trumpets music, patriotism, sunset.

Beating retreat--- INDIA, VI JAY CHOCK, 3.30P.M.29 January 2012

Mentioning India, first here not New Delhi, because India comes first.


Winters evening, sunset, cool breeze, trumpets music, patriotism, what else we need to feel mystical.

President arrives and altogether 14 Trumpeters, 32 Buglers and 14 Echo Buglers, playing together where surround sound comes tour ear because of colonial building built around. Listen to some upbeat melodious sound of Drummers Call’, a traditional performance by only the drummers.

Divine to listen open air belugas, reminds sunset in hilly mountains of my native place Garhwal. It is really happening here, New Delhi, where I born and brought up…respect the city and nations, which offers us a lot.

           It is music like blues or jazz paling live on Indian soil with Indian compositions. It is really delighted to listen. I must say this best live musical show happens to New Delhi.

 BEATING RETREAT-British army routine, this was originally known as watch setting. Initiated at sunset by the firing of a single round from the evening gun.


For India it officially marks the end of Republic Day festivities. On the evening of January 29, the third day after the Republic Day. It is performed by the bands of the three wings of the military, the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force. The venue is Raisina Hills and an adjacent square, Vijay Chock, winged by the north and south block of the Rashtrapati Bhavan (President's Palace) towards the end of Raj path.


The ceremony was started in the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army developed the ceremony of display by the massed bands in which Military Bands, Pipes and Drums Bands, Buglers and Trumpeters from various Army Regiments besides bands Navy and Air Force take part.
Chief Guest is the President of India, arrives with cavalry of President’s Guard. Here comes the sound of trumpets of Brigade do the Guards. This sound really rare to listen in India, as it is not part of Indian culture or modern music composition.
Unfurling of Nation Flag with loud music of Indian national anthem, really gives nostalgic movement. For true Indian music lover and patriotic feel out of world. Really it is the best music live show I expect to attend every year for me for my country and for our music.

PRESS RELEASE OF THE SHOW. 

This will be followed by playing of the tune of National Anthem and a tune ‘Parameshwar’, composed by Captain Mahendra Das NK.

Thereafter, Army’s Massed Pipes and Drums Bands will play a total of six tunes, - ‘General Tappy’, a quickmarch tune, ‘Chipli Naach’, a slow march tune, ‘The Hundred Pipers’, a quick march tune, ‘Louden’s Bonnie Woods & Brass’, a strathspey tune, ‘The High road to Linton’, a reel tune and ‘Queen of Hill’, a quick march tune.

After these tunes, Air Force and Navy will play six tunes. Everest, Skylark, Rhythm of the Waves, Twilight, Renaissance and Sea Patrol.

This will be followed by the massed military bands of the Indian Army playing ‘Nakhreli Joban, Almora, Sarangi, Post Horn Gallop and Redetzky March’.  Thereafter, all the massed military bands will play the ‘Vijayee Himalaya’, after Pipe & Drums Band play ‘Drummer Call’. After that will be played ‘Abide with Me’, the eternally enchanting hymn, a favourite tune of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.  The Buglers will retreat to the sound of ‘Sare Jahan se Achha’, penned by Iqbal, and arranged by Prof A. Lobo, before the illuminations. 

 My words on this event as simple music lover.

This event is like going out with mood saying you are in New Delhi, center of biggest democracy and feel melodious about have witnessed live musical shows in auditoriums, hotels, open grounds, stadiums, but here at Vijay Chock, New Delhi it is mystical, patriotic, spiritual and bit western because it is upbeat.

Love to be in NEW DELHI.

Shailesh Sharma Pokriyal

New Delhi

ART BUSINESS-FEST-DELHI

BUSINESS OF ART-Indian art fair—New Delhi 23-29 JAN 2012

NISC Grounds, lastly habitat distinct of South Delhi

I am art marketer than art collector or writer. I hope I am not making comments, whatever right or wrong on art or artists.

I begin here with art as luxury product for Indian market; here we have European and India art auction houses, galleries and collectors all managed to make art as an Industry.

Although in Europe and USA art is an investors and collectors business for many years, but in India, it has been witnessing some elite players of rich mans world only. But these days, situation is volatile I must say, demand is good and supply is getting stronger, business is moving at good pace that without speed breakers.

