hope you all liked this oneshot. Please ignore any sort of typos or grammatical mistakes. I am thinking of more plots to post in future. Please do comment down ideas. I would love to have some scenarios that I can use in future stories.

[runningpsychic]

Why Venba resonated with me so much

First of all, I want to preface this article with who I am. I am not Indian nor Tamil, but I am an Taiwanese immigrant living in the Netherlands, and I also spent some of my childhood in the US.

Using food as the through line for the story is genius. Food really represents so much about a culture. By moving abroad, I feel I am broken from that lineage. My grandmother worked as a chef, and my mother learned from her too. But now that I am abroad, I don't have access to the same ingredients, and often it is just easier to cook the same way as the locals do. There's a very limited number of dishes I remember how to cook, and it's hard to even get inspiration. I only wish I could've learned more from my mom, or have a cookbook passed down from my grandmother. Seeing Venba and Kavin try to remember their home dishes reminds me of trying to recreate a flavor I had in my childhood, with nothing but a blurry memory, and my general knowledge of Chinese cooking principles.

When I was born, my parents felt that Taiwan didn't offer enough chances, and they want me to be a global citizen, so they taught me English, by only showing me English TV shows, and later on, we got to live in the US for a couple years. But when I returned, I no longer fit in. Even though I spent most of my childhood in my own country, I felt like a foreigner. I related to internet culture more than my home culture. 

I cried a lot when Kavin said he felt like a fraud, because he tried not to be Tamil when it was inconvenient. I also wished that I was born in western europe. I thought it would make things much easier. I'd already know the culture, the language, the way of life, and have citizenship. I do not blame Kavin for wanting to distance himself from that culture. If anything, the fault lies in the locals not being accepting of foreign cultures.

This game reminded me that there is something unique in having a foot in both doors. I have a unique perspective on cultures that most people don't have. And that is why it's so important to tell these stories in games. Like Rosa's trans immigrant story from Goodbye Volcano High, it helps others understand my experience, and it helps me understand and accept myself.

[fatehbaz]

In the 19th century, British colonists faced several challenges in India, [...] [including] malaria. [...] The imperialists needed an answer to the problem and they found it in quinine. [...] [T]he British promptly embraced quinine, consuming tonnes of it every year by the mid-1800s. [...] Quinine was so bitter that soldiers and officials began mixing the powder with soda and sugar, unwittingly giving birth to “tonic water”. [...] [I]t prompted Winston Churchill to once proclaim, “The gin and tonic has saved more Englishmen’s lives, and minds, than all the doctors in the Empire.” [...] If by some good fortune malaria did not claim them, plague, cholera, dysentery, enteric fever, hepatitis or the unforgiving sun could. Preserving and protecting the body was [...] crucial to the success of the colonial project. As historian EM Collingham aptly summarised in her study, “The British experience of India was intensely physical.”

One way the colonists tried to deal with this challenge was through food and drinks. “The association between food and the maintenance of health was a concern of Anglo-Indian doctors, dieticians and the British authorities throughout the duration of colonial rule [...],” writes Sam Goodman in Unpalatable Truths: Food and Drink as Medicine in Colonial British India. [...]

---

The Medical Gazette, for instance, recommended treating dysentery with a “low diet” comprising thin chicken soup [...]. Botanist-physician George Watt too extolled the virtues of sago. In A Dictionary of the Economic Products of India (1893), he wrote that sago is “easily digestible and wholly destitute of irritating properties” and in demand [...]. For fever, weakness and sundry ailments, beef tea [...] was considered an ideal remedy. And for cholera, The Seamen’s New Medical Guide (1842) prescribed brandy during the worst of the sickness and half a tumbler of mulled wine with toasted bread and castor oil [...]. Ship masters and pantrymen would stock their vessels with foods with known medicinal benefits such as sago, arrowroot, lime juice, desiccated milk and condensed milk (the iconic Anglo Swiss Condensed Milk tins, later known as Milkmaid, enjoyed a permanent spot on British ships).

---

Businessmen too recognised the precarity of life abroad and realised that therein lay a perfect commercial opportunity. By the 19th century, numerous companies had cropped up across Europe, including in England, that would sell food in hermetically sealed tin containers.

