Rajesh Chauhan: The man who made his fortune in Dubai

Rajesh Chauhan

"Passion for cooking mixed with hard work made me what I am today," said Rajesh Chauhan, a cook. A rickshaw puller from India, Chauhan chose the 'tasteful' profession for a livelihood. His journey started in Dubai some 26 years ago. Interestingly he was not a professional cook then. He learnt things the hard way, including cooking, here in Dubai.
Recalling his olden days, he said: "Dubai is a land of miracles, I made my fortune here. I remember when I came here along with a businessman over two decades ago this place was more of a desert. I have seen this beautiful city grow and develop. It will always remain close to my heart as it has given me the opportunity to meet my family's needs, educate my children and make something out of my life."
A simple man with no great educational background to boast about, Chauhan never thought one day he would be ready to open a restaurant. He was not a great cook and was struggling with the language problem when he started off as a small-time cook in a restaurant in Dubai. But, his determination and conviction motivated him to put in all efforts in his work. And today you just name a dish and Chauhan can cook it for you. Soon he will also have a restaurant of his own.
"Though I can cook all type of cuisines, I am really good at Chinese and Italian," says Chauhan proudly. "Initially, I was good at making Indian food only but with my boss's support I have learned to cook almost everything."
Chauhan plans on staying in Dubai for a longer time. "My family is in Mumbai and I want my daughter to come here and pursue her bachelor's degree in Commerce here. I have no plans of shifting to India soon, but definitely, I miss my family and want to spend the rest of my life with them in India.
"I may not be the right person to share this message , but with my experience I would like to convey to everyone that nothing can stop you or pull you back if you are ready to work hard. I was not a professional cook, but now I can beat anyone in cooking. It has become more than a profession for me; it is my life and I live it like a passion."
ankita@khaleejtimes.com 

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