Indians in UK | The Singh Twins | Global Indian

Global IndianstoryThe Singh Twins: UK artists celebrating unity in art and identity

The Singh Twins: UK artists celebrating unity in art and identity

By: Amrita Priya

(May 27, 2024) They dress alike, down to matching earrings, bangles, and other accessories. The artists call themselves ‘twinindividuals’ and prefer working together on their art projects. Even if one has done the work entirely, the credit is always shared as ‘The Singh Twins’. They also prefer being addressed as ‘Twins’ in their email correspondences.

Talking about individualism, the artists remarked in one of the interviews, “It’s because it is such a big concept that it’s something we wanted to challenge.”

Twins Amrit Singh and Rabindra Kaur Singh are internationally acclaimed contemporary British Indian artists whose award-winning work revolves around significant social, political, and cultural issues. Their art challenges and redefines Eurocentric views of art, heritage, and identity.

The Singh Twins at work

The Singh Twins have been honoured with the title of the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by late Queen Elizabeth II for their ‘services to the Indian miniature tradition of painting within contemporary art’ in 2011. The University of Chester as well as the University of Wolverhampton conferred them with the honorary degrees of Doctor of Fine Arts and Doctor of Arts respectively for their contribution to British art and for depicting diversity in the arts. They were also conferred with the honourary Doctor of Letters from the University of Liverpool.

The Singh Twins’ art pieces are influenced by Indian miniature paintings but address British contemporary culture and explore themes such as globalisation, migration, and celebrity culture.

Artists by chance

Growing up, Amrit and Rabindra studied at the same school and went to the same college. Born in Richmond, Surrey, and raised in Birkenhead, they were the only non-Catholics to attend their Catholic convent school, Holt Hill Convent. Like their father, who worked as a general practitioner, they wanted to become doctors. However, when it was time to go to the university, one of their school teachers, recognising their exceptional talent in art, assumed they were being pressured into studying medicine. The teacher went as far as warning the university they had applied to, claiming the twins’ decision was ‘because of family tradition and parental persuasion.’

The Singh Twins with late queen Elizabeth II

The university acted on the teacher’s word, and the twins were forced to enrol in a humanities programme at University College Chester. There, they studied comparative Western art, among other subjects, and later went on to study art at Manchester University. However, the teacher’s misinterpretation proved to be a boon in the long run, as their art transformed from a hobby into a vocation, leading to their rise as globally acclaimed artists. Their work has been exhibited in the US, Canada, India, and the UK, earning them wide acclaim.

The British Indian twins have faced their share of challenges too in the country where they were born. Despite their extensive list of commissions, exhibitions, and earning the MBE, they sometimes faced criticism in the UK. “It is decorative, it’s figurative, it’s narrative, it’s small scale, and it comes from a non-European perspective,” is what people remarked about their art, Rabindra shared. However, such remarks did not deter them from their artistic paths.

Broad body of work

Although they are more widely known for their paintings, The Singh Twins are also accomplished illustrators, writers, filmmakers, and designers. Their award-winning films include ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four and the Via Dolorosa Project,’ a short documentary about one of their most renowned political works depicting the storming of the Golden Temple in 1984, and ‘The Making of Liverpool,’ an animated film.

In recent years, their continuous pursuit of creative innovation has led them to explore digital technologies and collaborate with renowned Indian fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani, whose collections have been inspired by their artwork. This collaboration sparked their interest in developing a high-end fashion accessories and home decor label under The Singh Twins banner.

The Singh Twins during one of the exhibitions of their work

The twins even flew to Mumbai to join Tarun Tahiliani at the catwalk at Lakme Fashion Week few years back. “Apparently he’s been a fan of our work for quite some time, and we couldn’t have got a better collaboration in terms of profile and the respect he has in the fashion world internationally,” Amrit had remarked after the event.

Integral part of the UK art heritage

Apart from being featured in private and public collections worldwide, the twins have been an integral part of the art scene in their birth country, the United Kingdom.

