Harjinder Singh Kukreja
Social Activist, Influencer and Businessman
Ludhiana, Punjab (INDIA)
Ancestry
Kotli Loharan, Sialkot (undivided British India)
Birthplace
Patna, Bihar (India)
Residence
Ludhiana, Punjab (INDIA)
A MAN OF HONOUR
A renowned restaurateur, he is a global citizen with strong traditional roots, variety of interests and an amazing social media reach of over 2 million. Little do people know but he is also the first Sikh to sky-dive and scuba-dive wearing his turban in Melbourne and Antalya, respectively.
Post-partition, while most people migrated from the newly formed Pakistan and settled in Punjab and Delhi regions, mine was perhaps one of the very few families who settled far in Patna Sahib, Bihar. My grandfather told me that we were very affluent and well-known in Sialkot, but once in Patna, our family had to rebuild everything from scratch. My grandfather, along with my father and uncles, worked very hard and established Bihar’s largest cycle and motorcycle and spare parts agencies. They also setup one of Patna’s most iconic, Mayfair Restaurant and a hotel in a posh vicinity of the city. Once things started coming back on track, another blow hit us hard. The 1984 anti-Sikh riots shook us and forced us to migrate to Ludhiana. It took us many years to wind up our businesses in Bihar and start afresh and expand in Punjab, a place where we now live and serve.
Days I wish would come back
I was born to Devenderjeet Kaur and Jarnail Singh on 10 September 1986. Since my childhood, my parents always inspired me to follow my passion and work hard. They taught my brother, Randeep, and me that there is no shortcut to success.
Our days in Patna were one of the best of my life. Randeep and I enjoyed playing with our cousins and neighbours. But this joy was short-lived, as in grade 1, I was sent to boarding school in Mussoorie. There I studied in Hampton Court, Mussoorie, and completed my high school from another school in Mussoorie, St George’s College. As I spent most of my schooldays in boarding, I valued every moment I spent with my family during vacations.
The Sikh religion lays much importance on learning, so much so that the word ‘Sikh’ means ‘student’. Since the day I learnt this, I have been open to learning and have enjoyed my academic life. My childhood and lifetime hero is Guru Gobind Singh ji, the 10th Sikh guru whose resilience, valour and love are an unparalleled inspiration.
My father’s hard work inspired me towards hospitality
When I was 12 years old, my father and my uncle, Satinder Singh, started Hot Breads in Ludhiana, often called the Manchester of India. At that time, the city did not have a European bakery to call its own. We were the only franchisee owners of Hot Breads, a boulangerie selling cakes and pastries, providing the ultimate quality for the ever-growing taste buds of Ludhianvis. Above all, it was the city’s first bakery that delivered bread and cakes to people’s homes.
In 2000, my father and uncle convinced Master Chef, Sanjeev Kapoor to partner with us and open a restaurant in Ludhiana. They opened The Yellow Chilli, the maiden restaurant of Chef Sanjeev Kapoor in India. All this inspired me to join my family business after education.
After I completed my school education from St George’s College, Mussoorie in 2004, I completed my graduation from Pune. After college in 2008, I really wanted to get a job and work in a company before joining the family business. But I thought learning from the elders in the family would be a better option. And as I felt I could be better nurtured within the family, I joined the business.
In 2015, under the able guidance of my father and uncle, I spearheaded the family’s venture into giving Ludhiana’s chocolate aficionados the city’s first Belgian Chocolate Cafe, Belfrance Bakers and Chocolatiers. The Ambassador of Belgium in India, Mr Jan Luykx, also a friend, inaugurated the cafe. I travelled extensively to Belgium and other European nations to seek inspiration and even underwent training into crafting real Belgian chocolate in Brussels to make Belfrance what it is today. Belfrance is famous all over the world for its annual Chocolate Ganesha, which gets covered by Indian and international media every year.
Prized possessions can never be things!
In my life, my family is my prized possession. Women have played an influential role in my life. Both my paternal and maternal grandmothers, Mom and wife are the powerhouses of my life. Everything that I’ve accomplished is because of their inspiring guidance and blessings. I married, Harkirat on 9 November 2010. We are blessed with three beautiful children together.
My family is my team. Be it my wife or my dad, my uncles or my children; everyone plays a critical role in my life. Everyone has their own ways of contributing to the person I am today. The birth of each of my three children, Rehras, Aad Sach and Rut Suhavi, are the most extraordinary three moments of my life.
The credit of my professional success goes to this beautiful family of mine. In addition to the food business, the Kukreja family has delved into real-estate development as well. We own properties at prime locations in Ludhiana which have been leased out to top-notch companies like Maspar, Reliance Jewellery, Carplus by TVS Motors, Panasonic Brand Shop, as well as the corporate office of Kotak Mahindra.
The joint family of the Kukrejas of Ludhiana has made its mark in manufacturing activity too. Plywood of various hues, shades and quality with the brand name of Golden and Internat Plywood is produced in our state-of-the-art Golden Plywood Industries Pvt Ltd, AJ Hi-Tech Industries and MK Enterprises.
The stories of one’s ancestors make children, good children
The Sikh faith is all about contributing to humanity and my family adheres to that philosophy of Sikhism, which truly inspires me. As a family, we are always ready to make a difference in whatever we can to make the world a better place. Be it educating unprivileged children or financially helping their marriages, we pitch in our own small ways.
The teachings of Guru Nanak make me always step ahead to put my best foot forward by contributing after unfortunate natural calamities. I helped many flood-affected people in Jammu & Kashmir and even the victims of Chennai floods. I believe in such times we all, as humanity, must give our services in the form of money, clothes, items of daily needs and food. In one of the efforts to bring equality and humanity together, I organised langar inside Ludhiana’s historical Mosque, Jama Masjid. We welcomed people of other religions and the initiative received accolades from the world over.
Punjabi culture is of immense importance to me. What really concerns me is how, we, as a group of vibrant and illustrious people, have ignored our Punjabi language. We make conscious efforts that our children converse in Punjabi at home. Punjabi culture is very rich and pure and must be nurtured so that the legacy can continue.
Government schools and offices in France do not allow religious symbols like Turbans and Hijabs. I decided to voice my concern positively. In 2014, I skydived with the Turban on from 14,000ft in St Kilda, Melbourne and am also the first Sikh to scuba-dive in the Turban in 2016 in Antalya, Turkey. My Turbaned sky-dive was an effort made to raise voice in favour of not just the Sikh religion but for everyone who wears articles of faith like the cross, hijab, skull cap and the Turban.
Like most Punjabi families, we love food. Sarson da Saag and Makki di Roti in winters and Tandoori Chicken throughout the year are my favourite.
Philosophy
Stay true to yourself. Discover your passion and live life full out.
I love…
Travelling, social activism and spending time on Social media.
I’d suggest the youth…
That the murky business of drugs… is a threat to human life. The blooming drug menace needs to be curtailed before it’s too late.
Success Mantra
THINK: how can you make a difference!
The world doesn’t know that…
I want to travel to every single country of the world and become the first Sikh to do so. I wish to visit countries like Iraq, Somalia, Sudan and Syria and also the ones I haven’t visited like Japan, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and Norway.
AKA
Social Activist Harjinder Singh Kukreja | Businessman Harjinder Singh Kukreja
Gallery
ISBN : 9788193397695