While in my city of Mumbai, I was in a popular high profile restaurant known for serving Chinese cuisine. The place is full, there is not a relaxed moment for the staff, most days. I asked the waiter if ajinomoto was added in the dishes to increase the taste. The man was not willing to answer my question, but after some persuasion, he brought the manager to my table. By the nature of the man, I could make out that he was not taking my question with any serious angle though he knew a few of the disadvantages of ajinomoto. 'Madam, I've heard that ajinomoto causes some side effects, but, to tell you the truth, the owner has been consuming ajinomoto all these years, and nothing has happened to him. Look at me, I have my lunch here everyday of the week. That way, doctors say smoking is harmful, but who can really say? I'm smoking and I'm alive!' After his conversation, which was logically - so off, I decided that I must tell my readers about the serious side effects of ajinomoto.

But, first, what is ajinomoto? Ajinomoto is a food additive commonly associated with Chinese food. Ajinomoto was discovered in 1909 by the Ajinomoto Corp. of Japan. The reason it remains popular as food additive is that it is cheap in cost and highly effective in adding flavour. Now, the latest medical revelations are persuading a large number of restaurants to refrain from using this product due to its harmful effects.

Some of the side effects of ajinomoto are: fluctuations in blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, chest pains, asthma attacks, burning sensation in the back, facial tightness, headache, nausea and even paralysis. These reactions might happen at any time, meaning, immediately, or, two days later after consuming. Certain studies have suggested that long time use of ajinomoto can cause brain lesions. Over-use of the product may cause obesity, or, an imbalance of the hypothalamus gland.

I feel, that's a deadly cost to be enjoying Chinese food laced with ajinomoto! I feel, the best way to enjoy a Chinese meal is to opt for those eateries where ajinomoto is not in use. My experience tells me that if you request certain establishments - they oblige you by not making use of the food additive in your individual dishes. I also believe that certain styles of choices are suitable in varying degrees to all of us. The choice is ours
 

Geeta Chhabra

 

 

A risk comparable to self-destruction is to continuously find faults in others, and be blind to one's own limitations. I think, this is far worse than any other type of ignorance.

 

 

 

 

Geeta Chhabra

 

 

The following are some amazing facts, as regards to the - HUMAN BRAIN:

1. 60% Fat is making the human brain, thereby, making the brain one of the "fattiest" organ in the body!

2. 1,00,000 miles is the length of blood vessels in the brain. Yes, 1,00,000 miles!

3. 1.5 kg is the weight of an adult brain. That's right, 1.5 kg!

4. One has more brain cells at the age of two than at any other time in one's life.

Think about that!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Geeta Chhabra

 

 

Knowledge that doesn't take you beyond yourself, is far worse than ignorance.

 

 

 

 

 

I recall reading about Shams Tabriz who is credited as the spiritual instructor of Jalaluddin Rumi. Rumi - the 13th century Persian Sufi mystic poet, jurist, theologian.

Basically, the philosophical minds of thinkers made them restless and content, in stages. The thinkers were restless to remove their ignorance. Hence, their ability to dive deep into philosophical topics was steady and strong. The more conclusions they gained - the more content they became 'within' themselves, enhancing their thirst for knowledge. Rather than criticizing others, they directed the fault-finding-probe to the more important activity of: Self-probe. The knowledge they grasped, they put it into actual practice. Their "actions" transformed them into true spiritual sages, and as philosophers - they shared their experiments with the world.

 

 

 

Geeta Chhabra

 

 

After Syria became an independent republic in 1946, it saw many, many upheavals. There was a coup in March 1949, followed by two more coups that year. A popular uprising in 1954 against the military rule saw the army transfer power to civilians.

From 1958 to 1961 - a new change from the parliamentary system to a centralized presidential regime took place. In 1966, General Hafez Al-Assad, the Minister of Defense seized power.

By March 1971, Hafez Al-Assad declared himself President and ruled with an iron fist until his death in 2000. His son, Bashar al-Assad, the present President of Syria, initially inspired hopes for state reforms, but it seems he has failed to deliver on the promised reforms since 2000.

The Syrian civil war is an armed conflict in Syria between forces loyal to the President, versus, people demanding reforms from the President, Bashar al-Assad.

Who is suffering - the most?
Innocent men, women and children.

Starting in March 2011, the Syrian civil war has left more than 140,000 people dead. Millions more have been injured, displaced, or, left in very poor living conditions with shortage of food and drinking water.

Chemical weapons have also been used in the warfare - and though all this is triggering strong international hue and cry - Sweet Syria continues to burn.

Sweet Syria Is Burning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Geeta Chhabra

 

 

 

 

 

My mentor, Nissim Ezekiel (who helped me start my journey with my pen and poems) reminded me over and over again: "Anything is possible in life."

 

 

 

To many of my queries which I put across to him, his reply was simply: "Anything is possible in life."

A truly unforgettable literary icon who left me spellbound with every word he uttered on English literature, this repeated statement of his left me baffled; often, a great ferment of resentment stirred within me, and I wondered if he was being casual, even lazy to give me the correct answer.

Now, I see a priceless value in what the muse of poetry had shared with me...

Did any of us ever, ever, ever imagine a year, like, 2020?

The current pandemic is a harsh reality on earth, proving, "Anything can happen in life!"

 

Geeta Chhabra

(From Lockdown Collection)