( November 17, 2017 )
From left: Santanu Mishra, Co-Founder and Executive Trustee, Smile Foundation, Chef Vikas Khanna, and Vineet Sharma, Brand Manager – Tropicana, PepsiCo India at the plantation drive
Vikas Khanna is one busy man. From running a Michelin-starred restaurant to hosting TV shows, opening a culinary museum, creating a record for the world’s most expensive cookbook, this chef seems to have his plate full.
And that’s not all. The celebrated chef, who has published 28 books so far, has now diversified his writing skills, turning author for children. With ‘A Tree Named Ganga’, Khanna, has turned to Nature for inspiration.
And the timing couldn’t have been better as Khanna launched his first-ever work of fiction work on a smog-filled Thursday in the national capital, smiled and encouraged by 250 children who had gathered there as a part of an initiative by Smile Foundation and Tropicana’s ‘Gift a Tree’ campaign. Ask him if it was deliberate, and he replies dismissively.
Vikas Khanna joined children from the Smile Foundation to plant saplings in the city in an initiative by Tropicana.
“The story has been in the works for many years now. It just happened to come at a time when we all need to learn the importance of nature, and stop taking it for granted,” Khanna says, referring to the situation around Delhi.
Loki Muthu has given shape to the illustrations in the 48-page book which are inspired by sketches made by Khanna’s niece.