In 2018, their large-scale mixed media digital artwork, specially commissioned by the Royal Collection Trust was exhibited at the Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, as part of the ‘Splendours of the Subcontinent’ exhibition.

The Singh Twins at a packed house event at Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery

Some of their most well-known public commissions include two works celebrating Liverpool’s 800th birthday and its status as the European Capital of Culture, and a symbolic portrait of Maharaja Duleep Singh, the deposed ruler of the Sikh Kingdom of Punjab and the first resident Sikh in the UK, created for the National Museum, Scotland. Their work has also been commissioned by the Museum of London.

Making diaspora proud

Apart from receiving the prestigious MBE honour by the late queen, The Singh Twins have garnered numerous awards and official recognitions for their work. They were made Honorary Citizens of their home city of Liverpool, and in 2009, they received the UK Asian Achievers Awards for Media, Arts, and Culture. Their work has not only attracted international media attention but also made them subjects of feature documentaries like CBC’s ‘Here and Now’, the Granada TV documentary ‘Singh Out Sisters’, and Simon Schama’s BBC art series ‘The Face of Britain’.

The independently commissioned Arts Council film about their work, ‘Alone Together’, won the Best Film on Art prize at the Asolo International Film Festival. The artists have also got featured in several books.

The Singh Twins with their MBE Medals

In 2002, The Singh Twins were appointed official Artists in Residence for the Manchester Commonwealth Games. One of the works they created for the event gained such international publicity, that it even became subject of one of the questions on the popular TV quiz show ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’

Through their diverse achievements and widespread recognition, The Singh Twins continue to inspire and uplift the global diaspora. The inseparable twins joked about their joint collaborations, remarking, “Mostly we manage not to injure each other with our paintbrushes!”

Follow The Singh Twins’ impressive body of work on Instagram and Facebook

Name*

Email*

Name*

Email*

0 Comments

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Published on 27, May 2024

Share with

ALSO READ

Kolkata biryani with potato confit? British Chef Shaun Kenworthy is rewriting the rules of Bengali cuisine

(March 3, 2024) Chef Shaun Kenworthy’s career graph is the definition of going against the norm. While most chefs love the idea of travelling around the world, working with multiple brands across cuisines, once Shaun based himself in Kolkata, he was happy to travel across India doing what he loves best. With no plans of going back to England, in the near future at least. Oh Kolkata! Growing up in a town near Manchester, United Kingdom, Shaun worked as a pastry chef at some of the most happening restaurants and bars in London. He was voted one of the top ten pastry chefs in London when he was barely 25. In an exclusive with Global Indian, Chef Shaun recalls, “At that time, I was working with the restaurant Quaglinos in London – the usual 14 to 15-hour days where you barely get four-and-a-half hours of sleep; and you burn out before you are 30. I met Rohit Khattar of India Habitat Centre at the World Gourmet Summit in Singapore, in the year 2000; an event attended by restaurateurs and chefs from all over the world. Rohit invited me to come to India for a couple of weeks in June 2000

attended by restaurateurs and chefs from all over the world. Rohit invited me to come to India for a couple of weeks in June 2000 and thereafter, with a few emails back and forth, in October 2000, I decided to come here and get out of London for a bit. I was the Executive Sous Chef for India Habitat Centre in Delhi. I had every plan of going back in a year; but one month prior, 9/11 happened and nobody was boarding flights. I also didn’t have a job to go back to.”

ALSO READ: Chef Lakhan Jethani brings Japan’s Shoji Ryori cuisine to India

He stayed back and happened to meet Priya Paul of The Park Group of Hotels. She asked him to join them as they were launching new hotels in Bengaluru and Chennai. “I joined the Park Hotel, Kolkata as Executive Chef and had a two-year contract, but they renewed it after one year to extend it for three more years. Those four years were brilliant; I was almost given carte blanche. I spent time in Chennai for the opening of the Park there, and in Delhi for the re-opening of their hotel. I was part of the renovation and relaunch of Flury’s, also owned by the Paul family, in December 2024.”

