An interview with Smita Khatri - founder of Karma Tiffin conducted by Vlad Moskovski.Smita Khatri is a generous soul inspired by what she saw in India decided to bring her love of cooking and service to mankind together into a project that she called Karma Tiffin.As a way of giving to others purely out of love and making people happier and healthier through food, she makes beautiful and delicious Indian food delivered in a tiffin - a common way of packaging food in India a tiffin consists of three metal container stacked together with different dishes inside each one.Vlad. What is unique about Karma Tiffin?One time somebody delivered a tiffin to me.I'll speak from that experience.I did not know what I was going to eat that day and really didn't feel like cooking so when that tiffin showed up, I was relieved.It was great to see so many different dishes.What made it special was that somebody delivered a homemade meal to my door.Made especially for me! It felt really personal and nice to receive.I think people are charmed by the actual tiffin.Vlad. What's your favorite part of the process?I like going to the grocery store.I like picking up food.Delivering it and the reaction that I get from people.One woman who's Father just died gave me a hug for at least a minute, it was the warmest - I still remember it vividly.That doesn't always happen, but when it does its really nice.Vlad. So how did you get started with Karma Tiffin?About a year ago, I spent three months in India volunteering with an organization that worked with kids and adults in the slums.I saw everyone there getting served their lunch in tiffins.One time one of the other volunteers gave me a flyers for a healthy organic tiffin service that was being offered.This planted a little seed in my mind.Coming back from India I felt really inspired, like the world was limitless and I could do anything.I had gone to Karma Kitchen, volunteered and eaten there, so I was familiar with the gift economy idea.Then one day I thought what if this organic tiffin service was based on the gift economy and Karma Kitchen?Vlad. What did you think it could be?My intention for Karma Tiffin was to find a way to cheer people up.If somebody is going through a hard time, this would be my way of offering them something.I also had the idea of bring joy to organizations or people whose work I liked, who inspired me by what they are doing.I had a lot of excitement around the idea of offering healthy vegetarian cuisine.Many years ago I wanted to go to cooking school, I never went, and here is my chance to cook for people.So this was another way to manifest that desire.Vlad. What response to you get from people?Always positive.Once someone gave me flowers when they returned the tiffin.Always smiles, sometimes hugs.Somebody said he never knew vegetarian food could be so good - he is always used to eating meat.Vlad. Do you see yourself doing more tiffins?As I am inspired, but not as a mandate.Sometimes things can turn into mandates and I've felt some pressure around that.Like I should be doing more of them every week, but I realize I don't enjoy it when there is that pressure.I see it doing it as I am inspired - and sometimes it's really hard to control the inspiration.It comes in waves.When I hear people doing things that I resonate with, I get inspired.By hearing stories and learning about people.Vlad. And do you think you yourself inspire people?Yeah, I think so, when I'm really doing what I love then I am.Vlad. Inspiration can sometimes by contagious, the cycle of you being inspired, doing something and that inspires others.Yes, sometime you don't know how your work will effect others.Vlad. Do you see this growing?I lean towards keeping things small and personal.That feels better to me.One way it could grow is through a vision I have of employing women who don't have employment.Renting out a commercial kitchen and cooking enough food for maybe 40-50 tiffins and delivering them to work places.That is how it works in India.It would not be gift economy, but still be based on the philosophy of generosity.The idea behind it is more than just a job, I want to create a community for women.Also possibly offering maybe yoga or dance classes so there is a whole life support system.Vlad. Why the emphasis on gift economy and generosity?I think it has a nicer feeling than just having somebody deliver pizza to your door.It has a different quality.There is this element of the human connection and bringing people together.Knocking down barriers - it's what I love about India.I find that missing in the United States.Vlad. Is there an elements of personal growth in the giving of tiffins?Taking the emphasis off me, and off my personal security that I need from making a living, and shifting it to others.Sometimes I see the growth in my family, my Mom gets concerned when I want to do things on a gift basis.It's almost an evolution of thinking, exploring a new way of thinking about goods and services.It's also trusting that the world will take care of you.That's a big thing to step into.Moving out of fear- based thinking and into trust- based thinking.Vlad. If somebody wanted to follow in your steps, what advice would you give to them?I would encouraging people to do what they love.Keep looking forward one step in front of the other.And most of all, following your heart!