I have witnessed some of the big financial companies, like Religare and rich families have set up systematic planning to invest in India and global artists. Art gallery and art consultancy business has been all around New Delhi, especially South of Delhi, where modern day high profile business and cooperates live in. Even modern day shopping malls are having art shops, with good collections.

Business is good for every player, those invest and those perform. 

According to a FICCI report, art market in India is worth $400 million, it is growing with 25% annually.

Indian artists apart from Hussein and Ravi Verma, Tagore of yesteryear’s new names also sold worldwide.

It is good to find lot of artists from all over the world in Indian soil, especially young artist those are participating in real show, where they can make money also along with praises.

New Delhi has witnessed some of the best events this month; this some seems to be last. Art is an emotion to reflect existence of human being as society and as community race in the planet earth.

Art conies people from all over the world.4 years back, when this event started, I mind it hard that it can survive, but it worked like anything, first time artists, first me art collectors and even first time exhibitors are here.

It all happened because of the city, Newwwwwwwwwwww Delhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

New Delhi, respects, accepts and participates in all cultural, art, food and sports events.

India Art show managing 98 Exhibitors from 20 countries.

Launched in 2008,This is 4th Edition of India Art Fair will be held on 25-29 January, 2012 at NSIC Exhibition Grounds in New Delhi. Last year, 1, 20,000 visitors over 4 days from 17 cities in India, and 67 cities around the world in 8000 sq meters of display space.

I was happy to visit this show infarct all events in Pragati Maiden, which is like second home to me. This venue is well connected with all part of city and located almost center of my beloved city Delhi.

Any how, I like to visit art shows, because they inspire me a lot.

About Organizers—

Neha, having background of marketing and events, she made show very attractive and thoughtful. Will Ramsay, Gllariest from UK, get eye on Indian market at right time?

Sandy, having business background for events made this show truly international.

About Visitors—

I am not the much rich and celebrated person to move around often in art and culture worlds of New Delhi, as we all know art collection is an expensive business. But I find lot of people like me, and that in thousands.

I find lot of youngsters in their 20’s visiting fair and spending time in watching and talking to new artists and curators. It is really new sense in New Delhi, although in last 5 years I have seen art gallerias in every commercial building or shopping arcade of New Delhi.

As marketing professional, I find this art business is growing with pace of 25% annually and it is now part of main stream luxury products segments, where prices are no limit. Art in any from has been respected in this city a lot, believe me or not, the most happiest artiest I have found in India are those who based in New Delhi, these days, not because of money they get, but in terms of exposure they get, means good art collectors, visitors and simple walkers like me, those make really good faces in front of shabby looking artist, who could have sold one painting for million of INR money in just first day of exhibitions..

Exhibitors—

It is long list to find, some of best name in the industry from auction house to art galleries in the world are here. It is interesting to find even London and Spain based galleries are participating with their collections. Means market is here in New Delhi.

I am not an art critic so I will not write anything about particular artists, but about art I shall.

Here the most interesting thing, which I find that, locally in New Delhi brass and wood sculptors are normally sold by crafts men in the street or government meanest shops to promote crafts from different part of India. But here people call them artist work man ship

So to find difference between artists and craftsmen comes in my mind. So we will discus in another feature’s here I am trying to write about events that makes my New Delhi specially and unique in the planet earth.

So here we have painters, sculptors, digital art makers, printmakers, photographers all together.

While getting news from moving around all exhibitors are happy and managed to do some business, here in New Delhi.

ART AUCTION HOUSES—Yes they are here, just few names, those made this art business into main stream business and had some good knowledge of art also in New Delhi. Internet has now player’s good rule in this segment, but still we need auction houses and agents as main players of this business.

1-OSIAN 2-domusartgallery 3-Kumar  etc

 History of art sales--New Delhi and art Galleries—

We have long traditions of galleries from mogul era to colonial rule. But I think professional managed is National Museum, The roots of the National Museum begin with an exhibition of Indian art and artifacts at the Royal British Academy in London in the winter of 1947-48.Here we have 20000 art effects dating back 5000 years.

So Delhi has long history of main ting and appreciating art and artists,

Post independent era has seen some good art galleries in central Delhi, like Chawla, Kumar Domimall etc. Along with that we have Art school and permanent government run exhibition halls like AIFCS etc.

