The Experimenter

A series about silvers who believe nurturing the body and mind is the key to joy.

- Pratibha Jain

Sundari Ganesan • MUMBAI

“I enjoy learning and experimenting,” she says. It is a simple mantra that reflects her zest for life and keeps her young at heart. For Sundari Ganesan, a TamBrahm living in Mumbai, variety is truly the spice of life. With a deep appreciation for India’s various regional cuisines, she enjoys learning new techniques and recipes. Her recipes are published in magazines, she makes appearances on TV shows, and thoroughly enjoys teaching eager foodies, the proof of which is evident in her two grandchildren. Young Kavya Shyam, just 12 years old, already enjoys baking, and college-going grandson Kartik experiments with making pizzas and pastas from scratch. As I chatted with Sundariji, I could see how certain people had the power to channel their energy into energising others as well. Here are a few snippets of my conversation with her.

IN HER OWN WORDS

I was born in Mumbai and spent my early years in this city. When I turned 10, we shifted to our hometown Thirunelveli, in Tamil Nadu. There, I lived in a large, joint family of almost 30 members. It was an orthodox upbringing, where children were not allowed into the kitchen. But I remember watching the large-scale cooking that took place during festivals and celebrations. I think the seed of interest for cooking and hospitality lay there. After marriage, I moved to Ahmedabad. I enjoyed my time in that city and learned many Gujarati dishes. Now, for the past 15 years, we are settled in Mumbai.