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vasantmasala · 2 years

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Craving Vegetable Biryani? Here's a Quick Microwave Recipe to Make One

Traditional Indian vegetable biryani is an ideal dish for any occasion. Long grain basmati rice and assorted vegetables with Vasant Masala’s Veg Biryani Pulav Masala are cooked in alternate layers under dum to create a dish that will delight all of your senses. Whole spices, fragrant rice, nutritious vegetables, and aromatic saffron combine perfectly in this vegetable biryani recipe, which is the magic of a good dum biryani. Plus, it's a microwave version, so it's a quick biryani, as opposed to a traditional clay pot biryani, which takes hours to build the dum and hours to cook the biryani itself. This one has been tried, tested, and loved and is well worth a shot.

Vegetable Biryani Recipe:

Biryani is a fuller meal, it is often served with 'Lacha Pyaaz' and Raita. There are varieties of biryanis available all across India. A few varities like Bombay Biryani, Hyderabadi Biryani, Thalassery Biryani, Awadhi Biryani, Bhatkali Biryani, Teharai Biryani, Dehli Biryani, Ambur Biryani, Kalyani Biryani, Culcatta Biryani, Beary Biryani, Sindhi Biryani, Memoni Biryani, Chettinad Biryani, and Dindigul Biryani. However, we hope you will like our version of Vegetable Biryani.

Preparation Time: 16-20 minutes

Time to cook: 26-30 minutes

Servings : 4

Cuisine: Indian

Cooking Ability: Moderate

Mild flavour

Author : Vasant Masala

Ingredients:

Rice Basmati 1 and 1/2 cups

2 medium carrots

Carrots 1/2 inch cubes 2 large French beans 1/2 inch cubes 10-12 florets Cauliflower 15 shelled green peas 1 quart

Season with salt to taste

8 green cardamoms,

1 black cardamom,

1 clove, 15 cinnamon Stick of 1/2 inch diameter

The bay leaf 1 teaspoon caraway seeds (shahi jeera) 1 1/2 tablespoons 1/2 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste

Turmeric Powder 1 tablespoon

Red chill Powder 1 teaspoon

Coriander powder 1 tbsp

Greek yoghurt 1/2 cup

Rose water 1/2 tsp

Saffron (Kesar) a few strands

Fresh tomato puree 1 cup

Garam masala powder 1 teaspoon

Fresh coriander leaves chopped 2 tablespoons

Fresh mint leaves chopped 2 tablespoons

Method to Make Vegetable Biryani:

Cook rice in four cups of salted boiling water with two green cardamoms, one black cardamom, five cloves, and a half-inch stack of cinnamon until it is three-fourths done. Set aside any excess water. Preheat a nonstick skillet. Roast the remaining green cardamoms, cloves, black cardamom, cinnamon, bay leaf, and caraway seeds. Combine the onions, carrots, French beans, cauliflower florets, and green peas in a large mixing bowl.

Sprinkle with salt, cover, and cook for two minutes on medium heat. Stir in the ginger-garlic paste with a little water. Cook for two minutes, covered. Cook with turmeric powder, red chilli powder, and coriander powder. Combine yoghurt, rose water, and saffron in a mixing bowl. Whisk in a small amount of water or milk. Mix in the tomato puree and half teaspoon garam masala powder with the vegetables. Allow for a two-minute simmer. Take a deep microwave-safe bowl.

Make a layer of rice at the bottom of the dish. Place half of the cooked vegetables on top, followed by another layer of rice. Half of the remaining garam masala powder, half of the coriander leaves, half of the mint leaves, and half of the yoghurt mixture should be sprinkled on top. Arrange the remaining veggies on top of the rice.

The remaining garam masala powder, coriander leaves, mint leaves, and yoghurt mixture should be sprinkled on top. Microwave on HIGH for four to five minutes, covered with a silicone lid (100 per cent). Allow it to stand for 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

Vasant Masala offers a wide range of spices, whole spices, speciality spices, and blended spices that you can use to make delectable dishes!

