can indians cook fish and chips?

I was brought up in England.

By Peter Lane Rai

INDIANS live worldwide and are well known for their ability and resourcefulness to make a new life in a foreign country. My Indian father left India and lived in World War Two England, where he met my mum and where I was born.

So, fish and chips are one of my favourite meals, and this would not surprise you as

I’ve already taken my Christmas holiday for this year, at a small coastal town five hours' drive from Brisbane. So, one night, I went to the local fish and chip shop to get dinner. To my great surprise, on the menu list was “Curry in a Hurry”, and the owner, Mohan, was an Indian from Gujarat State! Yet while I know Indians can cook curry, I was not too sure if they can cook fish and chips correctly!

Mohan told me he loved Australia, but it had been tough settling in as he had emigrated to Australia alone in 2018, leaving behind his pregnant wife, Amrit. She would join Mohan after the baby was born, but COVID came along in 2019, preventing the family from reuniting in Australia.

So, it was three lonely, difficult years for Mohan and Amrit before they and their son Ashish could be happily reunited.

Mohan told me that he had chosen to live in a quiet coastal Queensland town as “After living in a bustling, chaotic crowded Indian city all my life, I wanted to enjoy fresh air and space in a coastal Queensland town. “

While Mohan may never be rich, the business is doing well, and he and the family feel like they are part of the local community.

To my question why he chose a fish chip shop business (not too well known in India other than in Goa) he replied

“Well we eat a lot of deepfried foods in India, so it is not too much of a problem to deep-fry potatoes and fish”

So, what did I think of Mohan’s fish and chips? They were great - as good as those I ate in England. So well done Mohan.

Mohan and Amrit’s story is an excellent example of Indian determination to overcome the challenges of living outside of India and contribute meaningfully to Australian life.

Next time I see Mohan, I will have some curry with my fish and chips!