A-DesiFlava Sept-Oct, 2019 by A-Desiflava Magazine

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HONG KONG’S FIRST LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR SOUTH ASIANS

Volume 8

Issue 5

SEP-OCT 2019

Diwali Offers Inside!

Is It Time

To Go Home This DIWALI?

Expats comment on the current unrest Cover Story

The Lion-hearted Candidate Exclusive Interview with Gary Ahuja Philanthropreneur

Sweet Celebrations

Desserts by celebrity food-blogger Seema Bhatia

Best of

Budapest Eclectic mix of the city’s culture

Globetrotter

Recipe

Light Over Darkness

Sonia Samtani explains the significance of both

Wellness

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A-Desiflava Magazine

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EDITOR’S NOTE

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CONTRIBUTORS Brinda Khandwala Managing Editor editor@aplomhk.com

Mrs. Poonam V Mehta An early-childhood educator and counsellor, Poonamji runs several schools. As President of Be The Change HK Organization, she is actively involved in helping Hong Kong’s ethnic communities. She is also a core member of Sage Foundation (Mumbai) and Trustee of Dreamz Home Orphanage (Mumbai). Leading with love, she inspires us to be better beings.

Sharan Gill A human rights lawyer, Sharan is an active proponent of civil rights, she volunteers pro bono legal services to several nonprofit organizations. The devoted mother of two beautiful girls, is also an active member of the local Clearwater Bay community. She has become a yoga convert, which she is convinced is good for the body and kickstarts the brain.

Dear Readers, Let us be the first to wish you a very Happy Diwali and New Year! This month and the next are packed with festivities from the recently celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi to Onam, Mid-Autumn Festival, Durgashtami, Chung Yeung Festival, Navratri, Dussera and Diwali.

Meenakshi Gupta A Hong Konger since over a decade and mother of two, Meenakshi indulges in everything wholesome from painting, poetry, gardening to even learning Cantonese! She is always up for an art show and happily down for immersing into a book! Her collective experiences are beautifully penned into great reads.

Celebrations are plenty. Teacher’s Day just went by. There’s Hindi Diwas, National Day, followed immediately

Sonia Samtani

by Gandhi Jayanti, then Karva Chauth and lastly

Founder & MD of All About You, Sonia is a Clinical Hypnotherapist, qualified Life Coach, certified Corporate Trainer, accredited Image Expert, Family Constellation Facilitator, certified Transpersonal Regression Therapist and Public Speaking Coach. Her keen observation of life with articulate speech are the testament of her wisdom beyond her age.

Bhai Dooj. Wow! But amidst all this, the heart continues to ache for Hong Kong. Let’s pray that the positive vibrations of this season restore peace and joy in our city.

Seema Puri Bhatia

We have one more reason to celebrate - this is our 8th anniversary issue. I want to thank all the people who have come together in making this magazine so special.

Keep inspiring, Brinda OCT

Monday, 7th October (Public Holiday) from 6 pm onwards at Kaifong Welfare Association (TST)

For tickets visit www.adesiflava.com

Co-founder of PranaYum, food blogger (SpicyAbundance) Seemaji grew up as her mother’s ‘sous-chef’ and went on to design her own wholesome and healthy food philosophy. Her most sought-after recipes are now shared here for our readers to also embrace a healthy-eating lifestyle.

Dr. Krishna Shah The ever so effervescent, Krishna has done her Ph.D in English along with TESOL from Trinity College and Application of Psychology from HKU. But its not the degrees that define her. The keen interest she shows in everything from food, fashion, festivities and more make her one of the most valued members of the team.

Azake Rahman Investing in the latest in camera technology, the very suave and skillful Azake captures magic through the lens in his unique style. Be it a candid conversation, the cities buzz or scenic views, he seizes memorable moments within our pages – making the stories come alive for our readers.

Sonam Choithramani For this young student of social sciences from HKU, photography started as a hobby and soon became her passion. Equipped with a DSLR, Sonam captures even the slightest emotions of people – which is her way of connecting with them. Working her way up, she dreams of opening her own photography studio some day.

CONTENTS

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WOODLANDS, HERITAGE OF HOSPITALITY FEATURE

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IS IT TIME

TO GO HOME THIS DIWALI?

As expats, home is Hong Kong for now. But at large, home is our country of origin. For most of us its India and otherwise Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Singaporeâ&#x20AC;Ś With the recent unrest in the city, the big question for expats remains â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is it time to move back?

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iwali marks the homecoming of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years of vanavasa. On this beautiful occasion, with all the sparkling festivities around us, there are also sparks of unrest in our beloved city of Hong Kong. This is not the Hong Kong we know. Whether it’s for setting up business, for a promising job or simply as a dependent, we all moved here for a better life. Known as Asia’s world city, Hong Kong makes for the ideal city where people enjoy the perfect mix of commercial hustle-bustle, natural landscapes and rich culture. With the MTR running through its veins like lifeblood, well-obeyed civil laws keeping the city safe and calm, openness towards every race adding more colour to its culture – Hong Kong becomes home for everyone. It is thus heartbreaking to see the turmoil its people are going through since the past few months.

COVER STORY

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From spark to flames Triggered by the Extradition Bill, which was then withdrawn, the protest in the city has escalated to civil unrest. News channels which once showed how peaceful protests were being conducted as examples of how respectfully disciplined civilians can express themselves are now showing hourly updates of violence and vandalism. Protestors now also have â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;masked radicalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; among them. The same police that was safeguarding the people, is now required to use force on their people to keep the city safe; making it a protector v/s protestor situation.

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From holding up banners and chanting slogans, protestors are taking to the streets in full protective gear and petrol bombs burn our city. There was a worry about students staying safe during the protests and now we see students as a part of the protests.

COVER STORY

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“

We are already considering moving back. Yes, opportunities back in India may not be many nor will they be as lucrative but we aren’t okay to put ourselves at risk for the sake of making money.

“

Megha Parikh, employee in trading firm French ‘Spiderman’scales skyscraper with a message of peace for Hong Kong and China

Vijay Patel, trader

“

Zenub Simon, Marketing Head in a global company

Indians either have set businesses here or are working in multinationals. Where will they go? Businessman can’t close shop overnight and go back. Professionals won’t get jobs back home which are as well paying as the ones here. Most will remain here. Sunny Moorjani, Businessman

“

Hong Kong may be fighting a lost battle. China is a superpower. Its only a matter of time that it will take over the way it wants; and no one can do anything about it. The US and Britain aren’t going to come to Hong Kong’s rescue.

“

Karan Sejpal, consultant with MNC

“

People are now reconsidering their investments here. A lot of them are moving their funds to Singapore. I have friends who are working in global companies. They are seeking jobs in Singapore as it seems like the best closest option.

“

China taking its claim over Hong Kong in some ways is similar to Article 370 being scrapped in India. Kashmir was a part of India even though it had different governing powers. Similarly, we have one country, two systems here. When it comes to internal matters of India, it may not concern the countries of the world. But China is very powerful on the world map. The world is interested in and affected by what happens in China.

even selfish to discuss our situation in this scenario, but the fact remains that our lives are affected by this unrest. When the streets outside our homes are fuming with petrol bombs and tear gas, its hard to not worry about our own future.

