Banni – of mehmaan-nawaazi and Jinns (Part II)

By Ramya Ravi My introduction to Banni’s cuisine was a thali that included large helpings of hare moong ki khichdi with even larger helpings of ghee, then some bajre ki roti with the most delectable garlic chutney, along with other vegetable curries that were familiar. While the locals are prepared to offer strictly vegetarian food…

Banni – of Kutchi Samosa and the awakening (Part I)

By Ramya Ravi Banni, meaning ‘बनी हुई’ or something that is made, is an arid tropical savanna system in the Kutch region of Gujarat. Situated in on the northern fringe of Bhuj Taluka, Banni was the only vast stretch of grassland, constituting a total of 45% of permanent pasture in the region of Kutch and…

Insects: the creepy crawlies that excited me!

By Seena Narayanan Karimbumkara As someone in charge of the Insect Museum at ATREE over the last decade, I must have interacted with hundreds of curious visitors. The most common questions I have encountered during these interactions were, “how did you get interested in insects?” Almost each time I searched my memory for a quick and…