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Karma and Korma

Published by Sunday Punch Dagupan


Karma and Korma

By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo

In Sanskrit, karma, a core concept in Hinduism and Buddhism, and some Eastern religions is roughly translated as “action”, that each action generates further actions and consequences that affects the person in the future, good or bad. Under this concept, a good deed begets good deeds, and a bad deed begets harm.

Karma is closely associated with “the concept of reincarnation or rebirth, in which a person is born in a new human (or nonhuman) body after death.” The effects of an action can therefore inflict itself on a person in a future life, and life experiences in the present may be the result of actions performed in past lives.

The meaning of the word evolved over time, sometimes inconsistent or inadequate to capture its original sense. In the Philippines, karma is often used a way to explain hardships resulting from an earlier evil deed. When a person admonishes, “makarma ka diyan!” (you will meet your karma!), it becomes a warning not to do something that results in bad luck.

Karma. How did the word ever get into popular usage in the Philippines? We marveled at its origin as we found more Sanskrit and Indian words deeply embedded in Filipino language, and also in Philippine cuisine. For example, Hema Rajpal of the Indian Embassy, pointed out that our version of chicken curry has the same recipe as korma, a dish originating in the Indian subcontinent, “consisting of meat or vegetables braised with yogurt or cream, water or stock, and spices to produce a thick sauce or glaze”. In the Philippines, yogurt or cream is substituted with gata (coconut milk or cream). Nidhi  Choudhary, First Secretary for Politics and Culture, also mentioned similarities between the kare-kare and some Indian dish, whose recipe I failed to obtain.

The extent of Indian influence on Filipino culture is the subject of continuing studies, as some scholars believe that the influence is rooted in “the indigenous religions, epic folk literature, myths, social customs, arts, crafts, traditional dress and Sanskrit roots of pre-Hispanic script and numerous contemporary words.” Rohit Rajpal, Attache and Personal Secretary to the Ambassador mentioned that Indian culture may be glimpsed through its films, which the Embassy shows during the annual Indian Film Festival in Manila.

Revisiting relationships between India and the pre-colonial past of the Philippines is an offshoot of an invitation from the Ambassador of India Hon. Jaideep Mazumdar and Mrs. Parvati C. Mazumdar who hosted a dinner on the occasion of the release of International Gallerie's issue on the art and culture of the Philippines, an endeavor to strengthen ties between India and the Philippines, in commemoration of the 70th year of Philippine-Indian diplomatic relations. Ms. Bina Sarkar Elias, art curator, poet and Editor and Publisher of International Gallerie said that the Philippine issue is a tribute to the long-standing diplomatic relationship of both countries.

It is time to dig deeper into the history of both countries, as well as other Asian neighbors and develop solutions to common problems under contemporary global conditions, based on a more informed understanding of Asian society, politics and culture.



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