Vikas Khanna
My sense of hunger came from New York, not India: Chef Vikas Khanna's savage reply to BBC anchor resurfaces
An old video of popular US-based Indian chef Vikas Khanna has surfaced online where he could be seen giving a savage reply to a BBC anchor when he asked during a 2021 interview if his sense of hunger comes from India.
The interview dates back to a time when Khanna had launched the ‘Feed India’ initiative to provide food and support to people in need amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the conversation, the anchor could be heard asking Khanna: "But it was not always that way, was it? You are not from a rich family. So, I dare say, you understand how precarious it can be in India.
On the question if his sense of hunger came from India, the celebrity chef replied, “My sense of hunger came from New York”.
Khanna said: "My sense of hunger came from living in America, more than India." He mentioned the difficulty he faced while living in America post 9/11 as a brown kid. He reminded the anchor that he was born and raised in Amritsar where the community kitchens (langar) can feed the entire city.
Khanna himself shared the video on Instagram and wrote praising India's rich diversity.
"As this is trending worldwide, I must address this issue. Every nation has its greatness & faults. India is so, so multidimensional & multicultural. One of the fastest-growing economies. Our cuisine is valued as our greatest soft power, our family structure, spiritual power & wisdom, literature, science, research, technology, music, culture has defined its space in the World," Khanna said.
"Our Chefs are ruling the global stages & our role in the World of science & technology is symbolic to who we are & our educational systems. But somehow this is the only question significant to some," he said.
Netizens, including celebrities, praised Khanna for his response.
Singer Shreya Ghoshal wrote in the comment section: " What a dignified and befitting reply! @vikaskhannagroup 🩷 it’s a shame that an anchor of such a reputed channel could be so delusional and disrespectful."
Rapper Badshah said: "And that is why we love you so much paaji."
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