Gurjeet Jham, teacher

“

I live in TST. There were two nights that we could smell the tear gas in our house! We couldn’t open our windows till very late that night. Its scary but where can we go?

“

Yes, we aren’t citizens of China, nor of Hong Kong, but this place has been our home. Our opinions don’t count. And understandably so. It may seem trivial and

“

What does the expat say?

May be both sides need to reconsider how to approach this issue. Hong Kong needs to accept that it is going to lose its autonomy after 2047 and China needs to be more transparent about it’s intensions.

“

Anita Das, homemaker Be as it may, we cannot see our beautiful and peaceloving Hong Kong under fire. Both sides must open communication to resolve the issue before it turns into a civil war. This Diwali, we pray that peace is restored in the city and in the hearts of the citizens.

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Woodlands,

Heritage of Hospitality Amidst the everchanging and competitive F&B industry of Hong Kong, there are few establishments that truly stand the test of time. Woodlands, serving not only food but a whole experience, is one of them. Meenakshi Gupta takes us back to when authentic Udupi style idli and filter coffee were first served in Hong Kong

eing vegetarian is neither a fad nor a choice! For many Indians itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our religion, our culture and our way of life. Vegetarian food is something we take for granted because we are so used to it. Indians disliked coming to Hong

Kong in the olden days because vegetarian food was not readily available here. So, introducing a strictly vegetarian South Indian restaurant in a meat and seafood loving society in early 80â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s was a risky venture.

FEATURE

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Nearing 40! Woodlands Hong Kong officially opened its door on 15th August 1981 in Minden Avenue, TST. The restaurant only borrowed its name from its famous Indian counterpart, it was never a franchise. It was the first and only Indian vegetarian restaurant holding a general restaurant license without alcohol. Back in ‘81, with a monthly rent of $12,000 and management fee of $1,000, Woodlands served the dosa for $10, vada sambhar for just $5 and beverages for $8! Their motto, coined by the original owners Mr. Natarajan and Mr. Uzair S.M, was ‘let vegetation serve the nation’! And yes, it was Woodlands that introduced the ‘dosa’ to Hong Kong.

Even as a newcomer in the gourmet industry, Woodlands supplied idlis to the local mosque at TST.

Since then, while there have been various changes in menu and prices, the executive chef Kitta Moolya has been with the restaurant since 1983 while their head chef Suresh Pairaje Rai since 1993. How’s that for consistency! Both chefs hail from the Udupi district of Karnataka – birthplace of the dosa. So, patrons can look forward to an authentic Udupi experience on their culinary quest. Kitta’s sambhar is so famous among

the regulars that even a slight variation of taste, if ever, is remarked upon.

Taking the legacy forward It has also stayed true to its original goal of serving only vegetarian food and not serving alcohol. The current owner and co-founder, Mr. Arun PE, a mechanical engineer by profession, became a part of the restaurant when he landed in HK in 1997. He was a loyal customer then, paying a monthly fee for all his meals at Woodlands – a practice he continues to this this day. The South Indian Thali is his favourite while his wife Mrs. Kalai swears by the lemon rice and dal fry. The couple tells me that since the restaurant began its new innings in December 2018 under them, they’ve probably eaten a total of three meals at home! Mr. Arun credits the missus for the success of Woodlands. “She is my steadfast rock!” he says simply. He calls himself the back-room guy, saying she is the one at the

forefront. Mrs. Kalai loves interacting with the patrons and meeting new people. She is also the taste-tester for each preparation every single day. He also acknowledges the contribution of his chefs, saying, “They are the ones who convinced me, an engineer, to become a restauranteur!” In the early days, the biggest challenge faced by the Woodlands team was to make locals understand what vegetarian food was! It was a surprising concept for the people who had never had any. So, they were unwilling to pay big money. Also, local Chinese people were not involved in a

substantial manner. Very few were and are still aware that this restaurant is nearly 40 years old! The local Indian population – Sindhi and Gujrati community along with the Indian tourists were able to sustain the restaurant well. For nearly 20 years Woodlands was the only vegetarian Indian restaurant in town. The previous management that ran the space before 2004 started a unique tradition of celebrating Gandhi Jayanti (2nd October) at Woodlands by hosting charity lunches and dinners. Guests were welcome to eat as much and pay as much as they wished. The proceeds from this would go into charity - Oxfam Foundation,

FEATURE Orbis, Community Chest, Mother Teresa’s Institute, Medicine San Frontier, Chinmaya Sewa Foundation, Cancer Foundation of HK, and Child Relief and You. In all, about HK$ 900,000 were donated over a period of eight years. Mr. Arun plans to revive this wonderful Woodlands tradition for the 150th Gandhi Jayanti this year. People can gorge on their favourite South Indian delicacies this 7th October and get involved in serving humanity. Working closely with architects to create a warm, welcoming restaurant, Mr. Arun has extending the brand’s hospitable image to the space. Taking inspiration from the Taj Mahal and the vibrant city of Jaipur, the restaurant’s new look is bright and cheery. He wants Woodlands to serve ‘food for everybody, not just Indians’. He says, “Nothing brings people together like our dosa!” Of the entire world’s vegetarian population, India ranks the highest. So ideally Indian food should be the first thing people think of when they think vegetarian. Through his restaurant he hopes more people will feel the same.

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Foodgasm The paper masala dosa is Woodlands’ best-selling item and their most Instagrammed dish! Their Thali ranks a close second making a colourful picture. In addition to the usual menu of idli, vada, sambhar and rasam, there are dishes such as pongal, masala upma (personally developed by Mr. Arun more than 20 years ago). Woodlands boasts more than 30 varieties of dosa, and 8 varieties of uttappam. Every dish served there is made from scratch in the Woodlands kitchen. Over the years they have added crowd pleasers like samosa, chana bhatura, pao bhaji, paneer masala, bhindi masala and veg biryani to their menu. Most of these items are also offered on the Jain menu upon request. Amongst other firsts, Woodlands

was also the first Indian restaurant to offer a vegan menu, a trend that is now gaining popularity as the world switches to more mindful choices.

Guests Reviews Woodlands has served food to many celebrities over the years. Noted flutist Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia, former prime minister late Mr. P.V. Narahsimha Rao, late Mr. Jaipal Reddy, Music director Ilayaraja, singer S.P. Balasubrahmanyam and cricketers Sunil Gavaskar, Shri Kanth, Anil Kumble are

only some of the celebrities who have visited Woodlands and admired their food. Mr. Arun personally organized and arranged a week-long trip to Hong Kong in 2012 for Superstar Rajnikanth when he was here for a break after surgery. He sports a medallion around his neck personally gifted to him by Mr. Rajnikanth. Since Mrs. Kalai is a huge fan, they officially opened the restaurant on ‘the Thalaiva’s’ birthday, 12th

Mr. Arun personally organized and arranged a week-long trip to Hong Kong in 2012 for Superstar Rajnikanth when he was here for a break after surgery. December - last year after extensive renovations. Generally, in the early evenings for dinner you will

find the restaurant full of local Chinese, while Indians generally start to come in later. The restaurant remains packed until 10.30 pm every night. Woodlands was vegetarian and vegan before veganism became a popular concept in the Western world. In 1981 the original owners Mr. Natarajan and Mr. Uzair S.M talked about vegetation feeding the nation. In 2019, those words still hold true.