Here is where he made his mark in Kolkata. With no less a brand than the legendary Flurys; the tea room and patisserie that has been around since 1927. He recalls, “As a pastry chef they wanted me to revamp the menu. I even had Lord Swaraj Paul calling me from England, asking me not to change this or that dish on the menu. The entire Paul family was involved in the revamp.”

Chef Shaun left The Park in 2005. Somewhere along the way, he met Pinky, a model who he married in 2004. “When my time was up, we wondered whether we should go back to England; I also had offers in Beijing, Melbourne and Singapore. But I liked it here, so we stayed back.”

One Chef, Many Hats

That was sheer serendipity because it led to Chef Shaun getting consultancy offers, teaching assignments and setting up new hospitality brands. He says, “I have worked on more than 120 projects over the last 17 years – everything from small boutique properties to high end hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, patisseries, QSR venues and remote properties in places such as the Himalayas, Rajasthan, Kutch and cities across India.”

Chef Shaun was also briefly part of a restaurant called The Blue Potato in Kolkata serving modern global cuisine – which had Bollywood stars and international celebs like Ricky Martin and Antonio Banderas dine there. It shut down in two years because it didn’t have a liquor license. The British chef has also mentored many students, as the Director, Culinary Arts for IICM – the Indian Institute of Culinary Management across several cities. “Thousands of young people have passed through my hands and so many of my students have worked with me.”

Projects he has recently worked on include the premium segment property, Suryagarh, in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan and Rann Riders in Kutch, and Sitara, in the Himalayas. He says, “I like to work on places that tell a story of the region through the food, in a modern context. These places get lots of international guests, so the stories of the place must be retold through the local ingredients and traditions.” He likes taking on selected projects, some on turnkey basis; creating a brand-new all-day menu, masterclasses, pop-ups… “I like loads of variety – doing one thing is boring for me,” he says.

ALSO READ: Chef Vijay Kumar: Meet the man behind Semma, the Michelin-starred Indian restaurant in the US

The place still close to his heart and one Chef Shaun is still involved with since the planning stages over a decade ago, is The Glenburn Penthouse, which opened its doors in the middle of 2018. “We [Glenburn Tea Estate’s Anshuman and Husna-Tara Prakash] decided to launch an elegant, boutique nine-room venue. It stands on Russell Street overlooking the magnificent Victorian Memorial and the Kolkata maidan. Other than focus on the rooms, we host intimate, bespoke events with 20-40 people over dinner. We are open for lunch and dinner and offer a traditional ‘Full English afternoon tea.’ We also did curated menus for special occasions.”

Chef Shaun reiterates that he does not personally cook Indian food. “I play around with flavours and Indian ingredients, but the food I make is more European and modern. I have been using Bandel cheese from Kalimpong for more than 20 years now in my risottos and pastas.”

Bengali Cuisine, International Touch

Bengalis have, more so than Indians from other states, a proprietary approach towards their cuisine. Any criticism or experimentation is often taken as a personal affront. Yet, Chef Shaun has experimented with ingredients and techniques, as he says, “a million times.” To great success. Even the sacrosanct elements of Bengali food – the hilsa fish, mishti doi and the Kolkata biryani –have been modernised and completely transformed under his creative touch. As have puchkas, pani puri to the rest of us, kasundi or mustard paste and paanch phoron – the Bengali tadka medley. The famed sweets too are served in unrecognisable avatars. He says, “To make the Kolkata biryani, I broke it down into its four main components – rice, meat, potato and egg. I overcooked the rice, the goat was cooked overnight for 12 hours so the meat would just melt in your mouth. I served it with a potato confit and a soft-boiled egg. And topped it with crispy fried onions and a dollop of ghee because everyone loves them. Of course, people criticised it initially, but I told them to taste it first and not jump to conclusions. Similarly, with the hilsa, I serve it pan-seared alongside roasted arbi and green gondhoraj [the local lemon] Hollandaise sauce.” Chef Shaun has also served the much-revered hilsa as a mousse among other Bengali favourites turned upside down.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shaun Kenworthy (@chefshaunkenworthy)

Puchkas have been tweaked into various starters and dessert much before doing so became a trend. He recalls, “I like to experiment as the food is about telling a story. I’ve served puchkas dipped in white chocolate, or with crab mousse, a beetroot chaat, or Bengali sweets inside – in a million different ways really. I treat the aam papad or shoto as it is known here, as a fruit leather and play around with it as a glaze. The paanch phoron too is so versatile. Among desserts, which are the easiest to make for me, I made a mishti doi burnt basque with mishti doi and cheese; and served angoori rasmalai with little fruit pieces.”

