REFLECTIONS OF INDIA
The Indian diaspora in foreign lands have been bearing the flag high with their talent. We asked six *desis* abroad what makes our country special.
**BY PALLAVI MAJUMDER**
### Haresh Mirpuri
**BASED:** New York
**BRAND:** Aranyani
Aranyani, a fashion brand founded by Haresh Mirpuri is known for its hand-painted, customised, limited edition bags. Every product designed by the brand is inspired by nature and brings a unique forest-inspired aesthetic. Excerpts of an interview with Haresh.
**Away from home, what do you miss about India?**
Most of my life I have practically been away from home. Hence, I always love coming home. Every single day I value coming home to meet the people I love, to share the joys of being together and to support and be supported by each other.
**How are Indians perceived abroad?**
In the last few years, Indians have gained a lot of respect for their intelligence and hard work. Indians are gradually learning to emerge as a powerful market player.
**Reflect on the quality of life here in comparison with India.**
What we take for granted abroad is power cuts and also easy access to clean water. In India, whereas, roads and cities are not well-planned. However, outskirts of cities such as Coorg, Ooty, Panchgani, Shimla, Kullu-Manali, Agra, Himachal, etc., have an ecstatic view. Abroad, I loved the Alps of Switzerland and then I was mesmerised by the might and grandeur of the Himalayas. It is a mixed bag.
**What’s the story behind your brand?**
At Aranyani, we believe that nature is the best designer and if we, being a part of that same nature, can re-connect and make it personal, the world will be a much more beautiful and peaceful place to live in. Aranyani, the ‘Queen of the Forest’, is a personification of elegance, royalty and individuality. Each Aranyani item is handcrafted to be one-of-its-kind. What the consumer has is an amalgamation of creativity and sophistication of handpicked and handcrafted leather, elegantly painted by Indian artisans.
We want to bring the India experience to the people by way of our philosophy of *Atithi devo bhavah* (your guest is your god). This thought process helps our DNA to believe in the creation of luxury products which is the true representation of our *Vedic* culture. We believe in creating high quality sustainable products that connect man to nature.
**What makes you proud to be an Indian?**
We, *Bharatiyas* have a history and culture of finesse, knowledge, wisdom, and craftsmanship. We are inclusive by nature and we adapt easily to new circumstances. We are not merely religious but spiritual. We do our duties with complete devotion while allowing god to be the rider of our chariot. Our profound civilisation is a matter of pride for me.
**”WE WANT TO BRING THE INDIA EXPERIENCE TO THE PEOPLE BY WAY OF OUR PHILOSOPHY OF ATITHI DEVO BHAVAH.”**
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**L’Officiel | Personality | 160 / 161**
### Meera Gandhi
**BASED:** New York
**BRAND:** The Giving Back Foundation.
Meera Gandhi is a humanitarian, mother and businesswoman. She is the CEO and founder of The Giving Back Foundation, which she started in 2010 as a catalyst to aid women and children as leaders and thinkers. She released her book *Giving Back* in 2012.
**Do you miss India?**
There is so much I miss about Mumbai, my birth place. I loved the monsoon rains in Mumbai (if we discount the humidity). It enlivens the sensation of being at home. India has a feel and sense of its own, so rich and powerful in its culture, which resonates in its people and the places.
**How are Indians perceived abroad?**
India has become a trend in its own right across the globe. Indians are perceived as free spirited, peaceful, and calm. I would say, there is cross-continental learning to move towards a better way of life. Yoga and wellness the natural way is a rage outside. It is a huge movement sweeping away masses. We, have proven ourselves with our intelligence and academic sagacity.
**Describe your quality of life in comparison with India.**
Living in New York is living a dream. The East River and the Hudson River both send out fresh air and the Central Park is lovely for an evening walk. Both India as well as New York has their own charm and unique advantages. Staying in New York is the correct choice at the moment. It gives me perspective on a life that is free-flowing and active. The US being a melting pot of cultures encourages entrepreneurial spirit.
**What makes you a proud Indian?**
I am proud to be an Indian. What adds to it is I celebrate the differences we have, our diverse backgrounds, culture, region, behaviour et al, yet the homogeneity we live by. As an Indian I am proud to have an empathetic nature and sensitive to the different kinds of people, their separate needs, wants and aspirations. In a fast-paced world we must try to move away from *aparigraha* greed, and practice *satoshi*, peace of mind.
**Tell us about your foundation.**
My brand commenced when I realised I wanted to remain connected with people, particularly women and children. So, was born the Giving Back Foundation. My product line includes range of fragrances, candles, T-shirts and a body bath, curated specially for customers worldwide, with an aim for the proceeds to go back into our core purpose, giving, to the needy.
