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#RECIPE | Desi-Manipuri Fusion Chicken Curry ‘Yen Thongba’ by Robinson Ningombam

Yen thongba is a chicken curry dish from Manipur brought to us by one of our readers, Robinson Ningombam, who has put his own spin on the traditional Meitei recipe. He says, “It is one of my favourite recipes as it involves a fusion of both desi spices and traditional Manipuri ingredients. Whenever I am in Delhi, I cook this chicken curry. It isn’t as tasty as the one I make in Manipur because the ingredients I get in the city is different from the organic ingredients I get back at home. Nevertheless, I am always reminded of home whenever I cook it, even though I am miles away. All my friends, including my non-north east friends, really like this particular style of chicken. “ It’s a great story of how food-cultures from different parts of India are blended into one and we are able to come together to share something yummy. Enjoy!  Cooking Yen Thongba, with potatoes and spring onions.   Ingredients— 700 g country chicken. Washed and Chopped (young organic chicken is highly …

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“Live a Little and Maybe Feel a Little More” – Indie Musicians Atuzo and Kuotsho from Nagaland Talk About Their Original Single ‘Patterns’

Finding some amazing locally produced music isn’t always easy, but lucky for you, we have discovered the duo Atuzo and Kuotsho! These young promising Indie artists from Kohima are creating music that is rustic, contextual, and hauntingly beautiful— the Folk and Indie Genre has spoken to them clearly and transcendentally. Staying true to the Indie genre, the duo has self-written, produced, and released their first single ‘Patterns’ on YouTube. Join us as we discuss with them life, their work, and how it all came to be.  Hi Atuzo and Kuotsho! Please introduce yourself to our readers. Hello there, my name is Atuzo Theluo. I am  21 years old. I was born and brought up in Kohima. I am a passionate musician and presently I am pursuing my Bachelors Degree in Music in Nagaland College of Music and Fine Arts (NCMFA), Kohima. I am Kuotsho Koza and I am 21 years old as well. I was also born and brought up in Kohima and have recently completed my BA degree course from St. Edmund’s College, Shillong. …

Meet Karuna Mira Sah, A Glaciologist In Training and A Rock Climber, From Nainital

Karuna Mira Sah, a 23-year-old from Nainital, has chosen a rare yet exciting path in life. She’s training to be a glaciologist, and is also a rock and ice climber and a passionate photographer. It was her love and deep-rooted connection with the mountains that led her to this path in life. Her college allowed her to study and discover remote areas across the world, and all exposes her to some breathtakingly picturesque views! She recently graduated in Earth Sciences from the US and plans to do her Masters and research in Glaciology. Her expeditions have taught her much about life and further inspired her to work for environment issues. We chatted with this charming young woman in detail. Tap on the link in bio and below to give it a read!    Hello Karuna, thank you for chatting with us! Please introduce yourself to our readers.  Hey! I’m Karuna, an aspiring glaciologist, a mountain climber and most of all, a nature lover. I grew up in Nainital, Uttarakhand. I have been hiking with my …

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“I Dream to Travel The Whole of Northeast India” — Apen Tanujang From Mokokchung, Nagaland

“Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.” – Jennifer Lee Apen Tanujang might be one of the few people who’ve explored almost every part of Nagaland. An adventure and nature lover at heart, Apen belongs to Mokokchung in Nagaland. After a trip he took in 2015, he was inspired to travel and explore his homeland and all of Northeast. So far, he has covered Meghalaya, Assam, Sikkim, Mizoram and Manipur, and dreams to travel to more places here.   Born and brought up Nagaland, he was always curious and adventurous about exploring every part of his homeland. This led him to explore most of Nagaland and Northeast. His Instagram feed is a visual treat that is sure to inspire you to grab your backpacks and go on an expedition. Read on to find out more about him!  Hey Apen, it’s a pleasure to have you here. Please introduce yourself to our readers! Hello, my name is Apen Tanujang, and I’m from Mokokchung Nagaland. I like to think of myself as a …

“Every Vintage Car Has a Story Which I Share Through My Art” – Meet Rupali Prakash, an Illustrator and Vintage Car Collector From Bangalore

Rupali Prakash, from Bangalore, is a woman of many talents, to say the least! She is an illustrator and the founder of Classic Chase, a company that restores and rents out vintage cars. She combined her two passions—art and vintage cars—to illustrate vintage cars and keep them alive in the form of art, which is a crucial part of Classic Chase. She creates handcrafted merchandise and even works with groups like the Federation of Historic Vehicles of India (FHVI) and with vintage car clubs around the world, both as an automotive illustrator and as a youth adviser. This dynamic woman from Bangalore has got the world on her mind. Get to know her better as we chat about how she manages to find balance and inspiration for her many projects.  Hey Rupali, it’s great to have you here! Please introduce yourself to our readers. I’m a Punjadiga (half Punjabi & half Kannadiga) and have spent my whole life on a farm with my parents and younger sister on the outskirts of Bangalore. After doing UG …