Source : Craving Vegetable Biryani? Here's a Quick Microwave Recipe to Make One

#Veg biryani recipe #indian recipes #indian spices #vasant masala

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forupss · 2 years

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Vasant Classic Garam Masala: Mix of 17 Healthy & Pure Spices is gaining market share

AHMEDABAD, India, Sept. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Vasant Classic Garam Masala – a unique combination of 17 healthy spices blended and packed to add freshness, aroma and taste; is fast becoming the first choice of millions of housewives across markets. The Classic Garam Masala from the house of Vasant Masala is the leading spices brand in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and MP. Vasant Masala, the umbrella brand…

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questlation · 2 years

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Vasant Classic Garam Masala: Mix of 17 Healthy & Pure Spices is gaining market share

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thebytenews · 2 years

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Ace Your Cooking Game With Vasant Masala's Chilli Powder!

Ace Your Cooking Game With Vasant Masala’s Chilli Powder!

If you are taking a trip to India or if you are an Indian, the main spice you would be familiar with is Red Chilli Powder. As Indians, we like to incorporate it in almost every dish except for sweet dishes. Oh, wait! we have spicy icecreams too! Indians can sprinkle chilli powder on icecreams too! Chilli powder is made using dried red chillies. Traditionally, the spicy powder was made crushing by…

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#Chilli Powder #Cooking Game #Red Chilli Powder

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chefpinhomecooked · 2 years

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Order In Delicious Ghar Ka Khana From These Home Chefs In Delhi - Chef Pin

Taking too many orders can slow you down, so why not order from chefs near your home? You’ll get a homemade meal that tastes just like home without the hassle. These chefs offer a healthy and personalized take on a traditional Indian experience to ensure a diverse dining experience.

Whether someone is craving a proper Italian feast or just wants a good old burger or even dal makhani, we’ve got it all in one handy list that you should bookmark. It’s not difficult to find healthy and delicious options out there: here are ten of the best home chefs in Delhi!

The chefs have put in measures to ensure the food is raw meat free and meets Covid-19 prevention guidelines.

Garniche-Chef At Your Doorstep - Delicious Ghare Ka Khana At Your Doorstep

Have a real craving for Covid Meals, Mutton Galouti Kebabs, Amritsari Fish, or Chef Special Mushroom? Order in from these home chefs in Delhi and be the envy of your friends.

Dine at home with a gourmet Indian, Italian and Thai Chef from Garniche with their deliveries of delectable dishes. French cooking is known for flavors such as madeleines, mousselines and quenelles among many others.

This Delhi-based service offers affordable, mouthwatering dishes from home chefs every day!

have some different healthy choices of various kinds of pastas, click here to order

PeeCeee\'s (Mughlai, North Indian)

Pawan Chugh is known for cooking the best Mutton Korma , Mutton Kofta , Cream Chicken , Aloo Meat etc.

Ordering food from home chefs in Delhi is easy, affordable, and can spare you many time constraints. These home chefs are famous for providing amazing meals cooked with fresh ingredients where each dish will be unique depending on the type of palate or occasion desired.

They\'re currently only available for takeaways and pick up from Vasant Kunj.

This neighbourhood in Delhi will offer home-cooked food

Accidental Chef by Ramola Bachchan

Middle Eastern, Sushi, Italian, French, Lebanese, Asian, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Desserts

Ramola Bachchan is known for cooking the best Mezze Basket etc.

"I call myself The Accidental Chef because I never knew that I would enjoy it so much and fell into by accident during the lockdown."

Bageechi by Venu Mathur

North Indian, Biryani

Venu Mathur is known for cooking the best Khade Masala Gosht, Biryani, Shami Kabab, Badam Parsinde, All Biryanis etc.

Home Cooks Near You - Here are the best known food cooks in Delhi to satisfy your hunger for Indian cuisine.

We, at Bageechi, provide our customers healthy, hygienic, tastefully crafted Home cooked Mathur food. We use the same ingredients as we use for ourselves on a daily basis. The food is cooked fresh for the order using branded or fssai approved ingredients. We specialize in famous Mathur food cooked with utmost love and care.

Tahir Sultan Food

Arabian, Lebanese, Persian

Hire a home chef in Delhi to cook a meal in a style of your choice! Tahir Sultan Tahir Sultan Shares His Delicious Recipes.

Order your favorite Indian food from one of his many cooking specialties, including Vegetarian Fetah, Warak Anab, Fatoush Hummus Bomb and Iranian Kebabs from Tahir Sultan.

