By Archana R Nair
Indian kitchens have got some lessons to offer on effective self defence techniques, no matter your strength, size or experience in handling it.
For women who are left alone in the night after work who are at risk of being attacked - what goes onto add taste in the curries they make can become their best friends in self defence as well.
Food ingredients like pepper, chilli powder, even turmeric powder are handy tools that can be changed into powerful weapons when time demands. Spices have been used since ancient times as self defence and this is being revived now. In fact, the recent Absolute Rights newsletter explains the Chinese first used red pepper as a weapon about 300 B.C., and ancient Japanese warriors threw rice sacks filled with red pepper to burn their enemies' eyes, nose and mouth. Chemical agents were used in America as far back as the Civil War. says the new Absolute Rights Newsletter based in Texas, USA.
The film Mirch Masala directed by Ketan Mehta, released in 1985 starring Smita Patil has a profound climax scene when the women in the factory shows a sudden and surprising defence method by attacking the subedar with fistfuls of mirch masala( red chilli powder). The film ends with the villain cries in pain when the chilli burns his face.
The scene, once again reminds the women folk that the best defence methods are available in their kitchen itself.
According to Absolute Rights newsletter, pepper spray is the best option to carry as a non-lethal weapon. It disables the assailant and gives the victim an opportunity to leave the area or call for help.
Chemical sprays are one of the best means of non-lethal self-defence on the market and the demand is rising with more women being aware of such techniques.
In USA, most states allow citizens to carry such devices for self-defense purposes,according to Absolute Rights newsletter, and states that have restrictions on pepper spray are the ones you'd expect: New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, Wisconsin, California, Washington D.C., and Hawaii. Restrictions vary regarding the chemical components that are allowed, explains the new Absolute Rights newsletter, the concentration, and even the labeling used.
For good results it must be sprayed into an attacker's eyes, nose or mouth, where it causes severe shortness of breath, involuntary closing of the eyes, extreme tearing, headache, and sometimes nausea. It also causes temporary blindness which may last up to thirty minutes.
