Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 10

A Punjabi dish is never complete without a dash of spice, which not only adds flavour, aroma and taste to any dish, but also changes the look and colour of food.Spices are composed of antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, phyto-nutrients, and essential oils, necessary for our wellness but little does a homemaker cooking in the kitchen knows that even spices can be adulterated.Spices available in the market are often adulterated. In the name of spices, one may actually be consuming ‘slow poison’ that can have an adverse effect on health in the long run if consumed regularly.Be it turmeric, black pepper, red chilli powder, coriander powder or saffron, everything is being adulterated by unscrupulous elements to earn some quick bucks. Adulteration is done to add weight to a product or enhance its colour.Harmful ingredients such as coloured crushed rice husk, and crushed wood were also used to increase the net weight of the packets.Turmeric powder or haldi is an indispensable spice in Indian and many Asian cuisines. But artificial colours and fillers such as corn flour (starch) yellow coloured talk or sawdust, lead chromite (used in paint), or melanil yellow are often used. Adulteration causes stomach disorder.Red chilli powder may be mixed with brick powder, saw dust, and artificial colours; these adulterants cause cancer and stomach disorders.Mustard powder (sarson) is mixed with argemone seeds. These adulterants cause epidemic dropsy and glaucoma.Black pepper powder (kali mirch) may be mixed with papaya seeds and light berries, which cause liver problems and stomach disorder.Cumin seed (zeera) and poppy seed (khaskhas) may contain artificially coloured foreign seeds, which are highly injurious to health.Asafoetida (hing) often comes mixed with foreign resins galbanum and colophony resin. These cause dysentery.Coriander powder (dhania) commonly used in Indian curries may be mixed with sawdust.Common salt is often found to be adulterated with white powdered stone, chalk and talc.Saffron (kesar) by weight is the most-expensive spice in the world. These can be made of coloured gelatine strands or stretched with dyed maize filaments (corn silk).“Turmeric powder is commonly found to be adulterated. People generally do not know that the turmeric powder they are using is adulterated. It is highly risky to consume turmeric powder mixed with metanil yellow. It is purely carcinogenic,” said Dr Deepak, a city-based gastroenterologist.Some people use turmeric in higher doses daily for health maintenance or for medicinal doses. These can vary from half a teaspoon to a tablespoon daily, but instead of giving you health benefits, it can result in damage.

Test yourself

• Cumin powder: Take a small amount (1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon) cumin powder and sprinkle it in a glass of water. The spice will sink and the sawdust will float.
• Pepper powder/ peppercorns: Take a small sample of peppercorns and drop them in a glass of water. The peppercorns will drop to the bottom and the papaya seeds will float. For ground pepper, the test is similar. If sawdust or ground papaya seeds are present, they will float.
• Saffron: Drop a few strands in cold water. If you see the colour quickly and the strands appear a little gummy when rubbed with fingers, it is gelatine. Real saffron will continue to release its colour in water. And there is no scent.
• Turmeric: In a small container such as a shot glass or mini bowl, place a small amount of turmeric. Add a little alcohol, stir well or cover well and shake (test tubes are good for this). Then add good shot of an acid such as vinegar. If it turns pink or violet, it has been adulterated.
• Salt: Stir a spoonful of salt in a glass of water. The presence of chalk will make the solution white and other insoluble impurities will settle down.

The only solution

• Buy spices from reliable sources and be aware of the possibilities of spice adulteration and test it. Buy organic things when you can and look for trusted labelling or the best way is to return to traditional methods. Buy whole spice and grind or grate or crush on your own.

New Delhi: The army on Wednesday sought public assistance for locating an officer who went missing while travelling by train from Katihar in Bihar to Delhi.

In a public appeal, the army said Captain Shikhar Deep, posted in Jammu and Kashmir, was travelling by Mahananda
Express (15483) from Katihar to Delhi on 6-7 February.

“The officer did not reach his destination and went missing during transit. Any information with regard to the
whereabouts of the officer may please be conveyed to Lt Col Anant Kumar on mobile number 9128724351,” it said.