Tahir Sultan, half Kuwaiti and half Indian, started the brand Tahir Sultan Food. The company offers an array of Arabic dishes to cook at your home for private parties. The dishes are Authentic Levantine, Arabic, and Persian cuisine with a moderate twist--using fresh produce for presentation that is beautiful. Features of Tahir Sultan Food include flavorful meals without disturbing the part design. Whether you are craving Arabic Cuisine or fancy trying something new, this is the place to check out!

Meri Rasoi by Preeti Sarna

Find north Indian dishes with home chefs in Delhi

Preeti Sarna, Chef In Delhi To Prepare Delicious Ghar ka Khana.

Bring to you from MERI RASOI (Kuch Halka Kuch Shahi) to your plate, the few dishes that I believe are my best @ reasonable prices. Home food which is made from hygienic and quality ingredients and has a shahi twist to it. For me food is not just a source of nutrition but also a medium of togetherness. Of spending happy times with friends and family. Over my twenty years of cooking, this is what has given me the most fulfilment, even when I was working in the corporate. And that’s my endeavor. To spread the same happiness to many many people.

One Right Bite by Snigdha Sheel

Bakery And Confectionary, Bengali, Health Food, Contemporary Continental. Order delicious food from these five different delicious cuisines for you to have at home

Snigdha Sheel is known for cooking the best Chingri Malai Curry, Cannoli, Vegetable Chop, Mutton Chop, Mutton Rezalla, Scones, Kosha Mangsho, Plum Cake, Bengali Sweets etc.

You can either choose to order from your favorite chef or find the perfect dish with the easy search filter.

Snigdha, who was inspired by her grandmother's robust recipes, has managed to create a balance between East and West BENGAL cuisines and best known for her experience with Bengali home food and Contemporary Continental dishes. She has more than 50 recipes to her credit and is best known for these, as well as her desserts.

Nisha Arora Food

North Indian, South Indian, Health Food, Desserts, Burger

Discover the Meals Cooked By A Delhi City Chef

Nisha Arora is known for cooking the best Guacamole Toast, Idli etc.

Arpita believes in taking care of everything from scratch. She started from convincing her kids to let her cook for them, to inviting their friends and relatives over, and eventually serving a maalish of delicious dishes. Now she's got her own restaurant with a full location in New Delhi, India!

Marwadi Khana by Abhilasha Jain

Indian Cuisine, Rajasthani

Try cooking like Marwadi Khana by Abhilasha Jain

How to Order In Delicious Ghar Ka Khana From Outside Delhi.

Delhi is the land of many delicious dishes. From authentic Punjabi Chole Bhature, to our experience in Delhi sought-after Thai cuisine, there are endless ways to explore the city through food. Let's also not forget traditional Indian staples like Mumbai Chaat Bhandar, Jama Masjid's Hartalika Chat Corner.

Meri Rasoi by Preeti Sarna

North Indian Home Chefs

Cooks Creatively For Her Family, Preeti's Food Brings Together Individuals From Different Religious Backgrounds

#best home chefs in delhi #best home cooked food delivery noida #food #foodie #low cal lunch #best homemade food delivery noida #best online homemade food delivery noida #order from home cook #homefood nearby #home chefs near me #homemade dinner near me #home made foods online delhi

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myindoreonline · 3 years

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Jeeravan Masala: Make your Favourite Dishes Tastier than Ever

Having originated in the city of Indore, the jeeravan masala was limited in its use, i.e., the poha. People have started realising its taste-enhancing abilities beyond its traditional uses. You can use the jeeravan masala in any of your favourite dishes, thanks to its blend of choicest eighteen spices.

Be it dal or salads; you can get the best out of your daily preparation with just a pinch of this highly preferred masala. Sandwiches, chips (French fries), aloo tikki, aloo wada, papad, popcorn and pakodas are to name a few dishes; the wonder masala can cast a spell on every type of savoury dish to enhance its taste manifold and transform it into a delicacy.

The five top-most jeeravan masala brands that are available online.

1 - Indore Online Jeeravan Masala

When it comes to buying jeeravan masala online, Indore Online is one of the most sought-after brands.