**”AS AN INDIAN I AM PROUD TO HAVE AN EMPATHETIC NATURE AND SENSITIVE TO THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF PEOPLE, THEIR SEPARATE NEEDS, WANTS AND ASPIRATIONS”**
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### Sandeepa Datta Mukherjee
**BASED:** New York
**BOOK:** Bong Mom’s Cookbook.
Sandeepa Mukherjee Datta is a blogger, foodie, mother and author of *Bong Mom’s Cookbook*. This delicious book travels from Sandeepa’s grandmother’s kitchen in north Calcutta to her home in a New York suburb through heart-warming anecdotes and quick-easy recipes.
**What do you miss about India?**
Well, when it comes to food, one thing that I do miss is the variety of fish available in Bengal. I love all kinds of small fish such as *mourala, charapona, tyangra* etc. I don’t get them fresh here. A part of me will always miss my motherland, the roaming about, the *phuchka* on the streets, the egg roll around the corner, the language in the *oli-golis*, or the fish in the river.
**How are Indians perceived abroad?**
I live in a state on the east coast with a very diverse ethnic population where Indians are major contributors to the economy. Honestly I do not feel any different than being in an Indian city. That said, not many understand the diversity of our country. In the States, perception is Indians eat chicken tikka masala and everyone is a Hindu!
**What is the quality of life here and in India?**
Quality of life in India has changed a lot. Today, in India, if you have money, you are entitled to all the goodness in life, be it, good schools or great healthcare whereas in the US, basics such as good schools, healthcare, decent transportation, availability of food, is available for all.
**Tell us about your book.**
The book is based on my blog and was commissioned by Harper Collins India. Since 2015, it was sold under Harper Collins worldwide. I feel a teeny bit proud that I could represent a little corner of my homeland and the food therein.
**What makes you proud about being an Indian?**
That I was born into a culture so great and old that ingrained in us being respectful and spiritual.
**”I WAS BORN INTO A CULTURE SO GREAT AND OLD THAT INGRAINED IN US BEING RESPECTFUL AND SPIRITUAL.”**
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**L’Officiel | Personality | 162 / 163**
### Shrimoyee Chakraborty
**BASED:** London
**BRAND:** Calcutta Street
Shrimoyee Chakraborty’s London based restaurant Calcutta Street is known for its authentic Bengali grub.
**Away from India, what do you miss about it?**
What I miss about India is definitely the comfort of my home and my family in Kolkata, staying away from them is difficult. Also, I miss the chaos, the hustle and bustle of everyday life in India, its madness and the stories that one can observe on Indian roads. Its street-food and that served in high-end restaurants. The *biriyani* from Shiraz can never be replicated in taste and aroma no matter where you go.
**How are Indians perceived in the UK?**
The perception of Indian culture and India is very ‘Bollywood-ised’. They are curious that there is song and dance in most of our festivals. Their knowledge of India is only limited to chicken *tikka masala* and curries. With my restaurant ‘Calcutta Street’ I tried in my own little way, to break these stereotypes surrounding India and Indians.
**What is the West curious about?**
The most common question I get asked each time in London is ‘do you speak Indian’? To which I laugh and explain them that there are 22 major languages in India, written in 13 different scripts, with over 720 dialects. There are approximately 420 million speakers of these languages and English is also widely spoken. They are left dumbfounded. People want to know about our food, culture, films. With many Indians scattered around the globe who bring some new element to the place they reside we are opening new windows to what a foreigner understands of India.
**Have you been enjoying a good quality life?**
Being part of the first world, the UK, definitely has better quality life. Women are safer, there is a sense of equality in the workplace. However, no one helps you with daily chores. Kids here are taught to be disciplined and practice self-reliance from an early age. Settlers like me must adhere to the same.
**What is the story behind your brand? What has been the reaction of the people on your work?**
The motivation to start Calcutta Street was definitely missing the food that I would eat at home. The global representation of Indian food abroad is only limited to curries, *naan* and *tikkas*. It was boring and uninviting. I started cooking at home for my friends and alongside started blogging about the same. The idea was to enlighten people that Indian food is way more than what it is perceived to be in the West. Londoners are very inquisitive. At my restaurant they would ask about tikka masala, Kosha Mangsho (lamb curry) and Kankrar Jhal (crab curry) and that, I feel, is an accomplishment.
The blog was well received. It prompted me to do a small pop-up on the foods of Bengal. The pop-up was a huge hit and I was fortunate enough to open Calcutta Street thereafter. All this took up eight years but I never realised it was so long as I was immersed.
**How are you carving the future now?**
I am moving onto writing a book on my journey and the recipes that are a part of Calcutta Street tracing the origins of the dishes. I’m also launching a Parisian food brand called Taster in the UK. It is a virtual kitchen concept and the focus will be primarily on Asian cuisine and I am psyched about both.
**What makes you a proud Indian?**
For the start, my skin color (laughs!). I feel extremely proud of my brown skin. It is empowering to be comfortable in your own skin. I am also proud of my country’s rich heritage, food, culture and celebrations.
