Recipient of Padma Bhushan 2022, Madhur Jaffrey has authored thirty bestselling cookbooks, hosted cookery shows, and made Indian food global.

Global IndianstoryPadma Bhushan Madhur Jaffrey: The lady who made Indian cuisine global

Padma Bhushan Madhur Jaffrey: The lady who made Indian cuisine global

Compiled by: Amrita Priya

(December 11, 2022) “When my programme came on air, there weren’t any Indian cookery shows, it was an immediate hit,” Madhur Jaffrey told the BBC, talking about her ground breaking cookery programme that premiered in the United Kingdom 40 years ago.

The Padma Bhushan 2022 awardee grew up in Delhi and left for London in her 20s to study at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She became an actress and later, turned to writing cookery books and presenting cookery shows. Little did she know that this career transition would turn out to be a significant step towards introducing India’s soft power to the western world.

Madhur Jaffrey, culinary expert

Indian food is a magical world where the art of using spices is so advanced that we’ve created a cuisine that exists nowhere else in the world!

Her debut cookbook, an Invitation to Indian Cooking (1973) introduced Indian food to western hemisphere for the first time. It was later inducted into the James Beard Foundation’s Cookbook Hall of Fame in 2006.

When she was hired by BBC to present her cookery show – Madhur Jaffrey’s Indian Cookery, it was meant to be an educational programme. The aim was to make people learn about Indian culture by introducing them to authentic food cooked in different regions of India. The show mesmerised people so much that Madhur soon became known as ‘spice girl’, thanks to the plethora of South Asian spices she introduced to the western homes. She was popularly called ‘the actress who can cook.’

Building respectful image of South Asians

“Until then, the South Asians were not represented the way they would have loved to see themselves on the television and cinema,” she said, in the interview with BBC.

Madhur Jaffrey

Madhur’s career transition had filled in the much-desired space with elan. Her show was the first mainstream series about Indian food to be broadcast in the UK and also the first one to be presented by an Indian.

Characteristically dressed in a crisp cotton saree, Madhur Jaffrey became the face of the South Asian diaspora in the UK. She knew this, tailoring her image to that of an attractive Indian who is modern, yes, but remains tied to her roots. That was the pre-internet era, so Madhur used to get flooded with letters of appreciation from her fans.

Ruling the supermarkets

If Madhur was exotic, the food she cooked seemed even more so to the uninitiated Western audiences. In fact, her recipes became so popular that Indian food was “tried by everybody all over England and beyond’. “The day I cooked chicken with green coriander, they ran out of green coriander in Manchester,” laughs the food expert.

The demand for Indian spices and ingredients grew so much that supermarkets started overstocking the ingredients that the Global Indian used in her cookery show.

Madhur Jaffrey presenting her cookery show on BBC in 1980s

The spice girl from India

In the introduction to her cookbook, At Home with Madhur Jaffrey, she writes, “The techniques used in Indian cooking are not any different from those used the world over: roasting, grilling, steaming, frying, stewing, braising and so on.” Yet it is distinct she emphasises.

What gives Indian cuisine its uniqueness, its tingling excitement, and its health-giving properties is the knowledgeable use of spices and seasonings, ancient in its provenance.

The food expert has authored close to thirty bestselling cookbooks on Indian, Asian and world vegetarian cuisine, and has appeared in several related television programmes. Apart from Madhur Jaffrey’s Indian Cookery that premiered in 1982, she presented Madhur Jaffrey’s Far Eastern Cookery (1989) and Madhur Jaffrey’s Flavours of India (1995).

Cover of one of Madhur Jaffrey’s books

What made her shows and books relevant for decades was the fact that she adapted to the time constraints of her fans. In one of her book introductions, Madhur shared, “My own cooking has changed over the years. I am often as rushed for time as perhaps you are. I am often asking myself is there an easier way to do this?”

Madhur made sure, therefore, to simplify her cooking to match with the times.

I now try to reach real Indian tastes by using simpler methods and fewer steps

The seven times winner of James Beard award wrote in one of her books.

As she made a huge name for herself in the traditional yet novel segment, Madhur went on to associate herself as food consultant of one of the most popular Indian restaurants in New York City – Dawat.

