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The time-worn  Toy Collectors

‘Collections collect collectors’. Every object in a collection contains its own history , uniqueness and memory of the collector. Antique collections are rare and precious and are sometimes kept for auctions. No one ever forgets a toy that made them extremely happy as a child , even if that is replaced by one like it that is much nicer. Here comes 5 of famous antique toy collectors…

Chuck connor:

             He is an old man but not for his collection.He is an avid antique toy collector with most of of the rare and expensive toys.His obsession over toys has taken over his house – in the shelves,hall,bathroom,ceiling-his house is filled with thousands of toys. It started 50 years ago when he bought his 2-year-old son a toy train. The toddler went on to become a locomotive engineer. And Conner went on to become an avid collector.His collection of vintage toys is worth about $3 million. For 50 years, he has collected them all: trains, planes and automobiles, wind-up characters, boats, and circus toys, too. Most are from before World War II, and the average price for one today is a couple hundred dollars. Despite the value, Conner has no insurance on his toys. Every day there will be people waiting to watch his collection.He likes to show of his collection.

Bert Cohen:

         There was a time when marbles were the greatest possessions a child ever had.This marble love made Bert Cohen to collect them for a lifetime .His collection includes – old , new, handmade ,mass produced ones. Till now he has collected over  300,000 marbles.His first marble was a German made sulphite with image of rooster given to him 45 years ago by an antiques dealer who told him that collecting marbles was a way to have fun with his children . He discovered that marbles aren’t just for games children play.The oldest and rarest variety date to ancient Egypt.

Donald Kaufman:

                Kaufman began collecting antique toys in 1950. His hobby began slowly at first. "It took me a long time to really get started, but I did. I'd buy a few toys a year; it took me a long time to spend $100."His collecting really took off after he met his second wife, Sally, whom he married in the early 1980s, and retired from the toy business. The two traveled around the Eastern U.S. to toy shows and auctions, often with a rented U-Haul trailer hitched to the back of their Ford Econoline van. But not all the toys can fit on the shelves. The collection includes scores of pedal cars that children once rode in.

              There are about 7,000 toys, some more than 100 years old, many of them cars and trucks, a good number of them in just-out-of-the-box condition.

 Roberto Yukio Shimizu :

                  The six-hall museum housing the antique toy collection is a no-frills building. Large toys hang outside on the facade. The three-storey museum has on show 40,000 pieces, most of them manufactured between 1920 and 1970 and 71-year-old Shimizu has even more toys stored in three warehouses. He began collecting toys at age 10.

“Fantastic. Very exciting and very interesting. It is like an art project,” wrote Sally Timms, from the United States. Jorge Cuenca, another visitor wrote: “The collections are complete. There is no order, but it’s cool.” One of the upcoming exhibits being planned at the Mexican Antique Toy Museum is a show of between 3,000 and 4,000 German toys made by the Maerklin, Schuco, Fleischmann and Bing toy companies. These antique pieces were manufactured soon after the Second World War.

Max Berry:

Berry’s collections, toys and mechanical banks may be closest to his heart. He started with marbles as a child and graduated to banks as an adult, buying a William Tell bank, his first, at a show in Pottstown, Penn., in 1967. His collection, which initially occupied a third-floor guest room in the couple’s Georgetown townhouse, eventually encompassed entire walls of custom-built floor-to-ceiling shelves.

���He wanted to have every mechanical bank and nearly succeeded. Many are unique examples,” says Rich BertoiaAccording to Berry, his toy collection numbers 1,700 to 2,000 pieces in all, of which 700 are mechanical banks.

Interested in magic tricks as a child, Berry, going by the name “Magic Max,” The banks were probably worth $50,000 at the time. Max Berry’s guest included Israel’s future prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin.

“Every experience, good or bad, is a priceless collector's item”

-Isaac Marion.

So lets start collecting and write histories.

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Stretch like Chuyang!!

