Latest news with #RajmaChawal
Mint
01-08-2025
- General
- Mint
‘In UP-Bihar, UPSC isn't just an exam': Woman reveals aspirants who fail to make it as civil servants go ‘invisible'
Each year, thousands of young Indians appear for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam, and many more enrol in coaching centres to begin their preparation. However, like every competitive exam, only a handful successfully pass all the rounds of the UPSC exam to become civil servants. The question is, what happens to those who never make it as civil servants? Those who fail the UPSC and other competitive exams that guarantee 'power' and a government job? A LinkedIn user, Arunima Lal, said they go 'invisible' for friends and family. In a viral post, Arunima shared an anecdote about an uncle she had in Bihar. She said he had prepared for UPSC for 5 to 6 years, but after failing the exam, he took on menial jobs. '…the last I heard was that he was selling chicken. He was a butcher in the village, and now he's working in a factory in Ludhiana,' she said, adding that she doesn't even have his number anymore. However, she highlighted from his story that it wasn't rare for people from where she came to stop associating with those who failed. 'In UP-Bihar, UPSC isn't just an exam. It's an emotion. A family project. A full-blown social upgrade plan,' Arunima said. Sharing her personal brush with UPSC, she said, 'The moment someone in Bihar says, 'Main IAS ki tayyari kar raha hoon,' phones start chacha, phupha, bua, even that distant cousin who never returned your pen in 6th grade. No one asks if the boy has a study plan or if he even knows what optional he's taking. That doesn't matter. What matters is that 'Beta IAS banega.'' 'Suddenly, the entire house starts revolving around this one boy. No chores. No noise. No interruptions. Even his sulking is labelled 'tension hai bechare ko.'' she added. Arunima also wrote that what begins as preparation for the UPSC exam spirals into wedding talk and a handsome dowry in the name of 'wedding gifts.' '...wedding talk kicks in, sasurji mentally allocates one floor of the house, a Honda City is thought of as a 'gift, and we all pretend it isn't dowry because 'khushi se diya gaya dahej thodi hota hai?'' she wrote. Arunima said that the lucky few who clear the UPSC exam get caught up in politics, and then a chain of transfers begins. 'A friend of mine cleared it- got transferred twice in a year because he didn't align with a politician's views. Another spent months in court defending an order. One told me, 'Power toh mil gayi, par chain chali gayi, '' she wrote. But things are worse when the UPSC preparation doesn't work out. In the viral post, Arunima said, those who never make it quietly fade out of conversations. 'And then there are those who never make it. Who spend 6–7 years in Old Rajinder Nagar, living on 40-rupee Rajma Chawal, mock tests, and hope. When it doesn't work out, they quietly fade out of conversations,' she wrote. She highlighted that some of them become teachers, some join insurance firms, and some never quite recover. 'But we don't talk about them. Because in our culture, preparing for UPSC earns you respect, but failing it makes you invisible.' Arunima urged people to stop romanticising the outcome of UPSC and start 'acknowledging the cost of this dream,' because for many, 'Main IAS ki tayyari kar raha hoon' isn't a statement. 'It's a burden they carry long after the attempt is over.'
NDTV
29-07-2025
- Health
- NDTV
6 High-Energy Indian Meals To Refuel Your Body Post 10K Steps Days
In a rush? Can't cook? Have you completed your 10k steps for the day and feel like you could devour a buffet? We feel you. While fitness enthusiasts might curb their energy levels with some bland protein shake, Indian meals can actually give you the same fuel without the bland taste. From protein-rich dal-chawal to simple and nutritious chhole, there's a whole range of comforting, high-energy desi dishes that can help your body bounce back without much effort. Plus, most of them have the right balance of carbs, proteins and fats. Now, we understand that after your tremendous feat, the last thing you want to do is enter the kitchen and prepare the ingredients. For those (recuperating) times, your favourite food delivery app has your back. But, if you are still determined to cook yourself a delicious meal to fuel yourself up, here are some easy and delicious recipes that can fuel you up post your 10K steps days. Here Are 6 High-Energy Indian Meals To Reenergise After 10K Steps 1. Rajma Chawal You have earned your comfort! Rajma chawal is that perfect combination of warmth, protein and carbs that works great after a long walk or a stressful weekday. Rajma gives you a solid iron and fibre boost, and the rice in this combo helps you recharge your glucose levels. Pair this combination with crunchy papad and fresh salad on the side, and you will have a wholesome meal in no time. It is filling, nostalgic, and tastes amazing when you are tired and starving. Here's the full recipe for Rajma-Chawal. 2. Chicken Stew with Appam Light, wholesome and full of energy, this Kerala-style chicken stew with appam is perfect if you want to eat clean but still feel full. The chicken gives you lean protein, the coconut milk adds healthy fat, and the soft appams work great as a carb source. It doesn't feel heavy but will keep you full for hours. Also, it feels super comforting after a hectic day at the office, when you want to charge up for some good exercise time! Check out the full recipe of Chicken Stew and Appam. 