Green Warrior | Bittu John | Green Warrior

Global IndianstoryBittu John: This zero-waste green warrior’s store has saved 15 lakh pieces of plastic from landfills

Bittu John: This zero-waste green warrior’s store has saved 15 lakh pieces of plastic from landfills

Written by: Sarbani Sen

(February 24, 2022) Until a few decades ago, most Indians followed the concept of BYOC — bring your own container, without even knowing that this practice had a name. But somewhere along the line, with the advent of plastic carry bags, this practice got lost. The incessant use of plastic has now reached mammoth levels, thus threatening the environment. With efforts of green warriors like Bittu John, mindsets are changing.

Green Warrior | Bittu John | Global Indian

Bittu John, Founder, 7 to 9 Green Store

Realisation dawned when…

This disturbed Bittu John of Kolenchery in Ernakulam district of Kerala to such an extent that he was keen to find a solution, which he eventually did during a trip to England in 2015. His eureka moment came when he saw people bringing their own containers for grocery shopping. An Mtech in industrial engineering and Btech in aeronautical engineering, the green warrior, launched the concept in India in 2018 with 7 to 9 Green Store.

Bittu John at his 7 to 9 Green Store

“The zero-waste grocery store in London impressed me so much that I wanted to be the first to launch along similar lines in India. In the wholefood store in London, all the products were in jars and baskets. Nothing in plastic packaging. And customers carried their own jars, containers and cotton carry bags,” the green warrior tells Global Indian.

From idea to reality

It took him three years to translate the idea into reality. After quitting his job in Bengaluru, he converted his 40-year-old family grocery store Kothamangalam Traders into a zero-waste zone and rechristened it as 7 to 9 Green Store.

7 to 9 Green Store

Located at Kolenchery, 30 km from Kochi, Green Store is spread across 500 sqft with tastefully arranged shelves containing custom-made and imported large glass jars and other forms of containers with various grocery items. “It took me almost one-and-a-half years to transform my father’s old grocery store into a zero waste modern-day shop,” says the green warrior who got the high-quality glass storage equipment from England, Germany and China.

Vocal for local

Having led by example, the next step was to convince the customers to get their own carry bags. But it was a rough start as the unique concept received little appreciation, with only a few customers participating in Bittu’s green mission. “Most of the people don’t like to carry their own carry bags while stepping out for grocery shopping,” the green warrior says. But the determined entrepreneur was up for the challenge. “First six to eight months were challenging. Slowly, we started talking to people, making them understand this concept. Another big challenge was shifting customers’ choice from well-known brands, which normally come in packages, to local brands which are fresh, natural, eco-friendly and home-made without any preservatives or artificial colours,” adds the green warrior.

Providing free samples of the grocery items to convince the customers of the quality of local brands was one of the steps that tilted the scales. “Customers gradually moved to local brands and started buying items from our store,” beams Bittu with pride.

Growth story

The risk paid off, and in no time, the store’s growing popularity spread far and wide. The green warrior informs that customers drive from towns like Chengannur (94 km) and Tripunithura (20 km) just to buy grocery items from 7 to 9 Green Store. “Initially, the sale per day was Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000, but because of the strong word-of-mouth, the sales picked up and currently we make sales worth Rs 40,000 to Rs 60, 000 per day,” adds the green warrior whose organic corner in the store is one of the major attractions.

7 to 9 Green Store

After the success of his maiden store, the green warrior is gearing up for his second ‘green’ store in Ernakulam. “The best part of this store is that most of the disposal jars used in my new store are being manufactured in Kerala,” informs Bittu who has protected the environment by saying no to plastic bags and packaging for years now. The 30-something never misses a chance to educate his customers on the shelf life of loose items, which he deems is an important lesson. “The shelf life of the products, especially food items is shorter than those that come packed. For example, the shelf life of loose flour is around three weeks, while packed flour may expire in the next nine months. So we have to sell some of our products within a week. We try to make our consumers aware of this aspect while also educating them about the consequences of plastic wastes,” adds the green warrior.

Influencing good practice

Taking pride is in work, Bittu says that the concept of bring-your-own-container has changed the local people’s mindsets. “We estimate that we have prevented the use of around 15 lakh pieces of plastic in the past four years. We are relatively a small store. Imagine the amount of plastic coming out of each store every day in the country,” adds the green warrior.

He also conducts special programmes in local schools on plastic waste and the importance of using zero-waste products.

Bittu John – the role model

The green store has made the green warrior, a role model, thus inviting enquiries from across the country about the implementation of the concept in their respective stores. He is also mulling over the idea of franchisee stores. “I’m looking forward to supporting others who want to start their own zero-waste stores. We will be happy to share tips and our experiences,” he assures.