**”INDIAN FOOD IS WAY MORE THAN WHAT IT IS PERCEIVED TO BE IN THE WEST”**
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### Usha Bora
**BASED:** Paris
**BRAND:** Jamini Paris
Jamini is a home and lifestyle accessories brand that combines Indian elegance with Parisian chic started by Usha Bora.
**Do you miss home?**
I miss the incredible energy of India. The optimism and the chaos with an “everything is possible” attitude that is so unique to India.
**What do you not miss about home?**
The horrifying attitude towards women. I am absolutely appalled by news articles that I have been reading lately that talks of them being unsafe. It makes me angry and sad. As a single mother of two daughters, I feel that India is a country that is failing its women and there is such a long way to go for women to feel free and fearless.
**What perception do the people around you have of Indians and India?**
France is in love with India and everything Indian. I am lucky to live in this beautiful country that adores Indian culture, food, movies and textiles. I feel that it is a gift to be an Indian in France. I have felt love, affection and acceptance since the day I arrived in this country.
**How different is the quality of life here than in India?**
The quality of life I have in France is nothing less than a dream. I run my own business. Jamini is a home and lifestyle accessories brand. Here, quality of life is wonderful. I have access to the best cultural and artistic events in the world, fabulous food and wine. My home in Normandy (an hour and a half drive west of Paris) is a 100-year-old home set in the middle of linen fields with cherry, apple, walnut, strawberries and pear trees. I added an organic garden for zucchini, tomatoes and even varieties of Indian spinach and okra.
**What is the story behind your brand?**
I founded the brand in order to bring my cultural heritage from India, the country of my birth, to Paris, my home for the past 20 years. After having completed my MBA from IIM, Ahmedabad in 1997, I worked at L’Oréal at their luxury product division in Paris, before deciding to set up my own company that would allow me to help preserve Indian savoir-faire and design pieces combining the best of two beautiful cultures. Jamini was born from an immense pride in our traditional textile heritage and the vision of creating a brand that would combine India’s fabulous artisanal know-how and blend it with French design and artistic inspiration creating a perfect Franco-Indian alchemy.
We have two stores in Paris, both on the right bank, in very trendy and hip neighbourhoods of the Canal Saint Martin and SoPi (South Pigalle), the equivalent of New York’s SoHo and Greenwich Village. We have distributions in high-end multi-brand outlets in the US, Japan, Denmark, Spain, Switzerland and France. Reaction to my brand has been extremely positive. I am launching some new ventures in food this fall.
**What makes you a proud Indian?**
My pride is stemmed in the fact that I can adapt to any situation in any culture. Growing up in India, speaking many languages, eating a variety of foods, attending the best universities with brilliant minds has given me enormous strength and a strong cultural advantage. I am also proud of our heritage, our textiles, yoga, our dynamism, our willingness to take on challenges and shine.
**”I AM ALSO PROUD OF OUR HERITAGE, OUR TEXTILES, YOGA, OUR DYNAMISM, OUR WILLINGNESS TO TAKE ON CHALLENGES AND SHINE.”**
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**L’Officiel | Personality | 164**
### Monica Tomas
**BASED:** New York
**WORK:** Model
Hailing from Ooty, Monica Tomas has carved a name for herself in the world of fashion. From walking in the prestigious New York Fashion Week for Zac Posen, Delpozo, OhneTite, and Tome to being featured as the cover girl for leading magazines, this young dusky model has embraced it all.
**What is the thing you miss and don’t miss about being away from home?**
Of course, I miss family! The noise and traffic is something I wouldn’t mind missing out on.
**What perception do the people around you have of Indians and India?**
Everyone mostly loves to hear that I am from India. They always talk about how they admire the different traditions, diversity and also ask me questions about how I grew up, Indian heritage and various other things they are curious about. Sometimes, they assume things about my country and our people. Therefore, sharing helps them see things in a new light.
**You are on a whirlwind tour, doing ramp walking. How has been your experience?**
I am a happy learner of new experiences that emanate from new places. I try to absorb as much as I can. A place is a place unless you derive from the experiences. Being curious about things, I get to know quite a lot about them than letting them pass.
**Could you reflect on the story behind modeling journey abroad?**
My first trip to New York began about two years ago. It took me some time to understand the new place with its new people and environment. The city has a way of itself. People go about their work in much more professional fashion. It makes the entire ecosystem productive and proactive. I enjoy every bit of it and it has liberated me much more.
**Are you a proud Indian?**
It is my culture and values that I respect most. They are my firm grounding and have aided me in finding a vocation in life. I have been working religiously as it is engrained in me to find my calling. Also, since travel, (in India and abroad) is its quintessential part, I keep learning from them and embracing the richness of relevant experience.
**”IT IS MY CULTURE AND VALUES THAT I RESPECT MOST. THEY ARE MY FIRM GROUNDING AND HAVE AIDED ME IN FINDING A VOCATION IN LIFE.”**