The brand is known for its overall Indore namkeen products. Indore Online have vouched to make the Indore city's favourite food items available to everyone across India. The brand deals exclusively online, and you can easily place an order on its website.

Buyers can rest assured about the delivery and have the returns policy in place if a wrong product is delivered, the description does not match, or product quality can be established to be inferior to the stated one.

2 - Vasant Jeeravan Masala

Another common choice for food lovers is the Vasant Jeeravan Masala. It is a highly preferred brand for many. The brand's jeeravan masala packs are available in 100gm, 500gm and 1Kg quantities for the MRP of ₹35, ₹175 and ₹270, respectively.

The manufacturer knows about the high usability of the masala in almost every type of dish you can make; from fruit salads to chapatis and parathas. Thus, opting for a 1 Kg pack is the best and the most economically beneficial option for regular users.

You can buy it directly from the seller's website. Alternatively, you can log on to Flipkart or Amazon and place the order.

3 - Sadabahar Jeeravan Masala

When it comes to no compromise with the taste of authenticity, the SadabaharJeeravan Masala is one of the best choices to make in our list of Indori jeeravan masala. There is no added flavouring or use of artificial colours in this range of jeeravan masala.

You can buy a pack of four on Amazon of 100gm each for a price of ₹240 with free delivery. This comes to ₹60 per pack.

It has a lot of positive reviews from many users on Amazon.

4 - Koriya Shahi Jeeravan Masala

Another worthy consideration in our list of some of the most highly-preferred jeeravan masalas is the Koriyan Shahi Jeeravan Masala. On Amazon, you can find a pack of two with 200gms each for a price of ₹220. The delivery is free.

The best thing about this brand is that it comes with three options, namely hingjeeravan, special quality jeeravan and garlic jeeravan.

5 - Pushpak Jeeravan Masala

The Pushpak Jeeravan Masala is a worthwhile consideration due to its mouthwatering taste. The manufacturer ensures to pack Indore's traditional taste in each of its packings to ensure that each bite with it is highly delightful.

A pack full of twenty spices makes your poha very tasty.

It, too, has a lot of positive reviews from repeated users.

Epilogue

The jeeravan masala is a revolution in adding taste to food items. We at Indoor Online - https://www.indore.online/ make sure to give you the taste of Indori authenticity and flavour to each morsel you have.

#jeeravan masala #jeeravan masala online

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multylife · 4 years

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VASANT Ready Mix Pav Bhaji Masala 100% Pure & Hygiene Masala 100gm

Price: [price_with_discount] (as of [price_update_date] – Details)

[ad_1] Ingredients Coriander, Chillies, Cumin, Cinnamon, Fennel Seeds, Cinnamon Leaves, Iodized Salt, Anistar, Black Pepper, Dry Ginger, Big Cardamom, Sour Mango, Triphala, Cloves, Turmeric Description Hot favourite among Indians, Pav Bhaji is popular across different taste palates. Since its recipe is a little involving, people…

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#masala powder

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rajeev777gupta · 4 years

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Vasant Masala Coriander Cumin Powder...

Vasant Masala Coriander Cumin Powder…

Price: [price_with_discount] (as of [price_update_date] – Details)

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Product Description

Vasant Masala provides 100% pure spices

Coriander and Cumin powder has a special place among blended spices. It is a must in specific dishes. Coriander and cumin seeds into a rich blend that passes through strict food guidelines before it reaches the shelves of Indian homes.

The…

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vsplusonline · 4 years

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During this period of gloom, order in, if you find comfort in good food

New Post has been published on https://apzweb.com/during-this-period-of-gloom-order-in-if-you-find-comfort-in-good-food/

During this period of gloom, order in, if you find comfort in good food

These are troubling times. And what’s worse is that you can’t cheer yourself up by eating out. Food has always been a great mood enhancer, but in this age of COVID-19, we have been advised not to visit restaurants. To top it off, quite a few eateries have downed their shutters temporarily.

So, I did what I do when the mood is low: ordered in. Since I was in Central Delhi, I thought I’d get food delivered from an outlet somewhere in Connaught Place. That was when I remembered a place called Biryani Badshah. A friend whose office is in the neighbourhood often orders food from there, and had urged me to try it out. So I looked up Swiggy, found that it was listed, and placed my order.