Madhur has also written three children’s books and two memoirs – Sweet Memories (2002) and Climbing the Mango Trees: A Memoir of a Childhood in India (2006).

Strengthening cultural relations between continents

Before becoming a television personality and delving into the domains of food and travel writing, Madhur had made a mark for herself as an Indian-British-American actress, starting with minor acting roles on BBC television and radio. One of her notable works is the film, Shakespeare Wallah (1965) for which she won the Silver Bear for Best Actress award at the 15th Berlin International Film Festival.

Madhur Jaffrey in one of her television shows

During the course of her acting career, she enthralled audiences with her performances in television, films, radio and theatre. Perhaps this background contributes to her eloquence as a food presenter.

Her cookery shows have always been lively with powerful punchlines like:

Each grain of rice should be like brothers, close to each other but not stuck together.

After a divorce from Sayeed Jaffery, the notable actor who is father to her three daughters, Madhur married an American violinist. The couple have now been together for 56 years.

In recognition of her contribution to cultural relations between the UK, India and the United States, through film, television and cookery, Madhur was named the honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2004. This year’s Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award from the Government of India, is a testament of her service to Indian culinary art.

At 89, the workaholic is far from slowing down. One of the biggest living authorities on Indian cuisine, Madhur keeps herself busy by educating Gen Z and Gen Alpha through her recently launched Masterclass on digital media. “Nobody knows spices like we do, we are masters,” she announces proudly in the trailer.

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Published on 11, Dec 2022

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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.

Damyanti Biswas: Singapore-based Indian author is on a high, courtesy – The Blue Bar

(June 12, 2023) Damyanti's school life involved an emphasis on the sciences. Only the losers took arts — she was told. Through it all, fiction kept her sane, or so she felt. So much so that she would hide novels behind Chemistry and Physics tomes. Books were her only escape and refuge. She read through all of the books in her father's collection which ranged from Chekov to Flaubert to Borges to Walt Whitman and Shakespeare. She was a bookworm then, and stayed one down the years. "As a child I learned to tell stories before I could read. My parents or grandma would pick up a comic book and tell me the storyline, and then I could repeat it back to them verbatim—without understanding a word of the writing,” smiles author Damyanti Biswas, in an exclusive with Global Indian. The Singapore-based author's new book The Blue Bar, which was recently released in the US, opened at No.2 spot in the bestsellers list above Scottish crime writer Ian Rankin, which is a huge achievement for an Indian writer. The Blue Bar Damyanti started writing her US debut, The Blue Bar, at a workshop run by the Booker-shortlisted Romesh Gunesekera in

ook The Blue Bar, which was recently released in the US, opened at No.2 spot in the bestsellers list above Scottish crime writer Ian Rankin, which is a huge achievement for an Indian writer.

The Blue Bar

Damyanti started writing her US debut, The Blue Bar, at a workshop run by the Booker-shortlisted Romesh Gunesekera in 2018, who taught her many techniques over an intense week. The Sri Lanka born British author's writing prompt was to depict a character who’s being watched but isn’t aware of it. “My response turned into the first chapter of The Blue Bar: Tara being watched, while posing in a tiny silver blouse and a blue-sequinned saree, by someone at a crowded Mumbai railway station,” says Damyanti, who then let her curiosity lead her into the story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKAEtca6YKA

“Who was watching her? Why? Who were the people in her life? What was her story? And that led to an entire novel,” informs the author whose Indian debut was called You Beneath Your Skin. Based in New Delhi, it was about serial killings of women, their bodies defiled, burned with acid, and left in trash bags. For The Blue Bar, she did a spurt of research in Mumbai. Damyanti visited police stations, Bollywood sets, interviewed police officers and Bollywood directors, walked the streets and the slums. Her book delves into a realistic world of Bollywood, dance bars and policemen.

“As an Indian writer, to have a commercial crime novel top the charts was a unique experience,” shares the author. The Blue Bar will be released in India later this year or early 2024. She says the best feedback has been from Mumbaikars who found the book very well researched, and from Westerners who thought the book transported them into the alleyways of the city. “I write dark crime novels, so during audience interactions, I’m often surprised by questions from teens who have clearly read my work. They have very insightful viewpoints,” feels Damyanti, who says her books end up challenging patriarchy.

