The ‘Curry leaf’ in Khara bath
Having been a resident of Bangalore for over a decade, I am a huge fan of Khara bath. The blend of nicely cooked semolina and veggies mildly laced with spices with a generous dollop of ghee (clarified butter) makes it melt in your mouth…
For the uninitiated, Khara bath is a quintessential Karnataka recipe. It’s a variation of the ubiquitous rava upma and is a regular fixture in the breakfast menu of most eat outs and restaurants in Karnataka.
Most of you living in Karnataka would have tasted this at least once in your lifetime. You must have noticed that the curry leaf adds a special flavour to the dish. Haven’t you??
Lest you think this is about food and recipes, wait a minute… I want to focus on the curry leaf. Curry leaves are an indispensable part of Indian cuisine and traditional medicines.
In khara bath, curry leaves are used to add flavour and enhance the taste; however often these are discarded while eating. There may be exceptions but in general, curry leaf is never centre stage.
Drawing a parallel to women, there have been instances where women are treated like this curry leaf in khara bath which makes me draw this analogy in the wider context of life and career.
Women should stop being treated like the curry leaf in khara bath where their talent, efforts and skills help businesses get ahead but their light is hidden under a bushel — from a career perspective, or totally subject themselves to tending to the needs of their family at the cost of their dreams and aspirations — from the standpoint of their personal lives, and never put centre stage.
From a career perspective, the time has come for women to be treated as the main ingredient — like the semolina in khara bath and be given their due recognition and a level playing field.
Needless to add, women who have chosen to stay in their cocoons may not connect with this view. This may resonate with those who want to fly but feel stifled owing to circumstances or lack of a supportive environment.
At the workplace, leaders and colleagues need to turn the spotlight on talented women and actively promote them, recognizing that gender balance is still skewed, few women demand a seat at the table compared to men, and opportunities tend to be limited for them to rise at pace through the ranks. Conscious efforts are needed to make the environment inclusive and provide a platform for them to rise at all levels from the shop floor to that of CEO.
Having said the above, the onus is not only on the organization, but also on women to stand up for their rights, speak up and seek support when they feel ignored, marginalized or suppressed. When you knock on the door with unwavering zeal, self-belief and persistence, the door is bound to open.
The world is a far better place today in terms of the appreciation of the value and need to embrace Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, however there is still some way to go for women to stop being treated like the curry leaf but be appreciated and celebrated like the semolina in the khara bath.