Thanks to Bittu, the people of Kolenchery are doing their bit to protect the environment, and if this spreads to other parts of the country, zero waste could become a movement in itself.

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dhananjay shedbale

June 13, 2023 5:04 pm

Bittu तुसी ग्रेट हो| I’m amazed, pleasantly surprised n stunned with ur passion, highest level of awareness abt plastic n its negative consequences. Scy need more n more Bittu for sake of own existence along side environment!

Published on 24, Feb 2022

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The ‘lake man’: Anand Malligavad bridges science with tradition to revive Bengaluru’s dying lakes

(May 31, 2022) A Google search of Bengaluru's lakes even throws up a dedicated Wikipedia page. The city has around 80 lakes today, some of which have been in the news for all the wrong reasons - including a stubborn cloud of toxic, inflammable foam on Bellandur Lake back in 2016. Without a river nearby, Bengaluru's lakes date back to the sixteenth century. Scientifically planned even then, the network used the city's altitude to distribute rainwater through a series of lakes and catchment areas. They were the city's lifeline. Their number has dwindled from over a 1000 to 280 in 1960, according to Anand Malligavad, who has earned himself the title ‘lake man', for his efforts in rejuvenating the city's lakes. He even quit his job in 2019 to follow the cause full time and has revived 23 lakes so far. [caption id="attachment_25101" align="aligncenter" width="619"] Anand Malligavad[/caption] The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals include access to clean water and sanitation for all and apart from serving an important environmental cause, Bengaluru's lakes were historically designed to sustainably meet the needs of what its founders foresaw would be a growing population. Despite being one of the world's largest and cutting-edge cities,

clean water and sanitation for all and apart from serving an important environmental cause, Bengaluru's lakes were historically designed to sustainably meet the needs of what its founders foresaw would be a growing population. Despite being one of the world's largest and cutting-edge cities, buying water from private tankers is common in many neighbourhoods, where piped water from the official water supply board has remained a feeble promise for years. Rejuvenating what is left of the city's lakes is a pressing need and Anand is among a small but determined group of activists whose efforts have resulted in tangible change over the years. In an interview with Global Indian, Anand, India’s ‘lake man’, talks about bridging modern and traditional science for sustainable urban living and the challenges he continues to face.

A self-taught man

"I do my job through experiential learning," says Anand, who is a qualified engineer but never formally studied conservation. Years of research preceded his first attempt to fix the lake situation. He gathered every bit of information he could about the lakes - their shape, structure, soil conditions, topography, ecosystem and their place in the larger, interconnected network. He studied nearly 180 lakes in Bengaluru and nearby areas over the course of one year.

[caption id="attachment_25107" align="aligncenter" width="937"] Lake man : Anand revives Bengaluru’s dying lakes | Global Indian A lake rejuvenated by Anand Malligavad[/caption]

"We make use of ultra-violet water treatment, microorganisms in the soil and aquatic plants to sufficiently aerate the water," explains Anand. "Other measures, like separating rainwater from sewage, is done in the wetland itself to ecologically correct the water quality."

At the root of his efforts is a childhood fondness for lakes. Growing up, Anand had the enviable experience of studying at a school located around a lakebed, back home in a little village in North Karnataka. "I spent more time around the water body than in the classroom," he laughs. In 1996, he joined thousands of migrants moving to Bengaluru to make the most of its then fledgling IT boom. He arrived at the city of lakes to find only a handful remaining, in various stages of pollution and neglect.

The turning point...

Having made rueful note of the city's lakes soon after his arrival in Bengaluru, but hamstrung by a lack of funds, there was little Anand could do for many years. The first turning point came in 2003, when Anand, a mechanical engineer, joined Sansera Engineering, an automotive and aerospace company. Over the years, he scaled up his career in the organisation, becoming the group head of its projects and CSR division. It brought him back to a cause dear to his heart - for years he had watched the city's lakes continue to dwindle and die before his eyes. He pitched the idea at work and it found favour with the management, who agreed to fund his initiative.

Lake man : Anand revives Bengaluru’s dying lakes | Global Indian

Working with a budget of ten million rupees, Anand began reviving Kyalasanahalli Lake near Anekal. Years of neglect and encroachment had left the 36-acre waterbody on the verge of death. They built 'bunds', the boundaries that have traditionally guarded the city's water bodies. clay and gravel from the lakebed were used to construct natural structures. Begun in April 2017, the project got completed in 45 days, at the cost of Rs 95 lakh.