 Stand up, stretch your arms ,bend forward and touch your toes with your legs and spine erect.Just hold it for 1 minute. Difficult? Legs shaking? Cramps on calf ?Whoof ….This 1 minute yoga seems like a difficult task,but not for this Yoga_kid ! Sun Chuyang from China , is just 7 years old and has already set his name as the youngest certified yoga trainer in the world. At the age of 7,we used to lick the nicest tasting lollipops while swinging in the park’s swings but this kid earns over $15900 (over  Rs.10 lakhs), by training yoga to over 100 students.And to add up, he learnt yoga to fight up autism. A little deep into this kid’s achievement ­–­­­

Latch onto Autism:

Before we start to know about Chuyang, lets capiche autism. Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD), refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences.It is a group of problems that people can have, including Asperger syndrome and others. These problems happen when the brain develops differently and has trouble making sense of the world and helping someone communicate. Every day, our brains interpret (understand) the things we see, smell, hear, taste, touch, and experience. But when someone's brain has trouble interpreting these things, it can make it hard to talk, listen, understand, play, and learn. Kids with autism often can't make connections that other kids make easily. For example, when people smile, you know they feel happy or friendly; when people look mad, you can tell by their face or their voice. But many kids who have autism have trouble understanding what emotions look like and what another person is thinking. They might act in a way that seems unusual, and it can be hard to understand why they're doing it.At certain stages , they would find it difficult to make friends,share things,talk or greet. Like , if you ask their name today,they would reply it tomorrow.It sometimes leads to pain,anxiety and aggressive behaviours

 Positive side :

Of course, autism is mental disorder,but it doesn’t mean that they are incapable.It just takes time for them to interpret things.Many people view autism as a hardship instead of a blessing.They posses awesome qualities that most of the population don’t have.They concentrate on lesser important things *lesser important things do matter*.In other ways this type of thinking can help people with autism be successful in their lives.Thats the reason why IT sectors seek ASD people who can find issues with software that others cannot due to their intense focus on details, rather than on whether a program “works” or not.They may not know lot of things like us,rather are experts in specific fields. It is almost common knowledge that people with autism see things differently than those who are considered neurotypical and they posses ability to teach others.

 YogAutism and Sun Chuyang:

Yoga is a group of physical,mental and spiritual practises or disciplines which originated from ancient India. Yoga incorporates epistemology(study of knowledge), metaphysics, ethical practices, systematic exercises and self-development techniques for body, mind and spirit. Practising yoga cures most of the health related issues.YogAutism explains how yoga treats people with autism.According to it , YogAutism was designed to meet the challenges of those with autism including Sensory Integration Disorder,Asperger’s Syndrome,Pervasive Development Disorder,High Functioning Autism and Classic Autism.With benefits associated with yoga, YogAutism provides benefits like reduction of pain,aggression,anxiety,obsessive & self-stimulating behaviours,more control in regulating anxiety &emotion ,joy of sharing class and making new friends.

People with autism have different sensory experiences ,their bodies get stuck in ‘fight ,flight or freeze’ response. This response moves blood from digestive organs to skeletal muscles.By this action, the digestion is disrupted,heart rate speeds up and breathing becomes shallower . These reactions leads to emotional state of anxiety.

Yoga helps to get out of ‘fight,flight or freeze’response and to feel more relaxed and less anxious .When body is no longer in this response , blood returns to the core and body can do its work of digestion and breathing.Specific yoga poses stimulates the gastro-intestinal track.It also facilitates better inhalation and exhalation ,which calms the nervous system.It builds core strength which , in the long run creates a healthier body.Only when a person feels calm and comfortable with his body ,can he really work on behaviour.At its core ,yoga is meant to deepen spiritual awareness.It creates an opportunity to explore spiritual experiences and share with others.

In the case of Sun Chuyang,he was diagnosed with slight autism at the age of two.Then he was enrolled in yoga class. He grew a special interest towads it and started practising yoga  at the age of three and fought over autism.Later , at the age of six, he received a certificate for teaching yoga.

Before yoga got into his life,Chuyang refused to talk or play with other kids.His mother Ye Wenyun , had to quit her apparel store and later focus on his yoga practice.She then saw him being enthusiastic while doing yoga poses.

Chuyang now became a social media sensation and appeared in various TV shows.He also got job offers to teach yoga at the centres.