I asked for some Chicken Biryani (full, ₹359), Mutton Dry Roast (₹369), Ginger Chicken Curry (₹399), Lachcha Paratha (₹69) and Double ka Meetha (₹109). Swiggy took the order, but the delivery boy’s two-wheeler had some problems (as I said, these are difficult times), so someone from Biryani Badshah very kindly did the delivery.

The restaurant is in K 14 Connaught Place (Ph: 011-41088220), but has outlets in Kailash Colony, Noida, Shahpur Jat, Mukarji Nagar, Vasant Kunj, and Rajouri Garden. Gurugram has four outlets. I was told by a staffer that they have a base kitchen, but the food is cooked in the restaurants, too.

The menu is comprehensive, and includes the usual tikkas, butter chicken, and other such curries. But what’s interesting is that it has quite a few Andhra dishes, and a few from other parts of the South and elsewhere.

My Chicken Biryani, for instance, had a Hyderabadi touch: It had a boiled egg in it, and the pieces of chicken (quite a few of them) in the rice were nicely spiced and substantially large. The rice was light, and had a tangy taste that I thoroughly enjoyed. The salan that came with it, however, was much too hot for me.

The Ginger Chicken Curry, while tasty, was a bit of a surprise for there was little to suggest that it had been flavoured with ginger. But the chicken was soft, and the gravy deliciously thick.

The Dry Roast Mutton, again, reminded me of the masalas used in the immensely popular southern Indian dish called Chicken 65. I loved the Lachcha Paratha, which was flaky and crisp, not hard or rubbery. I dipped it in the gravy of the non-ginger chicken curry and had quite a nice meal.

I had a look at the menu later and saw that it included several Andhra dishes, including the Andhra Dal Fry (₹299), Andhra Brinjal Masala (₹299), Andhra Chicken Curry (₹399) and even a Chicken 65 Biryani (₹389). It also has Malabar Chicken (₹399), and the seafood section has dishes such as Malabar Prawn Curry (₹459) and Prawn Koliwada (₹409).

Ginger or no ginger, we had a happy meal. As I polished off the last morsel. The world around me looked a little better, prompting me to raise a toast: Here’s to happier days ahead.

The writer is a seasoned food critic

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foodreviewonline-blog · 5 years

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ACHIJA - FOOD REVIEW ONLINE (FRO) . LOCATION: 13, Vasant Nivas, Tilak Road Naka, Ghatkopar East, Mumbai CUISINE: NORTH INDIAN, CHINESE, SOUTH INDIAN, MAHARASHTRIAN AVERAGE COST: 850 for two people (approx.) WORKING HOURS: 10 AM – 1 AM DISABLED FRIENDLY: YES OUTDOOR SEATING: NO VALET PARKING: NO CREDIT CARD PAYMENT: YES TAKEAWAY: YES FREE WIFI: NO KIDS FRIENDLY: YES VEGETARIAN ONLY: YES . What we love here: Masala Pav, Cheese Garlic Toast, Panipuri, Biryani, Achija Pav Bhaji, Khada Pav Bhaji, Grilled Sandwich. . Why Visit: Especially known for serving their delicious Pav Bhaji. . Location: 4 Taste: 5 Quantity: 5 Presentation: 4.5 Ambience: 4.5 Hygiene: 5 Service: 5 Cost: 5 . Our Review: 4.5 / 5 Achija is located at Ghatkopar. It is one of those few places which are known to serve delicious Pav Bhaji. The ambiance of this place is very amazing. The décor and the efforts took to make this place gives you very positive vibes making this place a perfect destination for family dinner. The seatings are definitely very comfortable and can be enjoyed the most if you come here to a larger group. Coming to the food, blindly just order their Special Pav Bhaji as this is the one dish which made Achija very popular. Not even that, they also serve some good falooda, like kulfi falooda. The service is super quick and the staff is very well trained. They have 4-6 supervisor who will make sure that the service isn't compromised and the customers have a good time. Overall if you are feeling to eat Pav Bhaji especially at late night then here is this place just waiting to serve you! . . #foodreviewonline#staunchtravelerofficial #foodie#foodlover #foodaddict #foodblogger#food #foods #snacks #foody#foodgram #foodislife #foodlovers#foodielife #foodpic #yum #tasty#foodblog #foodshare #foodaholic#foodspotting #goodfood#healthyfood #instafood #foodcoma#foodofmumbai #mumbai#instagood #goodvibes

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lazylashesuniverse · 4 years

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A FINE BALANCE

By- Rohinton Mistry

Rohinton Mistry is considered to be one of the foremost authors of Indian heritage writing in English. Residing in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, Mistry belongs to the Parsi Zoroastrian religious minority.