The 25-year-old officer’s relatives had registered a case of suspected abduction with the railway police on Tuesday.

His father, Lt Col Anant Kumar, who is posted in Ranchi, has claimed Sikhardeep’s disappearance could be linked to some terrorist organisation.

According to the police, while his luggage was found intact in the train coach he was travelling in, the officer
was nowhere to be found and his mobile was also switched off.

The ticket examiner and the man, who provided bedsheet in the coach, said he was last seen at Kanpur during the journey.

Ajay Banerjee,Tribune News Service,New Delhi, February 10

The next 48 hurs prove crucial for the Army jawan who was miraculously found alive after being buried under 25 feet of snow following an avalanche atop the Siachen glacier.

A medical bulletin of the Indian Army on Tuesday said Lance Naik Hanamanthappa K, who was evacuated to Delhi, was camatose but had no frostbite. However, the bulletin said: “He remains critical and is expected to have a stormy course in the next 24 to 48 hours due to complications by rewarming and establishment of blood flow to the cold parts of the body”.

He had been airlifted to Delhi on Tuesday morning. He was shifted on board a helicopter from the 19,600 feet high ‘sonam post’ on the Siachen glacier to the Siachen base came. An Indian Air Force C-130-j transport plane specialised with a medical emergency room was stationed at Thoise (next to the base camp) and it flew with him to Delhi for further treatment and observation at Army run Research and Referral hospital in Delhi Cantt.

In the wee hours on Tuesday, Lt Gen DS Hooda, Northern Army Commander, had confirmed that Hanumanthappa was found alive. The other nine are dead.

Sources in Delhi said the jawan was trapped between two block of ice forming a ‘pocket’ of 25 square feet. Hanumathappa survived as he was clad in alpine clothing and high quality snow boots.

Army officials clarified that a video of rescue running on social media was not of this operation.

A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and nine other ranks of Madras Regiment were buried after their post was hit by the avalanche on February 3.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Hanumanthappa saying he is an “outstanding soldier” whose “endurance and indomitable spirit” cannot be described in words.

Modi went to Army’s Research and Referral Hospital here to see Hanumanthappa soon after he was airlifted from Siachen and prayed for his best.

“No words are enough to describe the endurance & indomitable spirit of Lance Naik Hanumanthappa. He is an outstanding soldier,” he tweeted.

“Team of doctors is attending to Lance Naik Hanumanthappa. We are all hoping & praying for the best,” Modi added.

Siachen is the world’s highest active battlefield, contested by India and Pakistan since 1984 when India launched Operation Meghdoot and captured the peaks.

Jaya announces Rs 10 lakh each to kin of 4 TN jawans

• Chennai: Tamil Nadu government has announced Rs 10 lakh each to the families of four army jawans from the state killed in the avalanche in Siachen.
• Chief Minister Jayalalithaa expressed grief over the death of Havildar M Elumalai of Vellore, Havildar S Kumar of Theni, Sepoy G Ganesan from Madurai and Sepoy N Ramamurthy from Krishnagiri district. — PTI

GURDASPUR: As many as 41,052 youths from four districts, including Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Pathankot and Tarn Taran will be recruited as jawans and for other different trades in the army during the recruitment rally to be held at the Tibri Military Cantonment, 5 km from here from February 1 to 12. Gurdaspur deputy commissioner Abhinav Trikha said here on Thursday that youths from Khadoor Sahib tehsil would be recruited on February 1, Tarn Taran tehsil on February 2, Patti tehsil on February 3, Baba Bakala and Ajnala tehsils on February 4, Amritsar tehsil on February 1 2 and 5, Dera Baba Nanak and Batala tehsils on February 6, Batala tehsil on February 7, Gurdaspur tehsil on February 8 and 9, Pathankot tehsil on February 10 and 11 and Dhar Kalan tehsil on February 12.