One of these was Messrs Brand & Co. Recommended highly in Culinary Jottings for Madras by Colonel Robert Kenney-Herbert, Messrs Brand & Co had several offerings [...]: essence of beef, concentrated beef tea, beef tea jelly, meat lozenges, [...] potted meat, York and game pie, and A1 sauce [...]. Another company, John Moir & Sons, focused mostly on canned soups [...], selling oxtail, turtle, giblet and hare.

---

By the late 19th century such was the popularity of canned foods that rare would be the pantry in a colonial home that didn’t store them along with medical provisions like opium, quinine, chlorodyne and Fowler’s solution (an arsenic compound). [...] As Flora Steele and Grace Gardiner wrote in The Complete Indian Housekeeper and Cook, “A good mistress will remember the breadwinner requires blood-forming nourishment, and the children whose constitutions are being built up day by day, sickly or healthy, according to the food given them; and bear in mind the fact that in India, especially, half the comfort of life depends on clean, wholesome, digestible food.”

To assist the British woman in this ostensible duty, there were a number of cookbooks and housekeeping manuals [...]. The Englishwoman in India, for instance, published in 1864 under the pseudonym A Lady Resident, had a whole section with recipes for “infants and invalids”. These included carrot pap cooked into a congee with arrowroot [...] and toast water (well-toasted bread soaked in water). Steele and Gardiner too had a few recipe recommendations [...], including champagne jelly (“most useful in excessive vomiting”) and the dangerous-sounding Cannibal Broth (beef essence), which they said should be consumed with cream [...] to treat extreme debility and typhoid. [...]

---

One dish born of this encounter was the pish pash. The pish pash is considered an invention of the colonial cook, who adapted the kedgeree – the colonial cousin of khichdi – into a light nursery food. The famous Hobson-Jobson defined it as “a slop of rice soup with small pieces of meat” [...]. None other than Warren Hastings, the first governor-general of Bengal, gave confirmation of its efficacy when in 1784 he wrote to his wife from the sick bed [...]. There are enough records to show that the imperialists counted marh (starch water from cooked rice) and bael (wood apple) sherbet among their go-to remedies and benefited from the medicinal qualities of chiretta water and ajwain-infused water.

---

All text above by: Priyadarshini Chatterjee. “How food came to the rescue of the British in India.” Scroll.in (Magazine format). 26 April 2023. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me.]

[mariacallous]

Hello, this is Kostyantyn Nechyporenko. I’m a researcher at the Kyiv Independent’s War Crimes Investigations Unit.

In this issue of The Witness, our newsletter about Russian war crimes, I’ll talk about how Russia exploits poverty in Asian and African countries to recruit soldiers for its war against Ukraine.

On Aug. 1, 2024, the Indian government told its parliament that it knew of eight Indian citizens who died in Ukraine while serving in the Russian army. The exact number of Indians serving in the Russian military is unknown, but the government knows of 63 Indian nationals who "have sought early discharge" from the Russian army.

At the first glance, this news may seem strange. Russia’s population is almost three times bigger than Ukraine’s – why would Russia look for soldiers abroad?

Moreover, why would it recruit soldiers from the other side of the continent and spend resources on logistics instead of finding "volunteers" nearby, from the countries that are culturally closer, where people may speak Russian and have even served in an army that is similar to that of Russia?

Russia doesn’t limit itself with India. In June, the Kyiv Independent published a video of a questioning of a Nepali POW who fought for Russia in Ukraine. Russian special services send hundreds of people to conduct secret or semi-secret recruitment in dozens of countries. Ukrainian military intelligence has said that Russians are recruiting citizens of at least 21 countries for the war in Ukraine.

The list includes post-Soviet countries, as well as Serbia, and a number of countries in South Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. This list is probably not exhaustive, as videos and photos of alleged citizens of Somalia, China, Vietnam, Cameroon, and Ghana participating in the war on the side of the Russians have surfaced.

What do we know about Russia’s international recruitment and why it’s conducting it?

The recruitment is active in the countries where Russia can afford to not care about locals’ discontent, where there won't be even a diplomatic note of protest or condemnation.

It is telling that the reaction of the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry to Russian recruitment of its citizens was to propose to set up a "joint committee" with Russia to address the following issues: "payment of compensation for the deceased and the wounded, the plight of the uncontactable Sri Lankans, and the possibility of voluntary returns." Despite the obviously abusive attitude towards the Sri Lankans in the Russian military, the statement has no hint of resentment or dissatisfaction.