EVENTS

Best of

Budapest

t was around fifteen hours of comfortable flying time, with a stop at Doha, to reach the beautiful Budapest. There are various modes of transportation available from the airport to the main city – bus, taxi, private vehicle. I recommend the Budapest Card – the official city pass, regardless of the number of days you’re spending in the city. The pass permits use of public transport in the entire city, walking tours of Buda and Pest, entry into Lukacs Thermal Bath, Budapest Castle bus ride and entries to many museums – all for free!

Voted ‘European Best Destination 2019’, Budapest makes it to the bucket lists of many – including our globetrotter Krishna Shah. Hungary’s capital is the perfect mix of heritage, architectural awe, eclectic city life and natural attractions.

GLOBETROTTER

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First evening As the sun went down on our first evening, we wandered along the banks of the Danube. The weather was perfectly warm and humid, making us feel welcome already. I fell in love with the vibe here.

The memorial to the Jews who were shot by militiamen between 1940s is symbolic for the victims who were lined up and asked to take their shoes off before they were shot making their bodies drop in the river. The iron shoes on the Danube, with its rather painful history, were joy for the aesthetic eye. The memorial to the Jews who were shot by militiamen between 1940s is symbolic for the victims who were lined up and asked to take their shoes off before they were shot making their bodies drop in the river.

Our first stop was Gellért Hill, looking over Budapest. It is a must-visit as you get to see Buda, Pest, Chain Bridge and other popular monuments of the city from Liberty Statue

fantasy. Though we were here in the late morning, I reckon visiting here at sunset because the night view gets more dramatic once the evening lights go up.

The calming sound of the river and the sunset cruises floating by ended our day for the start of a memorable holiday.

Big Bus Tours The next morning, we booked seats on the Big Bus Tours via Klook, which, of course has great offers. Even if you’ve not booked in advance, you can buy your tickets at the various stands across the city where Big Bus Tours reps are always present. There are over 30 stops for ‘hop-on’ and ‘hopoff’ along the way. Being a

Hungarian Parliament, the Gresham Palace and the Castle Hill. Apart from these, one cannot miss Saint Steven Chapel, Saint Laszlo Chapel and the Loft hallway inside the Matthias Church.

wanderbum, I took full advantage of this facility by hopping on and off all along!

View from Gellert Hill

bird’s eye view. Budapest is the city of statues and the Liberty Statue on the Gellért Hill is surely one of them. Next in our list was Fisherman’s Bastion. This is one of the most popular and most recommended tourist destinations in the city. It looks less historical and more like a fairytale castle

I loved the panoramic view of Chain Bridge, the

With this we ended our morning schedule and it was a time to feed our empty stomachs. We decided to go street-style with Turkish kebabs and continued our journey towards the next and most awaited stop, the Hungarian Parliament. ‘Gorgeous’ was the only word that crossed through my mind. I was totally taken aback with this neogothic building. Don’t miss seeing the structure from

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we skipped the dip. It was still a visual treat to visit these baths. The Széchenyi thermal bath, largest in Budapest (and of course Europe), has both indoor and outdoor baths. Its baroque-style architecture

Other popular baths here are Rudas, estimated 450 years old and Lukacs an antiquated, beautiful bath complex (which is free on the Budapest card). It was the end of the evening and we were famished

Hungarian Parliament

the back as well – its worth the walk. The opening hours are from 11 to 5 with limited availability. It is recommended to book it well in advanced.

continent. We took the funicular down and saw the Art Gallery and History Museum. after the visit to the baths. This time we wanted to try something local. Although, in Budapest, menus tend to be meat-heavy, there are plenty vegan and vegetarian options. We went to Café Kor, an all-day eatery with

Our bus tour included a visit to the Shoes on the Banks of Danube. We were happy to make that one again. This was the end of our first day and we hailed back to our hotel after having an amazing dinner at the Vega City. We started our day two by crossing the lovely Chain Bridge. It is the oldest bridge connecting Buda and Pest. Designed by William Tierney Clark in 19th Century, this bridge is the architectural marvel. There are number of films shot on this bridge. It is located between the Buda Castle and the Hungarian Parliament which makes the whole area picturesque prospect, especially at night. It is worth to have a walk around it and look closely at the ‘guards’ of the bridge – the four lion statues at the front. After this we went on to see the Buda Castle. This is a historical castle where the Kings in Hungary used to reside. Located on the Buda Hill, it is one of the most famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the entire

Chain Bridge

While reading up about Budapest before the trip, the one common suggestion made by every travel blogger was to experience the Thermal Baths. However, the summer heat was making us sweat enough already so

is an absolute delight for the eyes as the shimmering blue pools are set against the canary yellow building. Large summer parasols and bright landscaping took our weariness away even without a plunge in the pool!

Although, in Budapest, menus tend to be meatheavy, there are plenty vegan and vegetarian options.

typical Hungarian dishes. We had Goulash, the Classic Hungarian Stew along with strapachka (cheesy potato noodles/dumplings). At sundown (time-wise, not literally), we headed

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towards our next stop Heroes’ Square. Getting there was even more fun because we walked down, Andrássy Avenue – the most buzzing place in the city. We walked past the Terror House Museum, Hungarian Opera House and Pest Broadway. Words cannot justify the beauty of this street that gives you

We started late next morning, well because the day was going to be long anyway! We took our time to leisurely enjoy the city and indulge in some light shopping! We started the day with Central Market that is divided into two parts. Upstairs there are several shops selling variety of foods and downstairs mouth-watering traditional dishes to try. I couldn’t resist potato Langos - a deep-fried dough, made into a round, flat shape. After feeding my ever-empty stomach, we went on to visit the Vaci Street. Dotted with restaurants, boutiques and

Heroes’ Square

awe-inspiring storytellers in the form of those gorgeous buildings. While we were walking towards the Heroes’ Square, we also came across to an Indian restaurant called ‘Haveli’. Soon we reached to the major square of the city filled with iconic statues representing Hungarian Leaders. Here, apart from the square, we visited the Palace of Art – the largest concert venue of Hungary, is an architectural marvel. If we would’ve paced ourselves better, we also could have visited the Museum of Fine Arts before closing time. Hungary has sunlight till 9 at night! But when you’re on a holiday you’re not complaining about long days. We parked ourselves at Bock Bisztró because it was ‘wine o’clock’ for us! The restaurant is very generous with their portions, and we were hungry enough to dig into everything from starters, mains and dessert.

souvenir shops, this street has everything that you might want to get back with you from Budapest. Next we stopped at the Great Synagogue. This is a historical building in the 7th district. It is one of the largest synagogues in Europe and the second largest in the world! The moment you enter Dohaney Street, you’re awe-struck by the majestic monument. The opulence in the architecture was evident. Take your time to explore the place – the Heroes Temple, the Museum, the Jewish Cemetery and the Raoul Wallenberg Holocaust Memorial Park. Though on our agenda, we skipped Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden. Instead, we took a cruise on the

Danube. We enjoyed the evening with a cocktail witnessing the unbelievable beauty of Budapest from the deck. This three-hour cruise took us around the city at an hour when it looks most stunning. I didn’t want to miss visiting the ‘ruin bars’ - old Soviet buildings transformed into clubbing hotspots. We went to Instant, city’s biggest ruin bar. It stays open till 6 in the morning! It was the

I didn’t want to miss visiting the ‘ruin bars’ - old Soviet buildings transformed into clubbing hotspots.

perfect setting to end the day with eclectic artworks and electrifying music.