One of India's major art galleries, the National Gallery of Modern Art was once the residence of the ... Rabindra Bhawan, Feroze Shah Road, New Delhi-110001.

World renowned artists from New Delhi

 

Amrita Shergill, Jatin Dass, painter, Raghu Rai, photographer, ATUL BHALLA, Arpana Caur. Painter, M.F.Hussian the world renowned modern art painter, Benoy K  Behl, photographer, Shantanu Ukil: Profile of the Painter

 

                21 st century New Delhi art and galleries—City has grown and accepted all new artists thanks to corporate world, here art collection is matter of investment and prestige .Beside, central Delhi Mandi house, Khan market, Sunder Nagar market ,we have newly developed towns in Delhi doing brisk business of art.

 Places of modern time New Delhi art galleries.

Here you can find good café, shopping, tourists and lot of new artists’ collections

1—Hauz Khas Village, studded with domed tombs of Muslim ... It is now a relatively expensive tourist cum commercial area with numerous art galleries.

2-Gurgoan-Delhi NCR--Epicenter has best visual art gallery of India where art exhibitions are being held every week. Commercial building and shopping malls in Gurgoan manages good space for art consultants and galleries also.

3-Shopping Malls in Vasant kunj and Saket, south of Delhi.

4-five start hotels are exhibitors and buyers of art.

Art becomes business and investment, New Delhi favors and manages every move any civilized and so called developed city in the world.

Happy viewing art and makes some good comments and money on art in New Delhi

Thanks

Shailesh Sharma Pokhriyal

Dawrka, New Delhi

Republic day-New Delhi, capital of India

Republic day-New Delhi, capital of India

NEW DELHI 26^TH Jan 2012.RAJPATH, 9.30AM

The Republic Day of India registers the date on which the Independent Indian constitution came into force replacing the British imperial Government of India Act of 1935 as the governing document of India on 26 January 1950.

Constitution of India says, it is for the people, by the people and of the people.

New Delhi, being capital of Indian, always have these national events to mark the occasion and raise the spirit of nationalism and humanity. This city really blessed to be patriotic is all situations, which creates feeling to be Indian, rather proud and cultured Indian. Events like this, with national, holiday, makes society to be national, all religions, race, color and age group celebrates together.

Indian has constitution in the longest written constitution in any democracy of the world. We are the living example of largest democracy in the world, where law or constitution of governing the country has been written 63 years back and people are following it till date.

Here debate starts in New Delhi, do we need to change constitutional laws of governing this nation, where its population and means of economy has been changed since its Independent, in such a manner where old laws are burden to every move we take.

Celebrations of this day are vivid from school, local residents association and culture shows happens all around the city whole week. Most important is the parade managed by all this forces of Indian army, navy and air force. Parade starts from Raisina Hills, near Rashtrapati Bhanvan moves from some parts of central and New Delhi, along the famous Rajpath road and India Gate.

Parade was presided over by President and Prime minister and march passes with all state cultural artists and school children, police bands etc.

First he unfurls the Indian national Flag, as the national anthem is played. The different regiments of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force march past in all their finery and official decorations. Celebrations are also held in state capitals, where the Governor of the state unfurls the national flag. If the Governor of the state is unwell, or is unavailable for some reason, the Chief Minister of the state assumes the honor of unfurling the National Flag of India.