3. Chhole With Brown Rice or Roti Chickpeas are a protein-packed food, and when you slow cook them into spicy chhole, they become perfect for your post-workout meals. You can pair chhole with rotis or brown rice, this dish will refuel you without making you sluggish. To enhance its taste, pair chhole with a hearty bowl of boondi raita to cool it all down and aid digestion. It's tasty, energising, and super satisfying. Here's a quick recipe for one-pot Chhole-Chawal. 4. Pesarattu With Allam Pachadi (Ginger chutney) This crispy Andhra moong dal pancake is basically a plant-based protein bomb. It's light enough to be eaten post-run and strong enough to keep you full till dinner. The ginger chutney, also known as allam pachadi, adds a delicious taste and helps keep your digestion smooth. It's clean, guilt-free and doesn't compromise on flavours. And the best part is that it is made without a drop of maida. Here's how to make Pesarattu and Allam Pachadi at home. 5. Sattu Paratha With Curd Everywhere you look, you will find a sattu-based recipe lingering around the corner. This OG Indian superfood, made with sattu (roasted chana flour), is naturally high in protein and fibre, and when packed into a flaky paratha, it becomes a total meal. Add a bowl of dahi and some achaar, and you have got yourself a warming and wholesome paratha to dig in! This is how you can make Sattu paratha at home. 6. Egg Curry With Rice Eggs are your best friend on those days when your legs feel weak. They have got complete protein, plus good fats to keep you going. An egg curry, whether you make it North Indian or South-Indian style, gives you the warmth and richness your body deserves post-workout. Check out this recipe for egg curry. Too drained to peel eggs and make a curry-based masala? Relax on your bed and let your favourite food delivery app do the grunt work (and deliver to your doorstep!) for you! So, when you want to fuel yourself up, switch to these wholesome and delicious options to refuel your body in the healthiest way possible!
NDTV
04-07-2025
- NDTV
What India Packs For Lunch: A Delicious Tour Through Tiffin Boxes Across States
With lunchboxes in India, you open a window into the country's culture, heritage and culinary lineage. Whether it is rajma in Delhi, fish curry in Kolkata, or lemon rice in Chennai, every tiffin is like a gastronomic postcard from its region - layered with local ingredients, family habits and flavours that travel well through crowded trains, classrooms and cubicles. Lunch here is not just fuel for the day; it is tradition made portable. It reflects where we come from, how we eat, and what makes food taste like home even after five hours in a steel container. So, if you are curious about what the country really eats at 1 pm, this guide takes you through packed favourites from across states and how to recreate them in your own kitchen. 11 Lunch Box Ideas From 11 Indian States: 1. Aloo Paratha With Pickle And Curd - Punjab/Haryana: A classic that never fails to impress a foodie soul. Stuffed with spiced mashed potatoes, these parathas stay soft for hours. Use ghee for cooking and wrap in foil to retain warmth. Find the recipe here. 2. Rajma Chawal - Delhi/Uttar Pradesh: Rajma in a mildly spiced gravy paired with steamed rice is comfort food at its best. Pack it in a thermos to keep it fresh and warm for longer. The recipe is here. 3. Paneer Bhurji Roll - Uttarakhand: Scrambled paneer with onions and spices, rolled in a chapati, makes for a mess-free, protein-packed meal that is perfect to have on the go. Here is the recipe for you. 4. Thepla With Chunda - Gujarat: Thepla stays fresh for hours and tastes delicious when paired with mango pickle. Add curd or besan to the dough to keep it soft. Click here for the recipe. 5. Varan Bhaat - Maharashtra: Simple toor dal and rice topped with ghee makes for a light, nourishing and easy-to-digest meal that feels like a warm hug. Find the recipe here. 6. Goan Vegetable Xacuti With Rice - Goa: A mildly spiced coconut-based curry loaded with seasonal vegetables. You can also use leftover sabzi, add xacuti masala to it, and make yourself a Goan lunch in no time. Here is the veg xacuti recipe for you. 7. Lemon Rice - Tamil Nadu: This tangy, tempered rice with mustard seeds and curry leaves needs no reheating and stays fresh for hours. Find the recipe here. 8. Pulihora - Andhra Pradesh: Tamarind rice with peanuts and spices. Quick hack: make a batch of pulihora paste and store it for easy meal prep. Recipe is here. 9. Ghugni With Luchi - West Bengal: Spiced yellow pea curry with deep-fried flatbreads makes a perfect lunch for days when you want something decadent at work. The best part is it needs no reheating required. Click here for the ghugni recipe. 10. Chana Dal Pitha - Odisha: Steamed rice cakes stuffed with spiced lentils, they are filling, mess-free and travel-friendly. Find the recipe here. 11. Baingan Bharta With Roti - Madhya Pradesh: Add roasted peanuts on top for extra crunch, and do not forget a squeeze of lemon. Here is the recipe for baingan bharta. India's Lunchboxes Are A Celebration Of Regional Flavours These dishes are not just practical, they are packed with nostalgia, nutrition and the kind of taste that makes lunch the most looked-forward-to part of the day. Whether you are packing for school, work or a road trip, there is a tiffin idea here for every mood and every state of hunger.
