Butter chicken takes a bow...

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script><br /><img src="/photo/694496.cms" alt="/photo/694496.cms" border="0" /><br /><br />Delhi Times decodes the ''Manmohan effect'' on the Indian mindset.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">WHAT''S IN: </span><br /><br />Rumi poetry, Sufism, tappe, dal makhani, white malmal <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">WHAT''S OUT: </span><br /><br />India isn''t going to be the same again, not for the next few years at least.For, each time, there is a swing in the political pendulum, there is a swing in Indianisms too. <br /><br />If Vajpayee made Hindi — and poetry — the national heartland, then India''s first Sikh Prime Minister is going to Manmohanise the India psyche too. You''ve heard of Manmohanomics. Now find out what the ''Manmohanisation'' of India will entail. <br /><br />One thing''s clear: it''s going to be Punjabi minus the Dalerification (read, the Daler effect on Punjabi culture) where Bolo Ta-ra-ra became its most coherent articulation and bhangra its only manifestation. <br /><br />For an exact definition of the Manmohan mindset, read on... <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Jiggs Kalra, Food expert: </span>The nation will quickly follow the PM''s food habits. The Manmohanisation of Indian cuisine would make Kesar da Dhaba and Bharwan da Dhaba food rather popular in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala too. <br /><br />Punjabi food will no longer be about tandoori chicken and butter chicken. We''re going to discover satvic or pure Punjabi dishes. Even though, Manmohan Singh''s a great statesman, he eats a simple peasant diet: dal, sabzi and roti. <br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal">We''re soon going to forget Punjabi flamboyance and discover a new subtlety in food. If I cook for him, it won''t be soups but a well-planned sequential dining where each course would be broken down with serbet... a unique and simple gourmet experience. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Harbhajan Singh, Cricketer: </span>The Manmohanisation of our culture would signify the arrival of the hardworking struggler who believes in simplicity. No pretensions please. No self-told tales of glory. Let your score-card tell its own tale of success. <br /><br />In fashion will be non-greasy dal makhani, simple saag tadka, Sufi music and a patka or a bandana. More than anything, the new attitude would be that of a warrior... a success story sculpted with style not self-praise. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Ajit Cour, Author: </span>There will be a cooling effect on our culture. The mystic of Dr Singh''s cool, calm personality reminds you of a Sufi poet. For literature, it''ll be the discovery of a gentle soul that''s vanished from the face of earth. <br /><br />Let the pundits of culture re-discover their inner souls, let the painter find a new inspiration, this is a time to forget aggression and violence. That''s what Manmohanisation would signify for us. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Harmeet Bajaj, Fashion expert: </span>What''s going to be hot? Turbaned men on the ramp and films, return of the 5 meter-long Patiala salwar, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan''s Naina More Taras Rahe, soul-lifting Sufi music, tappe, as the traditional dance rather than bhangra. And Pico Iyer''s new Rumi inspired book, Romance. <br /><br />We''re announcing the arrival of the sophisticated Punjabi. So, forget the Pammis and Rammis. And the balle-balle kings. This is about rediscovering the Bhakti Movement, Sufi literature, royal Patiala culture. <br /><br />About refinement and sophistication. So, forget the butter chicken, let''s have some Rumi poems to soothe the soul. <br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section3"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">J J Vallaya, Fashion designer: </span>Simplicity? A contradiction to the loud Punjabi who is used to living well and showing-off his wealth. But now its going to be about power without pretensions. <br /><br />The Manmohanisation of culture would imply a shift from the ostentatious display of wealth. Would it imply that I use less embroidery in my clothes next season? Who knows. <br /><br />Would it mean we would wear less jewellery? These are sub-conscious influences on the soul. I''m sure, Dr Singh''s personality would influence our creativity in some way. What''ll be trendy: sarson ka saag, white malmal, all things pure and white. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Nisha Singh, Model: </span>Spirituality, that''s going to be the buzzword. We''re going to make an inner discovery of peace through yoga and kirtan. It''s about embracing simplicity and humility and banishing the ego. <br /><br />The spiritual quotient now is not going to be about religion but about doing your job to the best of your ability. And doing it silently. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Jaspal Bhatti, Humorist: </span>You''ll just see more turbans everywhere and more Santa Banta jokes. But seriously, you''ll see the arrival of the new-age Punjabiyat, which means live simply and celebrate privately. <br /><br />The Manmohan effect is about being sophisticated, serious and no-nonsense. Hey, but what''s a Punjabi without his humour, tandoori chicken and bhangra. He''ll be a bland Punjabi. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Veer Das, Actor: </span>Here''s what I think will be in vogue: Microwave tandoori chicken capsules, automatic desi ghee dispensers, a stereo-mix that converts English top-of-the-pops to bhangra songs.</div> </div>