One might think that the point of international recruitment is to give the impression that Russia’s war is supported by a large number of countries. However, there seems to be not enough publicity to support this version. There is no evidence of a systematic public campaign by the Russian state and Kremlin-controlled media that would highlight that volunteers from around the world are joining their fight.

From what I've seen, most videos and photos of foreigners in the Russian army show that Russian recruiters tend to target poor and embattled countries.

Syria is the most appalling example. After years of brutal campaigns in support of the Assad regime, Russia is taking advantage of the country’s dire economic situation, lack of essential goods and staple foods, and many Syrians struggling to provide for their families. Some public sector employees, for example, can earn as little as $20 a month. For many Syrians, the promise of a soldier’s wage of $300 to $3,000 per month is very tempting. In addition, recruiters often promise non-combat roles, "work in the rear," or even "guarding facilities" thousands of miles away from the combat zones. Often, it’s deliberate deception.

Those who accept the offers risk ending up in so-called "meat assaults" – this is what Ukrainians call Russian tactics in which waves of infantry with little or no mechanized support attempt to wear down the defenders of Ukrainian fortified positions with continuous attacks. Such tactics are not uncommon in the Russian army, known for its blatant disregard for casualties.

This is exactly what happened to one of the Syrians who was lured to Russia with the promise of "guarding gold mines in eastern Siberia" and a tempting salary, where he quickly found himself in the ranks of the Russian army. In an audio message to his uncle, he describes how he was forced to walk over the bodies of killed soldiers and how horrified he was to see scorched earth and burned trees on battlefields.

Technically, such recruitment isn’t a war crime. But if you ask me, exploiting poverty, dire living conditions, and unemployment to send people far from home to die in an unprovoked and ill-motivated war is not just predatory recruitment. It is a crime.

Still, Russia needs more people to fight. Their tactics and strategy require many troops, no regard for casualties, and treating soldiers as “expendables.” Therefore, the search for new soldiers never stops.

One of the recruitment ads got a lot of attention on Ukrainian social media because of its somewhat comical wording and lack of consistency. It begins with the words “Contract work for real men in Moscow” and ends with “The women are back in action! Recruitment in Rostov-on-Don has opened for you!” However, those who mocked the ad missed a very important part: the ad promised a one-time bonus of 2.3 million rubles (about $25,000, a great deal of money for Russia) for signing the contract. This shows how much the Russian army needs more recruits and how unwilling the Russian leadership is to intensify the mobilization at home. Foreign mercenaries are a different case — they can be paid less, and there are no political consequences at home if they die or get seriously wounded.

As I was writing this newsletter, the military juntas of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali sent a letter to the UN Security Council condemning Ukraine's alleged support for rebels in the Sahel. Following the successes of the Tuareg rebels in their battles against the Wagner, many Ukrainian military bloggers have speculated that they are being supported and perhaps even trained by the Ukrainian special services. Whether this is true or not is hard to say now. But Mali and Burkina Faso are definitely on the list of countries where Russians actively recruit soldiers.

This war may be taking place on the territory of just two countries in Eastern Europe, but it has truly global implications.

[bauliya]

You all don't eat rice? Only roti? And for breakfast you never had readymade stuff like puffed rice with sattu? I am sorry I don't know how my tone is sounding in this ask but I am surprised to learn that those who go abroad switch to microwaveable meals not because there is a lack of Indian food, but because they can't hire anyone. They don't know how to cook? Efficiently?

I mean obviously I’m excluding easy to make dishes but I’m North Indian and eating rotis twice a day is a common expectation. also my South Indian friends also eat idlis and dosas as a base carb quite frequently which is ofc more labour intensive than just rice. Common readymade breakfasts like poha u can add water too have only been introduced very recently. It is a fact that Indian cuisine is extremely labour intensive and just dismissing that as “people not knowing how to cook efficiently” ignores the amount of labour involved and how much this daily expected kitchen drudgery hampers women’s opportunities, and the fact that most middle class families employ domestic help and the structural violence access to such cheap labour implies

[janaknandini-singh999]

Chapter 3:

"Oye, Shlokaa! Villu's saying that there are wayy more people here today than there were during the shaadi. I mean, of course the food is better and it just proves that we all attend like besharam to only eat! Anyway, I'll just greet them with Vilasini and apologize for not being present on the wedding. We'll back, k?" Aditi nudged Shlokaa's shoulder with two fingers, an old loving gesture of theirs, and then dragged Vilasini who was laughing with some other aunty.