Challenges galore

The battle for water rages quietly on many fronts, including longstanding riparian disputes with neighbouring states. Water concerns are also likely to thwart future growth in a city that has established itself as a growing hub for both startups and cutting-edge technology.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXcUXxve8Ds

Important though Anand's efforts might be in the larger view of things, "raising funds is the biggest challenge," he says. "The second challenge is dealing with resistance from encroachers. Getting approvals from governments and maintaining the lakes after they have been rejuvenated are also issues." The lake man also involves local people and youth in his initiatives, making the protection of lakes a community effort. Not only this, he conducts reforestation drives with them to bring back the flora and fauna to previous glory. "It also helps them see their potential in terms of significantly improving their surroundings," Anand remarks.

South to North

"I had set a goal to revive 45 lakes of Bengaluru by 2025 but will achieve the goal by 2024 itself," he says. He is expanding his reach from south to north India. In association with the Ayodhya Lake Development Authority, he is working on rejuvenation of 108 kunds of the Ramayan era in the temple city. "We are also working on the project of rejuvenating Samda lake in UP with plans to turn it into an international bird sanctuary, one of the biggest of the country,” says Anand.

[caption id="attachment_25105" align="aligncenter" width="730"] Lake man : Anand revives Bengaluru’s dying lakes | Global Indian Anand Malligavad with chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath[/caption]

Message for society

Anand prefers to work in quiet, instead of driving too much publicity around his efforts. He believes strongly in two things. First, "education is not about scoring marks, it's about impacting lives," he says. "Academics are important but so is being passionate about a cause that matters. When a man like me coming from a small village can help in bring about a change in big cities then it is possible for all,” and true to his words, the 'lake man' has inspired many. One of his protégés is even writing a book on Anand and his journey.

Lake man : Anand revives Bengaluru’s dying lakes | Global Indian

"Nobody is too young or old to drive change," he states. "I have been trying to revive the lakes from the age of 35. By the time I turned 42, I had revived almost 23 lakes. We can work for a good cause at any stage in life, instead of waiting to retire to do something good." The father of one has now set his sights on the rest of the country and hopes to revive at least one lake in each state of India by 2025. "I want to create a model lake in each state, train people to revive other lakes in their nearby areas and become best inhabitants," he signs off.

Follow Anand Malligavad on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Reading Time: 5 mins

Germany-based artist, Rituparna Rana is retelling the stories of South Asian migrants

(January 25, 2023) The stories of families displaced during the partition of India, while not new, are often unheard of and forgotten. For decades now, there has been a lack of visibility and representation - especially of those who migrated from East Bengal to India in 1947. Working towards bringing the stories of these families forward is a young Indian scholar, Rituparna Rana, who is currently doing Ph.D. in Migration Studies at the Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. A well-known artist, she is also a Marie Curie Fellow affiliated with Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier III, France, and Freie Universität in the MOVES European Joint Doctorate. "The stories of families who moved from various parts of East Bengal to India are completely forgotten, however, they hold immense historic value. Coming from a Bengali family, these are the stories that I grew up with. I have realised that even though there exists an ample amount of secondary material and scholarship about these families, we still lack a larger repository of primary materials and the contemporary understanding of partition from the second and third generation of migrants. And I wanted the world to know about it," shares Rituparna, as she connects with Global Indian

ed that even though there exists an ample amount of secondary material and scholarship about these families, we still lack a larger repository of primary materials and the contemporary understanding of partition from the second and third generation of migrants. And I wanted the world to know about it," shares Rituparna, as she connects with Global Indian from Germany.

Currently busy establishing a virtual migration museum through her initiative, 'The South-Asian Migrant Identity: Narratives, Spaces, and Constructs, which is a research and creative collaborative of the Institute of Advanced Studies, University of Minnesota, Rituparna is dedicated to bringing forth the stories of the migrant communities of South Asia. "The virtual museum focuses on building a multimedia platform to record the different kinds of research happening on South Asian migrations, by South Asian scholars, academicians, and artists," she explains. The virtual museum is planned to be launched at the beginning of Spring 2023.

Seeded in history

Growing up in Chittaranjan Park, New Delhi, the stories of India's partition and displaced families were an innate part of the artist's childhood. "I grew up in an East Bengal refugee colony in Delhi. My father was a government official and we used to live with another family who were first generation migrants from East Bengal. These stories had a huge influence on me and eventually, that also had an impact on my career choice," explains the artist.