ALSO READ: Bhupender Nath: Redefining modernist Indian cuisine through Tresind

Global trends according to him are moving towards innovation. He says in conclusion, “India is in a great position and there are so many inspired young chefs doing intelligent stuff with Indian ingredients. Look at Goa, five or six years ago, nothing was happening and so much has changed now. There are so many trendy restaurants in Goa and it is a melting pot of cuisines. A lot of chefs are also reviving regional cuisines and reinventing recipes that have been there for a long time.”

While travelling, Chef Shaun Kenworthy likes to eat at:

Yauatcha, Kolkata: Crispy prawn Cheung fun
Comorin, Gurgaon: Any and many of their small plates; I love the bheja fry
Ode, Mumbai: Yellow fin tuna loin with avocado pachadi
La Chapelle, London: For a good Sunday roast
Amazonico, Madrid: For the most incredible Brazilian rib eye steaks
The Canton house, Chinatown, Bangkok: Their dim sums are to die for

You can follow Shaun on Instagram here: Chefshaunkenworthy

Actor Kunal Nayyar: The Delhi boy who became one of the world’s highest-paid TV stars

(November 2, 2023) The year 2024 is set to bring some exciting space-themed movies, and one of them is Netflix's "Spaceman", which is based on a book called "Spaceman of Bohemia" by Jaroslav Kalfař. But what's making this movie even more special is the return of Kunal Nayyar, an actor from India who you might remember as Dr. Rajesh Koothrappali from the famous American TV show "The Big Bang Theory". Slotted to play Petr, a space engineer, Kunal is making a comeback to the silver screen after a hiatus of about two years. Even though the actor's journey in the all-white industry hasn't been easy, Kunal's determination earned him a place on the list of highest-paid TV actors. Interestingly, Kunal's financial success during his tenure on “The Big Bang Theory” laid a solid groundwork for his career after the show. His current net worth of $45 million is a remarkable tale of skill, commitment, and shrewd decision-making in the entertainment industry. "I still have a small voice in my head which sometimes wonders how all this happened," the actor said during a recent conference, adding, "But, I also must say that I always believed in myself and my abilities. In

skill, commitment, and shrewd decision-making in the entertainment industry. "I still have a small voice in my head which sometimes wonders how all this happened," the actor said during a recent conference, adding, "But, I also must say that I always believed in myself and my abilities. In the industry that I am in, one has to have faith in themselves to succeed. We go to so many auditions and never really know if you are going to get called back from any of the producers. I think my belief that I would be able to achieve something big someday, came from my parents."

Theatre — his first love

It was in London that his story began but it soon shifted to India where he moved with his family at the age of four. New Delhi became the actor's new abode. After finishing his schooling at St Columba’s School, Kunal moved to the United States to pursue a Bachelor in Business Administration in Finance from the University of Portland, Oregon. But the shift was not so easy for this Delhi boy at the beginning - the actor often found himself lonely, missing his family and friends back home. However, it was precisely this sense of isolation that would become the catalyst for a transformative chapter in the actor's life.

[caption id="attachment_46450" align="aligncenter" width="602"] Actor | Kunal Nayyar | Global Indian Jesse Eisenberg & Kunal Nayyar in 'The Spoils'[/caption]

Well, that, however, wasn't the only reason that Kunal started auditioning for roles in plays happening at the University. The actor had actually fallen for a girl, who was also a part of the University theatre programme. And so, he devised a plan - audition for the play, secure a part, and relish plenty of quality rehearsal moments with the girl. “The funny thing is,” Kunal said laughing at an interview, “I fell out of love with her, and fell in love with my one true love—acting.”