FROM WIKIPEDIA----


Although India obtained its independence on 15 August 1947 , it did not yet have a permanent constitution; instead, its laws were based on the modified colonial Government of India Act 1935, and the country was a Dominion, with George VI as head of state and Earl Mountbatten as Governor General. On 28 August 1947, the Drafting Committee was appointed to draft a permanent constitution, with Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar as chairman. While India's Independence Day celebrates its freedom from British Rule, the Republic Day celebrates the coming into force of its constitution.
A draft constitution was prepared by the committee and submitted to the Assembly on 4 November 1947. The Assembly met, in sessions open to public, for 166 days, spread over a period of 2 years, 11 months and 18 days before adopting the Constitution. After many deliberations and some modifications, the 308 members of the Assembly signed two hand-written copies of the document (one each in Hindi and English) on 24 January 1950. Two days later, the Constitution of India became the law of all the Indian lands. The Constitution of India was passed on 26 November 1949, 10.18 AM IST, but it came into effect completely only on 26 January 1950. Following elections on 21 January 1950, Rajendra Prasad was elected as the president of India. The Indian National Congress and other parties had been celebrating 26 January as a symbol of Independence, even before India actually became independent. Thus, applying the constitution on 26 January, to mark and respect 26 January and the freedom struggle and the freedom fighters.
Since 1950, India has been hosting head of state or government of another country as the state guest of honour for Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. During 1950-1954, Republic Day celebrations were organized at different venues (like Irwin Stadium, Kingsway, Red Fort and Ramlila Grounds). It was only starting 1955 when the parade in its present form was organized at Rajpath. The guest country is chosen after a deliberation of strategic, economic and political interests. During 1950s-1970s, a number of NAM and Eastern Bloc countries were hosted by India. In the post-Cold War era, India has also invited several Western leaders on a state visit during the Republic Day. It is notable that before India fought wars with China and Pakistan, leaders from these countries were invited as state guests for the Republic Day

In my words, New Delhi has it all, means all events, cultural, patriotic, arty, foodie, business and scientific.

So proud to be Indian and than Delhite.

Happy Republic day, celebrate, whatever we have is the best and the worst we need to take out from our society, you know what I am talking about corruption.

Corruption is mind set, so remove from your mind as your heart says it is wrong.

Thanks for reading

Shailesh Sharma Pokhriyal

New Delhi Made Jaipur Literary Fest

New Delhi Made Jaipur Literary Fest

Diggi Palace Grounds, Jaipur City 19 to 22 Jan 2012

Pink city, developed by Hindu king Sawai Jai Singh in 1727. still having palaces and rest houses of 200 -300 years old architecture,263 KM from New Delhi.

Famous for palaces, food and hand block printing of cotton fabrics and Literary Fest

Great weather, people, food and music, perfect vacation.

All of sudden so many news channels vans, lot of mock visitors, celebrity writers and local artists are together to promote literature in general, is it birth of 21^st century India.

It is sunny morning and chill wind of Europe has come down to fort city. City which is history tourism map of the world, has witnessed some great writers of contemporary world with world press from New York also covering the event.

But you know 2012-Jaipur Fest had really made name for itself all around world, as Indian media had nothing else to talk about and celebrated writer on Indian origin Salman Rushdie, has been denied entry in India, because of his comments on religion by hard core peers of Gods.  Because topic of debate was religious and religion in India is debatable. Indian has freedom right of speech and expression.

Entry of Oprah Winfery, celebrity talk show television host and author of self improvement books from the great nation USA ,is here in Jaipur during this fest, it happened by chance and organizers and her advertising consultant took it has gifted promotion chance. Her talk was also with NDTV’S celebrated journalist Baraka Dutt, who made this talk show more look like a literary workshop.

So, here we are in Hindi speaking stat of India, English speaking writers, journalists and celebrity walking and talking together.

Why I say, New Delhi Made Jaipur Literary Fest.

Am I correct or just to saying because I am from New Delhi, nay!

Because of William and Sunjoy are from New Delhi, they are the pillars of this show. Which has shaped writing as celebrity and intellectual art form? Although Sunjoy, the brain child and organizer of the show is promoting Indian art, culture and social work for long time within Indian and all around world.

The best thing about this festival is that it is so publicized and covered by media, where media and their reader or viewers are not aware of meaning of literary festivals. Common visitor and media person are only know that there is talk show of celebrated writers ,some from movies and some are really well read authors.

We have seen Delhi Book Show, Delhi Art Show, where we find many international visitors and exhibitors coming to India to have their view and business grow among modern Indian society.

These days, Indian lifestyle is very much mixed and I would say vibrant, people write in English, eat Italian and make small library in their houses just like show case. So, what we have today after Vikarm Seth, winning lot of money and celebrative English writer status 15-18 years back made a platform for present generation to become professional English writer. Although we all know, English is not our language; it might be gift by our colonial rulers the British queen. But as Indian we have mastered the art of writing in English and now we have readers in our country also for English books. We all know English journalists were and even today better paid by their other languages a writer colleagues.

