“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” – Socrates
In Ancient Greece, the philosopher Socrates famously declared that an unexamined life is not worth living. All of us are crazy in a very particular way. Some of us are unbalanced and immature while others are happy or sad. But it is really important to discover the kind of person you are. We tend to underestimate the importance of knowing ourselves. Therefore, sometimes it makes it hard to hold on to your identity.
Based on this theme, my college faculty designed an exciting activity for us. In this activity, we had to describe ourselves through the medium of art. We were encouraged to use watercolors, pencil colors, and cloth, etc.
I am a foodie. I love to eat and cook. After thinking for a while, I thought that my favorite dish is my best representation. Among the number of foods, Poha is my favorite food. There is certainly no better feeling in the world than a warm Poha plate on my lap. Poha is flattened rice which is beloved by India. The Poha is a signature breakfast dish and a popular item of street food.
The reason I drew a Poha when they asked me to reflect on myself is that it has a characteristic of both sweet and sour taste. I have a lot of good qualities but along with that I even have various drawbacks. This is the reason which makes me different from others.
In different cultures, Poha is served with either peanut, bhujiya sprinkled on the top, sugar and ghee. It makes it more pleasing but without losing its real identity. I am the kind of person who likes to interact with other people. I try to learn something from everyone. It ultimately makes me a better person but without losing my fundamental values.
Avalakki, poya, atukulu, sira, baji, phove, chivda- Poha has a word in practically every language. Similarly, I have so many nicknames that I can't even remember. Every new person calls me a different name or with some random adjectives.
Last but not the least, the color of the cuisine is the essence of it. It makes it attractive and most noticeable among the wide spectrum. Yellow color describes me the best. It is a color that shows happiness {which is my name} and optimism. Along with that I am dynamic, but also very calculative, not making any step further until a full analysis of the situation is made. I am entertaining and try to brighten everyone around me.
Yellow also has its downsides as well. Yellow is non-emotional, coming from the head rather than the heart. It depends on itself, preferring to not get emotionally involved. Sometimes, I find it difficult to connect with the people around me. Sometimes, it's hard for me to empathize with my friends and put myself in their shoes.
“Everyone and everything that shows up in our life is a reflection of something that is happening inside of us.” - Alan Cohen
I would like to end this post with an interesting story. In a paddy growing, rice-eating nation, it’s hardly surprising that flattened rice is so ubiquitous that it even made it into the Bhagavata Purana.
Krishna and Sudama were childhood friends. The two boys were inseparable and did everything together. But once their schooling was over, they had to go their separate ways. Lord Krishna became the king while Sudama lived an impoverished life with his wife and children. Sudama went to meet Krishna after a really long time. Sudama knew about Krishna’s fondness for Poha. Therefore, he carried a humble gift of a handful of Poha for him. When Krishna saw Sudama walk in, he jumped up and hugged him. Krishna pounced on the bundle. ‘Poha’, he exclaimed delightedly. “You remembered my favorite!”
After a while, Sudama reached his village, he was amazed to see a huge mansion in the place of his hut. “For that one handful of Poha, you gave me all this, Krishna,” he thought in gratitude.
The story is told to illustrate that a simple cuisine presented with love and gratitude can remind someone of the old days and reunite special memories.
Sources
· https://www.livemint.com/politics/policy/madhya-pradesh-s-indori-Poha-likely-to-join-race-for-gi-tag-1563112009046.html
· https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-Poha-the-flattened-rice-dish-beloved-of-india-6240083/
· https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/food/a-dash-of-lime-a-touch-of-road-Poha-across-the-nation/article30702740.ece
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