A bookworm's journey to becoming a writer

Born in Bhilai (back then it was in Madhya Pradesh and now Chattisgarh), which she describes as a small dustbowl town, Damyanti went to Lady Brabourne college in Kolkata where she studied English Literature with Honours. “I was a regular at the British Council and the American Library in Kolkata, and often scored higher in my papers on comparative international literature than all others,” she recalls. Reading remained the highlight of her college years.

Author | Damyanti Biswas | Global Indian

Damyanti never thought of herself as a writer. “That happened after I was married and in Malaysia, without a job. My husband encouraged me to write and bought me a second-hand laptop with the keys I and Y missing,” she quips. She wrote numerous short stories and her work has been published in Smokelong Quarterly, Ambit, Pembroke Review, Griffith Review among many other magazines in the US, UK and Australia.

Life in Singapore

Damyanti says life in Singapore is as safe and curated as it can be in a tiny island nation with some of the strictest laws in the world. “After living for years in Delhi, it was a very different experience, especially to feel safe as a woman at all hours of the day and night in all parts of this city-state,” says the novelist. In the nearly two decades that she has been away, Damyanti visited India more than once a year. “I plan to travel back more as the years go by,” says the author, who also serves as one of the editors of The Forge literary magazine.

Author | Damyanti Biswas | Global Indian

She likes to describe herself as an omnivore when it comes to books. “On a given day I might read poems by Mary Oliver, flash fiction by Lydia Davis or Amy Hempel, short stories by George Saunders or Jhumpa Lahiri, noir by Fuminori Nakamura or S A Cosby, Scandinavian crime by Jo Nesbø or ÅsaLarsson, a Yanagihara or an Atwood novel, romance by Emily Henry or Helen Hoang.”

Damyanti says she recently went on a fantasy reading spree. “I read essays and memoirs. My favorites keep changing, and I can be very excited about one author one day, and another the next,” says the author who has been short-listed for Best Small Fictions and Bath Novel awards. She is already working on the sequel to The Blue Bar. “It is called The Blue Monsoon, which will be released in October this year,” informs Damyanti, who also has a women’s fiction on submission to editors which is about a harrowing mother and daughter relationship. “I am already outlining another crime novel,” she informs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzYEZ-m4CMM

She may be living in Singapore but Damyanti is connected to India in many more ways. She is a supporter of the project WHY, a program that provides quality education to underprivileged children in New Delhi. While Damyanti’s ambition has always been to live in a home with more books than any other items, she likes to indulge in gardening, binge watch shows. “On any given day, I try and write for the first hour after waking up after which I do Yoga, followed by household chores. On most days, the writing part swallows up everything else,” smiles the author.

Follow Damyanti Biswas on Twitter, Instagram and on her website

Reading Time: 5 min

Indian para-swimmer Niranjan Mukundan eyes gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games

(June 22, 2022) Roadblocks and setbacks are a test of true grit and perseverance. If we can rise to overcome them, they become stories that can inspire others, too. Niranjan Mukundan, Indian para-swimmer and the country's 'golden boy', story is one of these. Born in Bengaluru with spina bifida (a condition in which the spine and spinal cord don't develop properly) and clubbed feet, the Indian para-swimmer rose above nearly insurmountable odds to pursue his passion for swimming. In 2015, he was crowned Junior World Champion at the World Junior Games and also received the Karnataka Rajyotsava Prahasti. A year of triumphs India's 'golden boy' has had a busy year, packed with both victory and loss. He missed the finals list at the Tokyo Paralympics 2022, he brought home a gold, silver and bronze in different categories at the Para Swimming Cup 2022 in Prague and the bronze at the Championnat de France. For the self-professed travel junkie, his passion has made his dreams come true. He speaks to Global Indian from Madeira, Portugal, where the World Para Winning Championships 2022 are currently taking place. It's been a victorious run already. Niranjan has broken two national records

ade his dreams come true.