"Sure." Shlokaa replied, in between chugging her mocktail. Her thoughts were still swirling over the last day's events when she had travelled the whole city like a tourist with Vilasini. For someone who has lived in one place her whole life, Shlokaa had to anxiously google all places of attraction just in case she left anything. But in the end - "screw it", she just visited two to three main places and then went with the flow carrying them wherever the wind went, while Vilasini asked random strangers their experiences and places they'd recommend.

"But.. we have google maps and reviews." Shlokaa said.

"Meri jaan, logo ke dil ki jo memories hoti hain woh internet pe nahi milti. I asked them their favourite places, not a five star hotel." Vilasini chuckled.

Shlokaa had smiled, so they really couldn't help but go with the flow - even though she couldn't quite understand what Vilasini said in the beginning. Now, Shlokaa' hindi was a little weak (the beginning of her childhood years she had spent abroad and now the westernized accent and language wasn't leaving her) and Vilasini's was surprisingly good for a South Indian.

Meri- what?

What had she called her?

She'd ask her someday.

Suddenly, Vilasini had excitedly pointed at something. "Would you LOOK at that beautiful sunset?" Shlokaa had turned her head ahead. It was definitely beautiful. She had spent years in this city, seen countless of these sunsets but it was as if Vilasini's presence just brightened and heightened every part of existence around. Everything was the same old thing yet so different. Like a rebirth.

Vilasini then had grabbed her hand and sprinted to an ice cream stall as they had watched the sunset while eating ice cream together.

"Heyo, cutie Buttercup." Shlokaa was knocked into reality from her reverie, coming back into the reception. She turned around. Only one person called her that.

"Manika." Shlokaa nodded slowly

Manika gestured her champagne glass into a raising a toast position, then advanced towards her friend, so smoothly as if gliding. She was wearing a sparkling black sari, looking as deviously enchanting as ever. Her deep green bangles clanking as she moved, her magnificent chandelier earrings swaying and nath glinting in the dark as mischievously as her, her siren eyes contrasting with her rosy face, her skinny figure contrasting with her wide hips. She was a sea of contradictions but it suited her well, guys would lay down their lives for her.

"What a pleasure to see the local baddie here!" Manika hooked her arms with Shlokaa's. "Thank God, I would've been bored to death here if it weren't for you, honey. After all, I can't mingle with all the oldies and kids and weirdos.. unlike that damn lesbian."

Shlokaa's heart stopped briefly. Her breathing shook. Her gaze toppled. A hot flower bloomed inside and instantly shed its petals on her heart but instead of petals landing softly, it was like mines dropping and exploding. A cold knife plunged right across her gut. She was blinded - all she could see was darkness.

"Who?" It was like Shlokaa wasn't even speaking, someone else in her body was.

"Vilasini. Ew. I don't even wanna take her name."

And Shlokaa ran. Ran forward with all her might in heavy, painful but very fast steps.

"That's right, darling. Show her what happens when anomalies mess up good ambience." Manika scoffed

But as soon as Shlokaa saw Vilasini, she froze. All her running but time was slowed down on seeing her. It was happening again. All over again. Vilasini, surprised but happy at seeing Shlokaa just smiled and waved her to come join. Vilasini, in her warm fire coloured salwar and chaand baaliya, standing next to Aditi in her silver sari.

They were all picture perfect

Until they weren't

Shlokaa dragged Vilasini in a corner, not too much away from the crowd but not too near either. "Kya hua, meri pyaari-" Vilasini started and suddenly Shlokaa slapped her, sharply right across her face. A small echo rung across the entire field for a moment. Some abruptly stopped talking and stared at them, some continued - not caring and mumbling "arey kya kare bacche toh ladte rehte hain." Vilasini almost tripped from the shock. Her automatic expression was to smile but she was finding it hard to do it right now, still she managed. "Shlokaa, is everythi-"

Another slap, a harder one. A punch probably, Vilasini couldn't tell because she blanked and fell down hard this time, tumbling on the grass as it sloped. She softly put a finger on her face, the corner of her mouth twitching as she realized her upper lip bleeding slightly, her salwar torn a little bit at its neck. Her eyes were swelling with tears too now, she had tried to withhold them but the pain was too much.