Not just Chuyang achieved big, even Einstein, Steve Jobs ,Tesla and many other famous people are in the list of ‘famous people with autism’. They inspired the world and proved that disorders can’t stop you from creating history, it’s the willpower that rewrites history!!!

“It seems that success in science or art , a dash of autism is essential”

--Hans Asperger

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Dal bati churma : A Rajasthani Delight

Rajasthan ,the Land of Maharajas, is a mesmerizing destination with fascinating  fairs and festivals, culture, food/cuisine, arts and crafts and music and dance. If you are at Rajasthan, you would probably sing these lines ‘bhatis bhatis everywhere,where to eat them,can’t choose it’. Yes , these unsalted baked wheat balls has taken over the place.It may look like a simple bread but it has a enticing history.

 History and evolution :

       This a three-in-one dish comprising of the wheat bread bhati , the dal and the churma . Many believe that the dish originated from the kingdom of Mewar. ·       Bhati : Bhati , the round wheat bread is believed to have originated during the time of Bappa Rawal – the founder of the kingdom of Mewar. Back then, the Rajputs were establishing their stronghold in the region and bhatti was their preferred war time meal.   ·       Dal bhatti :  Later when traders from the Gupta Empire settled in Mewar, that they combined dal  and bhatti  giving the dish a new makeover. panchmel dal,mixture of five lentils , was a much-loved favourite in the royal court of the Guptas. ·       Churma : Accidents usually give a new twist to the innovation. And churma had the sweetest accident. It was when a cook of Mewar’s Guhilot clan accidentally poured sugarcane juice into some bhatti. This made the bhattis even more softer and so the women of the clan started dunking the bhattis in the sugarcane or jaggery juice in the same way. Then the crushed , sweet flavoured bhaatis evolved to give rise to churma. ·       From Mewar to Mughals: Till then the Mewar kingdom had tried the spicy,sweet,bland flavours of bhaati. The chappathi and rotis flavours are different in different places.The same way bhati also had its flavours when each dynasty added their own twists to it. And at last, due to Rani Jodha Bai’s (Akbar’s queen) fond over the dish , the dal bhatti churma travelled along with the queen and reached the Mughal courts. The royal chefs of the Mughal court created their own versions of the dish, giving rise to bafla and kheech . Bafla is a soft bhatti that has been boiled before being baked. Kheech is a kind of traditional porridge made from whole wheat as well as bajra (pearl millet).   Tales from history :

         The dish also has its stories and tales.It is believed that the Rajput soldiers would break the dough into chunks and leave it buried under thin layers of sand to bake under the sun. On their return from the battlefield, they would dig out the perfectly baked that were then slathered with ghee and consumed with curd made from goat or camel milk.No ovens, no fire, only sun made meal!!

Here comes the popular story of the king.After being attacked by Rana Kumbha of Mewar, Rao Jodha (the founder of Jodhpur) was fleeing from Chittor when he stopped at a farmer’s house for food. He was served some freshly prepared traditional kheech by the farmer’s wife who was unaware of her guest’s royal identity. A hungry Rao Jodha put his finger right in the centre of the piping hot bowl, burning his fingers. Having witnessed this, the farmer’s wife chided, “You are making the same mistake as our king (Rao Jodha). Kheech is hottest in the centre and coolest at the edge. So one should eat from there.”

It is believed that this is what prompted the King to stop worrying about recovering the central fort of Mandore and focus his attention on outlying forts, which he managed to win with ease. He later won back Mandore too.Perhaps the dish saved the king!

Making of the dish:

      Dal bhatti churma can be made within 20 minutes if it is already cooked .Cooking has 3 stages : (i) making of panchmel dal (ii) making the bhatti (iii) making churma fron bhattis.

          The ingredients required for the dish are wheat flour,milk,ghee,dry fruits for garnishing,powdered sugar and for panchmel dal you require channa dal,urad dal,moong dal ,toovar dal,cumin seeds,chillies,masalas,salt to taste.