He speaks to Global Indian from Madeira, Portugal, where the World Para Winning Championships 2022 are currently taking place. It's been a victorious run already. Niranjan has broken two national records on Day 1 and Day 2. “I was introduced to swimming as a form of therapy,” Niranjan explains. “I was born with spina bifida and have undergone 19 surgeries on my legs and back since the time I was born. Aqua therapy was meant to strengthen my muscles but I fell in love with the water and learned the sport quickly.” When he entered the water, he found, for the very first time, a sense of freedom. “I was able to move around easily. Children usually take around 20 days to learn how to swim but I did so in 12 or 13 days.”

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Birmingham 2022 and miles to go from there

For the last six months, Niranjan has shuttled between Thailand and the National Training Centre in Germany, where he's preparing for his debut at the upcoming Commonwealth Games. “I qualified in 2014 but was injured just before the event and couldn’t take part.” In 2018, his event category wasn’t included in the games. “I’m really excited to be participating,” he gushes. "I will give it my best shot."

He has already put the spotlight on the sport but the young Indian para-swimmer believes the country has a long way to go in terms of equipping its para-talent. "We are getting recognition but it's not yet fully what we deserve," he says. "People still need awareness about Paralympic athletes and support us more. It will be a big morale boost. Over the years, we para-athletes have done extremely well on the global stage, winning medals and bringing laurels to the country. Still, we lack sponsorships and brand endorsements within the country. We no longer need sympathy. It's about time we give talent the credit that it is due."

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Raising the bar, always

Mukundan believes the bar can never be set too high but he has already come a long, long way from being a happy child who loved to swim, to being a rising star. He is the first Indian para-swimmer to win over 85 international medals representing India. He also holds the highest number of Asian records - a total of seven. He was named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list, in the Game Changers category.

One day at a time

"I am a travel junkie and my profession takes me around the globe," he says. He has visited nearly 40 countries and "loves meeting new people and being part of the exchange of cultures. It's very beautiful when you experience it."

He's also an "adventure freak," he says. "I love doing things that people feel are beyond me. That includes a recent skydiving experience from 14,000 feet in Switzerland."

That said, he likes to take one day at a time, and keep his sights firmly on the future, while enjoying the present moment. Right now, that includes the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and Paris 2024.

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A dream like no other

The 27-year-old has always dreamt big and through sheer determination, it has worked out in his favour. "A lot of people didn't believe I could ever be independent. However, I like to think of every challenge as a push to where I've always wanted to be." He also hopes to be the most-decorated Indian para-swimmer of all time. "I think my love for the sport, as well as the pride of representing my country at the highest levels keeps me going," he says.

Follow Niranjan on Instagram

Reading Time: 5 mins

Ricky Kej, the musician with an activist heart

(November 17, 2021) From the Grammy-winning album Winds of Samsara to My Earth Songs and most recently Divine Tides, composer, musician and humanitarian conservationist Ricky Kej has the propensity to dig deep into ragas and their effervescence. Composing strains that not just stand the tests of time, but also alleviate the angst that humans wreak on nature, Ricky is an activist at heart. If he defines his life on two cornerstones - music and conservation, it is because many of his signature albums have an intrinsic bond with nature. The dentist who turned inwards conjuring up soulful music from ordinary notes has been on a journey of awakenings, be it with music, or through it, to raise environmental consciousness. A degree in dental surgery lies gathering dust, yet Ricky feels that his career was never a transition. "I have always been a musician. From a young age, I wanted music as my hobby, profession, career, bread and butter. I did a degree in dental surgery only because of my parents. I had made a deal with my father that once I completed a dental degree, my life was my own. The minute I got my degree, I handed it over

ee, I handed it over to my parents and became a full-time musician. I did not practice dentistry even for a day,” smiles the idealist believer who might just inspire a world of somewhat clueless folk who want to follow their hearts.

[caption id="attachment_15927" align="aligncenter" width="739"] Ricky Kej[/caption]

His recent album Divine Tides saw Kej associate with Stewart Copeland, founder and drummer of the Police fame. Now, he is working on a follow-up to his 2015 Grammy-winning Winds of Samsara (for which he worked with South African Wouter Kellerman). Back then, both Kej and Kellerman were huge fans of each other, and wanted to work together. A tryst of destiny brought them together.