Verdict I see why Budapest makes it on a traveler’s bucket list, from the very first moment I landed there. A fine combination of pleasant weather and wonderful sights. I already want to go again. There are number of festivals like, The Sziget Festival (August), Jewish festival, a Baroque festival and an international wine festival (September) along with the annual Christmas Market in the month of November make this city worth visiting all year round. My advice to anyone planning to have a budget friendly Europe trip would be, do not miss this ‘Little Paris of Middle Europe’ stretched along the banks of Danube.

Travel Tips 1. The official currency is the Hungarian Forint called HUF. However, most places (not all) accept Euros. One HK dollar is approximately 37.07 HUF. 2. It takes minimum 35 minutes to travel by taxi from airport to the main city. average cost of a taxi ride from the airport to central Budapest is €24 (taxis accept both euros and cards). 3. Other option is bus number 100E that departs every 30 minutes. For the bus it is €2.75 (HUF 900). You may book the bus tickets from arrival halls. 4. Hungarian is the only official language of the country however English is widely spoken. 5. The best time to visit Budapest is the end of summer. 6. Public transport is most convenient. 7. Remember to carry your swimwear for the thermal baths. 8. Go hungry, Hungarian food is truly delicious. 9. Word of caution - being of ethnic minority, we did experience a touch of racism in their hospitality.

PHILANTHROPRENEUR

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The Lion-hearted Candidate Gary Ahuja With an ‘open door’ policy for any person seeking help, Gary Ahuja becomes the first ever Indian to be elected for District Council in Hong Kong. Brinda Khandwala discovers how the self-made man maintains his simplicity even at the peaks of success with wisdom and warmth.

Tell us about running for the district council office for the very first time. By 1985, by the grace of God, business was running successfully. I wanted to get involved in community work. It was then that I read in the newspapers about nominations starting for district council elections. TST had two seats. I decided to contest from TST. When

I registered, I was given a list of voters. That’s when I realized there were hardly any registered Indian voters. One had to fill a form to become a registered voter, but so many Indians weren’t even aware about this. We were 6 candidates of which I was the first and

only Indian to contest. I not only lost, I lost badly! The two elected candidates had around 1800 and 1600 votes respectively, while I, with the third highest votes, had only 320. But this gave me some knowledge. And in ’88, I contested again.

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There was a visible change in the voting pattern since the first time you contested. How did that come about? Firstly, I helped Indian residents of TST to register for voting. I canvased by personally visiting Indian homes and helping them fill the forms for voting. The two elected candidates of the previous tenure were confident of winning the seats again. Mostly because almost 98 percent of the population back then was Chinese. The remaining was expat minorities which included not only Indians but Pakistanis, Nepalese, British, American, Japanese, Korean, Singaporean… I contested knowing that I possibly have one percent of a chance to win the election. But not many Chinese showed up to vote – the turnout, as usual, was barely 25 percent. On the other hand, by late evening until 10 pm, a lot of Indians queued up to vote! I won. TVB immediately announced on the news – ‘Indian businessman creates history in Hong Kong to be the first Indian to win the district council election’.

You won again in ’91, ’94 and ’99 (unopposed) despite contesting in a predominantly Chinese community. Did that surprise the people? I remember in 1994, TST had become a single-seat

constituency and I was one of the six candidates contesting. A journalist called me before the election to ask – who I thought was my strongest opponent. My response was, “Do I have an opponent?” She asked the same question to the other five candidates, to her surprise all of them named me! I won that election with 53 percent votes in my favour.

On the desk, there is a tall pile of magazines and newspapers, dated back to the ‘80s, with big features and interviews of Gary Ahuja. He humbly pulls out a few clippings, some in English and many in Chinese. The headlines and pictures unfold his lifetime of community work.

How did you garner popularity among the non-Indians? These aren’t Indian elections, they are Hong Kong election. For me, all the people in my constituency are equally important. Everyone knows my office is open in the day for anyone who is seeking help. So many people come even without appointment. I remember there was a gentleman who called me with a problem asked on what day he could come to meet me. I said to him, “You have a problem now, so you are welcome to come now.” He came, I offered him suggestions and he returned relaxed knowing

that his problem will be soon resolved.

What brought you to Hong Kong 50 years ago? I was a simple man, working in Ulhas Nagar with Century Rayon (Birla Group). Before that I had worked with Hindustan Antibiotics in Pimpri (Pune). A friend from Hong Kong called me and said that being a free port, the opportunities in Hong Kong are great to build a future. So I took his advice and came here.

How did you get the title of ‘King of Watchbands’? I started with trading general merchandise – everything from handbags, kitchware,

toys and more. On my first business trip I had six suitcases with me – going to the Middle East and then Europe. I remember in Germany I was told that only two bags are allowed in each taxi. So, I was travelling with an entourage of 4 taxis! Over time, with experience, I learned the watch bands were a popular item and it takes only one briefcase to travel with them. Of course, then jewelry came into fashion, so we got into that too.

You’ve been organizing a lot of community activities. How do you make time for it? Everything is possible, if you want to do it. Over

PHILANTHROPRENEUR time I was able to spend more time on community work because the staff was managing business. It started when my brother once came to me saying he wanted to place a full page ad in SCMP to wish Indian kids a Happy Children’s Day on 14th November. While it was thoughtful, I felt it wouldn’t mean anything to a majority of the readers since the Children’s Day date is only significant to Indians – who are a very small minority here. I suggested we have a carnival for the community kids instead. The event was a huge success. Since then we have been organizing Children’s Day events and Diwali Balls, sometimes combined when the dates are in the same week. But its not just these special days. I have also organized cultural days, health camps and picnics for the community here.

When asked how he makes time for family, he gets up from his chair and leads me to the office window which overlooks his home in the opposite building. “I have all my meals at home with my wife. She sees the office lights go off and knows I’m on my way home.”

With the on-going protest against the extradition bill, what is the situation of the expat community here? The expat community should not, and has not involved itself with the protest. In my view, there is no wrong side – neither the government not the protestors. They have their reasons to do what they are doing. Simply said, there is a democratic party and a pro-government party. There is no party that says – love Chine, love Hong Kong. There is a need for a party like that to open the discussion on what China wants from Hong Kong. China is very powerful. But all it seems to want is for Hong Kong people to love China. Expats need not worry. As this situation wont last forever. If it does, it will turn into a civil war and the place will become like Syria – then everyone is affected, not just expats. But I don’t see it happeming to HK. – The protestors need to realize that violence is wrong. If they are peaceful, the police need not use force.