At his very first college theatre audition, the actor had already demonstrated a knack for embracing new experiences. “You know, the theatre’s a place where people who sort of feel like misfits can have a family because theatre is accepting of all types. I felt at home,” he shared. Soon enough, he found himself taking acting classes. What had begun as a hobby soon transformed into a life-long passion. “I was on stage. I had a moment where I had completely, for the first time in my life, discovered what it means to be present, and it happened on stage. I finished the play and went home and told my parents, ‘This is what I want to do for the rest of my life’, and I am going to do it.”

[caption id="attachment_46451" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Actor | Kunal Nayyar | Global Indian A still from the show 'Suspicion'[/caption]

His aspiration to make a name for himself in the world of acting led him to Temple University in Philadelphia. There, he honed his craft while pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree in acting. This journey helped him get a few American TV commercials, and the actor eventually bagged several shows on the prestigious London stage. However, it was his involvement in the 2006 production, "Huck & Holden", that truly turned heads and put this Indian talent on the map in the United States. The breakthrough came in 2007, when he landed a significant role with a special appearance on the popular CBS show "NCIS," portraying an Iraqi terrorist.

It all started with the Big Bang

Kunal was determined to shatter the stereotypes that often confined Asian actors on American TV. He seized an opportunity to audition for the role of a scientist in "The Big Bang Theory", and as the saying goes, the rest is history. This immensely popular series propelled the actor to stardom, where his impeccable comedic timing shone. His character, Raj Koothrappali, wore his Indianness proudly, endearing himself to viewers. However, what many don't know is that the show's creators originally envisioned the character as a first-generation American. But they were so impressed by Kunal's audition that they reimagined the character to reflect his background as an immigrant from India.

[caption id="attachment_46448" align="aligncenter" width="599"] Actor | Kunal Nayyar | Global Indian A scene from the sitcom, 'The Big Bang Theory'[/caption]

“They allowed me to really be an Indian, who has Indian qualities who doesn’t run away from some of them I think they really found a nice balance with Raj,” the actor said. Such has been the popularity of the show that it has been nominated for multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG, and Critic’s Choice Awards and has won the People’s Choice Award for favourite network TV comedy three years in a row. During its remarkable 12-year run, "The Big Bang Theory" made Kunal a household name across the United States. However, amid his television success, the actor diversified his portfolio by venturing into film and Broadway productions. He even lent his voice to the 2012 animated hit, "Ice Age: Continental Drift," and embarked on his film career with the 2014 romantic comedy, "Dr. Cabbie".

And Kunal's creativity didn't stop there. He authored a book titled "Yes, My Accent is Real: and Some Other Things I Haven't Told You". This humorous memoir delves into his experiences growing up in India and traces his journey to becoming an actor in Los Angeles. “I didn’t want the book to be a self-therapy session. But I wanted to share a side of the journey that was unglamorous. The general perception around Hollywood is that it is this perfect place with rich people and tanned bodies, fast cars, and movie premieres. And sometimes it can be that, but under all that materialism lies a strong and diverse heartbeat. I wanted to humanise the experience,” he shared.

Loving what he does

The 40-year-old actor, who has played many onscreen roles, has become a part of the South Asian tribe that has been putting India on the world map. After "The Big Bang Theory", the actor's focus shifted from acting to a diverse array of projects. The actor and his wife, former Miss India Neha Kapur, are dedicated to leveraging their platform for a greater cause, exemplified by their generous scholarships for students at the University of Portland specialising in Performing & Fine Arts. They also extend their support by providing funding for guest artists and the University's annual participation in the American College Theater Festival.

[caption id="attachment_46447" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Actor | Kunal Nayyar | Global Indian Kunal with his wife, Neha[/caption]

The actor's heartfelt desire is to see young aspiring actors complete their education and follow their dreams, much like he did. "I love what I do. Regardless of the destination, it is important to love the journey. Love what you do. Let the universe decide the rest," said the actor addressing the University students during a conference.

