Petals!

The Last Queen Book Review: An incredibly immersive book, 'The Last Queen' by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is a detailed story exploring the life of Rani Jindan Kaur, the courageous and last Queen of Punjab. Set in 1839, the iconic era pays the finest attention to historical details as it also marked the glorious rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, known as the 'Lion of Punjab'.  [SUBSCRIBE TO MY WEEKLY NEWSLETTER ON SUBSTACK]   Chitra Divakaruni's The Last Queen: Story of Rani Jindan Kaur A rich detailed account follows to articulate the rise of the beautiful and courageous young girl from a remote village in Punjab who goes on to become the Last Queen. Not only does Jindan use her intelligence to ward off the jealous and menacing moves of the other wives of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, she also wins the loyalty of the Khalsa army and the respect of the powerful nobles.   She makes it her life's mission to fight the deceitful schemes of the British and safeguard the throne ...

On a Monday morning, it is almost painful to reach office, especially in winters. All I want to do is curl up in the fluffy blanket and sleep some more. Of course, reality bites and the first thing that bites you on a Monday is to rush to office before traffic jam begins.  The best part of this Monday was tasting the Punjabi delicacy called Panjiri. Well, to be honest, I haven't even heard of this dish till I tasted it. When my dear buddy Ranjit brought it back from home (Amritsar) saying that her mom made it, I had a generous helping and then some more and again more and of course, nearly finished most of it. It was so tasty and rich. According to Ranjit, although this dish is ideal for nursing mothers, the way in which the ingredients are measured and inserted into this recipe make it very healthy for others too. The one that her mom made and I binged on is good for the eyes and help lessen headaches.  What a wonderful, traditional dish to taste on a Monday morning, is...