There is definitely one thing in common between the above quote of Emma Watson and that of Nelson Mandela who says Gender equality is more than a goal in itself – it is the pre-condition of meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance.
Just like all human beings deserve respect, we must understand that without the strong support of women the society would land into a big void and life will come to a complete standstill.
It was with this thought in mind that the Vatel Hotel and Tourism Business School, Ansal University organised International Women’s day with the theme Break-The-Bias, wherein the students – mostly girls, clad in the best of their attire, put up stalls of eateries and of their merchandise either created by themselves or procured by them from artisans. The stalls consisted of Indian street food, best of oriental delicacies, marvels of Indian cuisine, bakes and desserts, besides having stalls of ladies’ interest – jewellery, fashion accessories and photo shoots. All these stalls were the result of a direct endeavour of the students either in consultation with the renowned, celebrated chefs or out of their own ingenuity.
“An event of such high magnitude, wherein students have most excitedly worked out to ensure that they offer away-from-the usual gastronomic experience to their guests is worthy of appreciation. This event has also given them a practical lesson on entrepreneurship” said Ms. Garima Parkash, Dean, Vatel Hotel & Tourism Business School, Sushant University, Gurgaon. This event was evaluated by external resources – Ms Kanika Ghai, Principal of The Suraj School Gurgaon who visited with Ms. Puja Sapra and from the Sun City Gurgaon Ms. Kalyani Voleti and Ms Sonia Khurana visited us as judges.
Students of enterprising nature, who perhaps knew the pulse of the market and were aware of what goes the most as hot-selling stuff, especially for the NCR Palate, chose to put up Street Foods of India like Chana-Kulcha, Aloo-Tikki Chaat, Paani Poori and Gulab Jamun. “We got this inspiration form our study visist to old Delhi, where we saw how quickly this stuff goes and how much people relish it” says a busy student Shaurya, wo was too engrossed in taking orders and doing his best to deliver his hot stuff in time to the impatient students. While Tanya and Aditya’s cupcakes, chocolates, truffle puddings, muffins, brownies, pastry slices, cake-pops and cake jars gave a stiff competition to Kumkum’s profiteroles and eclairs, Gabriela Rose Thomas and Uroosa did the dry stuff – that of taking polaroid pictures of people who were enjoying the fare and were happy putting up on their faces various fancy cut-outs.
The fare did not end there…Ishika and Priyasha were the lucky ones – while they were in fashion accessories, their team next-door were into fashion jewellery, which more or less complemented what these young girls were doing.
“Here we are giving a stiff competition to boys” says Sanchi Arora with a big laughter – “This is the real proof of gender equality, or should I say – women gender superiority” says she proudly, while wrapping a Kathi Roll for some students.
Mr. Saif Anjum, an experienced faculty member in the food and beverage service who was the supplying the back-up support to the students was happy to see that students were getting the things together on their own and the operation was fine and smooth.
“We saw that while the students had prepared the main dishes themselves, they picked up from the market a few ready-made things like the Gol-Gappas, Kulcha etc., which was going in very well with they were offering on the menu” Said Chef Saurav Chhabra, associate professor of the school.
“Despite hundreds of students of the university thronging the event, we could see that we made sure that the area – which was right in front of the main block of the university, remained clean and hygienic. The kitchen stewarding support was also given by our students who were looking after the all the supplies, water and electricity” said Chef Sunil, programme coordinator of the 4-year’s BHM Course.
This was an event which, on this International Women’s Day was concerned about highlighting the gender equality, made sure that this theme was duly represented in all its hues and colours – said Ms. Chandana Paul and Ms. Anshu Rawal, who were the chief coordinators of the event.
