When Indian Michelin Star Chef Vikas Khanna Told BBC That His Sense Of Hunger Comes From New York - Not India

Indian Michelin star Chef, restaurateur and humanitarian Vikas Khanna, who has turned his focus to India's hungry during India's fight against Covid-19, has said that his sense of hunger comes from New York, not India. Khanna was talking to the BBC.

Khanna has distributed over 14 million meals in 135 cities across India. For helping Mumbai's Dabbawalas, he collaborated with the US consulate in Mumbai. He has handed over "100,00 kilograms of supplies to 2,000 dabbawalas".

The anchor was interviewing him on his initiative of helping the hungry during the pandemic from thousand miles away from Manhattan. Saying that Khanna is now famous, he mentions that Khanna has cooked for the Obamas and has been on Gordon Ramsay’s show.

The anchor, talking about Khanna's family, and perhaps pointing to his past, says, "But it wasn't always that way, was it?"

The anchor then tells Khanna that he doesn't come from a rich family. "I dare say, you understand how precarious it can be in India," he further remarks.

To this, Khanna says, "I understand, but my sense of hunger didn't come from India so much, because I was born and raised in Amritsar and we have a huge community kitchen where everyone gets fed..."

The celebrity chef points that the entire city (Amritsar) can eat at the community kitchen in Amritsar. On his feat of feeding the millions in India from miles away, Khanna said that one has to be either crazy or a genius to pull it off.

He adds that his sense of hunger came from New York, where he was struggling. He mentions the difficult times he faced following the 9/11 terror attack as a man of colour.

In a post on Twitter, Khanna nostalgically dedicated the "17 Millionth Meal" to NYRescueMission.

Hailing from Amritsar, Punjab, Khanna draws inspiration from his family, especially his mother and grand mother.

Khanna's recent posts on Twitter have seen him showing gratitude to people and places that have helped him rise against the odds. Among the people he has thanked is Mrs Pushpa Sabharwal, who happens to be one of his first employers in New York.

He says in a post: "While many treated me like crap, she was most generous. I saved every $$ she gave me for summer school at NYU. She used to tell me that one day I would cook for Presidents. We both laughed. Who knew that Ma Saraswati was talking to me through her. Her voice has so many blessings."

Khanna's tweets, in the wake of the current narrative in the United States against racial and social discrimination, seem to be talking to people across race and social diversities.He recently met Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace where he presented his book - Utsav, A Culinary Epic of Indian Festivals to her.

Khanna was moved by the moving images of thousands of migrant workers in different Indian cities walking on foot to their homes and home state. He then used his Twitter account to reach out to the needy. He turned to the responses with action.