Anita Chhiba | Diet Paratha | Global Indian

Global IndianstoryAnita Chhiba’s Diet Paratha: Redefining representation for South Asian creativity

Anita Chhiba’s Diet Paratha: Redefining representation for South Asian creativity

Compiled by: Darshana Ramdev

(November 22, 2024) “Life is miserable without community,” Anita Chhiba declares, her voice resonating with the conviction of someone who has lived through the absence of belonging. For Chhiba, founder of the globally celebrated platform Diet Paratha, this belief is the cornerstone of her work. With over 154,000 followers and collaborations with global brands like Vogue India and Burberry, Diet Paratha is far more than an Instagram page. It is a cultural reset—a platform where South Asians are celebrated not for fitting into stereotypes but for breaking them.

“Diet Paratha is flipping cancellation into celebration,” Chhiba explains. This philosophy, central to her platform, has struck a chord with South Asians across the world. It has become a space to feel seen, a place to find opportunities, and a tool to amplify the voices of those long overlooked in creative industries. But behind the glossy posts and accolades lies a deeply personal story of identity, struggle, and determination.

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From Invisibility to Influence

Born in New Zealand to Gujarati parents, Anita Chhiba’s journey to creating Diet Paratha is rooted in her own experience of feeling invisible. “I kind of resented who I was from an identity perspective for over half my life,” she admits. Growing up in a predominantly white environment, representation for South Asians in media and culture was scarce. “New Zealand wasn’t exactly set up to nurture that side of me,” she says, reflecting on the cultural isolation she felt during her formative years.

Despite this, Chhiba’s love for art and storytelling persisted. A creative at heart, she found her way into graphic design after dropping out of high school. “Somehow, I made it to uni with my graphic design portfolio,” she recalls. Her career began with a creative recruitment agency, which introduced her to project management and advertising. By the time she moved to London in 2017, Chhiba had worked her way up to a senior level in advertising. But something was missing. “I was never seen, heard, or respected,” she says. “There wasn’t enough diversity—of thought or people.”

The Birth of Diet Paratha

Diet Paratha began as a passion project. Initially a digital mood board, the Instagram account showcased vintage Bollywood posters and South Asians excelling in unconventional spaces. “I had this massive archive of imagery,” Chhiba recalls. “During the pandemic, I started posting every day. People really started to feel seen.”

The platform’s name is a playful nod to the viral fashion watchdog Diet Prada, but the similarities end there. While Diet Prada thrives on takedown culture, Diet Paratha is all about celebration. “I wanted to create a space free from the shackles of cancellation and assimilation,” Chhiba explains. It’s a space where South Asians can be unapologetically themselves.

Today, Diet Paratha is more than an Instagram account. It has grown into a creative agency offering mentorship programs, hosting events, and producing projects that celebrate South Asian talent. The Family Tree Mentorship program, for instance, pairs emerging creatives with industry leaders, providing them with opportunities and guidance that Chhiba herself lacked growing up.

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A Cultural Reset in Action

Diet Paratha’s impact is tangible. In 2022, Chhiba collaborated with Vogue India to produce YouthQuake, a 27-page story highlighting South Asian talent. Over seven days, her team pulled off 21 shoots across the globe. “It was a cultural reset,” she says. The project was a testament to Chhiba’s ability to not only curate talent but to shift the narrative around South Asians in mainstream media.

Events like the Diet Paratha Family Meeting in Auckland have also brought the platform to life. The event, which united South Asian creatives from across New Zealand, featured panel discussions on navigating racism and culture in creative industries. “I hadn’t experienced anything like it in New Zealand,” Chhiba says. “It felt like we were finally telling our own stories.”

Flipping the Script on Representation

Chhiba’s vision for representation is nuanced. She avoids pandering to the “white gaze” and is deliberate about the narratives she platforms. “We are no longer accepting the notion of being put inside a box,” she asserts. For her, representation isn’t just about visibility; it’s about authenticity. “It’s about challenging the status quo while respecting our individual backgrounds.”

This commitment to authenticity has made Diet Paratha a trusted resource for brands and creatives alike. From casting all-South Asian lineups for Burberry to curating projects for Byredo, Chhiba has consistently demonstrated the power of meaningful representation. “It’s not just about being seen,” she explains. “It’s about being respected and paid.”

