3 Review(s)

Rustic recollections, or cookbook? Ragi-Ragini: Chronicles From Aji's Kitchen is interesting, anyway it is read. Summary Of The Book Ragi-Ragini: Chronicles From Aji's Kitchen presents the health benefits of ragi, and many ragi recipes within the framework of a story about a girl named Ragini. The girl, who lost her mother at a young age, is brought up in a village by her Masi (aunt - mother’s sister), and Aji (grandmother). When she comes to live with her Aji and Masi, she is a frail little girl. But, the dishes made from ragi make her a healthy young girl, and she learns many tasty ragi recipes from her family. Ragi (finger millet) is a grain that has been grown in many parts of India for a long time. Known by various names like kelvaragu, coracano, nachani, and muthari, it is an extremely healthy cereal. In Ragi-Ragini: Chronicles From Aji's Kitchen Ragini talks about her family, life in the small village, the recipes for the various ragi dishes, and the benefits of consuming ragi as she learnt from her Aji. Interspersed with these are the ovis. The ovis are couplets composed in Marathi by the poet Bahinabai, sung by women as they did their daily chores. Ragi-Ragini: Chronicles From Aji's Kitchen is hard to classify. it is not a straightforward cookbook, as it does not just contain a set of ragi recipes. It is more than that. It is also not just a book that talks about the beneficial effects of ragi. It is an interesting story of a young girl who was brought up by her aunt and grandmother in a village. She recollects the special bond she shared with them, the experiences that she remembers when she was growing up, the many delicious ragi dishes her aunt and grandmother prepared for her. The recipes and the grain’s health enhancing properties thus form part of the girl’s story. The book also contains interesting illustrations done by the writer herself. About Anjali Purohit Anjali Purohit is a Mumbai based writer-artist. Another notable work by her is Bitter Harvest. Her art and her writing are mediums she uses to explore her world and express her views. Anjali Purohit paints in many styles, realist, expressionist, impressionist, and her paintings are understated yet compelling aesthetic expressions of personal experience. She also writes poetry and fiction. Her writings have appeared in many leading journals. Her short story, Bitter Harvest, won the Commonwealth Short Story Competition for the year 2008/09.