Follow Kunal Nayyar on Instagram and Twitter

Reading Time: 6 mins

Mountain flavours: Local meets global at NAAR by Chef Prateek Sadhu

(October 27, 2024) On a balmy September afternoon, I made my way to the Le Cirque Signature Restaurant at The Leela Palace, Bengaluru to sample ‘Mountain Flavours’ as part of a four-city Himalayan cuisine tour that saw Prateek Sadhu’s first pop-up with his latest venture, NAAR, in collaboration with Conosh. Showcasing ingredients from Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, like the local ragi, foraged sea buckthorn, citrus fruits and timru, a local pepper, the seven-course meal was a nod to his culinary acumen. A chef who is following his heart to showcase the stunning array of Indian cuisine to the world, Prateek Sadhu has many aces up his very able sleeve. Although he says his decision to be a chef was "very unplanned," Chef Prateek Sadhu has had a stellar run. After four years at Taj properties in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru, he went onto graduate with double gold medals from The Culinary Institute of America. Chef Prateek has worked at top restaurants around the world, before returning to start Masque in Mumbai, and NAAR, his ode to Indian mountain food, in Himachal Pradesh. [caption id="attachment_58746" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Chef Prateek Sadhu, founder, NAAR[/caption] Rewinding to the Past I caught up with him

globalindian.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/chef-prateek-1.webp" alt="Chef Prateek Sadhu | NAAR | Masque Mumbai | Global Indian" width="640" height="457" /> Chef Prateek Sadhu, founder, NAAR[/caption]

Rewinding to the Past

I caught up with him recently over a phone call where he told Global Indian that he never really planned to be a Chef. Instead was always hoping to be a pilot - yes, you read that right. Born in Baramulla, he spent his formative years in Kashmir, but had to move to Delhi in the 1990s because of the political disturbances at that time. After doing some part of his schooling, his family moved back to Jammu where he did his high schooling. “I always wanted to be a pilot, but I guess life always has different plans for you, and hence I landed in a hotel school. This was very unplanned. I never thought of or ever intended to be a chef and it never crossed my mind. But I graduated from there and started my Chef life,” he reminisces.

Experiences Galore

Post graduation, his first job was at the Taj Group, where he worked for almost four years at their Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore properties. He then joined The Culinary Institute of America, where he graduated with double gold medals. This set the tone for this global journey, one that saw him work at well-known names like Alinea, The French Laundry, Bourbon Steak, Le Bernardin, and did a small internship with Rene Redzepi at Noma.

“I was always cooking European style food with some minor nuances of cooking styles. And for me working at those restaurants was not about cooking or learning a recipe but rather it was mostly about the thought process. So, if you are looking at the tomato, for instance, what are you thinking and why? The takeaway was about how we were arriving at the flavours and how ingredients were being used in different ways and forms,” Chef Prateek explains. "It was fantastic and fascinating at the same time. And growing in my career then, these were the things that really helped me to find my own voice and helped me find my mindset as far as food was concerned,” he says.

[caption id="attachment_58747" align="aligncenter" width="693"] Chef Prateek Sadhu | NAAR | Masque Mumbai | Global Indian Chef Prateek Sadhu in the kitchens at NAAR[/caption]

Coming Home

After a job at The Pierre Hotel, New York, he returned to India as sous chef at Le Cirque Signature in Bengaluru, incidentally where he showcased NAAR as a popup. In 2016 he opened Masque in Mumbai. “While I was in the school, I would be doing a lot of these internships as I was there. With this, the global restaurant culture was getting imbibed in my mind, even as I had the opportunity to work with some of the greatest chefs of my generation. So, I think there was always this seed in my mind that whenever I move back to India, I would open my own restaurant,” he says.