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Gary Ahuja's 10 commandments to a successful life • Rise early. It makes you more productive and efficient. • My personal philosophy which I have always lived by and share with my very own children, has always been that ‘work is worship’. • According to Bhagavad Gita, regarded as one of the highest sources of ancient spiritual knowledge in Hinduism, Lord Krishna counselled Arjuna to face his fears and do his duty. He further counsels him to not be attached to the fruits of his actions but rather be determined to carry out his duty successfully. • Never hurt another person’s feelings. I believe in ‘karma’, which is synonymous to Newton’s law – to every action there is a reaction. Similarly, the Bible says, ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’. • Never waste valuable resources – such as our environment. Water should be consumed economically. Save natural resources for our future generations. Wasting water or wasting food is selfish behavior. It’s a grave mistake which we will regret when our children will not have access to enough supply. • Time is another valuable resource. We all get 24 hours each day – if cherished and used wisely, it can be an advantage. Translating Kabir’s poetry, ‘tomorrow’s task should be done today, and today’s task should be done now’. Take action now. • Enjoy evenings and holidays with family. The driving force behind most successful people is ‘family’. Lord Ganesha says, ‘praying to one’s parents is as close to praying to God’. Look up the beautiful story of Lord Ganesha and his brother Karthikeya about the importance of respecting parents. • Keep learning. Never believe you know it all. Be a humble student of life – ask good questions, listen more and talk less. Success comes to those who are ready to absorb more knowledge. • Enjoy the diversity of cultures and various arts. These enrich one’s life. • Be grateful, at least once a day or more.

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The Priyanka Panjabi

was born in the Canary Islands, south-west of Spain. From the beginning, my life was a rich mixture of cultures and traditions. Balancing Indian values and beliefs while navigating a European way of life was the norm for me. Plus, the fact that I studied in an American school and then worked in the tourism industry, meant that I was constantly exposed to people from all over the world.

Inner Glow

Just when I thought my career and life in Spain was settled, I met my husband Vinod, who lived in Hong Kong! We were married in 2005 and I had to move to Hong Kong where once again I had to adapt to another culture. This time it took me a bit longer! I felt I always had strong business acumen and wanted to develop my own potential as much as possible. I soon joined my husband’s trading business, which helped me familiarize and understand the Chinese culture a bit more. In 2011 a new chapter in my life began, I had my son Armaan. Being a firsttime mom, I gave all my time and energy to him and completely dropped the idea of continuing to work in the family business. In 2014, I had my daughter Amara, and once again I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to do

anything else other than be a stay-at-home mom. Being a mom was surely taking its toll on me, with hormone changes and sleep deprivation. I started to notice darker circles under my eyes, wrinkles and my hair was falling! After trying many beauty products and even after attempting some DIY home remedies, nothing seemed to be helping. Hong Kong’s pollution and water quality made things worse and I couldn’t find anything that would work on my skin and hair. I eventually came across 100% pure and organic Argan Oil from Morocco. My father was born and raised in Casablanca so here my access and knowledge of Moroccan culture was a huge help. As soon as I used it, I knew this was the product I was looking for. I call it the ‘Miracle oil’ as it helped me in all areas from hair to skin. And so ARMARA Glow begun… I wanted to provide people with ONE natural product that would work for everyone for various beauty needs. After all, ‘less is more’. I wanted busy women to be able to simplify their beauty regimes with one product that had multiple purposes.

After conducting some research, I also decided to add an amazing Hair Oil Treatment, which helps with pollution and the water we get in Hong Kong and around Asia, as well as our 100% pure and organic Prickly Pear oil for skin and hair, which is a natural source of high content of linoleic acid, vitamin E and K. ARMARA – is a combination of both of my kids’ names, Armaan and Amara; Glow – simply because its exactly what the product promises. I am a true believer of ‘The Law of Attraction’. Even as a busy mom, on sabbatical from professional life, I held on to the idea of this business opportunity. And soon it became a reality. At times, it has been difficult to manage my time between being a mom and being an entrepreneur but when you truly believe in something and it totally consumes you, the struggle is worth it. My idea of success is not just selling my products, but helping others achieve what they are looking for when they see themselves in the mirror. The best feeling is when I have repeat, satisfied and ‘truly glowing’ consumers.

WhatsApp +852 97505752 • email: armaraimports@gmail.com Website: www.armaraimports.com Facebook : Armara • Instagram: armaraimports

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Inspiring Change Binita Haria

fter graduating from Oxford University with a First Class degree in Mathematics, and working as an Investment Banker in London for over 12 years; I now enjoy helping students reach their full potential in Mathematics and spreading the joy of Bollywood Dance in Hong Kong. The major transition from banking to teaching dance and math actually felt quite natural, like going back to my roots. My mother enrolled me in classical Indian dance classes when I was 4 years old, and I haven’t stopped dancing since. Even when I worked 90-hour weeks in investment banking, I would spend weekends in rehearsals with my dance groups and use half my holidays attending professional dance training programs around the world. I’ve always been fascinated by the beautiful logic of numbers, so armed with an Oxford math degree in a city where academic tutors are in high demand, I was able to quickly set myself up for teaching advanced mathematics to 15 to 18 year-olds. My students come from international schools across Hong Kong, and I help strengthen their fundamentals of trickier topics such as algebra or trigonometry. Once their foundation is solid and motivation reignited, they

are equipped to excel. I’ve seen all my math students improve by several grades within a few months of tutorials. It was greatly rewarding when a parent of two Australian students wrote to me, “Their confidence, understanding and enjoyment of the subject is without a doubt thanks to you. Your patience, encouragement and kindness, along with all the notes, rules and tips, will certainly help them going forward”. I’m grateful for all the parental referrals that have enabled me to fill my teaching schedule. People ask me where I get my energy from, and I have to put it down to my parents - they still work at the family pharmacy seven days a week, and they've always found the time to be community leaders, even whilst they were raising three girls. We’re part of an immensely tight-knit Gujarati Oshwal community in the UK, and both my parents have held chairperson roles throughout the years, selflessly dedicating their free time to organizing Jain community events. My late grandfather was such a pillar in society that over three thousand people came to pay their respects at his recent memorial service. I’ve always worked long hours since my teenage

years, yet made time for family, friends and dance. After gaining offers from 7 different investment banks, I joined JPMorgan at the age of 21. My job required me to work on complex billiondollar transactions, travel around the world with senior clients to present these deals to investors, and to speak at international conferences about fixed income markets. I worked my way up to Director level specializing in a UK and European client base, which wasn’t transferrable to HK. Moving to HK in 2016, I was delighted to find a whole city with a ‘work hard, play hard’ ethos and I settled in very quickly. I began tutoring mathematics in the afternoons and teaching Bollywood dance classes to adults in the evenings at the largest studio in Central. I got wedding choreography mandates by wordof-mouth and my classes have been listed as one of the ‘Best Dance Classes in Hong Kong’ by popular publications. My dance performance group has performed beautifully at multiple events including HSBC HQ’s Annual Diwali Party and the Chinmaya Carnival.

technique. I played an active role in annual graduate recruitment at JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley, so I use this experience to help others. The improvement I see in all my clients after just one session is incredible, helping them secure their dream job offers. I’m the only member of my family to live outside of London so I miss them all immensely, but it’s the fruit of my work as a teacher that keeps me going in Hong Kong. My career transition was much easier than expected as I’m teaching subjects that I’m passionate about and have decades of experience in. For anyone else considering a change, I encourage you to look back at your roots for inspiration.