Building a Community, One Connection at a Time

At its core, Diet Paratha is about community. For Chhiba, success is meaningless without others to share it with. “The most fulfilling experience is bringing people together and having them feel seen,” she says. This sense of connection extends to every aspect of her work, from the creatives she platforms to the audiences who engage with her content.

Chhiba’s community-building efforts are particularly evident in her mentorship initiatives. Through programs like Family Tree, she has created a pipeline for South Asian talent to thrive in industries that have historically excluded them. “It’s about expanding that network,” she explains. “Representation for some eventually translates into representation for others.”

Anita Chhiba | Diet Paratha | Global Indian

Navigating Challenges and Looking Ahead

Chhiba’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. As a South Asian woman in the creative industry, she has faced skepticism and bias. “Closed mouths don’t get fed,” she says, quoting advice that has kept her driven. “If you want it, you have to go after it.”

Balancing the demands of running Diet Paratha with her personal growth is another challenge. “My identity, passion, and culture are so wrapped up in my work that it becomes an ecosystem, constantly feeding itself,” she reflects. This interconnectedness has been both a strength and a source of pressure.

Despite these challenges, Chhiba remains focused on the future. She is selective about collaborations, prioritizing projects that align with her values. “It’s about taking ownership of our stories,” she says. For Chhiba, the ultimate goal is to empower the next generation of South Asians to tell their own stories, on their own terms.

A Legacy of Celebration

Anita Chhiba’s story is one of transformation. From feeling invisible in a predominantly white New Zealand to leading a global movement for South Asian creatives, she has redefined what representation looks like. Diet Paratha stands as a testament to her vision, proving that when you change the narrative, you change lives.

For Chhiba, the journey is far from over. “All my wildest dreams have come true,” she says, reflecting on her accomplishments. But she knows there is more work to be done. As she continues to build Diet Paratha, her mission remains the same: to celebrate South Asians not for how they fit in but for how they stand out.

Follow Anita Chhiba and Diet Paratha on Instagram.
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Published on 22, Nov 2024

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Kaushik Kumar: The Forbes 30 Under 30 empowering content creators

(May 21, 2024) In January 2022, when Kaushik Kumar received a phone call from Forbes magazine, he thought it was a scam. They asked him to fill out a form, which he ignored, until he received an email. This time, he filled the form and didn't hear anything after that, until he received a text message from a friend saying congratulations. He had made it to the coveted Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2022 in Media, Marketing and Advertising. He runs two businesses - Dark Matter, which does content creation for businesses and Dark Spaces (which was featured on Forbes), a high-tech studio space that businesses and content creators can rent by the hour. "Someone somewhere had put in a nomination for me," Kaushik tells Global Indian. Empowering content creators What's special about a studio space? The world is full of content creators, hoping to be on Instagram and YouTube, all of whom learn very quickly that it's very hard to do. It requires the right lighting, the right camera equipment and high-end microphones and most importantly, a space free of interruption and external sounds, which also has a pleasing backdrop. Kaushik had discovered this for himself when he

d to do. It requires the right lighting, the right camera equipment and high-end microphones and most importantly, a space free of interruption and external sounds, which also has a pleasing backdrop. Kaushik had discovered this for himself when he and a friend decided to do a video a week for 52 weeks. He was working at a co-working space in those days and the two of them went location scouting to coffee shops and clubs. "Nothing was working," he says. "You end up carrying all the gear with you and spend ages setting up, only to have people walking in and out. And you're constantly on edge, worrying about who's walking past or who is going to knock on the door."

[caption id="attachment_37950" align="aligncenter" width="416"] Kaushik Kumar[/caption]

When he asked around, he found lots of people had similar issues. "At home, the background isn't always the best, or the kids are going to make noise. Or, you dn't have the best equipment and will end up with a video that's not the best representation of the business." Kaushik put out a question on social media, asking if people would be interested in a studio space they could rent and received a flood of responses immediately. That's how Dark Matter started up in 2021, with two backdrops, a couple of lights and a cyclorama wall (a background device used to cover the back and sides of a stage, used with special lighting to create the ilusion of a much larger space, or of the sky).

"People come in, test it out and try the equipment," says Kaushik. Aspiring content creators are also taught how to use the equipment in the room. "We might only see them a handful of times, they tend to go on and set up their own studios and offices. People come here to see how it works for them and if it's worthwhile to go and invest in the equipment." It was a huge gap in the middlemarket, Kaushik says, that he entered.