"It was around 2012 when I met flute player Wouter Kellerman. We met in Los Angeles, and I mentioned that I had just composed a piece of music based on the ideals of peace by Mahatma Gandhi, my father of the nation. It was a huge coincidence that Wouter was working on a piece of music inspired by Nelson Mandela, his father of the nation. Through our discussions, we realised that there was a lot of cross-pollination - Mahatma Gandhi spent his formative years in South Africa, so had a South African-ness while Mandela was heavily inspired by Gandhi so had an Indian-ness. Wouter started to add South African-ness to my music, I started to add Indian-ness to his music. We became the best of friends, travelled the globe and in two-and-a-half years, we had Winds of Samsara (my 16th album!), and it went to the top of the US Billboard charts, and we won the Grammy Award for it," Ricky recalls. For the musician who has won over 100 music awards across 20 countries, the Grammy Award is most cherished as awards are for a greater good, not just for mere vanity, he says.

[caption id="attachment_15928" align="aligncenter" width="518"] Ricky Kej with his Grammy Award[/caption]

The pandemic was the perfect opportunity to kick back in his studio and kickstart Divine Tides with Copeland. "I was thrilled when he said yes. I have always relied on technology for my recordings, and Stewart too is high on technology, and has one of the most amazing home studios. That helped us record seamlessly. We did our portions individually, and it all came together superbly. We are thrilled to have created an album that celebrates life, creates a wave of much-needed positivity,” adds the Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_15925" align="aligncenter" width="658"] Divine Tides by Ricky Kej and Stewart Copeland[/caption]

For a star who idolised Copeland, working with him was like attending "the best masterclass imaginable!" Kej says, "Stewart is not just the founder and drummer of one of the biggest selling bands in history 'The Police', he also regularly composes for operas, orchestras, and for over 50 Hollywood movies. He is constantly evolving and learning by exploring new sounds, traditional instruments, and rhythms," which formed an intrinsic bond with Ricky, as his pattern is similar. The songs imbue strong Indian roots with a fusion of the west as the album celebrates the magnificence of the natural world, and the resilience of our species.

It's easy to picture the wavy-haired lad with dark soulful eyes mesmerised by all forms of music as a child. Listening was more important than seeing, thus Ricky was hooked to his music system. “I would dissect songs, try and figure out instruments used, the musicians, and learn about different cultures and people," Kej reminisces. Music helped him fall in love with nature, and become its custodian. This deep connection can be felt in the gentle stirrings on Winds of Samsara or the unique sounds of Divine Tides.

[caption id="attachment_15929" align="aligncenter" width="760"] Ricky Kej performing at a live concert.[/caption]

Kej's music features in the 2019 documentary Wild Karnataka narrated by Sir David Attenborough which won two awards at the 67th National Film Awards 2021. The US-born, Bangalore-raised Ricky identifies with Karnataka, and Bangalore which became home at age eight when he left North Carolina. Scoring music showcasing the state's ecological diversity with Sir Attenborough's impeccable narration was of course, "an absolute no-brainer" for Kej.

"Music and conservation are the two pillars that define my life. Wild Karnataka brings out the inner child as you watch every stunning frame with awe and wonder. It forces you to realise how amazing Mother Nature is. She has always been the primary source of inspiration for my music," adds Ricky who was honoured to share credits with Sir Attenborough. "Winning the awards furthered the cause of protecting and preserving Mother Nature," he says.

A humanitarian, Kej has always attempted to bridge the widening chasm between human foibles and nature's resilience. As ambassador for the United Nations' UNICEF, UNCCD, UNESCO -MGIEP, Kej works closely with WHO, Earth Day Network, etc. The deeply mindful composer gains an impetus to dedicate his life to conservation. "My music has addressed different aspects of environmental and social issues - climate action, human-animal conflict, sustainable farming, the refugee crisis, etc. I believe that only when people start to acknowledge an issue, start a dialogue to solve it, can a solution appear. I want to inspire this dialogue through music. Music has the power to retain a message deep in the consciousness of a listener,” says the United Nations Global Humanitarian Artist award winner who missed performing during Covid 19 but believes in the "top-down approach" where he performs to inform audiences to create stronger policies to tackle environmental and health issues with a "ground-up approach."