"Are you.. are you into girls?" She almost slapped the question on Vilasini as well, the heat rushing back into her because of.... God knows WHAT? She had just slapped this girl, thinking it'll kill the heat coz she thought it was caused by shame and anger but-!?

"Is this all--!?? how could you.. I... listen carefully, Shlokaa. I don't care for you in that manner. Better get that inside. your. head." Vilasini hissed.

Shlokaa had seen many angry people in her life, in fact she loved imagining and making up scenarios of situations and people in different emotions. But she found it impossible to picture Vilasini furious. And now that she was, it was.. something else entirely. Nothing objectively aggressive like she had observed of other people. This. It tugged something so much at her and she lost complete control of her senses, freezing again. She didn't know what to say. "So, you only care about girls you're.. into?"

"What. the. HELL is wrong with YOU!? Have you gone MAD??? Do you even know what you're blabbering on about?" Vilasini's voice cracked

And so did Shlokaa's heart, just the littlest bit. "Nice" she thought. She thought her heart must've been long destroyed by now but cracking meant it still existed. But she had been thinking so wrong all this time. Her insides jumped and screamed at her, she wanted to move fast, just do something. Anything. But the last time she did that, which was just now - she had ended up slapping someone.

"Villu-- VILASINI!!! ARE YOU OK?! OH GOD. WHAT HAPPENED??" Aditi came scrambling and helped Vilasini to her feet, who groaned just a bit at being lifted. She had fallen and shifted her weight on her elbow too it seemed because it hurt as she moved it.

"Nothing," Vilasini smiled.

She did it.

She finally managed to smile even in a situation like this one. Even though it was a little painful because of the cut on her lip.

Shlokaa had wanted her to fight back, hit her, get even, then forgive. Not smile like this. Because it hurt more than anything physical ever could.

Vilasini's voice quietly thundered

"Looks like your friend is done with my energy. She's used hers up showing me the city so her duty is done anyway. Maybe she just didn't like my face after all? Why else would you do this to an otherwise pretty one? But guess what, I didn't like her either. Tell her I don't want to see her stupid, smug face. ever. again."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vilasini sighed on the railway station bench late at night and checked her watch. She was leaving. And it was now or never. The reason she had stayed longer in this city was also ironically the reason she was doing this tonight. She hadn't even told Aditi about it. She'd tell as soon as she would reach home, she'd apologize, her cousin would understand. She could feel her eyes moisting again. She was so tired.

A hoot. She got up, dusted herself off and walked away, looking back one last time towards the city lights as she boarded. She couldn't get herself to walk inside right away for some reason so she stepped and lingered at the door. Suddenly, the train started moving so she headed inside.

"VILASINI!"

"Shlokaa?" She couldn't believe her ears

But here she was, running to her, running with the train. In the same outfit she had been wearing in the reception. Night sky deep blue lehenga and anklets twinkling with her sad eyes, kajal smudging everywhere.

"Have you been crying?" Vilasini whispered

"I should ask that to you. You look-"

"Not again. So, you really are a mad girl."

Vilasini couldn't believe any of the last two days that took place, everything happened so fast. But she ached so much, she wasn't even sure if she was paining because of herself or because of her. Why would she bother to for someone who had made a place in her heart so quickly but devastated it just as quickly?

"Please forgive me." Shlokaa pleaded, the city lights flashing in her eyes, running faster as the train did, almost tripping, Vilasini's heart skipped.

But then she did it. She didn't slap her or hit her. But she pushed her. Ever so gently that you couldn't even call it a push. Just a touch with her palm and a soft separation. Shlokaa lost her grip, tripped and went swirling onto the railway platform but regained balance soon.

She didn't even fall or face any injury. She heaved slowly, standing frozen on her spot as she saw the train slowly going out of view now.

[chanquokka]

I was tagged by the loveliest @straykidsgallery to do: Tag 10 people you wanna get to know more and make a few cool questions!

thank you for the tag!!

favorite color: dark blue or red!

favorite food: noodles!

song stuck in my head: hanjisung's volcano

last song i listened to: safarnama, from movie tamasha

dream trip: anywhere abroad with friends (have yet to think abt it</3)

last tv show/movie i watched: omkara, indian adaptation of othello

spicy/sweet/savory: spicy!

tagging: @itsstraykids @hongjoongpresent @hyunhomoons @noonaracha @faunandfloraas @lixence @brightermorepls @seokmingming @winterfloral @quokki (+whoever wishes to<3)

[grcetylr]

Wednesday, June 19th, 2024: So Long, London

Wednesday, June 19th: So Long, London

With an earlier start than usual, we had breakfast and began to leave Wales. The train was hot and but it was comforting that we (Zahir, Lilly, Brandon, and I) were all able to sit together.