"People don't have the equipment but they also want to do it themselves." His other business, Dark Spaces, actually does content creation for businesses on a subscription model. "They come to us and sign up for a quarter at a time, so we create videos, audio, text, graphics and things to help them build authority and brand awareness. The more someone is seen and heard, the more likely you are to be perceived as an authority."

Growing up in the sugarcane fields of Fiji

Kaushik was born in Fiji, as part of the Indian diaspora in the South Pacific islands. When he arrived for the interview, he was concerned that he might not fit the bill as an 'Indian', per se. His grandfather, Kaushik says, is the son of a girmitya - his greatgrandparents had arrived there on British ships. "My maternal grandfather is still a sugarcane farmer, even at the age of 75," he smiles. His great grandparents had arrived in Fiji at the turn of the 20th century, part of a group of around a million, mostly uneducated Indians who sailed across the 'kala paani' or black waters, on the agreement (girmit, they pronounced it) of decent pay and a better life. They became known over the years as girmityas. They had been taken there to tend to the British-ruled plantations, to fill the shortage labour supply caused by the abolition of slavery. Many had no idea how far they were going, or that they would never return to their homelands again.

"A whole culture has evolved there," Kaushik says. "We speak a dialect that is a mixture of North Indian and South Indian languages, Bihari and Nepali. Our accent is very different and the food is not what you would expect from India. But our connection to the country remains strong - even if we speak a different dialect, we follow Hinduism." These Indo Fijians now make up 50 percent of the population, comprising Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists. "It's all very Indian - you walk down the street and you will find Indian food, clothing and sweets.

Growing up there, Kaushik and his brother spent most of their time outdoors, playing with their cousins, exploring the farm and swimming in lakes. "It was all very communal, you grow up together, get to know each other. It's a different kind of bond, we could disappear for two or three hours, go home for food and run back out." When the family moved to New Zealand, life changed. They had no family there, and Kaushik and his brother kept to themselves, staying mostly at home.

Striking out as an entrepreneur

Kaushik was always creative and wanted to study graphic design at university. However, when he received a scholarshiop to study engineering, he took it, obtaining a Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 2017. He started working for a couple of different firms and realised it wasn't really for him, he didn't enjoy office life. So, when his contract expired in July 2018, he decided to do something else with his life.

With a few thousands dollars in his bank account, Kaushik bought himself a $700 camera and began honing his skills as a videographer. It was part of his lineage, he says. "My grandfather would do a lot of wedding videos in Fiji, as well as music mixing and things like that. I have a cousin in Auckland who is a full-time photographer, as was my father for a while." The transition felt natural. That's how he went on to set up Dark Matter, and enter the content creator space.

The pandemic boom

"We're coming up to our fourth year now," says Kaushik, who admits the pandemic was his saving grace. "It really accelerated the shift for small to medium businesses. Christchurch is a small-ish place and people hadn't really taken to the idea of digital marketing before 2020. They had no need, really, to embrace it. Instead, the culture of doing business depended on building longterm relationships, of meeting people over a cup of coffee and striking a connection.

"The first few months were tough on everyone but they learned how important it was to be online. They saw that you don't need to speak only to one person at a time. You speak to thousands through a single video. That was a gamechanger." Now he's well-known in the Otautahi content creator community and his reputation only grew when he made it to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list.

Kaushik's entrepreneurial journey demonstrates the power of innovation and adaptability in addressing market needs. By bridging the gap in the content creation industry, he has found success and earned recognition, serving as a testament to the limitless possibilities that await those who dare to take risks and follow their passions.

Follow Kaushik on LinkedIn.

Charu Suri: The Indian pianist and composer making jazz raga popular globally

(September 29, 2023) Sitting in a long emerald dress, musician Charu Suri creates a beautiful jazz raga by playing the black and white keys of the piano in front of her. "I am taking the sounds I grew up with as a kid and adding some of the chords of your hit pop music," explains the New Jersey-based artist in one of her videos on YouTube. It's the amalgamation of ragas and jazz that has put this Indian-origin artist's latest album Rags & Ragas at #3 on the iTunes US jazz charts and #2 in Kenya. "Rags and Ragas is an ode to the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans, a city that also got me started on my jazz journey," she told HT in an interview, adding, "I wanted to showcase the breadth of the raga tradition, and how ragas could transform into jazz." It was at the young age of five, living in Nigeria with her family who had recently relocated owing to her dad's new job at a record label, that she discovered a piano in one corner of her home. One day she sat playing the piano and never stopped. She grew up surrounded by music as

ed. She grew up surrounded by music as her grandmother Savithri Surianarain was a Carnatic vocalist who played the veena too and even taught Charu. Her father, on the other hand, loves jazz and waltzes along with Western Classical music.