I also help career changers update their CVs and improve their interview Phone: +852 5917 9577 Email: binitadance@gmail.com • Website: www.binitadance.com Facebook: Binita Dance • Instagram: binita_dance

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Leading the

LEARNERS

grew up in Mumbai in a Kutchi-Jain family. As a youngster, sports and art were my favourite learning areas, however I acquired an interesting mix of degrees - undergraduate degree in Economics and Political Science from St. Xavier's College, Diploma in Interior

Design and BGL of Law from Government Law College. I had a happy, carefree approach to everything. But life took a beautiful turn. Marriage brought me to Hong Kong 21 years ago. I am thankful to a close friend of mine who introduced me to the world of Special Needs Children. I started working as a volunteer at ESF, Jockey Club Sarah Roe School in my first month in Hong Kong. There was an instant rapport with the international teachers and a fantastic bonding with the Special Needs students. I enjoyed my work. While I was working with ESF, my mentor, asked me to study PGDE in Special Needs as he felt that I had the qualities required to work with them. That was the beginning of a new chapter in my journey from becoming a Special Needs Educator- Facilitator to the Founder of SURGEHK Ltd. I am blessed with two beautiful daughters and I am eternally grateful for them. They are my best teachers. Both my daughters have been good at sports (genes from my father). My elder daughter, Rajsi is a swimmer. She was the first one to inspire and encourage me to go for my dreams. Today, she is flourishing in her chosen field of clinical psychology with neuroscience and would like to pursue her dream of becoming a neuropsychologist.

Diptii Mehta My younger daughter Saloni plays for the Hong Kong Badminton Junior Team representing Hong Kong Internationally. Her goal and her dream to participate in the Olympics has become a journey of learning for me too. To understand and nurture physical and tactical skills, endurance and nutrition (as we are vegetarian and Jain), working with various coaches and meeting sportsmen around the world has led me to be a better spiritual human being. My breakthrough came about while I was working with some of the international schools. I realized that lots of the students going to the universities needed support. One of my first students was my daughter. This is how ‘SURGEHK Ltd’ was formed. The very meaning of ‘surge’ - a sudden powerful upward movement, here applies to uplift the students to gain confidence, be independent and develop their learning which can be applied as life-skills. To support the students and their families into understanding their personality and educational fields open to them, I started guiding them towards their dreams. Balancing the students’ learning and parents' expectations are a huge factor to work with.

With my Special Needs students, a lot of positive educational learning as Inclusive Education with mainstream and counseling to the parents to reduce the fear factor has been my aim at SURGEHK. Making parents more aware of the resources and skills available and the society more aware to include them is my goal at SURGEHK. One of my unconditional supporter and best critic has been my husband, Samir, who has guided me along the pathway as a true friend and I am eternally grateful to my family members, close friends and whoever has joined me in this learning journey wishing me best. I have learned from my students to be patient and extremely positive to unveil their potential. I am always thankful to them for being my teachers. My dream is to support my students to develop themselves holistically, give back to society, be better spiritual human beings with an abundance of internal learning powers. I am extremely passionate about my work and I have tried not to multi-task. I always believe in focusing on a task at hand and prioritizing by the value of that deed. Be more intuitive, honest to yourself and a good listener. We are all life-long learners.

Phone: +852 62354599 • email: info@surgehk.com Website: www.surgehk.com • Facebook: Surge

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Prep for

Pret

Neetu Kumar

he word ‘entrepreneur’ is not just a word; it’s all about choice and responsibility you foresee to write your own future before you set sailing. The road might seem rocky on a lot of occasions but, what’s life without a few challenges thrown upon you. The harder you work, the higher probability of you being successful. I was fully aware that the journey of entrepreneurship could be fraught with unexpected detours, roadblocks and dead ends. Of course, there would be lots of sleepless nights, plans that don't work out, funding that doesn't come through and customers that never materialize. Despite all these known hardships, I still embarked on this journey, determined to bring my vision to fruition and address a demand which I identified in the market – affordable ethnic wear. While I was pursuing my dream of becoming a fashion designer in my student years, life on the other hand was ‘planning’ too. I got married to a Marine Engineer and had to accompany him in sailing.

Despite being a certified Fashion Designer from IIFT, New Delhi, I stepped into the field of teaching soon after my relocation to Hong Kong. In retrospect, this detour of life was a great one! Although the job of an early childhood educator gave me immense satisfaction, my heart remained with the world of fashion; a place where I felt I truly belonged. Having worked for almost eleven years as a teacher, there came a tipping point in my life, when my son was finishing school and graduating to university. That’s when I thought of grabbing the opportunity and realize my long-awaited dream. Voila! Pakhi was born in January 2018 which marked the beginning of this wonderful venture. Pakhi collection of ethnic wear, chic pret Indo-western wear and sarees is completed with stunning accessories. Since its inception, I have a clear vision of what I want to accomplish and feel compelled to work tirelessly to make that happen. I genuinely believed that my initiative will fill the void and I was compelled by a single-minded

commitment to that goal to keep pushing ahead. I abhor stagnation and would rather fail while moving forward than languish in inactivity. The balance between work and life sounds ideal in theory, but in reality, its implementation is hugely challenging, especially when the system is stacked against us. A demanding career, professional teacher trainings and family obligations makes things even more difficult. We often visualise a life that strikes a balance between work life and personal life and in most cases, we are not able to fulfil the never-ending requirements of either of them. I started by identifying what’s truly important in my life which helped me re-prioritize and take a much more active approach to dedicating time to those areas.

having explored the market, I observed that there was a dearth of ethnic ready-towear fashion with affordable price tags. That urged me further to embark on this journey. With the growth in the stock intake, its rather challenging for me to have a place of my own, suited to the economic needs and the manpower it will require to function efficiently. Challenges will always exist in abundance, but Pakhi promises to soar higher and establish an inhouse collection of smart casuals soon. Along with the ever-growing love and support of the community, I shall slowly, but surely, succeed.

Having a wonderful support system is always a blessing in disguise. My family has always pushed me to strive harder and achieve my goals. A large part my go-getter attitude stems from the fact that my support system forever has only been motivational and inspiring. Access to finance was tough so, I ended up working as an educator to give my venture the economic backing it needed. After

Phone: +85261404219 • email: info@pakhihk.com Website: pakhihk.com • Facebook: pakhihongkong • Instagram: Pakhi HK

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Are You An

Coined by Roma Kalwani, the term ‘organiac’ describes a person who is obsessed with (or a maniac for) an organic lifestyle. Extending this philosophy into her new venture, she opens the grocery and lifestyle store in TST.

e all know that organic foods and a minimal lifestyle are the mantra for a better tomorrow. Yet, it’s a difficult philosophy to adopt because our basics would send our monthly expenses soaring! It becomes a matter of convenience and economics to pick a popular shelf item over making more conscious choices. It’s the same story in most households. But for Roma, it went down differently. “My husband is a foodie,” says Roma about her hubby and best friend Neil

Thadani. “And a lover of home-cooked meals at that. For him indulgence means premium quality ingredients! He wouldn’t ever want to compromise on taste or health. I’d often see the bills and be shocked at what he was ready to spend on organic grocery items.” We’ve all seen these ‘organic’ sections separated from the rest of the store area, with pricetags marked at least one and half times of what we are used to paying for everyday items. There are some who buy because they understand the facts and some simply

‘Organiac’?

because it’s a fad. Either ways, most end up opting for the big FMCG as they remain price-efficient.

