Old video of Vikas Khanna's savage reply to BBC interviewer goes viral, chef reacts. See post

A resurfaced interview of Michelin-star chef Vikas Khanna has reignited discussions around racial stereotypes often faced by Indians abroad. The clip, from a 2020 BBC interview, shows Khanna being questioned about his understanding of hunger, with the interviewer implying that his experiences of poverty stemmed from his upbringing in India. Khanna’s dignified response has been widely praised, highlighting the persistence of stereotypes surrounding India despite the country's significant development.

The interviewer acknowledged Khanna’s achievements, which include cooking for the Obamas and appearing on cooking shows with Gordon Ramsay. However, he then pivoted to the chef’s background, suggesting that being from Amritsar, Punjab, Khanna may have had firsthand knowledge of hunger due to growing up in a non-affluent environment.

Khanna responded by asserting that Amritsar houses the Golden Temple, which operates the world’s largest community kitchen, known as a langar, where thousands are fed daily, ensuring no one goes hungry. He further clarified that his true understanding of hunger came not from India, but from his struggles in New York following the 9/11 attacks, when opportunities for South Asians, particularly brown people, were limited. Khanna recounted sleeping at Grand Central station during that period as well.

The interview clip prompted a wave of support for Khanna, with many applauding his response to the interview. Khanna himself addressed the resurgence of the video, sharing a post on Instagram in which he discussed the need to challenge such perceptions of India. He described India as "multidimensional and multicultural," pointing to the country’s rich cultural heritage, scientific achievements, and cuisine as sources of pride.