[caption id="attachment_45483" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Charu Suri | Global Indian Indian composer Charu Suri[/caption]

Taking up the piano classes, she fell in love with the instrument. So much so that when they returned to Chennai, she continued her piano classes and spent her formative years learning Western classical music. It was during these early years that Charu had her aha moment about composing music. "I wanted to compose since I was five, and I would end up playing Beethoven and Mozart. But my piano teacher told me, 'That's great. But we want to hear you.' That's when I realised that composing is not about repurposing, rehashing, and redoing the tons of stuff that we have heard. Composing is about creating something new. That's when I started taking risks and pushing musical boundaries."

At the young age of 15, she won an international piano playing contest, which helped her bag a place at Princeton University to study classical literature and musical performance. Those years at the university shaped her as a composer, so much so that a piece composed by her for chamber orchestra was performed by French-American cellist Yo-Yo Ma and American bassist and composer Edgar Meyer at Princeton University.

However, graduating from college came with its share of the pressure of releasing her compositions soon. "That's a very dangerous mentality to subscribe to because you end up following in other people's footsteps and never really finding your voice," she added. That's when she decided to take a break and start to travel the world and find her voice as a freelance reporter. In no time, Charu became an award-winning travel journalist with articles in The Washington Post and The New York Times.

Charu Suri | Global Indian

However, a gig by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band in New Orleans in 2018 reignited her passion for music and inspired her to return to the world of composition. Her first EP - The New American Songbook - a jazz record came out in 2019. It was the same year that she became one of the few Indian-born composers to play at New York's Carnegie Hall. By this time, she had realised that composers like Beethoven and Debussy brought their signature style and voice, and she too needed to bring her heritage into jazz. That's when she began taking lessons in jazz along with resuming lessons in Indian classical music, and started delving more into raga jazz. She released three albums - The Book of Ragas Vol 1 and Vol 2 and Ragas and Waltzes - in quick succession. Her compositions weave techniques and sounds from several places including India, Europe, and Africa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT74c9rgI5M

Her latest album Rags and Ragas perfectly showcases her versatility and breadth of ragas by blending jazz with Indian classical music. "I have folded in everything from Bhairavi to Bageshri, two completely diametric opposites in terms of what ragas can do," she said. With her music, Charu wants the listeners to know that one can't put Eastern music and Western music in watertight compartments, instead, they are parallels. With her album topping the charts, she is now gearing up for a concert at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles in October this year.

For Charu, the musical journey has been spiritual. "To feel the music was something that I learnt by listening to tons of records by Bill Evans and Miles Davis. When Bill Evans was asked what is jazz, he said, it's a feeling. It took me a while to realise that anyone can write a tune but not everyone can write a tune that has an emotional touch. That takes years to experience life. That's the greatest aspect of my musical journey."

Follow Charu Suri on Instagram

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Building dreams: Philanthropist Dr. Kiran Patel is transforming lives through his work

(February 12, 2024) As a young boy, growing up in Zambia, Dr. Kiran Patel and his father helped their neighbour, a widow, negotiate down her debt. "My father used to contact her creditors, proposing that they either accept 30 cents on the dollar through the family's bankruptcy or choose to forgive the debt, allowing the family to persevere. The creditors chose to pardon the widow's debts, enabling her children to grow up, attend school, and live contentedly thereafter," the philanthropist said in an interview. Observing his father negotiate the debts of their neighbour shaped Dr. Patel's abilities as a negotiator in later years. These skills proved instrumental as he successfully transformed numerous struggling healthcare companies, turning them from multimillion-dollar debt burdens into highly profitable ventures. "Ethically, if you do the business right and you do the right things for the right reasons, the results will come. I started my life with nothing and now, I am somewhere at heights most people will never reach, but it is not because I was driven to just make money," said Dr. Kiran, who is a Pravasi Bhartiya Samman-winning cardiologist. [caption id="attachment_48983" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Dr. Kiran Patel receiving the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman from former

because I was driven to just make money," said Dr. Kiran, who is a Pravasi Bhartiya Samman-winning cardiologist.

