The Maharajas' Express

 

Listen Link: The Maharajas' Express

Some trains move people; others, like the Maharajas' Express, move the soul. On a recently watched episode of Mighty Trains on the Smithsonian Channel, host Teddy Wilson steps aboard what is often called the most luxurious train journey in India—a gleaming red-and-gold serpent of steel that winds its way from the chaotic sprawl of Delhi to the pink-hued splendor of Jaipur. But this isn't just a ride; it's a resurrection of a royal age, a journey through the pageantry, poetry, and paradox of India itself.

As Wilson boards, he's visibly caught between awe and disbelief. It's easy to see why. The train, a marvel of design and indulgence, evokes the private saloons of Indian princes from the British Raj era. Every inch is soaked in opulence: brocade curtains, hand-carved wooden panels, gleaming brass fixtures, and plush carpets underfoot. The atmosphere feels curated for a Maharaja himself—and for the lucky few who ride it today, it’s an immersive portal into the regal lives of a bygone elite.

The episode captures more than just gleaming interiors. It invites the viewer to travel alongside Wilson as he eats, sleeps, and explores in style. His genuine curiosity and enthusiasm serve as a lens through which we, too, experience the train's magic. He marvels at the two elegant restaurants—Mayur Mahal and Rang Mahal—where delicately plated Indian and international dishes are served on fine china under glittering chandeliers. The service is seamless, gracious, and attentive—less like a hotel on wheels and more like a palace in motion.

The journey unfurls like a tapestry. Outside the panoramic windows, India passes by in cinematic frames: golden fields, crumbling forts, children waving from village tracksides, peacocks strutting near shrines. In one particularly moving sequence, Wilson steps off the train to explore Jaipur’s Amber Fort, a fortress-palace that looms over the city like a myth carved in stone. The train's itinerary is crafted to expose passengers to not just destinations but to heritage—each stop a curated immersion into India’s deep and varied soul.

What makes this documentary episode so compelling is its attention to contrast. As the Maharajas' Express glides past slums and skyscrapers, cows and Lamborghinis, palaces and roadside chai stalls, we’re reminded that India is a place where extremes coexist. Yet, the train never isolates its passengers from this reality—it floats above it, yet always remains tethered to the country’s vibrant pulse. Wilson doesn’t shy away from this duality. He acknowledges the privilege of the train while appreciating its role in preserving an aspect of Indian heritage that might otherwise be forgotten.

The history behind the Maharajas' Express adds even more resonance. Launched in 2010 by Indian Railways, it was designed to revive the elegance of princely travel, offering modern travelers a taste of the extraordinary. That vision has paid off—the train has won repeated global accolades and holds the aura of a moving legend. Yet, in the episode, what strikes you most isn't the opulence alone, but the storytelling. It’s in the way the chef describes the layering of spices, the pride in the conductor’s eyes as he walks through the corridor, or the quiet moments where Wilson gazes at a sunset over Rajasthan’s sand-colored landscape.

This isn’t a commercial for a luxury tour. It’s a poetic invitation to experience time travel. The Mighty Trains episode doesn’t just document a journey; it tells a story—a reverent, sensory-rich story of a train that dares to transport not just bodies, but dreams. For those who’ve never been to India, it opens a window. For those who have, it opens a memory.

Watching this episode is to ride the Maharajas’ Express vicariously, but with such vividness that you might hear the gentle chime of the train’s bell and smell the cardamom in the onboard masala chai. It is, without exaggeration, one of the most visually stunning and emotionally evocative travel documentaries on television.

So tune in—not just to admire a marvel of engineering and design—but to fall under the spell of a train that glides not just across India, but through its very soul.

Ref:  https://www.smithsonianchannel.com/  {Mighty Trains Season 2 Episode 5}

Above: AI generated conceptual image of a carriage on The Maharajas’ Express

Still the Gold Standard- Why the Michelin Guide Remains the Pinnacle of Culinary Prestige

 Photo by Matheus Bertelli - Pexels

Listen Link: Still the Gold Standard- Why the Michelin Guide Remains the Pinnacle of Culinary Prestige

In a world where influencers, food bloggers, and TikTok tastemakers dominate the dining conversation, one might assume that the Michelin Guide—over a century old and born out of a tire company’s clever marketing strategy—would feel outdated. Yet, ask any chef what honor they dream of and odds are they’ll say: a Michelin star. It remains, unequivocally, the gold standard of culinary excellence, a symbol that continues to inspire, intimidate, and define the global fine dining scene.

