Ramachandra Guha interview: Is environmentalism in India an import from the West?
Environmentalism, historian and columnist Ramachandra Guha has written, is thought to be a 'full-stomach phenomenon' – it's believed to be a Western concern because people in countries like India are simply too poor to be green.
That's a myth that he conclusively blows apart in his latest book, Speaking With Nature: The Origins of Indian Environmentalism.
The book is an exploration of the explores the work of ten individuals who – though not all of them Indian – have warned about the dangers of environmental degradation from an Indian point of view.
With Speaking With Nature, Guha returns to his roots. His first book, The Unquiet Woods, was about Chipko movement to conserve forests in Uttarakhand. And several other of his early works concerned the environment. They include This Fissured Land and Ecology and Equity, both co-authored with Madhav Gadgil and How Much Should a Person Consume?: Thinking Through the Environment.
In this interview with Scroll editor Naresh Fernandes on World Environment Day, he explains why India would be an environmental disaster zone even if the crisis of climate change did not exist and elaborates on the role of the ten figures in his book who 'played a pioneering role in shaping global conversations about humanity's relationship with nature'.
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First Post
2 hours ago
- First Post
Why India's Parle-G biscuit is costing Rs 2,300 in Gaza
Mohammed Jawad, a Gaza resident, posted a video on X showing him giving his daughter a packet of Parle-G, a biscuit he says is her favourite. The clip comes amid severe food shortages and soaring prices in Gaza due to the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. The biscuit, which normally sells for around Rs 100 in international markets, was reportedly bought for over Rs 2,300 due to the crisis read more This comes at a time when Gaza is struggling with severe food shortages. X/@Mo7ammed_jawad6 Parle-G is one of the most well-known and widely consumed biscuits in India, and it also has a presence in several other countries. Now, a video doing the rounds on social media shows a Palestinian father giving his daughter a packet of Parle-G . This comes at a time when Gaza is struggling with severe food shortages and a steep rise in prices of everyday items due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD ALSO READ | Explained: Is a genocide unfolding in Gaza? The biscuit, which usually costs Rs 100 in international markets, was reportedly purchased for over Rs 2,300 because of the crisis. In this explainer, we look at what the video shows, how Parle-G is being sold for such a high price in Gaza, and the issue of food scarcity and rising costs in the war-affected region. Here are the answers to these questions: Palestinian father says Parle-G is daughter's 'favourite': What happens in the video? Mohammed Jawad, a resident of Gaza, shared a video on X in which he is seen handing his daughter, Rafif, a packet of Parle-G , a biscuit he says is her favourite. Posting the video, he wrote, 'After a long wait, I finally got Ravif her favorite biscuits today. Even though the price jumped from €1.5 to over €24, I just couldn't deny Rafif her favorite treat.' After a long wait, I finally got Ravif her favorite biscuits today. Even though the price jumped from €1.5 to over €24, I just couldn't deny Rafif her favorite treat. — Mohammed jawad 🇵🇸 (@Mo7ammed_jawad6) June 1, 2025 Notably, Parle-G, the much-loved Indian biscuit, is available in the region but has become extremely scarce due to the ongoing food shortage in Gaza. What normally costs around Rs 100 a packet is now being sold for as much as Rs 2,342. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The high price shocked many online, as Parle-G is known in India for being one of the most affordable snacks. One user tagged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, saying, 'The baby is eating India's favourite biscuit. Look I know we are neutral about the war. But can we please send more Parle G to Palestine? These are Glucose Biscuits and will help relieve the civilian population.' Another user commented, 'rafif deserves all the biscuits she desires, stay safe family.' After a long wait, I finally got Ravif her favorite biscuits today. Even though the price jumped from €1.5 to over €24, I just couldn't deny Rafif her favorite treat. — Mohammed jawad 🇵🇸 (@Mo7ammed_jawad6) June 1, 2025 'These biscuit are send as aid, then how come this becomes sold in black market (sic),' questioned another. So why has the price of this simple biscuit risen so sharply? And how are items meant as aid ending up for sale in Gaza's black market? ALSO READ | How Gaza's food relief centres have turned into death traps Why Parle-G is being sold for over Rs 2,300 The high price of Parle-G biscuits in Gaza is mainly due to extreme scarcity and inflated rates amid looting and limited food availability. Dr Khaled Alshawwa, a 31-year-old surgeon based in Gaza City, told NDTV that these items usually arrive as part of humanitarian aid and are meant to be distributed for free. However, only a small number of people receive them. This limited access turns such products into rare commodities, often resold on the black market at high prices. According to the report, prices vary depending on the location and the seller. The Parle-G packets seen in Gaza are marked with 'EXPORT PACK' and carry no printed price. The biscuit usually costs Rs 100 in international markets. Image: News18 It appears that the biscuits reached Gaza through aid shipments and were eventually acquired by a few vendors, who then sold them at prices far beyond the reach of ordinary residents, NDTV reported. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The publication reported that other essential items are also being sold at shockingly high rates. In northern Gaza, 1 kg of sugar was priced at Rs 4,914, and onions at Rs 4,423 per kg. Since March 18, when Israeli forces resumed offensive operations in Gaza, the cost of flour has soared by 5,000 per cent, and cooking oil by 1,200 per cent, according to residents quoted by Time Magazine. International aid agencies warn that famine is now imminent in Gaza. Their latest assessment, based on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, declared the entire region to be in an 'Emergency' phase. As of May 12, around 470,000 people, about 22 per cent of Gaza's population, had entered the 'Catastrophe' phase, marked by starvation, death, and extreme levels of malnutrition. Meanwhile, critical support systems like community kitchens, which once fed thousands, have collapsed. The report also said UNRWA's main compound, along with local markets and kitchens, has been looted. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Gaza's humanitarian crisis Gaza's population of around two million is now almost entirely dependent on international aid, as the ongoing Israeli offensive has wiped out most of the region's ability to produce food. A woman crouches next to boxes of the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, as Palestinians gather to collect what remains of relief supplies, in Rafah. Reuters On March 2, Israel imposed a blockade on supplies entering Gaza. Limited aid only began to trickle in again late last month, following international pressure and urgent warnings about looming famine. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the needs on the ground are immense and that the aid currently reaching Gaza is still far from enough. Israel, meanwhile, has accused Hamas, the political and militant group operating within Gaza, of taking control of aid and using it for its own purposes. As a result, it had paused traditional UN food deliveries. With inputs from agencies
India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
Meet NEET UG topper who got 720 marks out of 720, cleared JEE with 99.9 percentile, not only by studying but..., name is...
Meet NEET UG topper who got 720 marks out of 720, cleared JEE with 99.9 percentile, not only by studying but..., name is... It's not a cup of tea for anyone to crack the toughest entrance examination, especially NEET. Lakhs of students appear for the competitive examinations such as NEET, JEE, CUET to get admission in their desired colleges and institutions. After Class 12th, students who wish to pursue an engineering degree appear for the Joint Entrance Examination. At the same time, students aiming for an MBBS must qualify through the NEET examination. Have you ever heard of anyone who has cleared both JEE and NEET? Of course, yes, there have been a few exceptional students who have cleared both JEE and NEET, India's two toughest entrance exams for engineering and medical studies, respectively. This Indian genius studied just 4 hours a day, scored a perfect 720 marks out of 720 in the NEET exam, cracked the JEE exam with 99.9 percentile, and he is… Mrinal Kutteri, who hails from Hyderabad, spent his childhood there along with his parents, younger brother, and grandparents. Though his family hailed from Kerala, it is interesting to note that none of his close relatives are medical professionals. Mrinal Kutteri developed an interest in biology and chemistry from Classes 8 and 9. His serious preparation for NEET commenced in Class 11 and continued for 3.5 years, with guidance from Aakash Institute. During an interview with India Today in 2021, the NEET topper revealed, 'I wanted to initially become an army doctor and live a life of medicine and adventure, but that gradually turned into an interest mainly in medicine. Also, the pandemic had an impact as it was inspiring to see doctors all across the world on the frontlines. Mrinal Kutteri has been a passionate gamer since Class 8. Speaking of his educational qualification, Mrinal Kutteri has got 98.16% in his ICSE Class 10 boards and 88.6% in Class 12 boards. Though he wrote some Olympiads, SpellBees, and quizzes in Class 10, he devoted his major attention to NEET preparation from Classes 11-12. The transition from offline to online learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic affected many students' learning experience. But Mrinal enjoyed the change first. Mrinal remembered how, at first, he used to enjoy having much free time during the time of lockdown so that he could give more importance to his hobbies than to his studies. But later his studies went down, and ultimately, he had to experience some time of adjustment before getting back to his