[caption id="attachment_48983" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Philanthropist | Dr. Kiran Patel | Global Indian Dr. Kiran Patel receiving the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman from former President Kovind[/caption]

One of Florida's foremost entrepreneurs and cardiologist, Dr. Patel has several medical institutes named after him across the globe and has made significant donations to several organisations, including the University of South Florida, Habitat for Humanity, Nova Southeastern University, and Florida Hospital Carrollwood, and has invested in several firms, on track to create 11 unicorns. "I think very few people are blessed the way we are. Not many people get this opportunity. Either because they may not have the means or if they have means, they may not have that desire, vision, or passion to do it. I have been fortunate enough. I can’t thank God enough for giving me such a great opportunity to touch so many lives. It has been my passion and vision to impact the world positively through education and health. It is a blessing to be able to contribute to my “Karmabhoomi” (United States), “Janmabhoomi” (Zambia), and “Mathrubhoomi” (India)," the philanthropist said.

Living the American dream

Born in Kabwe, now located in Zambia, was raised by Gujarati parents. "My father always expected excellence from his children, and despite living in a small home without life's luxuries, he never felt poor or disadvantaged. The focus always was education. I remember my dad would say, 'If you are second, don't even bother to come home," he shared. As a teenager, he ventured to India to pursue a medical education in Ahmadabad. It was during this time that he crossed paths with Pallavi, his future wife and fellow medical student. Following their graduation and marriage in 1972, the couple returned to Zambia. "She has been my rock," the philanthropist had said about his wife.

In 1976, they embarked on a journey to the United States for postgraduate training in internal medicine at the Jersey City Medical Center, affiliated with the New Jersey College of Medicine and Dentistry. Settling in Tampa in 1980, they established medical practices. Two years later, the entrepreneurial duo initiated a physicians' practice ownership and management company, marking the commencement of their successful ventures. "From earning $3,000 a month in my first practice to $100 million, I can say I have achieved a true American dream," the philanthropist said during a speech.

Philanthropist | Dr. Kiran Patel | Global Indian

Rapidly growing, their enterprise extended to 14 practices encompassing family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and cardiology. By 1992, the Global Indian assumed the role of Chairman of the Board at Well Care HMO, INC., guiding it to become the fifth-largest Medicaid HMO in the United States. In 1999, he secured a 55 percent ownership stake in WellCare Management Group Inc., headquartered in Kingston, NY. This company managed two HMOs in Connecticut and New York. "In 2007, I initiated the establishment of a new insurance holding company, America's 1st Choice Holdings of Florida. Subsequently, I acquired two Tampa Bay-based Medicare Advantage Health Plans, namely Freedom Health and Optimum Health. Through dedicated efforts, I expanded these companies to encompass over 115,000 members and generated revenue exceeding $1 billion. Eventually, in April 2019, I made the strategic decision to sell these thriving enterprises to Anthem," the philanthropist said.

Giving back to the community

Over the last fifteen years, Kiran and Pallavi Patel have contributed hundreds of millions to diverse causes globally, with a primary focus on the United States, India, and Zambia. Remarkably, in just the past year and a half, their philanthropic pledges exceeded a quarter of a billion dollars. In September 2017, the Drs. Kiran Patel and Pallavi Patel Family Foundation made a historic commitment of $200 million to Nova Southeastern University in Florida, marking the most substantial donation by Indian Americans to a U.S. institution. Additionally, on December 13, the ground was officially broken for a $20 million charter school in Temple Terrace, FL, entirely financed by Patel.

Philanthropist | Dr. Kiran Patel | Global Indian

Besides education and healthcare, the philanthropist's foundation is also promoting art and culture. "I think, to be a complete human being, art and culture are very important aspects. You can add spirituality to it, but if you think about it, art and culture are universal. Anybody can appreciate art and music regardless of their ethnicity, religion, or cultural background. It is a necessity that we have something like that," he shared.

But not just USA, Dr. Kiran was working on projects in India as well. "Post-Gujarat earthquake, I was instrumental in rebuilding four hospitals. In my village, we have two hospitals, a pediatric and an adult. We have a school that is going all the way up to 12th grade, in the English medium and the Gujarati medium," shared the philanthropist, adding, "During that earthquake, we also rebuilt a village and we had an anathashram because there were kids who lost their parents, either one or both, and we took care of them. There was another school that was for the mentally handicapped. Now we are expanding to 10 other hospitals."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5inPSF_XvY

So what's next for this philanthropist? "I think rest is what I’m going to do but I doubt if I can pause from what I’m doing. I have dreams of building a university in India, and in Zambia," he shared, "So basically going forward, I want to spend a lot of time in philanthropy and primarily in health and education. Because transforming a society or an individual you need education along with health."

