Dr P K Nath: March 2012

Culinary trail of India

Kashmir

Must try: Gustaba, Tabak Maz, Dum Aloo, Haak or Karam ka Saag

Punjab

Must try: Dal Makhani, Makke di Roti- Sarson da Saag, Chana- Bhature, Amritsari Machchi and Kulcha

Chandigarh

Must try: Butter Chicken, Tandoori Chicken, Mutton Pulao

Haryana

Must try: Kachri ki Sabzi, Cholia (Green Gram), Chaach-Lassi, Bajre ki Khichdi

Delhi

Must try: Chaat, Tandoori Chicken, Paranthe, Nagauri-Halwa, Chole Bhature

Rajasthan

Must try: Dal-Baati-Churma, Ker-Sangari, Lal Maas Gatte, Pyaaz ki Kachori

Gujarat

Must try: Thepla, Dhokla, Khandvi, Handvo, Panki

Madhya Pradesh

Must try: Lapsi, Bafla, Bhutte ki Khees, Bhopali Kabab

Maharashtra

Must try: Shrikhand, Thalipeeth, Vada Pao, Modak

Goa

Must try: Vindaloo, Xacuti, Bibinca, Prawn Balchao

Karnataka

Must try: Bisi Bele Bhaat, Kesari Bhat, Mysore Pak, Dharwad Pedha, Chiroti

Kerala

Must try: Sadya meal, Avial, Malabar Parotha, Payasam, Irachi Stew

Tamil Nadu

Must try: Appam, Dosai, Iddli, Sambhar, Rasam, Chettinad Chicken, Pongal

Pondicherry

Must try: Kadugu Yerra, Vendakkai Patchaddy

Chhattisgarh

Must try: Bafauri, Kusli, Red Ant Chutney

Andhra Pradesh

Must try: Hyderabadi Biryani, Mirchi ka Salan, Ghongura pickle, Korikoora

Orissa

Must try: Fish Orly, Khirmohan, Rasabali, Chhenapodapitha

Tripura

Must try: Chakhwi, Mwkhwi, Muitru

Mizoram

Must try: Zu (a special tea)

West Bengal

Must try: Bhapa Illish, Rosogolla, Mishti Doi

Meghalaya

Must try: Jadoh, Kyat

Manipur

Must try: Iromba, Kabok, Chakkouba

Nagaland

Must try: Momo, Rice beer and Cherry wine

Assam

Must try: Maasor Tenga, Pitha

Arunachal Pradesh

Must try: Apong

Sikkim

Must try: Momo, Thupka, Gundruk, Phagshapa and Sael Roti

Jharkhand

Must try: Thekua, Pua, Pittha, Marua-ka-roti

Bihar

Must try: Litti, Sattu, Khaja, Khubi Ka Lai, Anarasa, Tilkut

Himachal Pradesh

Must try: Sidu, Aktori and Dham

Uttarakhand

Must try: Aloo ke Gutke, Kaapa, Jhangora ki Kheer, Chainsoo

Uttar Pradesh

Must try: Kabab, Biryani, Bedmi Aloo Kachori, Halwa, Benarasi Chaat

World Tobacco Atlas rings alarm bells for India

India is the third largest producer of tobacco in the world. A new Tobacco Atlas brought out by the World Lung Foundation says over 390,000 hectares are being used in India to grow tobacco.The Atlas pegs India's direct healthcare costs due to tobacco at $1,195 million!

According to the Planning Commission, revenue collected from tobacco products annually in India is $1.62 billion, while the annual direct health cost of three tobacco- related diseases (cancer, coronary artery diseases and chronic obstructive lung diseases) is $6.32 billion.

Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh account for over 90% of the total tobacco production in the country. There is a global evidence of deforestation linked to tobacco production.

Around 50% of tobacco leaves produced in developing countries in Africa and Asia are cured with wood. Between 1962 and 2002, tobacco curing and manufacture of cigarettes has destroyed and degraded 680 sq km of scrub forests, or nearly 868 million tonnes of wood (Indian Institute of Forest Management).

Tobacco is a sensitive plant prone to many diseases. It needs up to 16 rounds of pesticide application during a three-month growing period.Methyl bromide, widely used as a fumigant in developing countries, contributes substantially to ozone depletion and is a toxic contaminant of groundwater.

Cigarette butts are among the most common forms of litter. Worldwide, approximately 4.95 trillion cigarette butts are estimated to be littered each year. Cigarette butts contain all carcinogenic chemicals, pesticides, and nicotine.

There occurred twice as many deaths from oral cancers as lung cancers (Lancet). The number of oral cancers was more than twice the number of lung cancers in individuals between 30 and 69 years, indicating that the range of fatal cancers caused by tobacco in India differs substantially from that in high-income countries.

In India, the tobacco crop supports 36 million people engaged in production, processing, marketing and exports (Central Tobacco Research Institute).

- The Times of India