Discovering Wholesome Goodness What started as a search for good quality, naturally grown foods became a mission for the Roma and her husband. Whether they were in Hong Kong, visiting India or taking a holiday somewhere, they would seek out local goodies to bring back home. In India, Roma found a lot that they were looking for.

“India is very advanced. It’s a farming country. They have the knowledge of healthy, organic products. And the food is directly from the soil. That is a philosophy we want to spread.”

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“India is very advanced. It’s a farming country. They have the knowledge of healthy, organic products. And the food is directly from the soil. That is a philosophy we want to spread.”

Mainly sourced from India, the product range also has other carefully selected items shipped in from other parts of the world. “A lot of the products are also here because our regular

From freshly ground atta, ghee made from grass-fed humpback cow’s milk, homemade mithais for diabetics, regional snacks, a whole product-line made with Himalayan pink salt to biodegradable diyas and decorations – they found everything ‘made in India’. It was then that they decided to become facilitators to connect these homegrown products directly to consumers in Hong Kong.

Opening Organiac A quaint little shop at the beginning of Mody Road, Organiac is very conveniently located in the heart of TST. With shelves filled from end to end – its almost surprising how wide the product range is. The store offers atta grinding service too!

Organiac is the only store in Hong Kong that offers the service of grinding atta. They stock grains or you can take your own and get freshly ground atta at a reasonable service fee.

most of the products still have the original price stickers on! The brand’s tagline ‘Invest in farmacy not pharmacy’ tells us exactly what its key motive is.

The Conscious Crew “Everyone wants what’s best for their family, we wanted that too,” says Roma. “That’s why everything in the store is what I would buy for my home.” When asked how the mother of 4-year-old daughter (Larannya) and 2-year-old son (Prayaan),

She understands the importance of leaving behind a legacy of

Roma also acknowledges her masi, Kavita Bhojwani, Venkat Kandi, Agnello Pinto and all her staff in India for making Organiac possible.

mindfulness. She wants her kids also to understand the importance of choosing right. “Of course, it doesn’t mean you have to

customers call in with some special requests. And we source the items out for them. It’s the best way to learn about market demands and continue to discover new items,” she explains. The prices are surprisingly affordable. Roma shares, “The purpose of Organiac isn’t profit-making. Its about bridging the gap between the producer and the ultimate consumer. So the prices are just to cover the original price and the freight.” And there’s no room for doubt when she says that because

gracious to acknowledge the inputs of Jhona, the lady on her staff who has been with her for over 10 years.

manages time to research, set up and run a business, she simply points to her mum. “She is my backbone!” A beautiful reflection of her mother, Roma talks about how family support is the only reason how she has been able to achieve her dreams. She is just as

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compromise of taste or fun. I love junk. And I can imagine how much more kids would love it. But we have to teach them to make conscious choices even with snacks and junk.” As the facilitator between the makers and the end users, the brand is promising employment to over 2000 people who are involved in the business. With encouragement from such companies, farmers or organic produce can make the industry affordable yet profitable. “The reason we have so many farmers use growth enhancers is because they are trying to optimize on their farms. But if organic farmers are getting their due, there is no need for infusing chemicals in our soils,” she explains. But that’s not where it ends. Roma is mindful about the packaging and service she

Roma with her mother Satu Vashdev Kalwani (right) and store manager Jhona Gamurot (left)

“If organic farmers get their due, there is no need for them to infuse harmful chemicals in our soils just to increase production.” offers. The store doesn’t charge for the cotton hand-made bag they pack the purchases in. in fact, they just request you to reuse it when needed. All bottles and jars are all reusable glass. Moreover, 2 percent of the sales go towards education in rural India. “The core idea is to take from the soil and to give back to the soil,” she says.

Shop No.5, Empress Plaza, 17 Chatham Road, South on Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong (Next To Tst Mtr Exit P3) Ph: +852-54761777 • +852-97462631

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WELLNESS

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Light

over

Darkness D

iwali, considered to be the Indian new year, is one of the most celebrated festivals in our culture with vibrant colors, fireworks and lamps to symbolize light. There are many historical stories related to this festival of lights, all of which lead to the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. If we look more closely at the symbolism behind these tales, there are many profound messages that convey how to live life consciously which are much deeper than our basic understanding of ‘good over evil’. The stories contain the components of a villain acting from fear and greed in order to acquire a kingdom or person; an idealistic character operating from integrity to save the day; and a battleground where it all takes place. This storyline represents the challenges that we are all grappling with in our battlefield of life. When we see the world through the filter of judgment, it ignites fear and greed in us, taking us away from our sense of peace and attaching us to a materialistic desire. When we get attached

With her keen understanding of the human mind, Sonia Samtani shares inspirational words to awaken our souls this Diwali as she deconstructs the significance of ‘light over darkness’

to this desire it reinforces our feeling of lack and makes us even more insecure. At the same time, there is another part of us representing the idealistic character that is aware of this drama; knows that we have deviated from our path due to judgment; and understands that we need to shine our light over these judgments. Just like in the battles, the lords didn’t fight from anger but from a sense of peace and acceptance, our journey is to shed this awareness on the darker, judgmental parts of our lives so that we can be accepting and operate from our light. These tales are really making us aware of a universal truth that duality exists in our world, (meaning we will be faced with opposing elements), and hence there will be dark and light. In this sense, judging the dark as ‘bad’ may not be the answer, but accepting that the dark is there like lord Rama did, and overcoming it by shining our light brightly introduces a new interpretation that offers a different perspective to this story.

Here are a few powerful messages we can understand about light and dark this Diwali: 1) If everything exists in opposites, light only has meaning because darkness exists. Darkness is as much a part of this game as light is, so from a broader perspective it’s not the enemy it’s the ally to get to light. 2) Light is wisdom, it’s not about being a good person or doing the right thing. There are millions of opinions on what is good and what is right, there is no universal benchmark for that. Light is being aware enough to understand and accept situations, and that naturally shifts our need for peace. 3) Since darkness is part of this game called life, it is inevitable that we will go through periods of darkness in our human experience. By

darkness I mean we will feel emotions like anger, sadness, fear, helplessness, and more. The moment we accept this, it no longer stays dark. If we can accept darkness as a life experience, we will grow exponentially and see light at the end of every challenge. As you light your diyas this year, get in touch with an aspect of your life you judge as being dark. It could be something happening directly to you or around you. Begin to see that situation through the lens of acceptance and think about what you can begin to understand and accept. Once you sense a shift from dark feelings, check what there is to learn from the situation and a fresh perspective will be available, which is the light of wisdom. My wish for us, this Diwali, is that we continue to love ourselves and keep moving from judgment to acceptance.