Reading Time: 6 mins

Indian CEO Tanvi Chowdhri’s scoops see the former hedge fund girl’s Papacream grow 5x during the pandemic

(January 5, 2021) A pani puri sorbet, a nacho cheese ice cream or a sushi ice cream – This is the quirky fusion that this gourmet explorer brings to the table. A cornucopia of nostalgia, fun, and luxury sets homegrown brand Papacream’s founder Tanvi Chowdhri apart from competitors. “We wanted to give customers an experience like never before. When we started Papacream, the idea was to be indigenous and play with inviting and relatable flavours,” says Chowdhri, CEO, Papacream in an exclusive interview with Global Indian. Since Papacream began in 2015, it has seen exponential growth in revenue. Today, the brand is available online, and across many Indian cities. Her passion for the culinary arts saw her quit a well-paying job at Wall Street in the US to follow her dreams of starting a homegrown ice cream brand in India. “There was a burning desire to do something in the food space – that’s how Papacream was born,” adds the young Indian CEO. Born and raised in Kolkata, Chowdhri often traipsed the streets of the City of Joy in search of niche culinary experiences. “You cannot not fall in love with food in Kolkata. It’s a place where people take

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Born and raised in Kolkata, Chowdhri often traipsed the streets of the City of Joy in search of niche culinary experiences. “You cannot not fall in love with food in Kolkata. It’s a place where people take food seriously,” says the recipient of the 2019 Times Women Entrepreneur Awards.

An epicurean awakening

This love for food simmered during her stint in the US. At Wall Street, Chowdhri, an investment banker, loved clocking in hours at Nomura on weekdays, and the weekend saw her explore the dynamic food scene in New York City. “I’d often go around meeting different chefs to understand their style of cooking, or what interesting things they were up to,” she adds. Those weekend food jaunts were the perfect catalyst in helping Chowdhri dive into the F&B industry in India. “It was in NYC that the clouds cleared,” recalls the girl, who won PETA India Food Awards for the best vegan ice cream.

Switching from the world of hedge funds to food and beverage was exploratory. For someone who studied mechanical engineering with a minor in business administration, Chowdhri took a risk by starting with hedge fund trading. “I have always been a risk-taker, and I think this comes from my dad who is a businessman. He always encouraged me to explore and go beyond the known. That's what took me to hedge fund and later, the same intent nudged me towards Papacream,” says the mostly self-taught girl, who did an online ice cream course from Carpigiani Gelato University, Italy. Incidentally, her businessman husband also added depth to her venture.

Indian CEO | Tanvi Chowdhri | Papacream | Global Indian

At just 22, she took a leap of faith with hedge funds. Then a few years later, she moved to Mumbai (2015) to kickstart her artisanal ice cream brand. It was a smooth transition. “Trading gave me the confidence as I was making decisions about millions of dollars in my hedge fund job. It’s the same confidence which helped me spread my wings and start up,” adds the Indian CEO, who self-funded her maiden venture (ice-cream parlour) with her NYC savings and had parlours in 10 cities. In 2018, they diversified into fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and started selling online packaged ice cream on Nature’s Basket, Foodhall, Swiggy, etc. The ice creams are priced between Rs 395 to Rs 495 for a half litre tub.

Why ice cream you might ask? “During my last Physics lab class at Carnegie Mellon University, we were asked to make ice cream using liquid nitrogen. It was quite a cool idea, and it stuck. I had to do something with ice cream,” enthuses the 33-year-old mother of a two-year-old boy.

Indian CEO | Tanvi Chowdhri | Papacream | Global Indian

When dollops of ice-cream, scream slurp

With varied classic flavours already available, Chowdhri wanted to up the game by creating exciting new tastes on the menu. “I wanted our brand to connect with the audience and give flavours and concepts that other brands hadn’t tapped into. Our ice cream cake was an instant hit as it’s a combination of two things that people love. I think it’s important to get the formula right,” the Indian CEO beams.