Artist | Rituparna Rana | Global Indian

With a deep interest in the narratives and traditions of story-telling, Rituparna pursued her graduation in English Literature from Delhi University. "My Master’s research, which I did from IIT Gandhinagar, was on the literary representation of women in several short stories and how they responded and reacted to the social turmoil of both the pre-partition years and after the India-East Pakistan border-line was drawn."

Around the same time, the artist also trained as an Oral Historian with the 1947 Partition Archive, California, and collected over 50 actual oral accounts of the migrants who witnessed the 1947 India-Pakistan Partition. "We all know the story of India's partition, and while much has been talked about it, the first-person account of people who have survived the tumultuous time has always been missing. These personal interactions with narratives of partition helped me to structure my Doctoral research," she shares.

Retelling forgotten stories

In 2021, Rituparna moved to Germany to pursue her doctorate in migration studies. An Early Stage Researcher at the Freie Universität Berlin, the artist's research is focussed on the nationalistic narrative of the event where there has been an attempt to construct a holistic historical narrative of the 1947 Partition rather than studying how it affected the grassroots levels.

[caption id="attachment_34348" align="aligncenter" width="695"] Artist | Rituparna Rana | Global Indian Rituparna (centre) while filming a documentary on the Indo-Pak partition migrants[/caption]

"With the turn of the 1990s, where alternative histories made some space in the academics, the focus shifted to oral histories and scholars began to record the narratives of first-generation partition migrants. However, I have shifted my focus to recording the narratives of second and third-generation partition migrants to study intergenerational trauma which travels through oral narratives, memories, and nostalgia. I aim to understand how the concept of ‘home’ and the ‘sense of belonging’ transforms from one generation to the other," she shares.

It was during her research that she became inspired to showcase the work of distinguished academicians and artists carrying the South Asian identity on one single platform. A collaborative space where contemporary researchers, scholars, and artists from South Asia are introducing their works using diverse modes of expression, the exhibition is funded by the Institute of Advanced Studies, University of Minnesota.

Artist | Rituparna Rana | Global Indian

"The purpose of this exhibition is to provide an overview of the academic, creative and artistic work that is being produced by South Asians on different historical, political, social, cultural, and economic discourses that affect South-Asian migrations throughout history and as well as contemporary times, shares the artist, adding, "A short piece on the individual narratives of a few immigrant children from South Asia residing in Europe and the USA is also a section of the virtual museum."

Follow Rituparna Rana on LinkedIn

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Journey to the Moon: Who is Ritu Karidhal, the woman leading the Chandrayaan-3 Mission

(July 19, 2023) Ritu Karidhal Srivastava, popularly known as the Rocket Woman of India, is a renowned scientist at Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Carrying the hopes of an entire nation, Ritu is leading Chandrayaan-3, India's third moon mission. The spacecraft (LVM3-M4) lifted off from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on July 14 and is expected to reach the moon on August 23. If the mission is successful, it will make India the fourth country to achieve a controlled landing on the moon, after Russia, United States, and China. The captain of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, Ritu was also the mission director of Chandrayaan-2 and played a pivotal role in the successful Mars Orbiter Mission as deputy operations director. Like many children around the globe, Ritu Karidhal Srivastava also spent her childhood marvelling at the night sky and dreaming of unfolding the mysteries that lay beyond its dark expanses. After years of diligence and hard work, Ritu’s dream came true when she joined ISRO, where she would go on to play a key role in some of the space agency’s most important missions and become a prominent figure in India’s space exploration pursuits. “When you are passionate about something. It keeps you going

ormalTextRun SCXW145427511 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)"> at Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Carrying the hopes of an entire nation, Ritu is leading Chandrayaan-3, India's third moon mission. The spacecraft (LVM3-M4) lifted off from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on July 14 and is expected to reach the moon on August 23. If the mission is successful, it will make India the fourth country to achieve a controlled landing on the moon, after Russia, United States, and China. The captain of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, Ritu was also the mission director of Chandrayaan-2 and played a pivotal role in the successful Mars Orbiter Mission as deputy operations director.

Like many children around the globe, Ritu Karidhal Srivastava also spent her childhood marvelling at the night sky and dreaming of unfolding the mysteries that lay beyond its dark expanses. After years of diligence and hard work, Ritu’s dream came true when she joined ISRO, where she would go on to play a key role in some of the space agency’s most important missions and become a prominent figure in India’s space exploration pursuits. “When you are passionate about something. It keeps you going irrespective of hurdles. Don’t give up your dreams and passion,” said the Rocket Woman, in an interview by Google India.

