NALLA MADRAS

An innovative Israeli company is pioneering the future of food by introducing 3D printed meat. Using state-of-the-art technology, they're crafting meat from either plant-based ingredients or animal cells. This approach promises numerous benefits including greater sustainability, improved animal welfare, unparalleled customization, and potential solutions to food security challenges. While the innovation has the potential to revolutionize our culinary landscape, it also faces challenges such as public acceptance and regulatory issues. This development not only showcases a technological marvel but also hints at a transformative shift in our relationship with food, positioning Israel at the helm of a possible global culinary revolution.

I was always decrying people who were vegetarians.

My line would always be, "Guys, you don't know what you are missing."

Then it happened.

The ones I derided are now doing target practice on me, but I can see a glimmer of admiration in their eyes!

While it is not easy to transition, there are plenty of resources to help you along, like cookbooks and videos.

However, some restaurants, holiday packages, cruises, and the like have few vegetarian options. So do your research before ending up at a location and realize all you have is a dish of spinach with bits of bacon picked out of it.

This tune was composed by Walter Kaufmann, a Jew, and played by violinist Mehli Mehta a Parsi, for a radio station first founded by Professor M V Gopalaswamy, who taught Psychology at Mysore University. Some of you must have guessed it by now. It is the signature tune of All India Radio.

Mehli Mehta, incidentally, is the father of composer-conductor Zubin Mehta.

Almost eight decades have passed since the composition of this piece is based on the raga Shivaranjini. However, the lilting violin notes played over a tambura still manage to evoke a sense of longing. The signature tune was followed immediately by Vande Mataram.

The art of divination is a skill that has been practiced for ages.  The various ways are by something as gory as checking the entrails of a bird, which was the form practiced by the ancient Romans.  Thank goodness, it is not so messy these days!  However, most practitioners are still stuck in a time warp, meaning they are not in touch with reality.  Many of the cures for a bad time in your life involves cures that are worse than the problem in terms of expense and effort.  Nehaa Goyal, of Nehaa Goyal Shreem Reading, is what one would call a modern-day divinatory.  In addition, she is a mindset coach, Tarot reader, numerologist, and NLP Coach.  With around 15 years of experience in a corporate environment, she knows what reality is out there.

An unrestricted conversation with Jim Rajan.  Jim is an empath and an intuitive, distant healer.   "My mentors Jiddu Krishnamurti, Kahlil Gibran, Rabindranath Tagore, Deepak Chopra walk with me through a universe that I hold gracefully within my own hand. And, I’m honored to have their words by my side" says Jim.   "In the past 25 years I’ve studied shamanic healing, reiki, buddhism, daoism, mindfulness and the curative arts to bring about my own growth and healing and that of those around me. But when I learnt the art of visualisation, life literally took off and underwent a profound expansion. It is the key to the future. To your future. But you have to know what you are doing and do it right from the start.  As an empath and intuitive healer I’ve learnt to master my own mind and energetic body, to be the protagonist not the victim. And when I took the decision to work on myself, amazing and wonderful things emerged. We are all intuitive, we all have the capacity to feel everything and our work will open that door for you, too.  For me sound is an incredible healing medium. As a composer and musician I’ve searched for sounds that bring about expansion in consciousness. I play drums to the earths’ rhythm not my own. And the bansuri flute, a traditional north Indian folk instrument that transports you directly to your source. My poetry is deeply meditative and purely from my heart. And, when I put all these resources together with these teachings, this work just sprang mystically into existence.   Our followers have said it instills ‘feelings like flying’ and ‘floating through dreams in space’. The presence it brings about in you has been called ‘mystifying, spiritually enriching’. And, others called them ‘vivid magical journeys’. And, I’m filled with gratitude for such words about my work." says he.

Kalaimamani Smt. Priya Murle, is a senior disciple of Padmashree Prof. Sudharani Ragupathy and was a senior teacher at Shree Bharatalaya, prior to founding Shri Silambam Academy of Fine Arts. Intense training and commitment to the art form have marked Priya's career in Bharatanatyam. Priya has a multi- dimensional approach to dance. A versatile performer, choreographer and teacher, she also has a keen interest in Music, Nattuvangam and Sanskrit.

