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INDIA FEATURE
india feature EAST COAST EDITION FRIDAY, OCTOBER31, 2014
Modi’s success makes BJP a one-man party After the recent success in Assembly elections in two key states, Haryana and Maharashtra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leaving his distinctive mark on political and other fields AMULYA GANGULI, NEW DELHI
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n politics, the prime minister has brushed aside the earlier bypoll setbacks by his successes in Maharashtra and Haryana. Although the BJP failed to get a majority in the western state, it made a few points which the party probably wanted to make for some time. One was to cut the Shiv Sena down to size apparently because the BJP, and more specifically Modi, felt that the regional outfit did not deserve the earlier No. 1 position in the state after Bal Thackeray’s death. The calculation probably is that a spell out of power, or in a subservient position in the government, will fatally erode the Sena’s base, enabling the BJP to win over the entire Hindutva vote. In the process, Modi again administered a snub to L.K. Advani, who favored continuing the earlier ties with the Sena. But it isn’t only the Modi again party’s “senior citizen” administered a who was rebuffed. snub to Advani, Even Nitin Gadkari was at the receiving who favored end of a mild repricontinuing the mand because of the earlier ties with amateurish expressions the Sena. of support for his claim to be chief minister by some of his followers. After that, it took the union transport minister less than 24 hours to say that he was not interested in moving to Mumbai, thereby enhancing the prospects of the front-runner, Devendra Fadnavis, who will form the first BJP government in the western state. These events point to Modi’s penchant for disciplined conduct which is at variance with the lackadaisical way in which Indian political parties tend to function. Modi has also shown that he does not care much for the standard caste and community-based norms while selecting chief ministers. This deviation from set patterns was evident from the nomination of Manohar Lal Khattar as Haryana chief minister although he is not a Jat, a dominant community which gave the state its last two chief ministers, Om Prakash Chautala of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and Bhupinder Singh Hooda of the Congress. Modi is able to adopt such a non-conventional approach because of his awareness that the voters have chosen him for his development agenda and not because of what is known as “identity” politics based on caste and community. What these developments emphasize is that Modi has become the sole dominant figure in the BJP. Not since Indira Gandhi’s unquestioned primacy over the Congress between 1971 and 1977 has there been such a domineering personality in a party at the national level.
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Stay energized post-festive season SAHANA GHOSH, NEW DELHI
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hat better way to ease up on your tummy post the festive season than with some truly exotic and healthy beverages? Take your pick from nearly a century-old secret ‘sherbet’ recipe, fruit and herb infused yoghurt drinks (lassis) or concoctions of the cup that cheers — tea. With the overwhelming variety of the sweet and savory that Kolkata has to offer, thanks to the varied communities based here, foodies find it difficult to resist gourmet temptations, particularly during Durga Puja and Diwali. The hectic meet-andgreet schedule and rituals add to the woes. But in nooks and corners of the busting metropolis, there are places where health-conscious foodies can stop over for some detoxifying and energizing refills, till the next holiday season (Christmas and New Year) and binge-time begins. A stone’s throw away from north Kolkata’s College Street (home to book shops and two prestigious universities), tucked away in a hidey-hole is the 96-year-old Paramount juice and sherbet centre, famed for its daab sherbet or green coconut sherbet (a cold drink usually made with diluted fruit juices). The sherbet — a mix of raw coconut water, its tender sweet pulp and an essence — is a creation of renowned chemist Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray. “The shop used to be the hideout of freedom fighters and selling sherbets used to be a front. Nihar Ranjan Majumdar, who was a freedom fighter and a friend of Ray, set this shop up
with him. “The green coconut essence used in the sherbet is a secret and the drink we serve has remain unchanged. The coconuts are specially sourced from Basirhat in North 24-Parganas,” Partha Majumdar, Nihar Ranjan’s grandson and shop manager, told IANS. “It is very popular among youngsters, most of whom are health conscious nowadays,” Majumdar added. Looking for something on the lines of smoothies and shakes albeit with an Indian touch?
Try the peppery Kadak Pudina Mirch ki Lassi (mint, green chillies with yoghurt) or the imaginative Mango Aur Tulsi ki Lassi (green mango, cumin and basil with yoghurt) at Funjabi Tadka, a specialty restaurant. There’s also a Pina Colada Lassi, laced with pineapple and coconut. “Lassis are traditionally known for aiding the digestive system due to the presence of yoghurt. The added ingredients help in adding fibre and enhancing digestion,” restaurant manager Santosh told IANS.
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