HAPPY 67th INDEPENDENCE DAY INDIA!!

Unlike every year, Independence Day this time has cast a shadow of insecurity in my mind too. With the state of Assam being on the verge of division (which I, for a fact know will not so easily happen), you cannot help but recall all the acts of terrorism that had bruised the state, left, right and centre on this particular day, since times immemorial. If you belong to the north-eastern 7 sisters of India, you pretty well understand the picture and can recall the images. Yes, I admit, we are a state suffering the brunt of terrorism for as long as our grandparents can recall, and shamefully, somewhere in our hearts we have grown accustomed to this fact. But what really scares me this time are the (ethnic?) conflicts that we've been facing.

Being a proud Indian and never a person to encourage people to stay indoors during the Republic Day or Independence Day celebrations, this time I am different. I feel really insecure and troubled. I very strongly believe, most of the terrorists are really messed up people. They undoubtedly need mental medication and counselling, but what do I say about those demanding a divided Assam? Your campaigns and protests have a political figure at the head. And I won't regret saying, that this year, you are the reason the shops are shut down, you are the reason the roads are deserted wherein, they should have been filled with happy faces, celebrating our independence. You should be ashamed of yourselves. You should hang your heads down in shame! People are scared you are gonna create a blast (literally). I am scared too. At a time, when the whole country is celebrating our 67 years of Independence, a day, a feeling, for which people have been losing their lives since the era of the British Raj, you, are creating an atmosphere of insecurity that is reflecting in the lifeless streets of Assam. Did those people struggle and lay down their lives so that people and organisations like you could bully our independent and free soul?

Yes, for a very long time, Assam, in particular did wear the deserted look on this day, but the recent years had proved that we were over coming that tradition and embracing freedom from fear. But thanks to you, we are back to square one. I really hope someone talks sense into your heads very soon. 

MOMOS ON MY MIND

Being the huge (literally) foodie that I am, this week, I've been craving momos like gawd-knows-what!! Nah, my cravings never end, but this week is different. I was never too much of a momo person. Call them dimsums if you may, or dumplings or what ever other word you have in your dictionary, but all I know right now, is, this nepalese snack has been the only thing I've been dreaming about the whole week.LOL!

Standing out there, being a mere spectator filled with disgust, as friends and siblings hogged momos was a scenario long overcome and now, so-not-me.

When I shifted to New Delhi, far away from home, to pursue higher education, I was neither a momo nor a samosa person. But sheer laziness to cook or the occasional loneliness that engulfed me, a foodie who hates to eat alone, paved the path for the momos into my being, as I began to relish them each time i.e. everyday,  I went to meet my friends who stayed as paying guests not very far from my house. Within a hair's breadth from their building was this guy with his momo stall. For those of you who are from, or have been to, India (mainly Delhi), post 'The Rise Of The Momos Era', you know very well what type of stall am talking about. So this guy, he sold huge momos served with a dash of chutney that was sinfully yummy. So much so, that my mouth's watering at the very thought of it. For Rs. 30/plate, I got to have the best chicken momos, sprinkled with some chat masala ofcourse, with mouth watering chutney.

Okay I'll tell you where you can find this stall

But not now! :P

Fine! Fine! here you go. Am talking about Gautam Nagar  in South Delhi here. It's behind Yusuf Sarai and within walking distance from the Green Park metro (No, I obviously don't remember the gate number. Sorry!). Emerging from the Green Park metro, in the side where you bump into the Green Park Community Centre rather Market or maybe it was the Yusuf Sarai Community Centre (I don't clearly recall, but you'll see an outlet of Khubchand Meat Shop there) , you need to walk straight, until you reach the bye-lane that welcomes you with a flower shop. Yeah, enter that bye lane until you reach 'Spicy'-a restaurant, yeah, a left turn from there, walk for like half a minute and LO AND BEHOLD! YOU'VE REACHED!

Enjoy!

Don't bother greeting the momo-wallah for me, he doesn't know me by name you see. If your taste buds agree with mine, you can thank me later. If they don't, forget I ever gave you the directions!

So coming back to momos, I've had THE MOST expensive momos in Delhi again! Am not gonna tell you the price, you might just die out of shock, but it was in the Select City Mall in Saket, just so that you can have a rough idea. But honestly, it was worth every paisa I shelled out. The outlet I am talking about here, is, the Chi Kitchen Restaurant and Bar. You've really got to taste the 'Chicken and Coriander dumpling' there! The taste still lingers in my memory. Doesn't seem like am gonna get over it in this life!

And OMG! How can I forget the 'tandoori momos' of Satya Niketan. I don't remember the name of the joint. But must really hunt them out. You're missing on something big time if you haven't treated your taste buds to them.

Being such a momo person, I nearly jumped out of my skin, when, the other day, while I was looking at pictures of momos on the net and happily dreaming about them (yeah! I do that!), I decided to change tabs and clicked on the 'Web' option, thus shifting from the 'Images' category and lo and behold! What do I stumble upon? The word momo, as the 'Urban Dictionary' says, can be happily used to describe someone annoying etc.! LOL!! Did you know that? I didn't! Anyway, so your 'Insults Dictionary' is one word richer eh?

All those who reside in Guwahati, it's not news to your taste buds that the bestestestest momos in town are the ones you can chomp at the 'Quick Pick' outlets with of course the cheese cream or mayonnaise that are served along as dips. And for those who aren't from here, remind me to take you there if and when you decide to visit here. No, we surely aren't a state over populated with terrorists! Stop shuddering!

Apart from Quick Pick, I think the blue momo joint in front of Commerce College is good too. Yeah it is over-crowded but isn't that quiet obvious?! You probably have 'Momo Ghar' at the back of your mind. Yes, I've heard there was a phase when momo is Guwahati was synonymous with Momo Ghar. But the sad news is, it doesn't seem to have the same fame any longer. Infact, I had momos there the other day, and was gleefully glad that I wouldn't have to eat from there for a very very long time.

If you know anyone or any other place that makes momos like they have fallen from heaven, lemme know! Am always open to food invitations!! Cheap yeah? I know!!

Hey! but am still open to those invitations! :P

Check this out!! http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=MOMO