She has done research in the field of aesthetics and has worked on the Rasa Theory as part of her M.Phil. Dissertation. She has numerous performances to her credit and is particularly well known for her powerful rendering of Jathis. She has performed in all the major Sabhas of Chennai and other places in India. She performs regularly in both solo and group presentations. She has travelled extensively to Spain, Russia, United States, Canada, Switzerland and Norway, giving performances, lectures, demonstrations and conducting dance workshops. She is also been to the Reunion Islands as a Jury of Bharathanatyam examination and given

Priya was also part of the editorial team of Shree Bharatalaya and assisted in bringing out the Handbook on Bharatanatyam, titled “LaghuBharatham”: Volumes I, II and III. Priya was the convenor for Natyadharshan conference (2018 and 2019) conducted annually by Karthik Fine Arts. Titled “Kadamba”, the flowering path, the conferences received rave reviews in its first year. The Government of Tamilnadu has awarded Priya Murle the title “Kalaimamani” for the year 2017, for her tremendous contribution to the classical dance field. She has also received senior scholarship for dance awarded by the Department of Culture (Govt. of India), Bharat Kala Ratna Award by Trinity Fine Arts of India, Narthaki award by Brahma Gana Sabha, Yuva Kala Bharathi title by Bharath Kalachar, Nadanamamani title and Shriram

Award of Excellence by Sri Kartik Fine Arts amongst many the awards and accolades. Priya also serves as the Vice President of ABHAI (Association of Bharatanatyam Artistes of India).

Fif Fernandes, in her own words:

"As director and founder of MeDiClown Academy (a registered activity of the Auroville Foundation) , I ignite the power of human potential, sparking well being through laughter, love, joy and play. I design and implement retreats, courses, seminars and workshops in healthcare, hospitals, education and organizations to alleviate mental illness and stress. We focus on happiness and relaxation to enhance productivity, creativity and gain a greater sense of inner and outer peace.

I have been a Specialist Advisor, Trainer and Examiner for Physicians, Medical Students and Foreign Trained Physicians for 28 years. I have worked in paediatric and adult acute, urgent care settings as a Therapeutic / Medical Clown with children and adults in Oncology, Emergency, Intensive Care, Palliative, and other inpatient and outpatient wards. My specialized work and avant garde approach in the hospitals has led to invitations to present keynote addresses and workshops at international conferences.

I have received my BFA (Drama) Specializing in Theatre for Young Audiences from the University of Calgary, holds certificates as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher, Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher, Certified Yoga Teacher and I am a Humor Academy Graduate (HAG) from the Association of Applied Therapeutic Humor in the USA. Also, as a television and stage director, producer, writer and actor, I received over a dozen national and international awards; most recently "Friends of India Brand India" globally in the field of Heath and Fitness and "YES! i am the CHANGE" - YES Bank Foundation."

Padma Srinath has been in the Early Childhood field for well over 4 decades. She believes strongly in following the children's developmental needs to frame a curriculum which has more of talking rather than chalking.

Maya Nayar, is a certified school psychologist and learning disabilities teacher consultant in the US public education system.

In my conversation, I asked Padma, amongst other things, if all children are born equal.  She had a very direct answer to this question.  

Listen to the podcast to know what she said.

Kalaimamani Parvathi Ravi Ghantasala is an established practitioner, versatile choreographer, teacher, able festival curator, a loving mother and wife. Parvathi Ravi Ghantasala, started learning Bharata Natyam at a very young age under Kalaimamani Smt. Krishnakumari Narendran, Padmabushan Smt. Kalanidhi Narayanan and Shri. Bagavathulu Sitharam Sharma. She has performed solos in various venues, and has participated in festivals in India & abroad.

In 1998, she renamed her mother’s institution ( Nava Nandini Kalalayam ) to Kala Pradarshini with a vision to sustain world class Bharata Natyam artists.

In 2018, she spread her wings and started a school in Annanagar to reach out to more students.

A graded and empanelled artist with Indian Council for Culture Relations (ICCR) , she is also a member of the International Dance Council (CID, UNESCO) and has served as a Vice President & Secretary and presently as a Committee member for Abhai forum.

Suhir Ponncchamy is the director of ‘On Path to Liberation’ and several other features and short films.  A Sri Lankan by birth,  and an American by choice,  Suhir is an amalgam of multi-cultures.  

We quote what he said in an interview with a prestigious magazine: "I am the best at casting. I know how to choose the right people. For me, it is the intelligence that is needed. Then comes screen presence. If a person is beautiful, the audience would watch him/her for some time. But after a point, they need more. But if a person is talented and can get into the skin of the role, maybe the audience would get bored for a minute. But, real talent attracts the audience and connects with them. So, that is why the audience never forgets talented people. But beauty fades away very soon". 

Well said Suhir!

He learned his craft from the Tisch School of the Arts. His movie Ahead Xing is available on Amazon Prime. 

Here is a small chit-chat with Suhir, exclusive for the listeners of  WIT CAST!

The COVID19 virus has forced the schools to shut down and it is amazing how the teachers were able to cope so well with it.  Overnight, they were asked to do online lessons and apart from a few tech glitches, far and few, they have been able to do an admirable job so far.  Here is one teacher's perspective of the challenge.  She is a teacher in one of the largest public school systems in NJ, USA and also a Learning Disabilities Teacher consultant and a qualified school psychologist as well.