n a first, a 76-member French Army contingent takes part in R-Day parade

New Delhi/Bhopal/Chennai, January 26The nation is celebrating the 67th Republic Day on Tuesday amid elaborate security arrangements. President Pranab Mukherjee unfurled the national flag and took salute of the parade at Rajpath in the national capital.During the function, President Pranab Mukherjee conferred the country’s highest peacetime gallantry award Ashok Chakra to Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami posthumously.For the first time in the history of Republic Day parade, a 76-member French Army contingent took part.Military prowess and achievements in different fields, country’s diverse cultural and social traditions were showcased during the parade.Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute at Amar Jawan Jyoti to the martyrs, who laid down their lives in the battlefield for the country. The heads of the three services of Armed Forces also paid their homage at Amar Jawan Jyoti.Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh unfurled the national flag at his residence in the national capital.Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah hoisted the national flag at the party headquarters in New Delhi.In Madhya Pradesh, the main function was organised in Bhopal. Governor Ramnaresh Yadav hoisted the tricolour and inspected the parade at the Lal Parade ground in the state capital. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan unfurled the national flag in Ratlam district headquarters.Different programmes are being held across the state to mark the occasion. A Bharat Parv programme based on songs, dances and poetry will be organised in all the districts this evening to remember the contribution of martyrs. Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs M Venkaiah Naidu hoisted the national flag in Hyderabad. Minister of State of Labour Bandaru Dattatreya and other leaders were also present there at the celebrations.In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa unfurled the tricolour in Chennai. Governor K Rosaiah and other government officials were also present.In view of recent terror attacks in Paris and at the Pathankot air base, stringent security measures have been taken to avoid any untoward incident.  — ANI

Tribune News Service,Chandigarh, January 25

As many as 15 distinguished service medals have been conferred on officers and men serving the Army’s Western Command on the occasion of the 67th Republic Day. In addition, 23 persons have been awarded Chief of the Army Staff’s Commendation Cards.General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lt Gen KJ Singh, and Chief of Staff, Western Command, Lt Gen Gurdeep Singh have been decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal. Lt Gen Amarjeet Singh, General Officer Commanding 2 Corps and Lt Gen Rajeev Tiwari, General Officer Commanding 9 Corps, have been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.Lt Gen R Ravindran, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, which is part of the Western Command, and Maj Gen AK Pant, posted at HQ Western Command, have been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal. The Western Army Commander also awarded GOC-in-C Commendation Card to 280 persons and the Western Command Unit Citation to 19 units for their performance.

Braveheart who killed 10 ultras in 11 days

Tribune News Service,Jammu, January 25

Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami’s life is a saga of guts and glory of a soldier, who eliminated 10 terrorists in 11 days before laying down his life in the line of duty. He embodied soldiering; stood for it; stood by it-while he lived, and even in his death.The martyrdom and indeed selfless gallantry of late Lance Naik Mohan of the elite 9 Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) received a deserving recognition from a proud nation when he was posthumously conferred with the Ashok Chakra-country’s highest peacetime gallantry award on the occasion of the 67th Republic Day, said a Defence spokesperson.Lance Naik Goswami truly lived to a military quote that reads: “If I die in combat zone, box me up and send me home. Pin my medals to my chest and tell my mom I did my best.” An intrepid and indefatigable commando, Goswami was a natural choice of his commanders for any challenging mission and he was ever too willing to oblige.On September 2 last year, he was engaged in a fierce encounter with terrorists hiding in the Haphruda forest in Kupwara of North Kashmir. As the encounter raged, two of Goswami’s comrades were wounded.Undeterred by the intense volley of fire, he immediately rushed to rescue them and in the act, despite getting grievously wounded himself, he not only eliminated two terrorists, but also saved the lives of his comrades.Goswami succumbed to his injuries and made the supreme sacrifice in the highest traditions of the Army.As if to embrace danger and challenge, Goswami, who is fondly and proudly remembered by his comrades as one who could inspire and ignite patriotic fervour by his sheer presence alone, would volunteer for all risky missions.And within the preceding 10 days of the fateful day of September 2, he had been part of two more major operations in which 10 terrorists were eliminated in the Valley.

