Hailing Hanuman in Portugese: Will PM Modi move mountains to get hydroxychloroquine to Brazilian President?

Quoting the Ramayan, Brazilian president sends epic SOS to PM Modi.

By ET Bureau | Apr 11, 2020, 09.59 AM IST

While it is not known if PM Modi will move metaphoric mountains to accede to this plea, an Indian hakim might suggest that Brazilians should take a daily dose of a spice that in north India is called kalonji

The devil, it’s said, can cite scripture for his own purposes. While not even his most censorious critic would liken Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro to His Satanic Majesty, he does seem to play host to an imp of the perverse, as evidenced by his downplaying fears about the coronavirus pandemic, causing not a few to label him as the original Brazilian nut.

However, like his presidential colleague in the US, the Brazilian leader has done an about-turn on Covid-19 and sent an SOS to PM Narendra Modi asking for supplies of hydroxychloroquine, which is believed to be effective in treating the disease.

The Brazilian president has cited the Ramayan episode in which Hanuman saves the life of a gravely wounded Lakshman by bringing to him a Medicine Mountain, which has the magical resuscitating herb, Sanjeevani. While it is not known if PM Modi will move metaphoric mountains to accede to this plea, an Indian hakim might suggest that Brazilians should take a daily dose of a spice that in north India is called kalonji and, according to social media, is supposed to contain hydroxychloroquine.

Called nigella in the West, the condiment is widely used in cooking and is believed to be the inspiration for the name of UK’s celebrity chef, Nigella Lawson. Brasilia might ask her for suitable recipes, following the Indian injunction that jugaad helps those who help themselves.

Covid-19 Lockdown: Mumbai Restaurateurs Support Modi's Call, Take Steps To Support Their Staff

1/5

Dine in is the new dine out. Here’s what those in the hospitality sector have to say about the three week lockdown across the country and what they are doing during this period.