All About You Wellness Centre website: www.allaboutyoucentre.com email: info@soniasamtani.com • Phone: 29920828

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Sweet

Celebrations With so many festivities coming up, it’s smart to balance what you’re eating. The good news is – home-made desserts can be as guilt-free or guilt-laden as you want them to be! Seema Puri Bhatia shares two of her own recipes – one, super healthy and the other, a little indulgent to keep that lovely balance

Coconut Vanilla & Cardamom Chia Pudding Ingredients 400 ml

coconut milk

1-2 teaspoons

Madagascar vanilla essence

1/4 teaspoon

cardamom powder Organic maple syrup/agave or honey to taste

¼ - ½ cup

chia seeds soaked in enough water to gel up

4 tablespoons

goji berries pre-soaked in water so they plump up or a few sliced strawberries Almond & pistachio slivers

Preparation

Soak your chia seeds in water overnight. Add the coconut milk to enough chia seeds to give you a pudding consistency. Stir in the vanilla. Sweeten to taste. Drain and stir in the goji berries (or strawberries). Garnish with almond and pistachio slivers and serve.

RECIPE

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Cardamom Panna Cotta with Pistachio & Strawberries Ingredients for Panna Cotta 1 cup

whole full cream milk

2.5 tsp

unflavored gelatin (roughly one packet)

2 cups

Paul’s heavy whipping cream

1/2 heaped cup

white sugar

pinch of

Himalayan pink salt

1/2 tsp

cardamom powder

1 teaspoon

vanilla essence

1 cup

sour cream

¼ - ½ cup

chia seeds soaked in enough water to gel up Ingredients for Berry Sauce

2 cups

strawberries

3 -4 tablespoon

white sugar

1/2 tablespoon

lemon juice

1/2 tablespoon

orange juice

1/2 teaspoon

gran mariner liqueur (optional) Pistachio slivers and edible silver foil to garnish

Preparation Panna Cotta: Place the milk in a medium saucepan and sprinkle over the gelatin. Let it sit for 5-6 min or until gelatin is soft. Place this pan over medium/low heat and stir until gelatin dissolves and mixture is hot but DO NOT boiled - this should take around 5 minutes. Pour in the 2 cups heavy whipping cream, heaped half cup of sugar, cardamom, vanilla and salt. Continue stirring about 5 min until sugar is fully dissolved and mixture is steamy hot (please take care not to boil). Let it cool till warm. Place the sour cream in a big bowl. Whisk it whilst adding the warmed milk cardamom cream. Once the mixture is well incorporated and completely smooth, divide it into dessert glasses Refrigerate until set.

Berry Sauce: In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup strawberries, lemon juice, orange juice, gran mariner and the sugar. Bring to a gentle boil and cook a few minutes till it’s like a syrup. Toss in remaining strawberries and remove from heat. When syrup is at room temp or just barely warm, spoon it berries and all over the top of chilled cardamom panna cottas. Garnish with edible foil and pistachio slivers.

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Teeyan Da Mela - the largest, annual event for Punjabi women hosted by Hong Kong Punjab Entertainment since the past 14 years. ‘Teeyan’ is the Punjabi name for the ‘teej’ festival, celebrated at the onset of ‘sawan’ (monsoon). It is the time when traditionally married women visited their maternal homes to spend the monsoon with their parents. Young women gather for song and dance with focus on the ‘giddha’. Organized beautifully by Pinky Thandi, the all-ladies event with Punjabi songs, live ‘dhol’ and Indian food was attended by women and children of the community dressed in their traditional finery.

The 73rd Independence Day celebration was

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Hindi Diwas With all the on-going celebrations this season, there is one less-celebrated occasion that we’d like to mention, on 14th September this year – Hindi Diwas. Or as my NRI friend calls it - हिंडी divas, which she possibly thought was a day to celebrate the likes of Rekha and Madhuri Dixit!

es, she said Hindi with the ‘डमरू का ड’ in that uncomfortable accent from Bollywood’s version of British rulers in pre-partitioned India. Can’t blame her. Like me, she was born to a Gujarati family and went to an English school. But while she grew up in Hong Kong I grew up in Bombay. I learned Hindi and Marathi out of compulsion. And our Hindi was further refined by Ekta Kapoor in the cable TV era. But the only Hindi my dear NRI friend was exposed to was from the few (and forced) Indian movies she watched. “Pichhe ka kholo,” she would say to her driver. It means

‘open the dicky’, in our English. I’d laugh every time she’d say it. So, then she’d tell him, “Boot kholo”! To which I’d laugh more. It was all funny till my son got in school. And not the kind of school I went to. The Bombay IB school where kids are left to explore. They got encouragement to learn, unlike us, who got pressure to memorize. When it came to Hindi, he wasn’t much interested, the school didn’t use the cane and I wasn’t in touch with written Hindi for years. Spellings took a beating! I also discovered that people whose first language is English speak Hindi in that same insufferable ‘pre-

partitioned British ruler from Bollywood’ accent. My son’s मैं and में would sound the same. And since he never watched enough of Balaji Productions, he just never got the genders right. Then came the day I read his sentence making worksheet - मेरा छाती खुलरा नइ। I was more shaken about why my child is learning ‘chhaati kholna’ in school! It was a relief to hear his translation my umbrella is not opening. Phew! That was the day I called a Hindi tutor. Now that we’ve moved to Hong Kong, I get him excited about practicing his Hindi because it can be our secret language when we talk in the malls. And he pointed

that he’s learning Cantonese in school, so there’s a secret language when we go to India! Whatever tickles him to learn more (eye roll). But jokes aside, let’s pledge on Hindi Diwas that we teach our children a language from their roots - Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Gujarati, anything. Let’s keep languages alive. Because English they will learn anyway. I leave you with a sweet note I read - never make fun of someone who doesn’t speak English, it means they know another language well.

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Importance of

Human Values only intellectually but also spiritually.

For the auspicious occasion of Diwali, Poonam V Mehta (President, Be The Change HK) highlights the significance of ‘human values’ and how they help us in the victory of good over evil.

‘H

umanity’ is the one unique quality that we inherently possess amongst all of God’s beings. Human values keep mankind existing and evolving through time – and develop into superior beings, not

Qualities such as compassion, courage, trust, integrity and calmness combined with spirituality, traditions, culture or community norms bring flavour to our lives. These qualities that are either inherited, learnt or self-taught, define every individual’s personality. They also build our character and take us beyond our dreams and to a higher level. Having a spiritual practice, which teaches us to be mindful and to let go of attachments, also, helps us to focus on developing our strengthens and consciously improving on weaker attributes in ourselves. The true beauty of compassion is action oriented. Offering a word of encouragement, listening without judging, teaching;

seeing the good in others, doing something for someone who can’t possibly repay you are all aspects of compassion. Furthermore, all signs of humility are being genuinely happy with other people’s successes and accepting the uncertainty of life and being joyful in what we have keeps us going as we face challenges of life. In addition, calmness is the ability to accept the present moment without emotional reaction and distress, this includes having trust. Without trust, we can adopt negative interpretations. Trust, however, interrelates with Integrity about being congruent to our own conscience and values. It involves letting go of the ‘but I can get away with it’ thinking and not promising what you know you cannot fulfill.

Finally, the chemistry of our personal growth is to enjoy autonomy. It is about being independent and reliant on oneself and not others. At its deepest level, it is acknowledging yourself as the creator of your reality.

Wish you all good health, much joy and abundance of prosperity this Diwali.

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