The story of the Michelin Guide began not in a kitchen, but in a garage. In 1900, French industrialists and brothers Édouard and André Michelin had a problem: too few people were driving cars, which meant fewer people were buying tires. Their solution? Encourage travel. They created the first Michelin Guide to help motorists find places to refuel—literally and figuratively—offering maps, instructions, and recommendations for food and lodging (Ref. 1). It was a brilliant marketing move wrapped in red covers. The guide was initially free, but as its credibility and demand grew, Michelin began charging for it in 1920.

By 1926, the company began recognizing outstanding restaurants with a single star. Five years later, the now-iconic three-star system was introduced:

One star: A very good restaurant in its category.

Two stars: Excellent cooking, worth a detour.

Three stars: Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey (Ref. 2).

Those words—"worth a detour" and "worth a journey"—continue to hold immense power in the restaurant world.

As the guide expanded from France to the rest of Europe and eventually to Asia and the Americas, the aura of the Michelin star spread with it. Cities like Tokyo, New York, Paris, and Hong Kong became culinary battlegrounds where chefs sharpened their knives with the hope of catching Michelin's elusive eye. Tokyo alone has over 200 restaurants that have earned at least one Michelin star, a testament to Japan's culinary precision and artistry (Ref. 1).

What makes the Michelin Guide stand out—even in the Instagram age—is its rigorous, anonymous inspection process. Inspectors dine incognito, multiple times, and judge on five consistent criteria: ingredient quality, mastery of technique, the personality of the chef in the cuisine, value for money, and consistency (Ref. 2). There is no flash, no favoritism, no influencer hype—just food, tested thoroughly and quietly.

This seriousness lends the guide its unmatched credibility. In a world of crowd-sourced reviews and algorithm-driven recommendations, Michelin offers a curated, trustworthy compass. A Michelin star is not a momentary burst of fame—it is a career-defining recognition.

And chefs know it. A Michelin star can change a career overnight. Two stars elevate you to elite status. Three? That's a legend. The stakes are so high that some chefs, like Bernard Loiseau, have crumbled under the pressure of maintaining them, his tragic story featured in The New Yorker and documentaries about the dark side of haute cuisine. Others, like Joël Robuchon, used their Michelin acclaim to build international culinary empires.

Importantly, the Michelin Guide has increasingly reflected the diversity of global cuisines. In New York, Chef Emma Bengtsson at Aquavit serves Nordic dishes that have earned her two stars. In Tokyo, Sukiyabashi Jiro—immortalized in the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)—once held three stars. In Bangkok, R-Haan serves elevated Thai cuisine that’s earned two stars. Benu in San Francisco, helmed by Chef Corey Lee, showcases Korean-American innovation with three stars. London’s Ikoyi dazzles with West African flavors and holds two stars, showing how Michelin now embraces culinary perspectives long overlooked in haute cuisine (Ref. 2).

Even the beloved “Bib Gourmand,” launched in 1997, highlights exceptional food at moderate prices, underscoring Michelin’s growing inclusivity. And in 2020, they introduced the Green Star to commend restaurants with a focus on sustainability—a nod to contemporary values (Ref. 1).

The Michelin Guide isn’t just influencing kitchens; it’s also the backdrop of countless narratives on film. Movies like Chef (2014), Burnt (2015), and The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014) center around characters obsessed with earning or redeeming their Michelin-starred glory. These stories resonate not only because food is universally beloved, but because the Michelin star is portrayed—rightly so—as a kind of culinary Holy Grail.

Yet, no institution is without critique. Some argue the Guide is Eurocentric or elitist. Others note the lack of transparency in inspections. There have been controversies too—restaurants unexpectedly losing stars, inspectors being accused of bias, and the emotional toll on chefs. But even these critiques underscore just how seriously the world takes those stars. No one debates a list unless it matters.

