‘I wasn't deported': US-returned techie now sells rajma chawal in Mohali. Watch
After spending three years in the United States, working in the IT space, Maninder Singh has returned to the motherland. Instead of an office job, however, Singh has chosen a more offbeat career path - the US-returned techie is now selling street food in Mohali.
A video featuring Singh and his food stall was shared on the popular Instagram channel 'Foodler'. Omar, the content creator behind the channel, told HT.com that Singh returned to India in January and now runs a food stall in Mohali, Punjab.
In the video, Singh whipped out his driving license from New York as proof that he once lived in the Big Apple. He explained that he has 12 years of total work experience in tech, retail, call centres and IT.
It was a tech job that took Singh to his United States. He was in the country for three years. After the death of his father, however, Singh moved back to India. 'No, I wasn't deported,' he clarified in the video.
Singh and his wife now run a food stall in the popular 3B2 market of Mohali. She does all the cooking, while he sets up the stall and sells the food. On the day the video was filmed, Singh was selling rajma, chawal, kadhi pakoda, rotis, soya chaap and mango lassi.
A post shared by Foodler (@realfoodler)
'I was in the United States for three years. My wife has 20 years of experience in cooking, so we thought of starting a food business. I help her, but she is the one who cooks,' Singh told Omar in the video.
'He started this food joint just 2-3 months back. Right now the income is not fixed as the business is new,' Omar told HT.com.
'His wife prepares everything in the morning and he starts his work at 1 pm. Around 3 pm, his wife joins him as well.'
For many people across the world, settling down in the US is a lifelong dream. In fact, so deeply entrenched is the attraction that many resort to illegal 'Dunki' routes or cross borders illegally to reach the US.
Maninder Singh, however, has no wish to return to the US.
'He told me that it might look interesting for people to visit or stay in the US, but he loves his home and would not want to go back to the US again even if he gets another chance,' Omar told HT.com.
Instead, the small business owner wants to expand his menu and add new dishes, eventually hoping to turn a profit.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
24 minutes ago
- India Today
The Bengal Files teaser: A chilling story with powerhouse performers
An image of Goddess Durga's idol burning ends the teaser for 'The Bengal Files'. Directed and written by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, the film aims at diving deep into Bengal's political and cultural history, claiming to reveal some unsaid makers released the teaser for the film on Thursday, promising an engaging and 'haunting' watch. The video, which was released on social media, gave a glimpse of all the prominent actors in the film. Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumar, Puneet Issar and Saswata Chatterjee, among others, feature in the teaser opens with a sad voice claiming, "Main ek Kashmiri Pandit hoon, islye yakeen ke sath keh sakta hoon ki Bengal ek dusra Kashmir banta ja raha hai (I am a Kashmiri Pandit, and therefore, I can say with full confidence that Bengal is turning into another Kashmir)." We hear claims about communal politics, and a man asking who is really independent even after 80 years of independence from British rule. The teaser presents intense sequences hinting at the emotional and historical tone of the film. The visuals seem raw and impactful, evoking a sense of the teaser of 'The Bengal Files' here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by #IAmBuddha (@iambuddha_films)Produced by Abhishek Agarwal and Pallavi Joshi, the film is presented by Tej Narayan Agarwal and I Am Buddha Productions. 'The Bengal Files' is the third film from Agnihotri's 'Files' series, which previously included 'The Tashkent Files' and 'The Kashmir Files'.It is scheduled to hit the screens on September Watch IN THIS STORY#Anupam Kher
Mint
30 minutes ago
- Mint
Case registered against influencer Kalpika Ganesh following alleged misconduct at Hyderabad restaurant
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], June 12 (ANI): Social media influencer and actress Kalpika Ganesh has been booked by the Gachibowli police in connection with an alleged altercation at a prominent Hyderabad restaurant, Odeum by Prism. The incident, which took place on May 29, came to public attention after videos capturing the episode went viral on social media platforms. As per the First Information Report (FIR), a formal complaint was submitted by Deepak Bajaj (38), Managing Partner of Prism Club & Kitchen, on June 6, 2025, outlining a series of disruptive actions allegedly committed by Ganesh during her visit to the venue. According to the complaint, Ganesh, accompanied by a male guest, dined at the restaurant and consumed ₹ 2,200 worth of food and beverages. At the time of billing, around 11:30 pm, she allegedly demanded that the dessert, a cheesecake, be offered complimentary. Though the management extended a gesture of goodwill by offering a brownie instead, the complainant alleged that Ganesh refused to settle the bill, became aggressive, and verbally abused the Deputy General Manager and General Manager, including derogatory and body-shaming remarks. The situation reportedly escalated when Ganesh threw the brownie plate, causing disturbances on the premises. The