In Conversation with Chef Pankaj Bhadouria: From Classroom to Kitchen, and Holidays That Heal the Soul
Before MasterChef, Pankaj spent 16 years as a teacher. But a TV promo featuring Akshay Kumar sparked a new dream. 'My kids said, 'Mom, you have to go audition—you cook so well!'' she recalls. It wasn't a planned switch, but a heart-led leap, which took her from a 3,000-strong queue in Lucknow to winning MasterChef India – at the cost of a stable job and peer scepticism.
'You're not going for cooking; you're chasing glamour,' she was told. From TV shows and books to her academy and digital content, Pankaj wears many hats. Through it all, her family is her anchor. 'Everything works out when you have love and support surrounding you,' she says.
Growing up in Delhi, food and family went hand in hand. Despite losing her father at a young age, Pankaj's memories are rich with warmth. She recalls winter afternoons spent sitting on the kitchen slab with her brother, tearing rotis straight from the pan. 'There was no screen time – just stories, smells, and shared meals,' she says.
Both her parents were excellent cooks, and the kitchen was always alive with aromas and activity. Her mother, who learned cooking from her father and grandmother, passed on more than just recipes – she passed on the spirit of togetherness.
For Pankaj, early vacations meant trips to Gazipur or Himachal. With success, holidays became meaningful pauses to connect. A favourite was the Deccan Odyssey luxury train ride with her family across Mumbai, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. 'It was our way of being tourists and royalty at the same time,' she laughs.
Another highlight is Disneyland in the U.S. after a work trip. 'I always wanted to go, and so did my daughter. It was pure magic at every age.' From camping in Kanatal to European tours and Indian adventures, her travels are about people, not just places. 'Even today, dinner is a non-negotiable family event. We debrief, share laughs, and bond,' she says.
In true chef fashion, Pankaj's holiday memories often involve food. From the men in her family cooking a feast on a trip to sharing sandwiches in European convenience stores, meals have always been memory markers.
And traditions run deep. 'Christmas is big in our home – Secret Santa, a decorated tree, and baking together as a family,' she shares. 'We may travel the world, but these rituals ground us.'
Make Your Family Holidays Magical
From sun-kissed beaches to lush jungles, serene backwaters to majestic hills, vast deserts to captivating international locations – Club Mahindra has it all! Create unforgettable memories by embarking on a magical journey with our 140+ resorts across different terrains and amazingly unique experiences.
Disclaimer:
This content is sponsored and does not reflect the views or opinions of IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd. No journalist is involved in creating sponsored material and it does not imply any endorsement whatsoever by the editorial team. IE Online Media Services takes no responsibility for the content that appears in sponsored articles and the consequences thereof, directly, indirectly or in any manner. Viewer discretion is advised.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Virat Kohli Seen Chatting With Locals In London, Video Goes Viral
Last Updated: Kohli, who is one of the greatest batters of all time, lives in London now with his wife, Anushka Sharma, and two kids – Vamika and Akaay. Legendary Indian batter and former captain Virat Kohli lives in London now with his wife, Anushka Sharma, and two kids – Vamika and Akaay. The Delhi-born cricketer moved to the European city sometime back. Since the conclusion of IPL 2025, he has not returned to India. He last made a public appearance during an event organised by former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh in London last month. Kohli, who is expected to feature for India in the three-match ODI series against the Australia team in October 2025, was recently spotted strolling through the streets of London with his wife, Anushka. In the clip going viral on the internet, Kohli can also be seen chatting with locals and sharing a laugh. Virat Kohli And @AnushkaSharma Spotted Strolling Through The Streets Of London.💖.... #Virushka @imVkohli — virat_kohli_18_club (@KohliSensation) August 17, 2025 Kohli, who ended his 18-year-long wait for winning an IPL title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru on June 4 in Ahmedabad, announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 12, 2025. He took to Instagram to share a post which confirmed his exit from the five-day format of the game. During his 14-year-long Test career, Kohli played 123 Tests for India and, with the help of 30 centuries and 31 fifties, amassed a total of 9230 runs. He finished his career as the fourth leading run scorer for India in Tests and also holds the record for winning the most Tests as India captain. Under Kohli's leadership, India played 68 Test matches from 2014 to 2021 and won 40. Kohli, who has more than 27,500 runs to his name in international cricket, had retired from T20Is last year. On June 29, 2024, after India defeated South Africa by seven runs in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024, Kohli, while speaking during the post-match presentation ceremony, said that he is stepping away from the shortest format of the game. Kohli, who is all set to be part of India's ODI squad for the Australia series in October, will have a chance to break Kumar Sangakkara's record and become the second leading run-getter in the 50-over format of the game. During his playing days, Sangakkara scored 14,234 runs in 404 matches, whereas Kohli has 14,181 runs to his name in 302 ODIs. He needs to score 54 more runs to go past Sangakkara's tally. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Indian Express
How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal's Trans-Giri region