[caption id="attachment_41836" align="aligncenter" width="849"] Indian Leaders | Ritu Karidhal | Global Indian Ritu Karidhal Srivastava, mission director, Chandrayaan-3[/caption]

Modest beginnings

The eldest of four children, Ritu was born into a middle-class family in Lucknow. Despite the family's limited resources, her parents placed great importance on education. “We didn't have too many resources, and back then we certainly didn't have tuitions or coaching institutions. We had to be self-motivated to succeed," she said

As a teenager, Ritu’s hobby was collecting newspaper clippings of developments in NASA and ISRO, as well as everything related to space. Ritu also had a genuine passion for mathematics and physics – the former fascinated her so much, she would write poems on the subject.

Approaching her dream

After completing her BSc from Mahila Vidyalaya PG College, followed by an MSc in physics from the University of Lucknow, Ritu enrolled for a PhD in physics. Six months into the programme, Ritu, who was publishing research papers and working part time as a physics lecturer, also cleared the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, one of India's most competitive national-level exams.

An admission to join Indian Insitute of Science’s prestigious M.Tech programme posed a dilemma, as Ritu wanted to finish her doctorate. However, she knew that IISc would bring her closer to her dream of working at a space agency. “I have always had a fascination for the mysteries of outer space, and knew that’s what I wanted to get into,” she said. Her mentors encouraged her to join IISc, while her parents supported her and trusted her abilities, even though it meant sending her away to an unfamiliar part of the country - a journey of two-and-a-half days by their modest means.

Dream comes true

As soon as she completed her M Tech from IISC in 1997, Ritu applied and received a call from ISRO with an offer to join. “That was the best moment of my life - getting a call from ISRO. It was like everything I had before was all for that one moment," she said.

At ISRO, Ritu was given the chance to join important projects almost immediately. Although several senior men were eligible for her first assignment, the project was given to her. She went on to do many more, working alongside stalwarts, which boosted her confidence and fuelled even bigger dreams.

[caption id="attachment_41839" align="aligncenter" width="879"] Indian Leaders | Ritu Karidhal | Global Indian Ritu Karidhal at Mahila Vidyalaya Degree College, Lucknow[/caption]

“There weren't too many women in ISRO when I joined. But I was never treated differently because of my gender. What matters here is your talent, not your gender,” she remarked.”

Mars Orbiter Mission - MOM

The most demanding project that came Ritu’s way was India's Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), Mangalyaan-1 – in 2012, she was appointed as the mission’s deputy operations director. India’s first interplanetary endeavour, Mangalyaan – 1 also had a tight deadline.

Ritu played a crucial role in developing the spacecraft's autonomy system, often referred to as the ‘brain of the satellite’. Given the significant distance the spacecraft would cover, as well as the complexities involved in sending and receiving signals, Ritu led a team that created a software system designed to make autonomous decisions. Collaborating with scientists, electrical engineers, and mechanical engineers, the team successfully developed the autonomy system in a record-breaking 10 months.

“I had to ensure that it was all executed without any flaw or anomaly. With launching spacecrafts, the slightest anomaly can spell disaster, especially in the case of manoeuvres and mars orbit insertions. Every single detail had to be thoroughly vetted,” she said.

The project is considered the most cost-effective interplanetary project. Mangalyaan-1 was launched in 2013. It was the first time that any country reached Mars’ orbit in its inaugural attempt. The celebratory image of several women scientists who contributed to the mission spread worldwide. Ritu, along with numerous other women on the ISRO team, earned the title of ‘Rocket Women of India’.

[caption id="attachment_41862" align="aligncenter" width="884"] Indian Leaders | Global Indian Jubiliant ISRO scientists after the success of Mars Orbiter Mission[/caption]

Interspersing responsibilities of MOM and being a mother

While Mangalyaan-1 brought immense success to ISRO, India, and space science, it also shattered gender stereotypes by demonstrating that scientists, regardless of gender, could work together to achieve extraordinary results. Like other women scientists Ritu remembers the challenges of balancing her personal and professional life during the 18 months of the MOM project. Her schedule had become busier than ever before, to the extent that after leaving work and assisting her children with homework, she would continue working from midnight to four in the morning.

“My children took a while to understand why their mom was suddenly so busy.” However, time management helped her successfully sail across. “Family, marriage, pregnancy breaks, children—these are all part of life and cannot be treated as mutually exclusive from your work,” she remarked adding “I did feel physically exhausted, but you can overcome this exhaustion in different ways. When you see the output and what you’ve achieved by putting in extra effort, that is worth it,” she smiles.