FIR further states that she went live on Instagram, declaring she was doing it for her followers, and subsequently made false accusations of rape and molestation on social media. Kalpika Ganesh has also shared a video of the incident on her Instagram handle. The complaint also noted that even in the presence of police officers, Ganesh allegedly continued her disruptive behaviour, refused to cooperate, and verbally abused the personnel. Management claimed that the episode led to reputational harm to both the establishment and its staff, as well as property damage, verbal and physical abuse, false public narratives, and personal defamation involving staff families. Supporting evidence cited includes CCTV footage, videos recorded by staff and guests, and witness testimonies. While the management initially delayed complaining to avoid escalation, the persistent nature of the alleged online provocations prompted legal action. The matter was entered into the General Diary on June 6, and a request was made before the Honourable Court for permission to register a case formally. Upon receiving approval, a case was registered on June 10, 2025, under sections 324(4), 352, and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The investigation has been assigned to WSI Akshitha, under the supervision of Inspector Anil Kumar, Gachibowli Police Station. (ANI)
Mint
36 minutes ago
- Mint
Silver Shines Bright: Key reasons behind the surge and crucial levels to track
Silver prices have captured investor attention once again, rallying strongly in recent weeks and breaking through key psychological barriers. On Thursday, silver futures surged by ₹ 715 to ₹ 1,06,107 per kilogram on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), reflecting a 0.68 percent gain. The July delivery contract saw heightened activity, with over 19,000 lots traded, suggesting rising speculative and institutional interest. Globally too, silver traded higher at USD 36.31 per ounce in New York, continuing its upward trajectory near multi-year highs. Analysts attributed the rally to a fresh build-up of positions as traders and investors sought exposure to the white metal amid macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties. With silver hovering near historic resistance levels, market experts are advising a strategy of buying on dips, especially given the structural tailwinds supporting long-term demand. Silver's rally is not merely a speculative play but is being supported by robust fundamentals. Industrial demand has seen a consistent rise, particularly from clean energy applications such as solar panels and electric vehicles. According to the World Silver Survey, industrial consumption reached a record 681 million ounces in 2024, up 4 percent from the previous year. Importantly, solar-related demand alone is projected to grow from 5,671 tonnes in 2024 to 7,488 tonnes by 2029, indicating the white metal's critical role in the green energy transition. Investor interest is also growing steadily, with exchange-traded funds (ETFs) witnessing inflows of over 300 tonnes in June—almost double compared to the previous month. A softening dollar and cooling inflation have contributed to renewed interest in precious metals, positioning silver as both a growth asset and a defensive play in portfolios. The global supply of silver, meanwhile, remains constrained, further adding to the bullish sentiment. Riya Singh, Research Analyst at Emkay Global Financial Services, noted that silver has significantly outpaced gold over the past week. While gold rose a modest 0.6 percent, silver surged more than 9 percent, narrowing the year-to-date performance gap between the two metals. Both are now up nearly 25 percent in 2024. ETF positioning, technical breakouts, and safe-haven buying amid trade tensions have all played into silver's hands, Singh added. Notably, the gold-silver ratio has declined from over 100 in April to around 92, suggesting silver has more room to rally before reaching historical parity levels. Apurva Sheth, Head of Market Perspectives & Research at SAMCO Securities, emphasized that silver's recent breakout above ₹ 1,01,000 is not a fleeting move. Historically, such breakouts have led to significant follow-through rallies. In 85.7 percent of past instances, silver has delivered positive 12-month returns post-breakout, with an average gain of 26.1 percent. Even over 3- and 6-month periods, the strike rates have been an impressive 61.5 percent and 55.5 percent, respectively. According to Sheth, this breakout marks the end of a prolonged consolidation phase and indicates the beginning of a fresh momentum cycle. He believes macro tailwinds like geopolitical tensions, liquidity shifts, and central bank policy pivots will continue to provide fertile ground for silver to outperform. The rally is being driven by both retail and institutional investors, making the current setup structurally bullish. Silver's rally appears to be more than just a speculative bounce. Backed by strong industrial demand, investor inflows, and favourable macroeconomic indicators, the metal has reasserted its relevance as both an industrial commodity and a store of value. With technical charts flashing green and analysts pointing to more upside potential, silver may be poised to outperform in the coming months. As analysts continue to advise accumulating on dips, investors looking to diversify their portfolios may find an opportunity in this white metal's ongoing surge. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
