➺ Describe a childhood memory around Ramadan.
I grew up in the Old Town in Bombay, right next door to a mosque. Inside, there was a huge nakara – the kind of drum they would use back in the day for really special announcements, like the arrival of a king! At iftar, the local kids would beat that nakara like crazy. I remember it so clearly – all of us frantically pushing each other out of the way to get a turn. We used to believe that it was our drumbeat that broke people’s fast every day, which felt very special indeed. I’ll cherish that memory always.
➺ How do you harness self-reflection beyond Ramadan?
Nowadays, it’s really important for me to carry self-reflection forward, but I used to struggle with that a lot. During Ramadan you're pious, you're not doing anything you shouldn’t, the fasting helps with your self-restraint – it’s like gaining a superpower. But after Ramadan, those habits fade away.
I've learned that if you are intentional about any habit you gain during Ramadan, whether it's eating differently, consuming less or doing as much charity as possible, you can sustain it beyond the holy month. If you're not intentional, then it goes as swiftly as it comes.
➺ What’s your favourite dish to see at your iftar table?
One dish? That’s too hard! I'll pick two. Dahi pulki is one of my favourites on the Khadak menu this year – gram flour dumplings in a spicy yogurt sauce, tempered with cumin. And Haleem – a thick, savoury porridge, made of cracked wheat, daal, meat and spices. You cook it for several hours and then pound it until smooth and comforting.