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“My Poetry is a Protest” — Vancouver Shullai from Shillong, On His First Book ‘How To Love A Broken Man’

At 23, Vancouver Shullai has published his book of poetry, won a national prize for his poetry and is already breaking out of the mold of traditional poetry-writing. Based in Shillong, he recently completed his masters in English from Bengaluru.  Talking to Vancouver Shullai is like taking a walk through his mind. Our conversation with him left us inspired, and wanting to indulge in his poetry. He says, ‘I really think that’s how art works, any form of art, be it music or paintings or films – the liberty to interpret that we as artists give our readers and spectators is in abundance’. Join us for a conversation with the winner of the 2017 Wingword Poetry Prize, on the publication of his first book of poetry, “How To Love A Broken Man”. Vancouver Shullai calls himself an artist, on a journey of constant change and improvement. To start off, we’d like to congratulate you for the release of your book! Please share a bit about yourself with our readers.  Thank you! I’m Vancouver Shullai, 23 …

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I Backpacked to 12 European Countries in Less than One Lakh Rupees” – Jaseel Keloth From Bangalore Shares His Travel Adventures

Jaseel Keloth is a full time business analyst from Bangalore with a flourishing career in traveling, photography and visual production. At 23, he has already traveled to over 20 countries in the world, and to top that, has captured them on his camera with the utmost perfection. He also pulled off a backpacking trip in Europe under 1 lac!  Jaseel talks about managing his full-time job, his career as a travel photographer, and some of the many other adventures he has had along the way. Shot while doing filming projects at Coorg in Karnataka. Hello Jaseel, tell us about yourself. I’m Jaseel Keloth, a 23-year-old engineering graduate from IIT Varanasi. I juggle between a full-time role as a business analyst in Bengaluru and a life-time role as a content creator. I love traveling, photography and filmmaking. In the past three years, I’ve been able to cover 37 countries across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. I mostly shoot aerials, cityscapes, and landscapes. I also create video content, mostly commercial or promotional for some major brands. I also …

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#FACES | Onen Nenty From Nagaland Embarks On a Solo Bike Tour Across the State

“I’m Onen Nenty, a solo biker from Nagaland. I’m currently on my way to Peren from Khonoma and Dzuleka area. It’s a part of my mission to cover 11 districts of Nagaland on my bike. Due to the monsoon season, the roads are muddy and quite difficult to ride on. In majority of the areas, construction is going on as well. Sometimes the unmetalled road stretch for about 2-3 hours. But I’ve made my decision! Come rain or shine, I’m going to ride to reach my goal.” ~ Onen Nenty from Nagaland Onen Nenty is one of the few female bikers in Nagaland

A Conversation With Iram, a Progressive Rock Band Based in Bangalore

Iram is a band formed by 5 talented musicians, and is based out of Bangalore. This progressive rock band released their first album Azal, which was loved by critics and music lovers alike. ‘We hope our music brings attention to the growing hostility and angst in the world. We want to create music that inspires people to build a world without hate’, says Neil, the founder and lead of the band.  A truly humble group, these 5 boys are as charming to chat as they are on stage! We spoke to them about how they came together, their journey so far and plans for the future. Introduce us to your members! Meet Neil Simon Abel “I’m Neil. I was born and raised in the Middle East. My family moved to Bangalore and I completed my graduation from here. We are originally from Gulbarga, which is in the northern part of Karnataka, but have been in Bangalore for close to 16 years now. So it’s safe to say that Bangalore is home. I am a qualified …

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A Chat With Akho, the Owner of Lerina’s Cafe – An All-New Cafe in Dimapur

  We, at Roots and Leisure, love finding cozy cafes for our readers. Sometimes it’s the food that catches our attention, sometimes the ambiance. Today, we have a cafe that’s got both – a cosy aesthetic and some amazing food!  We headed out to the newly launched cafe and met with its owner, Akho Lerina. The 27-year-old man had always dreamt of starting his own business and a restaurant, which became a reality with Lerina’s cafe. Welcoming everyone with a smile into his cafe, Akho is as charming and humble as his cafe! Head to the link in bio to know what he had to say about his cafe. Lerina’s Cafe was Akho’s lifelong dream! Hello Akho, please introduce yourself to our readers! Hello, thank you so much for having me here. My name is Akho and I’m 27 years old. I belong to the Mao Naga community in Dimapur, Nagaland. I own a cafe called Lerina’s Cafe, which launched recently on the 8th of July, 2019. I had always wanted to be a self-made …