With the success of MOM, Ritu became an overnight celebrity. The girl who once collected space-related news clippings had transformed into one of India's most renowned space scientists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHo2acUcrp4

“At colleges where I was scheduled to talk, students would crowd around me excitedly to ask questions and I was so happy to see their enthusiasm on the subject,” she said adding, “My children were so excited that they told everybody in their school that their mom was a part of that project. But best of all was when my son came to me and told me, ‘Mom, I am proud of you.”

What the whole country expected out of the project was of utmost significance to the scientist. “To see it all, get realised in front of your eye is truly unforgettable.”

Indian women in STEM

After the triumph of Mangalyaan-1, ISRO embarked on its next high-profile mission, Chandrayaan-2, India's first lunar rover mission in 2019. It presented the most challenging mission for ISRO, with the goal of landing a rover on the unexplored lunar south pole and gathering data on rocks, minerals, and water.

Ritu was appointed the mission director, while M. Vanitha served as the Project Director. It was the first space project to be jointly led by two women. In fact, women made up thirty percent of the Chandrayaan-2 team. Although the mission failed, ISRO’s women scientists received worldwide attention, putting Indian women in STEM into the global spotlight.

Moon Mission - Keeping the dreams alive

Ritu is now at the helm of Chandrayaan-3, India’s third lunar mission and its second attempt at a soft landing on the surface of the moon. It’s a chance of the nation to reach a new milestone and Ritu’s efforts are key. Congratulatory messages are pouring from far and wide for Ritu and her team of ISRO scientists who have worked day and night to make the mission successful.

Ritu exemplifies the aspirations and dreams of every middle-class Indian girl. She has set an example that with the right blend of confidence, passion, and support women can attain remarkable success, overcoming all the challenges that come their way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cYPtTuk5MQ

Awards and accolades received by Ritu Karidhal Srivastava

ISRO Young Scientist Award 2007, presented by the Late Dr Abdul Kalam
ISRO Team Award for Mars Orbiter Mission – MOM, 2015
Women Achievers in Aerospace award from the Society of Indian Aerospace Technologies and Industries, 2017

Reading Time: 5 mins

Mindfulness on the menu: Sumukh Tallam celebrates the slow life at Maya

(May 26, 2024) It is always heartening to meet a young person who follows his or her passion while caring about the environment. Their career trajectory feels like a victory lap – a win-win situation where they are doing what they love best, and simultaneously, saving the earth. One such determined young entrepreneur is Sumukh Tallam from Bengaluru. Though he comes from a family of jewellers, he had an early interest in cooking. One he attributes to his mother and grandmother. “I was always curious about what went on inside the kitchen. My mother and grandmother were feeding us haute cuisine, microgreens and edible flowers, and experimenting with regional cuisines, well before these concepts became trendy,” recalls Sumukh in an exclusive with Global Indian, adding, “My grandmother has also written a cookbook – Pakadharshi – by Bhoopalam Suryakaanthamma and Tallam Vijaayalakshmi.” The freedom to pursue his calling led Sumukh to a post graduate degree in culinary arts at Manipal University. This was followed by a course in food styling and mixology at EBS, London. On his return to India, he worked with various food brands as a food stylist before launching his restaurant, Maya, in Jaya Nagar, Bengaluru. [caption id="attachment_51973"

as a food stylist before launching his restaurant, Maya, in Jaya Nagar, Bengaluru.

[caption id="attachment_51973" align="aligncenter" width="465"] Sumukh Tallam[/caption]

Recollections in tranquillity

Maya is unique in several ways. Sumukh elaborates, “Firstly, I believe in the concept of the maker’s maya – that everyone has a creative side. You have an ikigai, as do I, and Maya gives you a platform to reflect on your creative side, whatever it may be – from painting to writing to cooking.” To each their own Maya. In keeping with this paradigm, the restaurant is on the first and terrace floors and the ground floor houses an art gallery. “We provide a platform for up-and-coming artists and my sister Anusha, who runs a creative studio named Ebbxflo, is also a curator. We have a different artist exhibiting every month and Maya is the first restaurant in India to have built a dining experience inside the premises of an art gallery where you can enjoy a slow, relaxed meal and art.”

The bungalow in Jaya Nagar is on a long-term lease and Maya has been designed in keeping with the Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa’s design philosophy. Seamless incorporation of lush greenery, natural elements and ventilation, open spaces, and a synergistic blending in with the surroundings. As a nature lover, Sumukh has planted over 100 species of plants there that have certification from the Lalbagh Botanical Institute. He plans to bring in 100 more to make it the greenest restaurant in the country.