Rohinton Mistry became one of the numbers of well-respected writers in Canada, including Michael Ondaatje, M. G. Vassanji, and Neil Bissoondath, who are associated with India or other parts of South Asia. What sets Mistry apart is his Parsi identity and his focus on Parsi life in his writings. At the same time, though, he is praised for speaking to universal human concerns in his fiction. He himself has said that since the Parsi are a dwindling minority, his works are documents bearing witness to their way of life, but he added that the Parsi way of life has not been his major concern.

He began his career in literature at an early age. His first novel ‘Such a Long Journey (1991), brought him national and international recognition. His second book, ‘A Fine Balance (1995), catalyzed worldwide success. The book won Canada’s Giller Prize, the Commonwealth Writers Award, and the Los Angeles Times Book Award. It was nominated for the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and was a finalist for the Booker Prize. Mistry won the prestigious Neustadt International Prize for Literature in 2012 as well.

A Fine Balance is a story that takes place after the Independence of India in 1947. Over time, the story progresses into the time of the Emergency-called by Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi- till near the end of the Emergency. One thing to note right away is that none of the characters ever address Indira Gandhi by her name, instead they simply refer to her as "the Prime Minister,". The main characters, Dina Dalal, Maneck Kohlah, Ishvar and Om Darji, are all lead to each other due to economic forces that at the time; are drastically changing India.

Ishvar Darji and his nephew Omprakash Darji (commonly referred to as Om Darji), were part of the Chamaar caste, along with the rest of their family. The Chamaar caste traditionally cured leather and in their high times were considered untouchables. However, over time, the Darji family realized that being in the caste system seems to put them in debt with the higher classes of the village, and also putting them in a powerless state as well. Therefore, in a risky attempt to break away from the caste system, Ishvar's father (Dukhi Darji), decides to apprentice his two sons Ishvar and Narayan to a Muslim tailor in a nearby village. Soon after, they became trained tailors, and were ready to work. As a result of their newly acquired skills, Ishvar and Om move to Mumbai to find work, because soon after becoming tailors, the Muslim's tailor shop became unavailable due to a "pre-made clothing shop" had opened.

In the novel the text as such, basically the descriptive part other than the character's conversations or their thoughts, stands out for its stark factuality and linearity of time. The text is just a long list of all the events and various descriptions. It doesn't probe at all the intentions or the mental make-up of the characters. We are left to make out whatever of their psychological make-up from their conversations or actions. In other words, the text is non-intrusive.

At a cursory glance the novel fits in very nicely as a typical Bollywood masala movie. With its stereotyped characters: a widow on her own, a student far away from home and an uncle-nephew duo struggling against caste prejudices and all of them struggling to survive under Emergency's shadow. Lots of cliched relationships and a whole slew of amusing coincidences make it up. Many really tragic events take place like Om's family burning away in caste violence, Dina's husband’s death, Maneck's father passing away in his absence, losses of jobs, losses of homes, people without legs, Om's castration, building up of emotional bonds between characters and then these being sundered apart. An easily digestible potboiler kind of story taking the readers along on an emotional roller coaster.

But this kind of interpretation is what Mistry is cautioning the readers against by raising various questions in his epigraph and in the novel itself. To proceed further we need to differentiate between the narrator and the author. In a third person narrative the relationship between the narrator and the author is somewhat blurred, the narrator getting mixed up with the author. Now the present text is factual and comments in it are scarce, the narrator is being deadly serious, therefore the author can make use of a prop character to speak for him. We can also make out that the narrator is favoring a Realist point of view. A third person kind of narrative that is used here was also the narrative style used by the English Realist's.