Unfortunately, when we got to the hotel the girls' rooms weren't ready. Dr. Robinson let everyone freshen up in her room for the time being and Lilly, Zahir, and I were able to in our guide, Ele's room.

After a short moment, we were ready to explore more of London. We headed back to seven dials, an area we hadn't thoroughly walked through before, and looked around. In an area called Neal's Yard, Zahir was determined to find a cheese shop. She ended up bringing back a type of gouda and goats cheese (always a great thing to pack into your luggage). We all got some souvenirs and stopped at a photo booth for more mementos. After going through even more vintage shops, we made our way over to the group dinner at an Indian spot called Punjab.

Dinner was incredible. I don't eat Indian food often but it was fun to share this experience with the group. Jordan seemed unacquainted with every thing at the table and watching Zahir talk about how much she loved everything was fun. If I ever happen to be back in London, I would 100% stop by here again. It was nice to share one more meal with the group <3

Overall, this entire trip was an incredible experience. Being able to learn about the different cultures in both London and Wales was incredibly informative. Although it was a bit tiring, it was so fun to bounce from spot to spot and see so many things in such a short period of time. I had a great time with this group and I am so grateful for this opportunity, for the professors we were with, for the study abroad association, and for the friends I made. Thank you London! Thank you Aberystwyth! And thank you FSCJ!

@livingingloworld @lillyhasaspoon @comafloods @danielcronrath

[idlistreet]

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[mokshconsultant]

MBBS in Russia 2024 Overview

Throughout history, Russia has consistently stood as India's steadfast ally since gaining independence. This enduring alliance has played a pivotal role in establishing MBBS in Russia as a popular choice among Indian students. Pursuing an MBBS degree in Russia is highly coveted by Indian students seeking opportunities for medical education abroad. Since 1985, there has been a continuous influx of Indian students opting for medical programs in Russia, solidifying its reputation as a premier destination for MBBS education.

With an annual migration of over 4,000 Indian students pursuing MBBS in Russia, it is evident that more than 50% of those seeking medical education abroad choose this exceptional country. The esteemed institutions in Russia further enhance the nation's prominence in providing high-quality medical education. Consequently, opting for Medicine in Russia has become a favored decision for Indian students aspiring to excel in the international medical arena.

Why Choose MBBS in Russia

There are several advantages for Indian students studying at Russian Medical Universities, some of which are outlined below:

Affordability: Russia stands out as the most cost-effective option among all study-abroad destinations for medical students.

Quality of Education: Russia provides superior education within a comparable budget to other options like Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, etc.

NMC Guidelines: MBBS education in Russia aligns with the latest guidelines set by the National Medical Commission (NMC) for the Licensing Exam in India (NExT).

Medicine Syllabus: The curriculum of the Medicine degree program in Russia encompasses all 19 subjects, mirroring the offerings in medical colleges in India.

Internship: The MBBS course in Russia dedicates a total period of over one year to clinical exposure, meeting the requirements set by the NMC.

Global Exposure: Russian medical universities welcome students from around the world, providing genuine global exposure.

Safety: Russia prioritizes tradition and family ties, fostering an environment free from racism or religious discrimination.

[arcane-vagabond]

Ooooooh okay this is fun. Describe yourself like you would on a 70s era dating show and then I will make an informed decision.

Hi, my name is Liz! I’m 27, and I have a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics. I have two minors: one in German and the other in Medieval and Renaissance Studies! I lived in Germany for a year while studying abroad, and did a summer program in Galway, Ireland! I love writing, reading, baking, cooking, drawing, painting, and crafts!

I like both mountains and beaches, prefer tea to coffee, cake to pie, dark chocolate to milk chocolate, the spring time, and all animals! I adore the Christmas season, but my favorite holiday is Halloween! My favorite colors are yellow, pink, and green. My favorite musical artist is Hozier, and I ADORE Indian food.

Do I need to keep going??