Mindfulness on the menu

The ambience is all about tranquil and calm surroundings. The music playing in the background too is soothing. The icing on the cake? The food reflects all these artistic elements. Says Sumukh, “I believe that you eat with your eyes first. The entire concept of eating is an art to me. When you eat mindfully, your soul is appeased. I aim to create that experience with every meal. I want my guests to have a consciously relaxed, spatial and culinary experience. Maya has a homely feel amidst all the chaos; we chose this area because you won’t find a green belt like this anywhere in the city, and the locality represents old world Bengaluru.”

[caption id="attachment_51974" align="aligncenter" width="703"] Maya[/caption]

The most important aspect of course, is the food. Sumukh, who refuses to call himself a chef, but prefers the moniker ‘a passionate cook,’ has designed the menu to serve global cuisine in a farm to table concept. “We source most of our ingredients locally. Most of them are organically grown. Having said that, since the water and soil is contaminated with pollutants and pesticides from elsewhere, one can’t really say they are 100 percent organic. Our herbs however are certified organic. We source our produce fresh every day directly from farmers and they are all within an 80 km radius of the city. We have a zero plastic policy and within six months we aim to achieve a 100 percent zero-wastage in our kitchen too. Our crockery is sourced from a company that works with tribals who live around the Nugu river. The eggs and chicken come from a farm where they are not fed hormones or antibiotics and are completely free range. Our seafood comes from Mangalore.” All in all, with the best practices to bring in the best quality and freshest food to the table.

Beyond Maya

The cuisine is global with Pan-Asian, Italian and a smattering of Indian dishes on the menu. Sumukh reveals, “We did try cuisines of my choice – Greek, Ethiopian and a bit of Sri Lankan. For some reason, they were not popular so we stuck to global food with wood fired pizzas, freshly made spring rolls etc. The most popular dishes today are the Vietnamese Onion Flower – a starter made with the flower bloom of the onion, the pizzas, and the Vegan Spring Rolls with julienned vegetables and glass noodles. Though they take us five to ten minutes more, we roll the wraps freshly just before filling them. This makes them less oily and is in keeping with our fresh food-only philosophy. The Palak Stuffed Paneer and the Kokum Infused Prawn are popular dishes. I love working with unique and atypical ingredients like kokum, jicama, palm sugar, cayenne pepper, salt alternatives like soy, miso paste, parmesan rinds, and pickle juice.

Maya is an all-day diner open from noon till late night but comes with its inherent challenges. Sumukh believes they are commonly faced in the hospitality business. “Staff attrition is huge; it is the hardest because getting good skilled staff is difficult. The overheads eat into our profits as real estate costs in Bengaluru are quite high. Plus, we face constant harassment from the regulatory and compliance folks.”

Despite all this, once the zero wastage in food milestone is achieved, Maya will become the greenest restaurant in India due to its sustainable practices. Sumukh’s company is called The Food Smith and Maya is one of its brands. Next on the agenda is a new project in Hyderabad, and, at Maya – virtual art exhibitions, artisanal food pairings where the artist’s vision is echoed through the food. He plans to hold an exhibition of the wildlife photographs shot by Chef Michael Swamy, Sumukh’s mentor and a photographer as well. He also wants to grow herbs where guests can walk through the garden and pick their herbs as ingredients or garnishes for the dish they have chosen.

With Maya on such a solid footing, where Mama Earth and her well-being is as important as serving good food, Sumukh is bound to be blessed by the universe to achieve greater heights.

While travelling, Sumukh likes to eat at:

Michelin star or guided restaurants as well as street hawkers, “I love jumping into the authenticity of the regional cuisine and trying local specials. Here are some of the best restaurants I have tried around the world,” he concludes.

Gaggan Anand, Bangkok – Opera of Food
Les Fondus de la Raclette, Paris – Grill and Meat
Moeders, Amsterdam – Translates to Mother’s Authentic Dutch cuisine
Dishoom, London – Modern Indian
Savoy, Sthalika, Mussorie – Garhwali cuisine

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Chef Chintan Pandya: The desi ‘Dhamaka’ in NYC

