Of grace & glamour
Our Bombay folk are often so preoccupied with Delhi bashing that they miss the exquisite fragrance of this magnificent city of green islands and hospitable grace! A city that beguiled the likes of William Dalrymple who swept the world with his City of Djinns.
There is an infectious bon vivant spirit and hospitality very typical to the capital which cannot be found in too many other places. The warmth lingers in the air like the heady scent of night-blooming jasmine, enveloping visitors in its overwhelming hospitality and expansiveness.
I flew down for an award ceremony – not so much for the accolade itself but rather for the dear friend behind the awards . Shalini Kochhar has been a steadfast friend for some 28 years, and I've always enjoyed her special brand of indulgent, loyal friendship for me. She exemplifies a rare breed of women who does not harbor competitive envy upon seeing female friends rise and succeed. Instead, she applauds their triumph and stands by them on stage - like she did yesterday celebrating me as she conferred me with a ‘super achiever award for being a ‘Woman on Top! Her outlook is the genesis of 'Women on Top' – an award ceremony that honors women not only for their professional triumphs and breakthroughs but also for the countless burdens they shoulder and rise above, every single day.
Three years ago, when I was honored with a 'Woman on Top' award, life had different plans as i developed swine flu and could not make the journey. So this year, I cancelled other commitments and hoped onto a plane determined to not only attend and accept the award but to show my hundred percent support for the trio of Shalini, Upasana Bora and Ashish Dev Kapoor who have orchestrated this celebration with grand panache.
The event was hosted by the Grand Hyatt and it’s GM Tarun Khanna amidst a resplendent eight-course sit-down dinner that tantalized every palate with Delhi's legendary culinary mastery by a medley of award winning chefs Chef Barun
Pratap Singh, Chef Mario Caramella, Chef Mauro Ferrari, Chef Vikramjit Roy, Chef Muneeb and Chef Indrapal Singh.
A live band charged the atmosphere , while the evening reached its climax with a spectacular fashion walk featuring Delhi's ‘tall, dark, and handsome’ male achievers including Atul Wassan , Zorawer Kalra, Rajeev Makhani, Mr India Sachin Guru and ‘Hum Log’s Abhinav Chaturvedi donning the ornate creations of couturier Varun Bahl. The extravagant fabrics and bold silhouettes were donned by some of the awarded woman achiever’s too although i chose to wear couturier Amy Billimoria in a dun colored floor length cape embellished with phool Patti which serendipitously blended well with the collection, turning the runway into a celebration of both achievement and Indian craftsmanship .
Some awardees were my good friends Shazia Ilene, Deepa Malik, Vasvi Bharatram, Radhika Bharatram / Priyanka Gill , Mandira Wirk, Sonalika Sahay, Deeksha Mishra, Leeza Verma, and i met and interacted with start up achiever Swati Bhargav, courtier Dimple Kapoor, Gunjen Grover and Rashi Kkhan. As they navigated toward the stage I realised that these gatherings represent the true essence of Delhi – a flamboyant blend of tradition and contemporary flair, substance and style, achievement and celebration.
But if you were to ask me the most memorable part of the award evening was the moment I had received my award and I came down from stage towards my table. The women achiever’s seated on my round table - Gargi Rawat, Prerna Chhabra, Priyanka Kaul, Ruchi Tandon, Anjali Singh and Meenakshi Dewan- stood up and clapped so happily- cheering for me, which I had noticed had not happened at any of the other tables. I was privileged to have been seated along with five such empowered and empowering women who are the kind that epitomise successful women on top. They stand for what my life philosophy is- that if you lift others, you rise yourself. Their obvious elation at my moment of triumph touched my heart and I had tears of joy for a moment that I’ll carry in my heart forever.
The capital embraces its guests with an open heart, wrapping them in layers of hospitality that make even the most dedicated Mumbai loyalist question their allegiance, if only for an enchanting evening.
Around the onyx table
Each city of India has its own particular magic, a distinctive essence that cannot be replicated. I savor each unique fragrance for exactly what it is.
While the evening's formal festivities sparkled with glamour, my most memorable moments unfolded during the intimate after-party at Upasana and Sandeep Agarwal's home. A select group of organizers and awardees gathered around their luminous onyx bar, which seemed to glow with an inner light as enchanting as our conversation. There, under the gentle halo of ambient lighting, we exchanged our most cherished stories, hard-won wisdom, and personal philosophies that had shaped our journeys.
The artificial boundaries of professional titles melted away, revealing the authentic souls beneath the achievements – vulnerable, resilient, and ultimately triumphant. And when i casually glanced at the time I nearly fell down in shock - it was 6 in the morning as I vended my way back. An evening that will stay with me for some time happily.
Sojourn continues
I impulsively decided to extend my Delhi sojourn by an unscheduled day, surrendering to the city's magnetic pull. This extra time allowed me to reconnect with my dear Scottish friend Sonali Craddock, a passionate animal welfare activist who regularly journeys to India to champion the cause of Delhi's vulnerable creatures. My childhood friend and India's celebrated golfing sensation, Vivek Bhandari, orchestrated a magnificent celebratory dinner in honor of my award. The evening unfolded amidst a constellation of Delhi luminaries, including the charismatic polo virtuoso Angad Kalaan, whose stories of thundering hooves and strategic triumphs captivated our table.
Nearly intoxicated by Delhi's overwhelming hospitality – more potent than the finest champagne – I'm now rushing back to beloved amchi Mumbai just in time for couturier Benu Seghal's exclusive preview champagne cocktail. The delicious details of that sparkling affair will have to wait until next time. Until then, dear readers, watch this space for more chronicles from the enchanted intersection of friendship, achievement, and celebration that defines our vibrant social landscape!
(Write to Nisha JamVwal at Nishjamwal@gmail.com)
