“I am bound by Ahmedabad,” says celebrity chef Pranav Joshi.
Istill remember, back in the days, the only place for youngsters to hang out in Ahmedabad was C. G. Road. That used to be the one place where you found the best crowd with college students sitting and hanging out on their scooters. Even the IIM Ahmedabad Road used to be silent and calm. But things have changed now. There is more traffic on the roads and there are many more places for youngsters to hang out. At times, I drive by the IIM- A road late at night, just to reminisce the bygone days when you could hardly find even one car driving past that road.
It is not just the city, but eating habits of Amdavadis too have evolved. People here are really fond of food. I have come across some really quirky food combinations such as khakhara or mamra with tomato ketchup. These are the same people who have travelled abroad extensively and are exposed to international cuisines. Over the years, I have seen them comparing local food to international preparations and demanding the same in Ahmedabad. I still remember an incident when I organised a Valentine’s Day themed- dinner where instead of couples, families walked in together to enjoy the romantic ambience and have a candle- lit family dinner. That’s how Ahmedabad is, we have strong social connections. Infact, the best part about Ahmedabad is that even though I work 12 hours a day, I can still meet up with friends. No place is too far away and you can always manage to catch up and socialise with people even on a hectic day. Whenever I go to Mumbai or Delhi for my shoots, I start missing Ahmedabad after two three days and, I want to rush back. I am bound by the city, my roots.
As a community, we are very close- knit. If something happens to someone, we all know about it. If someone is in trouble at night, people will help. We are always there for each other. Moreover, from a business perspective, networking is also really easy in Ahmedabad. Likewise, it is also possible for people to bring about a change in the city. I want to help grow the food industry. I try and give people an opportunity to work in my kitchen, even if they do not have any work experience. My idea is to grow the local food industry and provide it with skilled personnel.