Specially meant for Indian English writers, those are in big league all around world, this fest has witnessing many other language writers from India and aboard. Spicily we find some Hindi and Urdu writers can share platform with English writers those are well read.

Once a writer never be a writer, but thrice a writer sits backs to at least read author.

William Dalrymple was born in Scotland and brought up on the shores of the Firth of Forth, but has lived in Delhi on and off for the last 25 years.

The 2006, first Jaipur Literature Festival had only18 writers including Hari Kunzru.Shobhaa De,Namita and a  14few others. We had only crowd of 100 attendees, including some who "appeared to be tourists who had simply got lost," according to the event's co-director William Dalrymple.

^{Today we see Hindi writers specially} from movies written circle, like Mr JAVED, Parsoon Joshi are part of festival and expected foot fall of more than 50000 visitors, this fest is happening fest. Here we have really nice musical evening with classical and folk back round, so it is festival kind of atmosphere and nice winter’s giving slice of chilly and spices.

The DSC Jaipur Literature Festival ,not really on efforts to have literate fest in total, but was originally an initiative of the Jaipur Virasat Foundation, an NGO  works for Rajasthan’s musicians and craftspeople to highlight art and promote  livelihoods .

The Directors of the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival are William Dalrymple and Namita Gokhale and the festival is produced by Sanjoy K. Roy, Sheuli Sethi and Teamwork Productions.

Indian Contemporary English Litterateurs

Literature is mirror of society; it is an old proverb and fits well here in India. Though English is not our language, but it is global language and Indians are now global in all means of lifestyle. So English authors and readers have grown in fast pace and made their presence all over world.

With Indian businessmen, IT professional and artists making their name and money in global stage, especially in America. Literature also has made an impact, I must say with Vikarm Seth in early 1990’s.Though we have great writers like philosopher Swami Vivekananda, who gave lecture in USA almost 100 years ago. But in last 20 years, we have seen reading habit has grown with large pace and people say in publishing business that Indian is the fastest growing market for English books in the world.

We have new book shops and coffee shops for book reading clients mushrooming all around the country and especially in the city New Delhi.

Contemporary writers like Jhaver Chand Meghani, Dharamvir Bharati,Mulk R.Anand,Jhuma,Amitav Gosg, Pawan, Shashi Throor etc has made strong impact on English writing. We have Booker's prize winners like Arundati Roy and other English writers like Chetan Bhagat, those make history with their readership especially in India for English books.

Not only novels, but cook books, travel books, science books and age old Indian mythological religious books and writers are doing well business in this English book market segment worldwide.

So where I stand, novelist, feature, travel or food writer? Hey I write poetry fro myself for 23 years now

Anyways thanks for reading me

Shailesh Sharma Pokhriyal

22/2/2011

Coffee,Delhi & Romance.

New Delhi Coffee Show—18-20^th Jan 2012

INDIA INTERNATIONAL COFFEE FESTIVAL 2012

Hotel Lalit- Central Delhi

Organizers- IICF, Visitors mainly business and few coffee lovers.

Espresso, Mocha, delicious cappuccino…is the famous names of coffee drinks….

It is more romantic to have espresso coffee with girl friend in cozy café…so coffee is normally more romantic drink than wine ,here in New Delhi.

New Delhi………. Love to be their..Coffee and friends, evening walk in winters…..

Drinking coffee is an art it is saying in France and Italy, but in New Delhi, it is matter of dignity, taste, meeting friends in cafe and winters.

For me coffee is additional drink as I need something new after having morning tea.

Coffee machines and Coffee cafe chain business is very attractive and lucrative, here in new modern Indian and especially in New Delhi. We have seen fortunes and hit salary business segment all together, Oh sorry I am not meeting business skills of mine here.

About trade show in new Delhi 2012-----------------

Show will have awards conferences and coffee tasting seasons, which are really rare in the city, I enjoyed the most.

Various facets of the coffee industry.

IICF Café Award
IICF Roaster Award
IICF  Curer   Award
IICF Latte Art Championship
IICF Exhibitor Award

Great show for industry, specially for north Indian market, Organizers have roped in almost all great names in coffee industry in Asia, not only India. Levers, TATA, Costa, Barista and our local filter coffee makers from Bangalore and Mysore. It is really something kind of bridge making event for marketing and coffee lover like me. Finding great FMGC brands and local brads displaying together. Even I find some great espresso coffee machine makers like Murphy and other from Europe are here,

in my city Newwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Delhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.

