"i wanted to be a fashion designer like my mother but she told me to pursue my passion for cooking"

Chef Dharamveer Singh has travelled the world and experienced different cultures. He started out in Costa Rica and is soon going to return there to pursue a different job. His understanding of different people and their way of living allowed him to give me an open and wide-ranging perspective on people in different parts of India in comparison to people and their lifestyles here in Bangalore. He has travelled from place to place, city to city doing just what he loves and enjoys : traveling and cooking. Our meaningful and broad- gauged interaction pleasantly struck me as he is one of the few people I know who has gone after his dreams and is so passionate about what he does.

Did you always want to be a chef? Was your family supportive of your decision to pursue cooking?

When I was in college, I was interested in fashion designing and took after my mother, who owned a boutique at the time. But, on the other hand, I also loved working in the kitchen and experimenting with different recipes. When I sat down with my parents and discussed with them my plans for the future, they encouraged me to go after my love for food. My mother heartened me to do something different and new, and so here I am, doing what I love!

You've worked in a generous number of restaurants and prestigious hotels around India and in Latin America, how do you think this has helped you to broaden the way you understand different cultures and people?

When I left home, I was pretty young and, to be honest, a little nervous. I had never really been away from home. But this has helped me to understand that the world has many good opportunities to offer and that I need to make wise choices and do what is best for me. Also, I think traveling has helped me to understand that everyone is different, that people differ in culture and lifestyle. It has helped to appreciate this fact and embrace new surroundings and opportunities as they come my way. Over and above, when I first arrived in Bangalore, I didn't speak English at all and this scared me as I was told that Bangalore was a big, metro city and that knowing English was a "must." Visiting different places and working with different people has also improved my linguistic skills which is something I am very grateful for.

Tell me about your experiences in Bangalore. Are there any struggles you face? What is one thing you really appreciate about the city?

I arrived in Bangalore in 2011 and the first major hurdle was the language. Like I said, I did not speak English and therefore struggled in terms of communication. I felt judged and was discriminated by the locals who were uneducated. Then again. food was another complication. I never had a liking for South Indian food and Bangalore was the first South Indian city I had relocated to. For example, here, chicken tikka masala, an authentic North Indian dish, is served with curry leaves, something that would shock and appall people in Haryana. Over and above, people in Haryana are rather rude in their tone when they speak, but here, I find a sense of warmth and friendliness. Yes, there are people who ill-treat migrants, but there are also helpful and large-hearted people.

Chef Dharamveer Singh, from Hariyana, Punjab, is working as a sous-chef and is soon going to relocate to Costa Rica.

What do you miss the most about home? How often do you go back to Haryana?

I take a flight home to my family every two months, but when I am away, I call them every morning. My wife calls me at least four times a day and although it is not the same as being with my family, I look forward to these calls everyday. I want to bring my family with me wherever I go but I know it is not the best idea as my mother is sick and it will be difficult for her. I don't want to spoil my son's education either by moving him from place to place as my job requires me to do so. I want to do what is best for him and the rest of my family.

You mentioned to me that you were ill-treated on numerous occasions. Would you like to share with me any particular incident?

Yes, of course. In April, in the year 2011, my first year here in Bangalore I had gone out for a party and was walking home after the party had gotten over. I was reaching the gate when I felt a sharp pang at the back of my head. Someone had hit me hard with a stick. I fell on my knees and was lying on the road helpless while my watch, my rings and my gold chain were taken from me. They hit me several times until I couldn't feel my body. I remember lying there unconscious until 1:30 until a security guard helped me up and took me to the hospital. That incident scared me but also made me think about why migrants are treated so badly. I was judged just because I wore a turban. That was the worst day of my life.

Thank you, Chef Dharamveer.

My conversation with Dharamveer really helped widen my eyes to a broader vision of what migrants go through and the factors that help them decide to leave their home and family to move to another alien city or town for better opportunities. I got a deeper and fuller understanding when I conversed with him as he has travelled around the country and the world and was, as a result, able to give me a more wide-ranging opinion on his personal experiences. I got a more outspread view as he compared and described the way culture, people and lifestyle differed from place to place in India. He currently works as a sous-chef in Red Rhino and is relocating to Costa Rica soon for better career opportunities.