Chef Sanjeev Kapoor is one of the very famous and popular chefs of India. He has worked hard in the world of Indian food for many years and has countless experiences and interesting stories. In April 2017, he was honored with the Padma Shri award. He remembered this special occasion very beautifully in his video series named ‘Kahani Khazana’. Receiving Padma Shri was a matter of great pride for him, but it was also a small challenge.
He wanted to go to the event wearing his chef’s uniform, because this was his real identity. But initially he was not getting permission for this. Chef Sanjeev Kapoor proudly spoke about the uniform, ‘When I used to work as a chef in a hotel, I used to go to duty wearing a full chef’s uniform every day. For me, it is not just clothes, but a symbol of pride and respect. Perhaps this is the reason why today chefs have been able to reach such a high position.
He also talked about the change in the image of chefs on TV. He said, ‘When I started working on TV, my chef’s hat was made to disappear from the frame. Gradually the producers started asking me to look more casual and informal. He suggested that I wear a normal shirt instead of a cap. When he was called to Rashtrapati Bhavan to receive the Padma Shri award, he was told that he would have to wear the Indian national dress. The protocol was explained to wear informal Indian clothes instead of chef’s uniform. But Chef Sanjeev Kapoor was very determined for the respect and dignity of his profession. He clearly said that he will attend the award ceremony only in his chef’s uniform.
He also said, ‘If you don’t want to give me the Padma Shri award in a chef’s uniform, then don’t give it at all. I will not come without uniform. Ultimately, everything resolved well. Chef Sanjeev Kapoor recalled with a smile, ‘I reached Rashtrapati Bhavan and without any debate or trouble, I received the Padma Shri award in my chef’s uniform.’ He expressed the deep feeling behind this decision in very beautiful words.
He said, ‘The Padma Shri that I have received is not just for my personal honour. This award is for the entire chef community. This is a symbol of respect for all those chefs who work hard every day. The government has also given him the National Award for ‘Best Chef of India’ for his invaluable contribution in popularizing and promoting Indian cuisine across the world.
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