A character like Vasant Rao Valmik, who himself is a bunch of idiosyncrasies and coincidences, serves as the medium for the author. Valmik invokes the names of both the novels written by Mistry, bestowing a kind of authenticity on his words. Besides Maneck talks of his Quilt maker God, who is churning out the events of their lives, just as the author is. Dina in her meeting with Valmik considers him as making Oral quilts. So, Valmik is put on a pedestal equivalent to that of the author. Valmik in his first meeting with Maneck says, "You cannot draw lines and compartments and refuse to budge beyond them." It’s like the author is giving Maneck a glimpse of the mantra of survival.

Maneck on the other hand is a Rationalist, the kind of characters that exist in the English Realist novels. Good-natured persons but who are caught with a single lens to view the whole world. If we look at Maneck's life in comparison to others in the novel, his is the most idyllic life, a good well to do family. But inspite of that he is unable to adjust to the fact that his parents deprived him of the good times at home. Not even his father's death could assuage the grudge he held the closest to his heart.

But ultimately Maneck fails. He fails to maintain the balance and falls more and more into despair as events unfold around him. But Om and Ishvar inspite of the most harrowing experiences hang on to their balance. The English Realist's debate on the influence of heredity and environment surfaces here in favor Om, Ishvar and Dina.

Mistry is again and again banging in the fact that the world is ever changing. Its relationships, its equations, its very laws change. It's somewhat like balancing yourself on a sphere or like for the Monkey man to balance his two cousins on the long bamboo from his forehead. It's a fine balance. In a way Mistry is very deliberately at the very bastion of realism. The idea that you can constrain the world within a compartment, the idea of rationalism where everything goes according to a fixed set of rules.

In fact, he renders the whole debate of the English Realists about the influence of heredity and environment on the formation of an individual as being totally irrelevant. The human spirit is boundless. It will overcome the difficulties no matter how oppressing the condition. Om, Ishvar and Dina exemplify his. Each time they lose all they have it seems they will fall apart. But then they spring tenaciously to move on to the next thing.

Maneck, synonymous with the rational thought process, on the other hand is unable to rationalize the reality as it is. And all the years he has spent away from home haven't mitigated his conflict. His mind is the compartment that Valmik refers to. And the narrative, which is churning out the sequence of events, reflects the intense conflict in Maneck's mind and comes to a very abrupt pause with Maneck's suicide. The event is jarring precisely for the reason that the narrative gets out of control being forced to constrain within a rational framework, and culminates in a disaster.

The ending on the other hand is a very mundane description of the continuing life of the other three characters, not knowing the fate that has befallen Maneck. The day could have been any of their day for the rest of their lives. They are cracking jokes and are in balance. Dina though bound to her brother is still living life on her own terms. This kind of ending is just what a Realist novel wouldn't have ended with. It almost always ends in a decisive finale not in ellipsis...

This clinches the fact that he presents his novel as an expose of the fallacy of the cardinal principle of Realism. It asserts that there is no such thing as an absolute interpretation that laws of the world vary. You need to juggle out your survival.

It is interesting to see how Mistry presents his novel rooted very much from within a Realist framework and yet he strives to undermine it. He being very much a part of it deems it fit to attack it from within and in a way question himself. At the end of the novel we see Valmik churning out fiction after fiction and being very content with it. Now if we see Valmik as representing the author in the novel, then the author is very much contradicting himself from what he says at the very outset in the epigraph that, "All this is true." But this is more in the nature of a self-questioning spirit than an inadvertent overlook.

Maneck Kohlah, was from a small mountain village in norther India, who moves to the city to acquire a college certificate "as a back-up" in case his father's soft drink business (Kohlah's Cola) is no longer able to compete after the building of a highway near their village.

Dina Dalal, was from a traditionally wealthy family. Over the years she maintains tenuous independence from her brother who she dislikes with a passion, by living in the flat of her recently deceased husband, Rustom Dalal (a chemist). Dina distances herself from all the political occurrences and keeps herself in line with her tailoring. In fact, she does quite well for herself, as she learns how to sew from her mother-in-law, and soon begins to make money for herself by doing little sewing jobs for her neighbours. Dina once says to Ishvar that she distances herself from the political ferment of the period: "Government problems and games played by people in power," she tells Ishvar. "It doesn't affect ordinary people like us"

However, by reading 90% of the novel, I've found out that in the end, it does after them, drastically.

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