[caption id="attachment_15931" align="aligncenter" width="651"] Ricky Kej addressing the UN General Assembly in 2016.[/caption]

Climate change is the biggest existential crisis humans face, and he urges, "It is up to artists, especially musicians, to advocate for climate action." What concerns him greatly is how the pandemic has hit the entertainment industry. "Performing artists, production companies, event management companies, sound engineers, recording studios and everyone else involved is stuck in limbo in India. It is all about adapting to the times and surroundings as no matter what pandemic hits us, music will never leave our lives," says the Bengalurean who is among the 100 Real Leaders, who has performed multiple virtual concerts during Covid 19 (the last three were watched by an estimated 200 million viewers).

For Ricky's new project, he worked with author and close buddy Vikram Sampath - Women Of The Record which celebrates the brave women in the early 1900s who first adopted recording technology, and became superstars, but were forgotten in history.

[caption id="attachment_15932" align="aligncenter" width="679"] Ricky Kej performing for UNICEF India.[/caption]

Not many know that Kej's grandfather Janaki Das, who he was extremely close to, was an actor, Olympic cyclist, and freedom fighter. "Many remember him as the buffoonish villainous character actor always essaying evil roles. You will remember him as Seth Ghanshyam in the Rishi Kapoor-starrer Khel Khel Mein, or Seth Janki Lal in Karishma Kudrat Kaa or the ticket collector in the Burning Train. He was the only Indian participant in the International Olympic Squad from British Imperial Empire in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games and in 1934 and 1942, he broke the world record for cycling. In 1942, he broke yet another world record but on finishing the race, he unfurled the Mother India flag which was gifted to him by Mahatma Gandhi (we were still ruled by the British). For this audacious act, he was disqualified. This was the first time an Indian flag was unfurled on foreign soil. He called it quits as a matter of protest for freedom from the British. He was the pioneer who formed the Indian Cycling Federation," Kej enthuses.

His grandfather died at the age of 93 in Mumbai in 2003. Ricky's wife Varsha is also a musician who has been a part of a few compositions and is a core part of his musicology.

[caption id="attachment_15933" align="aligncenter" width="830"] Ricky Kej[/caption]

Advice from the music maestro? "Talent may not always be under your control, but you can be the most hardworking person, like I am! Never use creativity as an excuse for laziness. Never make awards the end goal, be grateful when you earn them, and use them as a platform for doing bigger and better things," says the Bishop Cottons Boy’s High School student who never lacks inspiration as his muse is planet Earth.

Follow Ricky Kej on Instagram and Twitter

Reading Time: 8 min

Turkish Delight: Adeeb Shah brings the best of Turkish cuisine to the world through the Kofteci Group

(August 5, 2024) Adeeb Shah, co-founder of Kofteci Group, started his career as a qualified corporate lawyer, but has gone on to make his mark in the restaurant business. His aim: to bring Turkish cuisine to the world. In 2018, Aasim and his brother broke into the F&B business for the first time, and sold kebabs out of a kiosk in Chennai. The restaurant, Kebapci, became popular and it was time to open up a restaurant. Their flagship restaurant, Oz by Kebapci, is spread out across 6000 square feet in UB City, Bengaluru. At Klava, also in Bengaluru, the cafe specializes in authentic, high quality baklavas. Straddling his reach between India and the Middle East, Adeeb Shah is making his mark in these countries in more ways than one. Early Days Adeeb was born and raised in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. After a couple of years in the Middle east, his family moved to India in the early 2000s, where he completed his law degree. Even as a student in law school, Adeeb was helping out at his brother’s F&B startup, and interned with various companies. “I joined a corporate law firm as soon as I finished law school, and around

MsoNormal" style="background: white;">Adeeb was born and raised in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. After a couple of years in the Middle east, his family moved to India in the early 2000s, where he completed his law degree. Even as a student in law school, Adeeb was helping out at his brother’s F&B startup, and interned with various companies. “I joined a corporate law firm as soon as I finished law school, and around the same time, my brother had started Kebapci,” Adeeb tells Global Indian.