He was also clear that this restaurant would speak the soul of India in terms of ingredients, and food culture. After moving back to India in 2012, he started Masque in Mumbai with entrepreneur Aditi Dugar and ran it for close to seven years winning numerous accolades along the way including a spot in Asia's 50 Best Restaurants in 2021.

Finding his Calling

In 2022 however, he parted ways with Masque and started travelling the length and breadth of the country extensively. “Honestly, just to understand my own country. It's not that just because you are from India, you understand it’s food culture. For instance, curry leaves may be a commonplace ingredient for one person but in Kashmir it was alien to me when I was growing up. And that is a blessing for chefs as in our country, we have so many different food cultures and I started traveling and understanding what real Indian food means,” he says.

And this is how NAAR was born, with its soul in the mountains and nestled within Amaya, a boutique property in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district. “I want to tell the story of India through a very different lens of what Indian mountain food means to all Indians,” he says. Admitting that this is arguably the best time to be in the Indian food and beverage industry, he says that he wanted a smaller restaurant as this was what was available. “The restaurant is a 16-seater space as these were old farming terraces that were abandoned and we took the space without disturbing the rest of the ecology.”

Food Files

[caption id="attachment_58750" align="alignnone" width="850"] Chef Prateek Sadhu | NAAR | Masque Mumbai | Global Indian NAAR creations[/caption]

Apart from being sustainable, the restaurant showcases six menus through the year as a nod to the changing seasons. But Prateek Sadhu is clear that his focus is not just about ingredients but rather showcasing food culture. “This whole ingredient forward thing is hyped. Every restaurant is Indian driven. Who is not using ingredients? At the end of the day, we are trying to showcase where we are, the kind of ingredients that we work with and source locally,” he opines. His process involves understanding how locals use ingredients before interpreting them in his own way.

Quiz him on what food means to him and pat comes his reply. “I love to eat food, which is very familiar to me. It can be a flavour of spice or chili and or even umami for that matter. My food philosophy is very simple. It's a very personal lens to the food. If you give me a potato to maybe cook in the way which is very familiar to you, you know the taste will be very familiar, but the way I arrive on those flavours might be very different.” Fortunately for him, the Himalayan belt is blessed with many different ingredients and different techniques. “I usually take those techniques and sort of cook with them. My vision to really put Indian food on the global map. The idea is to put Indian food on one of the biggest stages in the world and NAAR is just a small, humble attempt for that.” For someone who believes he can walk away from anything, he admits that doing the same thing becomes boring and he is always looking at doing something different. Indian food is having a moment and NAAR is certainly having a lot to do with it.

Follow Chef Prateek Sadhu on LinkedIn and NAAR on Instagram.

Co-founder of Café Arpan, Ashaita Mahajan, is supporting inclusion while creating livelihoods

(June 4, 2022) Inclusion, they say, is the celebration of diversity put into action. And Mumbai-based Ashaita Mahajan is working towards just that. Five years ago, Ashaita exited a long, shining career in music and event management to create a space where diversity was a core value. The social entrepreneur collaborated with her aunt, Dr Sushama Nagarkar, who had just moved back from the United States. Together, they founded Café Arpan in the suburbs of Mumbai in 2018, choosing to man the place with only differently-abled staff. Inspired by her cousin Aarti, a person with autism who is "funny and kind", Ashaita and Dr Sushama hope to give the differently-abled an opportunity to integrate themselves into the community and find dignified employment. [caption id="attachment_25324" align="aligncenter" width="598"] Ashaita Mahajan and Dr Sushma Nagarkar, founders, Café Arpan (Image credit: Rema Choudhary)[/caption] “When Aarti moved back to India with my aunt, Dr Sushama, we wanted to set up an organisation that would work with PwIDDs (persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities), especially adults,” the social entrepreneur tells Global Indian. Finding that most of the available programmes were exclusionary, Dr Sushama established the Yash Charitable Trust in 2014, which is a non-profit that provides PwIDDs

to India with my aunt, Dr Sushama, we wanted to set up an organisation that would work with PwIDDs (persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities), especially adults,” the social entrepreneur tells Global Indian. Finding that most of the available programmes were exclusionary, Dr Sushama established the Yash Charitable Trust in 2014, which is a non-profit that provides PwIDDs with opportunities and Ashaita came on board as a trustee.