Five books on war heroes launched

• New Delhi: Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani on Monday launched the first batch of five books on lives of five Param Veer Chakra awardees. The “Veer-Gatha” series of illustrated books for children has been published by the National Book Trust. The minister has asked the CBSE and the NCERT to include these books as additional reading material for school students. TNS

9 Para hero gets Ashok Chakra

Lance Naik Mohan Goswami killed 10 ultras in 11 days

Tribune News Service,New Delhi, January 25

President Pranab Mukherjee has approved 365 gallantry awards and other defence decorations to the armed forces personnel and others on the eve of the 67th Republic Day. The nation’s highest peacetime gallantry award, Ashoka Chakra, has been awarded posthumously to Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami of 9 Para (Special Forces) posted in the 6th Battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles for his acts of most conspicuous gallantry. On the intervening night of September 2 and September 3, 2015 Lance Naik Goswami killed two terrorists  in Haphruda forest at Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. Colonel Santosh Mahadik of 41 RR (Maratha Light Infantry) has been awarded Shaurya Chakra posthumously. A dynamic officer, Col Mahadik was commanding 41 Rashtriya Rifles and laid down his life in the line of duty combating Pakistani terrorists in Manigah Forest of Kupwara district on November 17 last year.The awardees include four Kirti Chakras, 11 Shaurya Chakras, one Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), 48 Sena Medal (Gallantry), four Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry), two Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry), 29 Param Vishisht Seva Medal, five Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, four Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, 49 Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, 20 Yudh Seva Medal, three Bar to Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), 37 Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), eight Nao Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), 16 Vayu Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), five Bar to Vishisht Seva Medal and 118 Vishisht Seva Medal.

Awards for Pathankot hero, Kashmir braveheart

Charging battery-operated vehicles to be a tedious task, experts say efficacy less in colder climes

Pratibha Chauhan,Tribune News Service,Shimla, January 24

The Himachal government will run both the CNG as well as battery-operated electric vehicles on the 51-km stretch between Manali and Rohtang. But the setting up of the mother and daughter CNG filling stations in Una and Manali may take time.The Transport Department has decided to ply about 50 big CNG buses and 25 small battery-operated vehicles likely to cost about Rs 55 crore in the ecologically fragile stretch between Manali and Rohtang. However, there is uncertainty whether the state government will be able to have these eco-friendly vehicles in place by the start of the tourist season in April.“We will be procuring 50 big CNG buses on a 75:25 fund sharing basis and 25 small electric buses on 90:10 fund sharing basis so that these can be pressed into service,” informed Ajay Mittal, Additional Chief Secretary, Transport. He, however, added that the plying of CNG buses would be subject to the setting up of the CNG Mother Station in Una district and the Daughter Station at Manali.Perturbed over the delay in spelling out options that Himachal government was exploring, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had directed the authorities to apprise it of the progress in this regard. The NGT has banned plying of diesel and petrol vehicles between the popular tourist destination of Manali-Rohtang to save it from environmental degradation. With CNG supply being available only up to Sonepat, a CNG station will be set up by Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) in Una for which land transfer case has already been sent to the Revenue Department. A sum of Rs 12 crore is likely to be incurred on the setting up of the Daughter Station while the amount for the Mother Station will be more.The Union Ministry of Heavy Industries will provide a major share of the cost of the CNG and electric vehicles but despite having had trial run of CNG buses till Rohtang everyone is skeptical about the success of the experiment. In case of electric vehicles the situation is no different as these are being imported from the United Kingdom as these are not manufactured in India.The state government conducted trial runs for CNG buses in July last year after hiring a CNG bus from the Delhi Transport Corporation. The trial run for the electric vehicles was undertaken in December last year as the government had tied up with Mahindra and Mahindra. Maxi cabs were run in three different topographies of Shimla, Solan and Una to test their suitability.The issue of setting up of charging stations would be another task before the state government as a fully charged battery would be able to cover only a distance of about 110 km. While the time to fully charge a battery is about eight to nine hours, experts have suggested that the effectiveness of a fully charged battery is reduced by almost 40 per cent in colder climes.