Very well organized show, as Hotel Lalit is good in organizing shows for long now, I have attended their wine trade show also. But coffee is something meditative and good for creative thinking as people say.

Not much in demand in New Delhi, but this city loves all type brewages available in the world. As coffee is not produced or cultivated in North part of India, where New Delhi is situated that is why it’s not among masses but classes.

Coffee and New Delhi has not much in common, except long time influence of Britshers and new time influence of chain stores like coffee restaurants, where meeting is more important than coffee.

I am also small time lover of coffee as a foodie only not a follower of coffee. But I have tasted coffee all over India and Europe that is why I thought of writing this feature.

India filter coffee from South part of nation is the best and most famous version of coffee all over world. We export 70% of our best coffee beans or otherwise we cultivate. So for me it is the great economic crops among other like green tea.

INDIAN FILTER COFFEE SIMILAR TO DRIP COFFEE MACHINE WE HAVE IN USA OR EUROPE---I HAVE IT THE SAME,

South Indian coffee is brewed with a metal device that resembles two cylindrical cups, one of which has a pierced bottom that nests into the top of the "tumbler" cup, leaving ample room underneath to receive the brewed coffee. The upper cup has two removable parts: a pierced pressing disc with a central stem handle, and a covering lid.

Any how the best place to have coffee in pure European style in the city New Delhi….Not mention Coffee shins name as it becomes more advertising oriented as we all know how is the best in the city...But I recommend Barista Delhi…..Personal choice.

1-Coffee Shop of Taj Hotel, New Delhi

2-Coffee Shop, Oberai HOTEL, New Delhi

3-Any food out let BENGALI MARKET, Central Delhi.

4-Moca...South Delhi restaurant

5-United Coffee House, Connaught Place

6-Lalit Coffee Shop, Central Delhi

FOR INDIAN FILTER COFFEE...

1—Andra Bhavan

2-Karnataka  Sanaga

3-Any South INDIAN Street shop In Karol BAGH

FAMOUS EUROPEAN COFFEE DRINK ESPRESSO COFFEE, delicious cappuccino

The name espresso is Italian in origin. It was first coined around 1900, means a cup of coffee brewed expressly for you. Today, you will often find that people incorrectly pronounce or spell it "expresso". 

Espresso can be very confusing. The BEST espresso is the coffee bean. The coffee bean is from the heart of the coffee berry. These coffee berries grow on trees in tropical climates at 2000 to 6000 feet above sea level.

Espresso coffee is a small 1 to 2 oz. shot of pressure-brewed coffee using between 6.5 and 7.5 grams (about 1 Tablespoon) of finely ground coffee. Brewing takes about 25 to 30 seconds.

Besides a shot of espresso, the most important factor in preparing a cappuccino is the texture and temperature of the milk.

The total of espresso and milk/foam make up between approximately 150–180 mL (5–6 imp fl oz; 5–6 US fl oz). Commercial coffee CAFES in the US more often serve the cappuccino as a 360 mL (13 imp fl oz; 12 US fl oz) drink or larger.

NEW DELHI NEW AGE COFFEE CULTURE DOMINATED BY CHAINS LIKE BATISTA, COFFEE CAFE DAY AND COSTA

Buzz words for young and new executives, meeting point is more in demand than coffee. But the popularity of espresso and mocha can be witnessed here; it is great to find young generation appreciates coffee, which is normally not Indian but Italian and French. It is bit expensive but really taste good, I feel it is really nice to find people shipping coffee and talking quietly, better than pub culture.

So drop in near by new age coffee hang out joints, you can also feel young their.

Another coffee joints are new age book shops and art galleries in posh south Delhi shopping arcades, like Hahz Khas, Saket and shopping malls like AMBEINCE.

You know, we should appreciate these new joints of coffee as the develop a good and clean society, friendship and companionships keep walking in…..

HISTORY OF COFFEE IN INDIA------------

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Indian South Coffee, also known as Filter Coffee is a sweet milky coffee made from dark roasted coffee  beans (70%-80%) and Chirocy20%-30%), especially popular in the southern states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The most commonly used coffee beans are Arabica and Robusta grown in the hills of Karnataka (Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru and Hassan), Kerala (Malabar region) and Tamil Nadu (Nilgiris District, Yercaud and Kodaikanal).