routine. Unlike most of the high scorers, he never followed a rigid study schedule. Mrinal admitted that he liked an open style of learning more than sticking to a routine. He felt that spending time creating and attempting to stick to a strict schedule, only to realize it was hard to keep up with, would be a waste of time. In class 12, he had given KVPY and JEE Main without any other preparation apart from his NEET studies. In spite of that, he scored an impressive 99.9 percentile in his JEE Main exam. Hyderabad's Mrinal Kutteri was the NTA NEET 2021 entrance exam topper with All India Rank 1 and a score of 720 out of 720. While speaking with India Today(2021), the NEET topper shared, 'So, I went for a free-form and flexible pattern. I set a goal for each day and how I achieved it was up to me. There were many days when I couldn't achieve the goal, but it was not about getting demotivated or discouraged. Being okay with this free form is what I think really helped me.' Mrinal noted that his study hours fluctuated greatly from day to day. While there were times when he felt extremely productive, there were also days when he couldn't study at all. Despite the variations in his study pattern, Mrinal stated that on average, he studied for around 4 hours each day, and on especially productive days, he managed around 5 hours, in addition to his college duties. But he never went beyond that. As per a Zee News report, Mrinal successfully balanced academics with leisure. To unwind and stay motivated, he often turned to comedy series on Netflix and Prime Video, using light-hearted entertainment as a way to relieve stress. Music played a key role in Mrinal's daily routine, with artists like Taylor Swift and Linkin Park topping his playlist. Their songs served as both motivation and a tool to maintain focus during study sessions. A passionate gamer from Class 8, Mrinal had to pull back from playing during Classes 11 and 12 as he concentrated on his studies. But after NEET, he came back to his favourite pastime eagerly, immersing himself in games such as Rainbow Six and Battlefield on his PlayStation 5.
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
What my kitchen taught me about Pakistani cuisine: Lahori namak, Kasuri methi, and more
For years, I've had a long-standing argument with a friend over whether there is such a thing as Pakistani cuisine. His stance is that Pakistan has no distinctive culinary identity – it's all Indian food, or a mix of North-West Frontier and Afghani cuisine with minor tweaks, rebranded as Pakistani. I disagree. Having cooked many dishes from Pakistani recipes, I believe that while it may not boast entirely unique dishes, Pakistani cuisine has a distinct flavour profile. It can be more robust, with a deeper use of whole spices like brown and green cardamom, and, of course, the country is the birthplace of my favourite aromatic herb, Kasuri methi. There's been a surge of anti-Pakistan sentiment in recent weeks, but I take a slightly John Lennon-ish view – that there must be peace after a point. All the talk about Pakistan made me think of the ingredients in my kitchen that hail from there and have become staples. First up: Lahori namak – what the fancypants call the Himalayan rock salt. It's a better alternative to regular table salt, especially good in salads since it has a delicate flavour of its own. Himalayan black salt or kala namak or Lahori namak is mined from the salt ranges in the Himalayan foothills, primarily in Pakistan. It's not just about the taste either – Lahori namak has a unique mineral composition. Unlike refined salt, which is stripped of its natural elements, this salt retains sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iron. I don't usually cook with it, but I do use it in salads, where its delicate umami flavour shines. Now to my favourite ingredient: Kasuri methi or dried fenugreek leaves. I had never really given its antecedents much thought, until the recent Indo-Pak tensions turned Facebook groups into battlegrounds. Someone posted a passionate appeal titled 'Stop calling dried methi leaves Kasuri methi.' I, innocently, assumed it was a nomenclature debate, but no, the point was that we should stop using the word 'Kasuri' because Kasuri methi comes from the Kasur region in Pakistan, where unique soil conditions give the fenugreek leaves a particularly fragrant quality. It's an ingredient I can't recommend enough. A teaspoon is enough to elevate any curry or sabzi – just rub the dried leaves between your palms to release their oils, and add them at the end of cooking, almost like you would with fresh coriander. If you're using Kasuri methi, skip the coriander or curry leaves. Another Pakistani pantry staple I swear by: Shan masalas. Whether it's biryani, kebabs, raan or chholey, if you want flavours that rival the best restaurant or even a top Amritsari dhaba, this is your shortcut. I've used Shan masalas since I started cooking. Each packet includes whole spices and pre-measured salt. If you're not a confident cook or don't want to experiment, just follow the instructions on the box, and you'll feel like you're a chef at a five-star North West Frontier Province restaurant. Author of The Sweet Kitchen, and chef-owner of Food For Thought Catering ... Read More
