Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 20 LIFESTYLE March 27, 2026 L et me ask you something. How far would you go for food that genuinely ruins you - not in the bad way, but in the way that makes every other version of that dish feel like a pale, apologetic imitation?Would you reschedule a meeting? Can- cel plans?What about, say, miss a train? Because we almost did. And honestly? I’d do it again without a second thought. There are certain foods that don’t belong to restaurants or reci- pes. They belong to people. My friend’s mother made kebabs and I use the word “made” the way you’d use it for some- thing closer to art than cooking. Every year, without fail, whenever we visited, those kebabs would appear. Smoky, ten- der, spiced in that precise, unreplicable way that only comes from decades of muscle memory and zero written mea- surements. The kind of food where you close your eyes on the first bite because your full attention is owed to it. This time, though, life had other plans. We were back home on a short trip, the kind where you’re already mentally packing while you’re still unpacking. The clock was merciless, the schedule tighter than it had any right to be, and a proper sit-down meal was simply not in the cards. We’d accepted it. Made peace with it. Said our goodbyes at the door of their bungalow like responsible adults with trains to catch. And then our friend walked out holding a plate of those kebabs. Just like that, every mature, time-conscious thought evaporated. We grabbed them with the urgency of people who understood, on a cellular level, that this was not optional. Into the car we went, bags shoved in the back, kebabs in our laps; eating with the focused desperation of people who had their priorities perfectly sorted, thank you very much. The clock ticking, the station getting closer, the kebabs getting better with every single bite. Then the railway crossing gates came down. And there, through the windshield, we watched our train glide peacefully, unbothered, almost smugly into the platform. Now here’s where I need you to re- ally picture this: the gates lift, the car barely stops, doors flung open, bags grabbed with zero grace, and two abso- lute maniacs sprinting through a train station; one still clutching a paper nap- kin, probably smelling magnificently of kebab. People stared. Someone may have laughed. It was, without question, a scene stolen directly from a movie except sweatier, louder, and consider- ably more fragrant. We made it. We collapsed into our seats, breathless and grinning, hearts pounding, stomachs wonderfully full. That journey home was spent retelling those four chaotic minutes with the kind of laughter that makes your eyes water and your stomach hurt. Here’s what I’ve come to understand: some meals are just meals. But some meals are moments, ones that sit in the softest corner of your memory, not just for the taste, but for everything wrapped around them. The warmth of some- one’s mother pressing food into your hands at a doorstep. The ridiculousness of choos- ing flavor over punctuality. The way joy can taste like smoke and spice and a little bit of panic. So I’ll ask you again and be honest with yourself here. Are you the kind of person who plays it safe, or are you the kind of person who takes the kebabs and runs? Because if there’s a story somewhere in your life that ends with you breathless on a platform, heart full and no regrets — I have a feeling we’d get along just fine. The author is an artist and de- signer based in the tri-state area. By Ajita Kapoor PHOTO:PROVIDED Ajita’s Headspace: The Kebab Run I n a landmark recognition of Sanskrit schol- arship and Hindu philosophy, Mahamahopadhyaya Dr. Bhadreshdas Swami, of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, has been conferred the prestigious Sahitya Aka- demi Award for the year 2025 by the Government of India in the field of literature for his work “Prasthanachatushtaye Selected as the finest Sanskrit work in India, this text provides a comprehensive exposition of the Brahma principle based on the pri- mary scriptures of Hinduism—the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and Brahma Sutras—alongside the Vachanamrut delivered by Bhagwan Swami- narayan. Composed in a poetic style using aphorisms (sutras), scholars view this work as a piece of philosophi- cal poetry. Considering its literary characteristics and philosophical depth, the selection committee of scholars chose it as the best Sanskrit work of 2025. The text presents the philosophy propounded by Bhagwan Swaminarayan in a literary style. Published in 2018, the author composed this work under the guidance and instructions of the spiritual leader of BAPS Swamina- rayan Sanstha, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj. The announcement has sparked widespread celebra- tion across India's academic and literary circles. Scholars have lauded the Sahitya Akademi’s decision, noting that this recognition underscores the continued vitality of Sanskrit as a medium for both intellectual rigor and creative expression. Swami Bhadreshdasji, a renowned scholar who has previously authored extensive commentaries on the Prasthanatrayi, adds this national honor to a long list of accolades for his contributions to Indian philosophy. Mahamahopadhyaya Dr. Bhadreshdas Swami is an internationally respected, renowned Sanskrit scholar and thought leader in Indian philosophy. He holds multiple academic distinctions, including an M.A., Ph.D., D.Litt., and an honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) from IIT Kharagpur. Currently serving as the Head of the BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute, he has dedicated his life to advancing Sanskrit scholarship and Vedic philoso- phy. Dr. Bhadreshdas Swami is also the author of Swami- narayana Siddhanta Sudha, published in 2022, a pro- found Sanskrit treatise that systematically presents the Akshar-Purushottam Darshan, the philosophical doc- trine revealed by Bhagwan Swaminarayan. He is also the author of theSwaminarayan Bhashyam, a five-volume Sanskrit commentary on the Prasthanatrayi (Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and Brahmasutras), which reaffirms the Akshar-Purushottam Darshan as an independent Vedantic tradition. His contri- butions have been widely recognized both in India and abroad. Over the years, he has been honored with numerous awards, including the Life- time Achievement Award from the Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR), the Vedant Martand Sanman from Silpak- orn University, Thailand, and the Mahama- hopadhyaya title from Kavikulguru Kalidas Sanskrit University.Indian Film Reviews He has also received the Acharya Pravar title from the Uttar Pradesh State Govern- ment, and was recognized for Excellence in Philosophy by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow. Additional accolades include the Darshanke- sari Award and the Professor G.M. Memorial Award from the University of Mysore, as well as the Vedant Prakash Award and Abhinav Bhashyakar Award from Shree Som- nath Sanskrit University. Notably, the Shri Kashi Vidvat Parishad formally acknowledged him as an acharya in the lineage of classical Sanskrit commentators. Expressing his gratitude, Dr. Bhadreshdas Swami dedicated the honor to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, whose teachings inspired the Akshar-Purushottam Darshan, and to his gurus—Pramukh Swami Maharaj and Mah- ant Swami Maharaj—for their guidance and blessings. He emphasized that this recognition reflects the timeless relevance of Sanskrit and the enduring vitality of India’s philosophical tradition. Mahamahopadhyaya Dr. Bhadreshdas Swami Of B.A.P.S Swaminarayan Sanstha Honored With The Prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award Press Release PHOTOS:BAPS HH Mahant Swami Maharaj Blessing Dr. Bhadreshdas Swami. Mahamahopadhyaya Dr. Bhadreshdas Swami