Going into business with his brother had always been part of the plan, and Adeeb began overseeing sales and operations early on in Kebapci’s journey. He would finish work and then be at the restaurant, which opened at 6 pm and shut at 2 am. “My entrepreneurship journey began when I became involved in restaurant operations, which was a mammoth task even though it was just a 350 sq ft store,” Adeeb recalls.

[caption id="attachment_53296" align="aligncenter" width="378"] Adeeb Shah | Kofteci Group | Global Indian Adeeb Shah, co-founder, Kofteci[/caption]

Law Path

Adeeb used his experience as a corporate lawyer to his advantage. During his internships, he had been exposed to various startup private equity, mergers and acquisitions and corporate structuring deals in India and cross border as well. “Hence, I was exposed to various discussions with startup founders, entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists which fuelled my interest further in startups and helped me understand how they function,” he says. However, moving from a structured legal environment to the dynamic world of entrepreneurship required a significant mindset shift. “But the feeling of being able to directly have an impact on the food industry also makes it reward,” he says.

Food Calling

Although the idea of venturing into F&B came from his elder brother Aasim, both brothers had been passionate about food from a very young age. “We have been exploring restaurants during most of our travels even before we ventured into the food business. Sometimes we would have dinners at three different restaurants when we were short on time,” he says. However, he admits that the food industry is incredibly demanding, as it requires long hours, meticulous attention to detail, and constant new food dishes innovation to stay ahead.

Chipping Away

He also says that his motivation and drive come from some critical sources. He first credits his elder brother, Aasim Shah, who has always been a significant influence in his life, who believed that as brothers they could be the strongest founding team to drive the business onwards and upwards. “Additionally, our family plays a crucial role in my motivation as their unwavering belief in me and their constant encouragement have been a driving force behind our efforts. Beyond personal influences, I am driven by passion for creating a legacy restaurant chain alongside my brother and our team with constant creativity and innovation,” he says.

[caption id="attachment_53297" align="aligncenter" width="521"] Adeeb Shah | Kofteci Group | Global Indian Oz by the Kofteci Group, at UB City, Bangalore[/caption]

Wise Words

His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is clear. “I can never emphasize enough on how important perseverance is, focusing on quality output and building a strong network. One of the other crucial parts is staying resilient, as that is the only thing that would help one navigate challenges and roadblocks,” he says. Admitting that every startup has its own methodologies and comes with its share of setbacks, he says that maintaining a resilient mindset has helped them push through tough times. “We view challenges as opportunities to learn and grow, which has enabled us to come out stronger on the other side. Also, I have stopped looking at all problems and challenges in a consolidated manner as it will always stress any level of startup founder, therefore we gun down one problem at a time as it helps to pull through the issue and keep sanity in some situations,” he says.

So far, Adeeb says he has learned that financial discipline, customer-centric approach, value of innovation and speed of innovation are of paramount importance. “Amidst all the challenges and changes, staying true to our core values and vision that is quality over everything has provided direction and purpose. It has kept us grounded and focused on what truly matters,” he adds.

[caption id="attachment_53298" align="aligncenter" width="610"] Adeeb Shah | Kofteci | Klava | Global Indian Klava, by the Kofteci Group[/caption]

Future Calling

In his free time, when he can find it, he tries to plan to travel at least once a quarter. He particularly enjoys exploring new places and experiencing different cultures and cuisines. “Traveling not only provides a break from routine but also offers fresh inspiration and ideas. It is a different story, as to how there are no breaks in real sense,” he smiles. And with the duo currently working on opening Kebapci Hills, a flagship Turkish restaurant in Hyderabad shortly, he has limited free time.

“Further, with a recent presence in Dubai, UAE with one of our brands Klava (a Premium Turkish Patisserie), we are also aiming at expanding Kebapci internationally in the next few years. We are also working on a unique, distinct, and interesting restaurant concept which may soon debut in Bangalore or Delhi. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we will continue to innovate and constantly focus on always bettering our food game in India,” he concludes.

Follow the Kofteci Group on Instagram.