Friday, August 10, 2012
The Gift of Generosity
An interview with Smita Khatri - founder of Karma Tiffin conducted by Vlad Moskovski.Smita Khatri is a generous soul inspired by what she saw in India decided to bring her love of cooking and service to mankind together into a project that she called Karma Tiffin.As a way of giving to others purely out of love and making people happier and healthier through food, she makes beautiful and delicious Indian food delivered in a tiffin - a common way of packaging food in India a tiffin consists of three metal container stacked together with different dishes inside each one.Vlad. What is unique about Karma Tiffin?One time somebody delivered a tiffin to me.I'll speak from that experience.I did not know what I was going to eat that day and really didn't feel like cooking so when that tiffin showed up, I was relieved.It was great to see so many different dishes.What made it special was that somebody delivered a homemade meal to my door.Made especially for me! It felt really personal and nice to receive.I think people are charmed by the actual tiffin.Vlad. What's your favorite part of the process?I like going to the grocery store.I like picking up food.Delivering it and the reaction that I get from people.One woman who's Father just died gave me a hug for at least a minute, it was the warmest - I still remember it vividly.That doesn't always happen, but when it does its really nice.Vlad. So how did you get started with Karma Tiffin?About a year ago, I spent three months in India volunteering with an organization that worked with kids and adults in the slums.I saw everyone there getting served their lunch in tiffins.One time one of the other volunteers gave me a flyers for a healthy organic tiffin service that was being offered.This planted a little seed in my mind.Coming back from India I felt really inspired, like the world was limitless and I could do anything.I had gone to Karma Kitchen, volunteered and eaten there, so I was familiar with the gift economy idea.Then one day I thought what if this organic tiffin service was based on the gift economy and Karma Kitchen?Vlad. What did you think it could be?My intention for Karma Tiffin was to find a way to cheer people up.If somebody is going through a hard time, this would be my way of offering them something.I also had the idea of bring joy to organizations or people whose work I liked, who inspired me by what they are doing.I had a lot of excitement around the idea of offering healthy vegetarian cuisine.Many years ago I wanted to go to cooking school, I never went, and here is my chance to cook for people.So this was another way to manifest that desire.Vlad. What response to you get from people?Always positive.Once someone gave me flowers when they returned the tiffin.Always smiles, sometimes hugs.Somebody said he never knew vegetarian food could be so good - he is always used to eating meat.Vlad. Do you see yourself doing more tiffins?As I am inspired, but not as a mandate.Sometimes things can turn into mandates and I've felt some pressure around that.Like I should be doing more of them every week, but I realize I don't enjoy it when there is that pressure.I see it doing it as I am inspired - and sometimes it's really hard to control the inspiration.It comes in waves.When I hear people doing things that I resonate with, I get inspired.By hearing stories and learning about people.Vlad. And do you think you yourself inspire people?Yeah, I think so, when I'm really doing what I love then I am.Vlad. Inspiration can sometimes by contagious, the cycle of you being inspired, doing something and that inspires others.Yes, sometime you don't know how your work will effect others.Vlad. Do you see this growing?I lean towards keeping things small and personal.That feels better to me.One way it could grow is through a vision I have of employing women who don't have employment.Renting out a commercial kitchen and cooking enough food for maybe 40-50 tiffins and delivering them to work places.That is how it works in India.It would not be gift economy, but still be based on the philosophy of generosity.The idea behind it is more than just a job, I want to create a community for women.Also possibly offering maybe yoga or dance classes so there is a whole life support system.Vlad. Why the emphasis on gift economy and generosity?I think it has a nicer feeling than just having somebody deliver pizza to your door.It has a different quality.There is this element of the human connection and bringing people together.Knocking down barriers - it's what I love about India.I find that missing in the United States.Vlad. Is there an elements of personal growth in the giving of tiffins?Taking the emphasis off me, and off my personal security that I need from making a living, and shifting it to others.Sometimes I see the growth in my family, my Mom gets concerned when I want to do things on a gift basis.It's almost an evolution of thinking, exploring a new way of thinking about goods and services.It's also trusting that the world will take care of you.That's a big thing to step into.Moving out of fear- based thinking and into trust- based thinking.Vlad. If somebody wanted to follow in your steps, what advice would you give to them?I would encouraging people to do what they love.Keep looking forward one step in front of the other.And most of all, following your heart!
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