Despite all this, the Michelin Guide has endured and adapted. It went digital, introduced new categories, and expanded to new regions—like South Korea, Brazil, and the Middle East. In 2024, it even launched Michelin Keys for hotels, applying its rigorous standards to hospitality (Ref. 1). It continues to shape the careers of chefs and the choices of diners. It is, in a fragmented digital world, a rare constant: a curated, time-tested measure of excellence.

Why, then, do chefs obsess over the Michelin star?

Because it represents something pure and uncompromising. Unlike social media fame or television appearances, a Michelin star is earned in silence. It is the result of years—sometimes decades—of discipline, creativity, and relentless refinement. It’s not just about the food. It’s about the experience, the precision, the consistency, and the emotion that a chef pours onto the plate.

To earn a star means you’ve joined an elite club. To earn two or three means your food is changing the way people eat and think. For many chefs, it is a legacy, a validation of their life's work. It’s the silent nod from the world’s toughest critics that says: You did it.

In an era where everyone’s a food critic, the Michelin Guide remains a symbol of earned excellence. It might not have the viral glitz of TikTok or the visual lushness of Instagram, but it has something more valuable: legacy, rigor, and respect. And in a world where trends fade as quickly as they rise, that kind of permanence is not just rare; It's remarkable.

Refs.

1. Michelin Guide History. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Michelin Guide - Wikipedia

2. Michelin Guide Official Website. (n.d.). Guide.michelin.com. Michelin Guide

Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011). Documentary film.

Burnt (2015). Feature film.

The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014). Feature film.

Chef (2014). Feature film.

The Maharaj Libel Case of 1862

 

Listen Link:  The Maharaj Libel Case of 1862

The film "Maharaj" on Netflix (2024) brings to life a remarkable true story from colonial India—the Maharaj Libel Case of 1862. At the heart of this historical drama is the fearless journalist Karsandas Mulji, who dared to challenge a revered Vaishnavite leader by exposing alleged misconduct and corruption within the religious establishment. His bold critique led to a landmark libel case, a legal battle that not only defended the freedom of the press but also questioned deep-rooted traditions and power structures in 19th-century India. Below are my two cents…

This film is a powerful reminder of how religious beliefs, when misinterpreted or exploited, can be twisted by self-serving leaders to fulfill their own desires, often at the expense of vulnerable devotees. Set in the backdrop of pre-independence Bombay, the film tells the harrowing story of  Karsan, a progressive thinker, who finds himself at odds with the deeply entrenched beliefs of his society. 

At the heart of the story is the character Maharaj "JJ," a revered religious leader whose facade of sanctity masks a sinister reality. When Kishori, Karsan’s fiancée, becomes entangled in JJ’s corrupt practices, the dark side of blind faith is brought to light. Kishori, a devout follower, is chosen by JJ to perform the so-called "charan seva," a ritual that, in reality, involves sexual exploitation under the guise of religious service. This moment shatters Karsan’s world, leading to a tragic unraveling as Kishori, consumed by the realization of JJ’s evil, takes her own life.

Driven by grief and a sense of justice, Karsan embarks on a courageous mission to expose JJ’s true nature to the world. His battle against the revered leader is not just a personal vendetta but a fight for the truth in a society willing to turn a blind eye to corruption hidden under the cloak of religious authority. The film captures the tension between tradition and reform, highlighting how one man's courage can spark a movement that challenges the status quo.

"Maharaj" is more than a period drama—it delivers a critical look at the perils of putting unwavering trust in leaders who manipulate that trust for their own benefit. The film challenges viewers to examine the fine line between sincere belief and extreme zealotry, revealing how easily the latter can be exploited by those in power. By focusing on Karsan’s struggle, it underscores the timeless nature of the issue, reminding us that the misuse of religious authority remains a pressing concern even today.

For anyone who values justice and truth, "Maharaj" is a must-watch. The film doesn’t just entertain; it educates and urges viewers to question the world around them, to be wary of those who claim to speak for the divine but act out of self-interest. This is a story that resonates with the ongoing fight against corruption and the misuse of power, making it a relevant and thought-provoking piece for contemporary audiences.

Link to YouTube video (music) based on this blog post: Bold Truth in Bombay

Ref: “Maharaj” - A Netflix Film 2024

Above- An AI rendered image based on the story’s court hearing in a British India courthouse.