Behold, the Power of Onions

theeyal.jpg I seem to be the Mutiny’s resident “protest publicist”, so why should today be any different? Join the BJP tomorrow (today?) in Delhi as they take to the streets to express their outrage over the latest issue to grip India (Thanks, Usamidalla):

Harsh Vardhan, a leader of the opposition Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) in New Delhi, accused traders of limiting onion sales to profit from Dussehra and Deepawali festivals. Onion are an important ingredient in almost everything eaten during both festivals. “An artificial scarcity of onion has been created by traders in connivance with the governing Congress party government,” the Press Trust of India quoted Mr Vardhan as saying.

I wish I could be more sympathetic, but as long-time HERstorians are aware, I HATE ONIONS. I pick them out of my food, no matter how microscopically my mother thinks she’s chopping them; this is usually a futile endeavor though, since they inevitably leave their odious taste among the innocent vendaka and pavaka (read: bhindi and karela) who surely deserve better than such a slimy compatriot. So yeah. I won’t be at the protest. 😉

Apparently, I should take the many-layered vegetable more seriously. Not only can it make you cry if you’re chopping it, it can make you cry as it gives YOU the chop:

Onion shortages in India were responsible for bringing down BJP governments in New Delhi and Rajasthan states in 1998.

Amazing.

In several parts of India, onions were trading at double the price of the previous week.

Obviously, in solidarity with her erstwhile countrymen, my mother should refrain from using ooly in her legendary cooking when I go home for almost two weeks on Thursday. It’s the right thing to do, no? 😉

16 thoughts on “Behold, the Power of Onions

  1. Dude, I thought you were a mallu (Well from your previous comments I know you are one)

    taste among the innocent vendaka and pavaka (read: bhindi and karela)

    This makes me think you are tamil or… do they call it the same thing in Malayalam.

  2. i’m transliterating the words i know for okra and bittermelon. there are probably superior ways to spell them, but yes, those words are Malayalam AFAIK.

    i’m not too surprised about the Mal/Tam confusion…Malayalam has plenty in common with Tamil (my father referred to Tamil as Malayalam’s “big sister”).

  3. Dear Sepiamutiny,

    Seriously, whats all the stink about? WHY do onions get so much attention. They’re freaking onions! The media is so biased, paying attention to one issue and neglecting the plight of others. I can respect Swaminarayans and Jains, atleast they’re equal opportunity bigots.

    Regards, Garlic

  4. thanks for the tip anna – looks yum hmmm… that looks so good… can i…? hmmm … i dont have tamarind.. but have some dried mango to zing it… dont have coconut… anyway… i’ll use a tomato just because… but worht a try. let’s do it.

  5. This makes me hungry for the Vidalias sitting in my fridge. 🙂

    and THAT makes me crave some “Arular”…”yeah, yeah, HEYYYYYYYYY!”

  6. dhavaak,

    theeyal is one of my FAVE dishes; the sublime taste makes listening to the roar of the blender worthwhile. my mom makes it with vendaka/bhindi/okra and it’s mind-blowing yummy. hmmm. remind me to request that, for apres-flight nourishment. 😉

  7. Divorce was inevitable 🙂

    oh, darling boy… i thought the very same thing as i cranked up the volume just now. 😉

  8. i’m not too surprised about the Mal/Tam confusion…Malayalam has plenty in common with Tamil (my father referred to Tamil as Malayalam’s “big sister”).

    Some insight into Tamil/Malayalam History. Malayalam is a language derived from Tamil. So you have many words in common between Tamil/Malayalam.

    In the Olden days, TamilNadu had Four major kingdoms. They are

    1. Pandias – Madurai Region.
    2. Cholas – Tanjore Region.
    3. Pallavas – Chennai Region.
    4. Cheras – Coimabtore region.

      Later the the area ruled by Cheras became the present Kerala.

      Now back to onion….continue Plz 🙂

  9. Now it all makes sense. I used to live in Coimbatore for a long time and you know how it is there. Loads of Mallus who speak tamil. It was amazing, they spoke a combination of both languages. I still remember the days when I used to watch Malayalam films (my dad always said that was the best way to learn the language).

    Anyways, even after all that I honestly did not know that you guys called vendaka and pavaka the same thing. Yendha moolae manasula aiyoo ?

  10. The BJP actually championing onions?….. I know quite a few uncles and aunties who don’t eat onions because muslims eat them. But I love em. Gotta brown those onions right?

  11. hey this web page is great 4 home work.

    If you plagiarize then I will see you in hell. Unless angelicANNA gets to you first.

  12. this web is 4 everyone who wants to know how to use the power of onions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!