Netr Singh, 47, is the second eldest of four brothers. His elder brother, Suren Singh, 50, and younger brother, Chamel Negi, had left their native village of Shillai—tucked in the Giripar region dominated by the Hatti community—for the defence services and a private job, respectively. When it was time for their marriages, the family elders wanted to follow the traditional Jodidara system, in which brothers share a common wife. But Suren and Chamel, citing the transferable nature of their jobs, declined. Eventually, only Netr and his younger brother, Shanti Ram, married Anchal Devi under Jodidara rituals. The wedding took place on April 19, 2005. Netr now looks after the family's farmland and cattle, while Shanti Ram runs a small karyana shop near the Thari Devi shrine in Shillai, 200 km from Shimla. The Giripar region covers a large part of Himachal's Sirmour district—including Shillai, Stone, Kamru, Rajban, parts of Renuka Ji and Paonta Sahib—and stretches into neighbouring Uttarakhand's Hatti-dominated belt. It is named after the Giri river, which originates in Shimla district, runs through Sirmour, and meets the Yamuna at Paonta Sahib. The land across the river is known as Giripar. 'By the time I married under Jodidara, things had already begun changing,' Netr told The Indian Express, flipping through his wedding album. 'Now, if ten marriages happen, only one might follow the tradition—and in a modest way. The eldest brother alone shares the stage with the bride and takes the saat phere. Only his horoscope is matched with hers.' The album cover reads: Wedding: Netr Sang Aanchal (Netr with Aanchal). A large photo of Netr in a sehra with bride Aanchal is flanked by a smaller one showing Shanti Ram with her. The couple has five children—three daughters, Vanshika, Mehak and Dikshu, listed under Netr's name in official records, and one son, Naveen, under Shanti Ram's. All bear their mother's name, Anchal Devi, renamed Balma Devi after marriage. One child was later adopted by Suren Singh. Both Suren and Chamel now live outside the Giripar region and visit Shillai only occasionally. Over the years, Netr has seen more Hattis—especially those working away from home—move away from Jodidara. His own wooden, hill-style home lies downhill from that of Pradeep and Kapil Negi, two brothers who married the same woman, Sunita Chauhan from nearby Kunhat, on July 11 this year, keeping the polyandry tradition alive. Videos from their wedding went viral on social media. Local priest Mohi Ram Sharma, 63, from Bhangata village, said, 'Such marriages are rare now. Times have changed. Many brothers who marry the same woman later separate, leaving her with either the elder or one of the younger brothers. Even in my family, Jodidara has broken down.' He added, 'The recent marriage in Shillai happened after nearly four years. The last such wedding I recall was three or four years ago in a nearby village. I don't know if that one survived.' Jodidara—a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain. In the Hatti wedding tradition, called Jajda, the bride arrives in a procession, where rituals like Seenj are performed. A priest chants mantras, sprinkles holy water, and offers jaggery as a blessing from the family deity. Ramo Devi, 79, a widow once married to three brothers, summed it up: 'It all depends on rajamandi (mutual consent). Agar rajamandi sachi hai to Jodidari nibh jayegi (If there is genuine consent, it works. If not, it fails).' Kapil Chand, an office-bearer of the Kendriya Hatti Samiti—which led the push for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Hattis in 2024—said, 'Jodidara helped us gain ST recognition. It was a social strategy to combat poverty, prevent land fragmentation, and keep families united. Shillai was once called the kala-pani of Himachal for its remoteness. Even today, it lags behind other backward areas like Bharmour, Pangi, or Kinnaur.' A 2025 study by sociologists Shiv Kumar and Thakur Prem Kumar, published in the Journal of Neonatal Surgery, links Jodidara's decline to higher education and new job opportunities. 'Youngsters work in cities or abroad. They fear being mocked,' said Sharma. Himachal Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, who represents Shillai in the Assembly, acknowledged that polyandry is 'declining with time.' Echoing him, senior local BJP leader Baldev Singh Tomar—himself from the Hatti community—said, 'Jodidara and Jamindara (landlordism) were linked. Jodidara prevented division of land in this once-poor area. Under Jamindara, work was divided: one brother farmed, another tended cows, another goats. The aim was to keep the family strong as a united joint unit.' Tomar, whose three grandfathers all married under Jodidara, added: 'Our immediate family still has around 68 members. It's rare today, but if it happens, people here don't frown upon it. In fact, they watch with interest to see if the marriage will work—or if one brother will marry separately.'
New Indian Express
8 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Boating, adventure sports soon at Hyderabad's Malkam Cheruvu
HYDERABAD: The Malkam Cheruvu near Shaikpet flyover in Serilingampally, which attracts a large number of visitors, will soon offer new adventure sports and boating facilities once the GHMC Standing Committee approves the proposal from the Amaravati Boating Club. Proposed activities at Malkam Cheruvu include JetSki (water scooter-operator driven), Jet Attack (self-drive option with operator control), pedal boats, water zorbing, water cycling, electric donut boat-floating diner, solar gypsy boat, bumper boat, banana boat, flyboarding, inflatable Disneyland bouncy, and inflatable rocket (on land-about 20 sq.m). The Telangana Tourism Development Corporation has initiated adventure water sports activities at Malkam Cheruvu as part of efforts to enhance tourism. These activities will be operated through experienced private operators. The authorised operator has requested permission to commence the activities, with a proposed license fee of Rs 60,000 per month plus GST, with a 10% annual increase, on the same lines as the kayaking and sailing facility at Yacht Club, Hyderabad.