Such has been the impact of the flavour that even Bollywood producer Rhea Kapoor collaborated with Papacream during the pandemic with a customised sundae. “She loved the ice cream. Rhea said that we should do something together and that's how Rhea X Papacream was born. It was a sundae-in-a-tub concept based on Rhea's childhood memories. We had fun and it boosted our sales," says Chowdhri. "

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In a world of Haagen-Dazs and Baskin Robbins, Papacream has found its footing as an indigenous brand. “When we were planning to start, Indian ice cream brands were eyeing European names and pitching them. We wanted to give the customers the feel of ice cream that felt homemade and indigenous. My father-in-law during a discussion at home suggested, ‘Why don’t I become the brand ambassador? You can call it Papacream.’ The comment was made in jest but it rang a bell, and we got the name of our brand,” reveals the Indian CEO.

A learning process

There were the odd teething troubles starting up yet Chowdhri was most taken aback by the gender stereotypes. “I was young when I started Papacream, and saw that older men were uncomfortable with the idea of working with a woman boss. They would respect an instruction coming from a male colleague rather than a female boss. Those initial hiccups aside, one builds credibility with their work. Launching the product is a honeymoon phase, the real struggle begins when the operation starts,” she recalls.

An avid travel junkie and fitness freak, Chowdhri loves the outdoors. However, during the pandemic, she has been spending most of her time with her two-year-old son. “That’s the only way I unwind,” says the working mom. While the pandemic pushed many businesses to the brink, Papacream, fortunately, expanded in the past two years. “Our business took off then. The team was working throughout, of course with safety precautions. Our online sales were high as ice cream is an impulse product. The lockdown gave our brand a huge boost,” says Chowdhri who plans to expand to new cities, and export too.

Indian CEO | Tanvi Chowdhri | Papacream | Global Indian

For budding young entrepreneurs, the Indian CEO advices, “No matter what, keep pushing. You might come across challenges but remember, there is always a silver lining. If you feel you need to shut down, know that it’s the right path. Patience and perseverance is key, and passion is the salt.”

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East is East: Ashutosh Mehndiratta’s retelling of India’s 5,000-year history

(June 18, 2024) A decades-long quest to understand his own identity culminated, for Ashutosh Mehndiratta, in his debut book, India and Faraway Lands: 5,000 Years of Connected History. The magnum opus has been condensed into a 386-page, imminently readable history of India and the world. It was a journey that began when he first moved to the US in 1995 as a student, where he remained for the next decade or so. "When you're living in India, you don't think of yourself as Indian. When you step out of the country, you become very aware of your identity - you're Chinese, Sri Lankan, or Indian. It's a very simple but unique distinction Indians living in the country may not appreciate," Ashutosh tells Global Indian, as he connects with me from his home in Eastern Canada. Finding inspiration Growing up, Ashutosh Mehndiratta would listen to his father tell stories of the Partition - both his parents were born before in pre-Independence India, in what is now Pakistan. When the partition took place, his parents' families were among the millions who braved the bloodshed to travel to India, huddled in crowded trains, praying for their lives. "My mother was too young to remember but my

in pre-Independence India, in what is now Pakistan. When the partition took place, his parents' families were among the millions who braved the bloodshed to travel to India, huddled in crowded trains, praying for their lives. "My mother was too young to remember but my father would tell me stories," he says.

"We grew up reading Amar Chitra Katha and hearing stories about how India was IT - the golden bird. But today, we can see that other countries are far more developed and wealthier in many ways. If India had such a glorious past, when did it change," asks Ashutosh, as he joins me for a chat from his home in Canada, where he now lives with his wife. How did this change happen – was it gradual or sudden?

[caption id="attachment_36461" align="aligncenter" width="641"] Ashutosh Mehndiratta[/caption]

The identity question

When he left India, he became aware of his identity as an Indian, which left him with many questions. How did India rise to greatness and what led to its fall? Some experts suggest geography, others say religion - Ashutosh, who naively believed he could read a few books and find an answer, realised, through years of research, that there was no one clear reason. Countless influences act upon a country, from within and without, to determine its transition to wealth or poverty.

"Over the years, I gathered so many notes and books that I thought, 'Why don't I write a book of my own?' I started about six or seven years ago." He was living in New Zealand at the time and in this case, geography really was the answer. "Living outside India was a good thing - there were fewer distractions. I lived close enough to the office to walk home as well, so I had time on my hands."