           Bhattis can be made either by deep fry in ghee or baking in the oven.After that they are crushed and grinded and then added along with ghee and sugar to give rise to churma. Panchmel dal is a different process. Often Dal bhaatis and churma serve a great combo.Churma and bhaatis can also be paired along with other dishes.

Nutritional information : Serving Size - 1 small bowl ,Calories – 835, Fat - 42.0 g ,Protein - 13.4 g, Carbohydrates - 101.9 g ,Sugar - 2.7 g ,Fibre - 10.3 g.

 The dish has set itself an example for being simple and sample.So if you are heading to Rajasthan , don’t miss out this ethnic dish !!

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Puliyogare : The Tale of the Tangy Indian dish

Ever wondered a sour-tasting rice would make you eager for the next spoon? Even when you go to the temple, worship god ,ring the temple’s nicest sounding bells ,you love heading to the Prasad queue with round paper plates . Or  even when you watch your mother slowly stir the brownish-sauce-like dish which makes ‘plop’-‘plop’ sound in the medium glistening flame ,you tend to dip a spoon into the dish and lick the lip-smacking puliogare paste.Either  way, puliyogare  has always made your mouth water. So are you curious to explore more about the tartness of this tamarind dish? Here it goes…

Origin and history:

The tamarind rice , puliyodharai ( Tamil ) or puliyogare( Kannada ) or pulihora (Telugu ) ,which literally means “sour rice” , is originated from the southern part of India. The dish was made widely by the Iyengar / Sri Vaishnava community .  Melukote , which is located in Mandya district of Karnataka,is famous for its puliyogare and  perhaps this is were you can find one of the best puliyogare in the world.

                  During the empire of Kulothunga Chola-II, Sri Ramanujacharya migrated from Tamil Nadu to Karnataka and was welcomed by  Vishnuvardhan , the king of Hoysala,who then accepted him as his guru. The king’s original name was Bitti Deva ,which was later changed to Vishnuvardhan by his guru Ramanujacharya.

��                     Later , to establish a monastery in Melukote , Vishnuvardhan gifted this place to Ramanujacharya. Ramanujacharya lived there for 12 years and the place ended up as the centre of Sri Vaishnava tradition.The inhabitants of Melukote were the disciples of the acharya who followed him along with his journey from Tamil Nadu and as well as the locals of Karnataka who accepted the Vaishanava faith.Then ,the temples stared serving puliyogare as the Prasad .But ,there is no strong evidence that can state whether the dish originated from Tamil Nadu or Karnataka.For now , the credits owe to Sri Vaishnava community for introducing the tantalizing dish.

Making of the dish:

                  Puliyogare can be made in seconds, if you have  pre-cooked rice.It can be served alone or with happla,sandige,curd or fresh kosambari.To make it even more scrumptious , it is along with curd rice!! Cooking puliyogare has 2 stages: (i) preparing the pulikaachal or gojiu(puliogare paste) (ii)adding rice to prepared gojiu.

                The ingredients required for the dish includes tamarind,oil,mustard seeds,cumin seeds,coriander seeds,fenugreek seeds,urad dal,channa dal,black pepper,pinch of hing,turmeric powder,dried chillies,fistful groundnut,jaggery,salt,cooked & cooled rice.

Once the pulikaachal(gojiu) is made , it can be stored separately.Whenever you want to have tamarind rice,just mix the gojiu with the cooked rice .

Speciality :

                         It contains 19% iron , 2% calcium . It reduces the acidity and balances juices inside stomach. While cooking the dish seems to be easy,cleaning up is no joy!

                      It has its own medicinal qualities especially in helping attain glowing skin.There happened an incident were a leprosy affected man was cured of this disease in a couple of months after eating Iyengar puliyogare available in the temple.The man then purchased the puliyogare in bulk amounts!

                       Rakesh Raghunath,musician ,show host and a food traveller, has a popular blog called Puliyogare Travels and his mission is to find out all about traditional food in India .

                         During long travels or the wedding fests or even the school lunch breaks , puliyogare is fondly preferred and  folks would trade things for a few spoons of the dish.

                       Nowadays ,to make it even more simpler ,brands sell puliogare pastes and mix . But nothing can beat the taste of homemade puliogare’s tartness!!