A musical start

Born to a social activist mother, Ashaita became involved with various social campaigns even as a kid. During college at St Xavier’s, Mumbai, she volunteered at the institute’s resource centre for the visually challenged. Clearly very proud of her mother, who has worked with suicide helplines and organisations dealing with intellectual disabilities, the social entrepreneur says, “My mother was also an air hostess with Air India and challenged its company policies twice. She took them to court and won both times.”

[caption id="attachment_25325" align="aligncenter" width="563"] Social Entrepreneur | Ashaita Mahajan | Global Indian Ashaita and Vera Mahajan[/caption]

However, at the time, although she loved making a social impact, she found she loved music management more. While music had always been a part of her life (Ashaita recalls bonding with her cousin Aarti over music), it was an experience at St. Xavier’s that would define the early phase of her career. As she took part in the institute’s inter-collegiate festival Malhar, Ashaita discovered a deep interest in event management. Soon after graduating, she headed off to the University of Sheffield to do a master’s in music management. From there, she went on to work with big names like Sony Music and the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA).

A turning point

When her aunt thought of starting the Yash Charitable Trust, Ashaita knew she wanted to contribute as much as possible. The need was dire. "Back in the United States, Aarti worked at a sheltered workshop and “had a routine life,” says Ashaita. In India, efforts to integrate the differently-abled into mainstream are not on par with the West and Aarti missed engaging with people from different walks of life. “My aunt is a professional psychologist and wanted to set up an organisation that would work exclusively with PwIDDs.” She joined her aunt and together, they registered the Yash Charitable Trust in 2014. "The organisation’s focus is on adults with autism, Down Syndrome and other intellectual disabilities to provide them with a better quality of life,” says the activist.

[caption id="attachment_25327" align="aligncenter" width="648"] Social Entrepreneur | Ashaita Mahajan | Global Indian Team Café Arpan[/caption]

One of the first ventures of Yash Charitable Trust was Arpan Dabba Service, a supported employment initiative that only employs PwIDDs. After successfully running the tiffin service for two years, they reached maximum capacity and therefore needed to expand. That is how the idea of Café Arpan was conceived. "The idea is to focus on their abilities — what they can do, what they like to do, and what they want to do. We ignore the disability and consciously focus on empowering the individual to live the life they want for themselves," says the social entrepreneur.

From tiffin service to a culture hub

Located in Juhu, Mumbai, Café Arpan, is visited by dozens of customers every day who wander in for sandwiches made with in-house focaccia bread, methi puri chaat, nachni wraps, hummus and falafel, among other small bites and hot and cold beverages - served by very special hosts, who are always smiling. "Our team members are wonderful, talented and hard-working individuals. They take a lot of pride in the work they do – they feel a sense of ownership when they successfully complete any task," shares the social entrepreneur, adding, “Our head chef Aaron is autistic, but has a very sharp memory. He remembers all our recipes by heart. The café’s interior is also designed in a way that is welcoming to everyone. The operational tasks have been curated in accordance with the employees’ abilities so that they can operate the entire café on their own with the aid of two support staff."

[caption id="attachment_25328" align="aligncenter" width="585"] Social Entrepreneur | Ashaita Mahajan | Global Indian Ashaita with Dr Sushama and Aarti Nagarkar at Café Arpan's third anniversary[/caption]

Since its inception in 2018, Café Arpan gained a loyal customer base, received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the community at large. While the cafe had to suffer some setbacks during the COVID period, they are eager to go back to pre-Covid times. "People love our food, but they also love our team. After COVID, we did have to face a few hiccups - we had to train many of the team members again. But I think we are past that phase now. Café Arpan is open to host and feed everyone," smiles Ashaita as she signs off.

Follow Ashaita Mahajan on LinkedIn
Follow Café Arpan on Instagram and Facebook

Reading Time: 6 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