Author Archives: rgeeta

Encounters — India in Chennai

I have had multiple encounters with migrant workers of diverse kinds over the past 5+ years in Chennai. But this one shores up my faith in people. humans. humanity. It is a Sunday evening, and I am walking back from … Continue reading

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Papaya leaf and immunity

Some recent studies on effects of papaya leaf extract Otsuki N, Dang NH, Kumagai E, Kondo A, Iwata S, Morimoto C 2010. Aqueous extract of Carica papaya leaves exhibits anti-tumor activity and immunomodulatory effects. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 127: 760-767 In … Continue reading

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தேங்காய் பூ — Edible Coconut Cotyledon

தேங்காய் பூ, thEngAi poo is the delicious spongy/crispy, edible cotyledon of the coconut that develops at the time of germination. Once the fruit is mature, the seed is ready to germinate. Often, at the time when coconuts are being readied … Continue reading

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நான் ஒரு விளையாட்டு பொம்மையா – naan oru viLayattu bommayya

Composer: Papanasam Sivan; Ragam: Navarasa Kanada, Talam: Adi D.K. Pattammal Madurai TN Seshagopalan 1998 Violin – M.A Sundareswaran; Mrudangam – Guruvayur Dorai; Ghatam – S.V. Ramani Maharajapuram Santhanam 2006 Bombay Sisters 2008 Nithyasree Mahadevan 2009 Sikkil Gurucharan, Anil Srinivasan 2015 … Continue reading

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On retinas and occlusions

Recently, I developed a blockage of a vein in the retina of the eye (branch retinal vein occlusion, BRVO). Because of this, fluid accumulates in the eye (forming an oedema). This in turn distorts a portion of my vision, with … Continue reading

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Darwin Day

Happy Birthday, Darwin! Charles Darwin’s name is tightly linked to the idea that evolution, or descent with change, which is brought about by the process of natural selection. Another biologist, Alfred Wallace, also formulated similar ideas at the same time. … Continue reading

Posted in Dilli o Dilli, Namma Chennai, Science, Science literacy, Society | 2 Comments

On cataracts and sinister left and dextrous right eyes

When you reach a certain age, you tend to develop cataracts, cloudy lenses. And so it was with me. And you have the cataracts removed surgically. And so it was with me, I now have brand new, foldable intra-ocular lenses … Continue reading

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காவல் கரங்கள் Kaaval Karangal Chennai — help for the destitute

காவல் கரங்கள் Kaaval Karangal An initiative of Greater Chennai Police to assist abandoned uncared persons 132, Commissioner Office Building, EVK Sampath Road, Vepery 600007 https://www.facebook.com/Kavalkarangal/ https://twitter.com/kavalkarangal?lang=en Maheshwari “does” the kitchen and garden at home. After she finishes work here (at about … Continue reading

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Quasi Eastern Mediterranean recipes

Modified from ‘The Cooking of the Eastern Mediterranean” Paula Wolfert Pomegranate molasses: Two cups fresh pomegranate juice; 1/3 cup sugar (I added less, brown sugar); 1/3 cup lemon juice (I added lime juice). Boil, reduce to abt 1/3 cup–rather, to … Continue reading

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Pirambu/Vetra/Calamus

Calamus rotang L., distributed in the drier parts of peninsular India. (Often confused with C. australis Mart., which occurs in N and E Queensland, Australia) Tamiz பிரபங் கிழங்கு Pirapan kizhangu, Pirambu kizhangu and others [FRHLT] Sanskrit वेत्रफल [vetraphala] [vetra-phala ] the fruit of Vetra Lit. Suśr. http://sanskrit.uohyd.ac.in/Heritage/MW/249.html http://sanskritdictionary.com/?q=vetra vetra … Continue reading

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