Outside India, a coffee drink prepared using a filter may be known as Filter Coffee or as Drip Coffee as the water passes through the grounds solely by gravity and not under pressure or in longer-term contact.

Coffee was originally introduced by Baba Budan to South India in 17th century and became very popular under the British Rule. Until the middle of the 20th century traditional households would not use granulated sugar but used jaggery or honey, instead in coffee.

Mysore State (present day Karnataka). This hill range was later named after him as the Baba Budan Hills and one can see his tomb even today by taking a short trip from Chikmagalur.

Rev. Edward Terry, chaplain to Sir Thomas Roe who was ambassador at the court of Emperor Jehangir, provides a detailed account of its usage (1616):

"Many of the people there (in India), who are strict in their religion, drink no Wine at all; but they use a Liquor more wholesome than pleasant, they call Coffee; made by a black Seed boiled in water, which turns it almost into the same colour, but doth very little alter the taste of the water: notwithstanding it is very good to help digestion, to quicken the spirits, and to cleanse the blood."

The British East India Company brought in fresh influences. David Burton, a food historian based in New Zealand writes in his book The Raj at Table (1993)

"India's first coffee house opened in Calcutta after the battle of Plassey in 1780. Soon after, John Jackson and Cottrell Barrett opened the original Madras Coffee House, which was followed in 1792 by the Exchange Coffee Tavern at the Muslim, waited at the mouth of the Madras Fort. The enterprising proprietor of the latter announced he was going to run his coffee house on the same lines as Lloyd's in London, by maintaining a register of the arrival and departure of ships, and offering Indian and European newspapers for his customers to read. Other houses also offered free use of billiard tables, recovering their costs with the high price of one rupee for a single dish of coffee."

Indian filter coffee was popularized by the India Coffee Houses run by the Coffee Board of India since mid 1940s. It became the drink of millions after the emergence of more popular Indian Coffee Houses in mid 1950s. We can read this story in the Malayalam book Coffee Housinte Katha by Nadakkal Parameswaran Pillai.

Indian filter coffee even migrated overseas in the early 20th century to Malaysia and Singapore, where kopi tarik (pulled coffee) is a close cousin of the Madrasi coffee-by-the-yard / metre, and was introduced at roadside kopi tiams run originally by Indian Muslims.

Quality of Indian coffee, from Indian coffee board

Kents: Kents is the earliest variety of Arabica, selected by an English planter of the same name during the 1920s. This variety remained popular with the planting community till the 1940s, because it was less susceptible to rust. Today, it is grown in a few areas but it is still known for its exceptional cup quality.

S.795: This is by far the most popular Arabica selection released during the 1940s with high yields, bold beans, superior quality and relative tolerance to leaf rust. This selection was developed using ‘Kents’ Arabica, known for its high quality. Even today, the S.795 is a favourite with the planters and is a widely cultivated Arabica variety. S.795 has a balanced cup with subtle flavour notes of Mocca.

Cauvery: Popularly known as Catimor, Cauvery is a descendant of a cross between ‘Caturra’ and ‘Hybrido-de-Timor’. Caturra is a natural mutant of the famous Bourbon variety. Thus, Cauvery inherited the high yielding and superior quality attributes of Caturra and the resistance of ‘Hybrido-de-Timor’.

Sln.9: Selection 9 is a derivative of a cross between an Ethiopian Arabica collection, ‘Tafarikela’, and ‘Hybrido-de-Timor’. Sln.9 has inherited all the superior cup quality traits of Tafarikela. This variety has won the Fine Cup Award for best Arabica at the ‘Flavour of India - Cupping Competition 2002’ organised by Coffee Board of India.

You know, New Delhi, has tradition of great food, drinks and celebrations. Here coffee plays important role, I was in banquet lunch last week and really enjoyed 2 cups of espresso, Indian style. This is New Delhi; you can have time, place and friends to enjoy everything with aroma and style.

So keep shipping coffee in winters, as I take in summers also with milk shake, hope to discuss these drinks in details some another time

Thanks for reading

Shailesh Sharma Pokhriyal

New Delhi,19 Jan 2012