I was born and raised in Hyderabad, India, and moved to the United States at 19. Shortly after arriving, I got married and, soon afterward, began cooking. I quickly realized that I had little knowledge of cooking where to start, or even how to proceed. Even more surprising, I discovered that I didn’t particularly enjoy it. So, why did I persist, besides the practical necessity? The answer lay in my enjoyment of hosting and my desire to make my husband happy.

• My husband is a true foodie, deeply passionate about good food, and immensely appreciative when a dish turns out well though, in those early days, that wasn’t often.
• In contrast, I am not a foodie, which added to the challenge, as he became both my harshest critic and my greatest supporter.

During this period of trial and discovery, my father gifted me an Indian cookbook in a language I couldn’t read but that my husband could. Reflecting on it, I think this was a brilliant strategy on my father’s part to help us work together and strengthen our bond.

• My husband translated and explained the authentic Indian and Mughal dishes.
• I took notes, asked my mother countless questions, and learned to improvise with the few ingredients we could find at that time.

This marked the beginning of my journey one filled with the challenges of adapting to a new culture and the frequent reminders of the privilege I now had. The stark contrast between poverty in India and my current surroundings pushed me to want to make a difference.

It wasn’t until I read Banker to the Poor by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus that my aspirations truly crystallized. I decided I would start a business focused on bringing delicious Indian cuisine to others while supporting impoverished communities in India. However, life took an unexpected turn I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and then, just 11 months later, thyroid cancer. These plans were put on hold.

As I prepared to resume my path a few years later, another setback came in the form of a car accident that resulted in significant injuries to my neck and right hand.

• After several surgeries leaving me with a plate, two rods, and 12 screws in my neck and extensive therapy, I am once again ready to pursue my vision.

Finally, I have realized my decades-long dream of creating a socially conscious spice business. With every item purchased, we support efforts to feed hungry children in India.