(October 8, 2022) The biggest misconception about Indian food in America, believes James Beard Award-winning Chef Chintan Pandya, is that it is "too heavy." Maybe it had to do with the American-Indian fare commonly found in the US, but Americans believed - that "if you eat Indian food for lunch, you won't be eating dinner," Pandya told Money Control. Pandya and his business partner, Roni Mazumdar run three immensely popular restaurants in New York City - Rahi, Adda and Dhamaka. Restaurant fare was doused liberally with cream and butter and as any Indian will tell you, that's not how we do it at home. Instead, Pandya ensures his food contains no cream or butter whatsoever. Everything is cooked in ghee. They revel in their Indian-ness, so much so their company is called Unapologetic Foods, while their servers wear t-shirts with 'Unapologetic Indian' written across them. On any given night in New York City, the waiting list for Dhamaka is around 1500 people. Global Indian looks at Chef Chintan Pandya's remarkable journey. [caption id="attachment_30366" align="aligncenter" width="618"] Chef Chintan Pandya and Roni Mazumdar[/caption] Regional flavours to the fore You're also not likely to find the sort of 'gourmet' Indian fare that's usually

an.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/chintan-and-roni.jpg" alt="" width="618" height="412" /> Chef Chintan Pandya and Roni Mazumdar[/caption]

Regional flavours to the fore

You're also not likely to find the sort of 'gourmet' Indian fare that's usually served up at desi restaurants in New York City. Pandya and Mazumdar refuse to serve their Indian food with "truffle, wasabi or parmesan to make it gourmet. We were ashamed to make real Indian food," Pandya remarked. "This recognition will empower a lot of chefs to believe that simple Indian food can be successful and it can bring you recognition and accolades.'

At Dhamaka, you can ease your way in to the menu with vada pav, or "spiced potatoes in a bun with turmeric and chutney," or the fried pomfret. If you're feeling more adventurous, you could branch out into the Meghalayan boiled pig's head salad. All their food is served in the same vessel in which it is cooked, a bluntness of style that has drawn praise and criticism and in both cases, recognition.

In 2022, Chef Chintan Pandya was named Best Chef in New York State at the James Beard Foundation Awards, after Dhamaka made it to No. 1 on the NYT New Restaurants list. It was more than he could have imagined. He thought he had peaked when Adda became the first restaurant to make it to the coveted list.

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Learning from setbacks

Growing up in India in a vegetarian household, Pandya always knew he wanted to be a chef, because he "genuinely loves to eat," he told Eater. "I always wanted to be a chef so I could eat as much as I wanted and not have to pay money." At home, the Sunday meal was much anticipated, "because that's when mom made dal dhokli," he said, in the interview with Moneycontrol. "So bhelpuri, sevpuri, dosa and Chinese food from the roadside stall were a huge part of my life. Rasraj and Guru Kripa in Vile Parle at Shiv Sagar at Chowpatty were favourite haunts."

The first time he handled meat, poultry and seafood was at culinary school, which he attended for three years before joining the Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development for his master's degree. That's where he specialised in Indian food, a turn of events that happened almost by chance. Italian cuisine was his first choice but there were no openings at the Oberoi Grand, where he was at the time and he was assigned to the Indian restaurant instead.

These were the early setbacks in Pandya's life and he admits there have been "multiple," which have only "made him stronger." In 2008, he quit hotels and worked as a food and beverage manager for an international airline, which involved lots of desk work and no cooking. His first break came in 2009, when he moved to Singapore to serve as a chef-partner at a fine-dining restaurant, where he remained for four years. In 2013, he came to Cleveland, working with a company there as its culinary director.

Rahi, the trendsetter

It was around this time that he decided to do something on his own and Atlanta seemed the place to be for Indian food. Pandya was wrong, however. He "lost a certain amount of time, money, effort, everything." So he packed his bags once more and arrived in New York City. In 2017, he founded Unapologetic Food with Roni Mazumdar and they opened Rahi, an upscale Indian restaurant in Greenwich Village. Their take was contemporary fusion, with offerings like truffle khichdi and smoked salmon chaat.

[caption id="attachment_30364" align="aligncenter" width="510"] The truffle khichdi at Rahi. Photo: Instagram[/caption]

Indian and proud

A year down the line, they changed that approach. Adda opened up in Long Island in 2018 and Dhamaka came to the Lower East Side in February 2021. They did away with the tikka masala and salmon and truffles, bringing regional flavours boldly to the fore. While Adda dished up a Lucknow-style goat neck biryani, Dhamaka brought more exotic offerings to the table, like the Meghalayan doh kleh. In 2022, one year after its opening, Dhamaka fetched Pandya the James Beard Award for best chef.

Now, the duo wants to step out of the diverse and cosmopolitan hub that is New York City, to test themselves in tougher environments. "Until we really reach the heart of the country," Mazumdar told the New York Times, "I don't think we can really move Indian cuisine forward." There are perceptions to battle - "Americans expect to pay less for tandoori paneer than they would a burrata salad, and to dictate the level of spiciness," Pandya said, in the same article. "We are stopping this idea of catering to every other person but the Indian palate."

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