Chapati (alternatively spelled chapathi; pronounced as IAST: capātī, capāṭī, cāpāṭi), also known as roti, rooti, rotee, rotli, rotta, safati, shabaati, phulka, chapo (in East Africa), sada roti (in the Caribbean), poli, and roshi (in the Maldives), is an unleavened flatbread originating from the Indian subcontinent and is a staple in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa, and the Caribbean. Chapatis are made of whole-wheat flour known as atta, mixed into dough with water, oil (optional), and salt (optional) in a mixing utensil called a parat, and are cooked on a tava (flat skillet).
The word chapati is derived from the Sanskrit word चर्पटी (charpaṭī) a derivative of Sanskrit *चर्प (charpa, “flat”).
Have I totally lost it? Not quite! The Academic title for an article would be:
Quantum-inspired methods to accelerate biofortification of wheat.
This potential initiative is part of my Academic Philanthropist Way of Life.
This way of life involves (a) Making Monetary Gifts to Academia (such as the recent one for the Kedia-Tayur Distinguished Lecture in South Asian American History, see La Femme Nikki?, or the ones to IIT-Madras, my undergraduate alma-mater, including endowing RAGS Institute Chair and Tayur Prizes) and/or (b) Applying Professional Skills pro bono towards addressing serious problems of society, such as Implementing Innovations in US Transplantation System.
I agree with Voltaire that:
Solemnity is a disease.
Indeed, I open An Essay on Operations Management with (paying homage first to Montaigne by choice of title and then to Oscar Wilde):
The Importance of Being Playful.
And I have repeatedly used this excerpt of Henry David Thoreau (from Walden):
The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. There is no play in them. A man who has at length found something to do will not need a new suit to do it in. I am convinced that to maintain one’s self on this earth is not a hardship but a pastime.
Indeed, as I have quoted Dante in Six Invited Pieces (Que sais-je?):
Whoever laments that here we must die in order to live up above…does not see that the refreshment of the eternal shower is here.
Consider, then, this post as part of a collection – along with Quantum Karma, Quantum ABBA, Quantum GAGA – that will someday become (honoring Balzac 😉 who obviously was referencing Dante’s Divine Comedy):
La Comédie quantum.
What new refreshment am I talking about? Since this song at the Grammy Awards from last weekend – pretty decent opening by Trevor Noah – is still in my head, I asked ChatGPT to create lyrics in Tracy Chapman style (Fast Car):
In the style of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car”, envision a narrative that captures the essence of the wheat biofortification document: a journey towards a brighter future, underscored by the determination to combat global malnutrition. The lyrics would tell a story of hope, resilience, and the desire for change, much like the song’s themes of escape and aspiration for a better life. It would speak to the collective effort to enhance the nutritional value of wheat, aiming to make a significant impact on the health of populations relying on wheat as a staple food, reflecting the longing for a world where everyone has access to nutritious food and the promise of a healthier tomorrow.
Verse 1:
Got a plan to beat this hunger, in our hands a future bright,
Fields of gold, with secrets under, aiming for a healthier sight.
Scientists with dreams so grand, working through the day and night,
To fortify the wheat, the land, in each grain a beacon light.
Chorus:
We’re driving fast, towards a future where no child’s left to ask,
For a meal that’s more than just a task, where nutrition’s not a mask.
With every seed we plant, a chance, to make a difference, vast,
In this race against circumstance, we’re moving forward, fast.
Verse 2:
Across the world, in fields afar, the challenge met with hope and heart,
Biofortified, these crops star, in the global market’s chart.
Zinc, iron, vitamins to impart, a daily bread that sets apart,
A world where health’s a work of art, and we all have a part.
Bridge:
It’s more than just a fast car, it’s a journey to redefine,
What it means to raise the bar, in the fight against decline.
With science as our guiding star, and collaboration fine,
We’ll reach a place where we all are, nourished by design.
So what is this really about? I am conducting a self-study and creating a summary:
Wheat Biofortification: A Primer.
Oscar Wilde might have titled it:
The Importance of Being Nutritious.
Now, can one really talk about music these days and not bring up Taylor Swift? I asked ChatGPT to summarize the document in the style of her song Karma:
Crafting lyrics in the style of Taylor Swift’s “Karma” to summarize the essence of wheat biofortification from the document would involve a playful yet assertive tone, emphasizing the innovative and transformative nature of the effort. The song would capture the spirit of determination and the sense of justice in combating global malnutrition through science and collaboration, reflecting the ‘karma’ of positive action leading to beneficial outcomes for global health.
Verse 1:
In the field, under the sun, we took a stand, the work’s begun.
Changing wheat, seed by seed, fighting hunger, our shared creed.Pre-Chorus:
They said it couldn’t be done, but look where we are,
Turning the tide, we’ve come so far.
Karma’s on our side, in this fight,
Brightening the future, making it right.Chorus:
‘Cause karma is the wheat, growing so tall,
Feeding the world, answering the call.
With every grain, we rewrite the story,
In this field of gold, we claim our glory.
Let me close by imitating Oscar Wilde:
Life is way too precious to be lived solemnly.😏