Catching a break

Ashutosh Mehndiratta came back to India in 2017, where he headed Cisco’s Bengaluru’s account. In 2018, he attended the Bangalore Literature Festival, where the Lit Mart, a platform for aspiring authors to make pitches to major publishing houses, is a big draw. It can mean a big break for first-timers - "There is a 99.9 percent chance you won't hear back from a publisher unless you are an established academic or Bollywood star. A history enthusiast without a pedigree rarely stands a chance," Ashutosh admits.

Lit Mart did in fact open those doors for the techie-turned-historian, who met a representative from Manjul Publishing House. "I wrote to Rashmi and her editorial team liked the idea, so we began the editing process. That is a long journey - as a first-time author you don't know the scale of effort that goes into editing."

Ashutosh Mehndiratta | Indian and Faraway Lands

India: A History

The book gets off to a surprising start - it begins in the present and moves backwards. "History books begin in the past and move to the present but I personally feel it is not logical. The present is more familiar and relatable. I grew up in the ’80s and ’90s, I saw history being made when India won the World Cup. That resonates more than the Indus Valley Civilisation." He wanted the subject to fascinate his reader as much as it did him, so he decided to go backwards, starting out with the 1930s, Independence and Partition.

"We have all grown up hearing that Gandhi's peaceful protests got us independence," Ashutosh remarks. "But the British empire itself had vanished - the country had gone bankrupt and London was destroyed. They had no will or resources to maintain a colony. In 1946, as Britain was left devastated by World War 2, came the Royal Indian Naval Mutiny. It was a failed insurrection but scared the British, nonetheless. For the first time, they realised the might of Indians bearing arms against them. The US had also come out of the Roaring Twenties and domination meant having to dismantle what was left of the Empire. The Japanese had also weakened the colonialists, forcing them to surrender in Singapore. Subhash Chandra Bose had also been running his propaganda war through a radio show he did from Germany.

Imagine there's no country

During his study of Indian historians, Ashutosh found they were all confined to the boundaries of India. "Their story begins in 1608, when the first ship landed in Gujarat. They don't ask why someone in a small island nation would get on a boat, go around Africa and travel 18,000 km to reach India. What was their motivation?" He discovered that a year earlier, in 1607, they had landed in Jamestown in America. "So, I thought, let's take a break from India and see what was happening in London at the time." He learned that London was a small city trying to enter the merchant trading business, attempting to compete with the Portuguese who had become rich through trade, bringing in silk from China and spices from India. He couldn't just study India in isolation, everything is linked to everything else.

What's more, when the British first arrived to trade with India, they were welcomed. "That was boom time," Ashutosh says. "Like Bangalore is now - big tech is pumping money into the city. Of course, it would be a different story if big tech took control of the government but until then, we all love the millions we receive!"

A story of interconnectedness

"I wanted to focus on the interconnectedness of history," Ashutosh says, adding that the cost was sacrificing depth to cover 5000 years in less than 300 pages. Instead, all his years of reading go into a voluminous bibliography. "The idea is to invoke curiosity in the reader," he says.

The stories are remarkable - Ashutosh Mehndiratta tells a couple to appeal to the Bangalorean in me. For instance, "My job was Bangalored" is a common dotcom era joke in the US but there was another period of close ties between Bengaluru and America, back in the late 1700s, when Haider Ali, of all people, was a household name on the other side of the world. "The Americans were fighting the British, as were Ali and the French. The Anglo-Mysore wars made it to American newspapers and Haider Ali became "Haider Ally". They would talk about his son, Tipu, the prince using rockets in war."

When America won its freedom in 1783, it was a young country with lots of land and no money. "They sent their first ship to India," Ashutosh says. "The ship arrived in Pondicherry, had a flag and was called the 'United States'. That's how they began their trade and eventually grew into a superpower."

Drivers of progress

Could he identify trends that result in progress more than any other? "Any country that allows freedom of expression has progressed," he says. "If you can express, debate and critique freely, it brings out the best in people. Trade is also important and because of that, places near calm oceans or rivers tend to thrive."

Ashutosh Mehndiratta hopes his book, with all its fascinating anecdotes, will inspire his audience to read more, to learn about their Indian identity. "It's not something that Indians at home are aware of but it comes up when you're abroad," he says. Since his wife works for an immigrations company, even their dinner table talk is diverse and multicultural. "Meeting people from other cultures, compels you to learn about the world and yourself. Diversity really brings out the best in you."

Follow Ashutosh on LinkedIn.