In the game of life, you are sometimes dealt the worst cards, until your luck gets better, and you win the battle. For Lilyma Khan, much of her childhood is filled with memories one would rather forget. However, the woman who is one of the most famous chefs in the nation's capital keeps those memories close to her heart, as a reminder of just how far she had come and the journey still left ahead.
A Traumatic Childhood
Lilyma Khan was born in the area of Taimoor Nagar, New Delhi. During her childhood, she would watch her father cook for the entire neighbourhood, a simple khichdi, some roti and dal would provide comfort and nourishment to all, as reported by The Better India.
However, it turned out these evenings of wholesome togetherness were limited. At 5, she lost her father and six months later her mother died of tuberculosis. A series of tragedies struck down her happy life. Her older sister who had been married against her will took her own life and her older brother went down a spiral of depression, relying on drugs. He sold their house to a neighbour for Rs 10,000, forcing Khan and her younger brother onto the streets. While her aunt took the brother and sister under her wing, they had to earn their keep. They would wake Lilyma and other children at 4 am to collect trash from the streets of Friends Colony, in exchange for only one meal. Soon, her aunt took her brother in and forced her to live on the streets. Hungry, the young girl befriended other kids and the group would forage through dust bins of local dhabas and a McDonald's outlet, eating leftover chicken or mutton bones and half-eaten burgers.
However, she also had to be careful of roving eyes and sexual advances by men, often her late father's friends. She shared how in fear, the girls slept behind old mattresses at shops to ensure safety.
An Opportunity for More
Her life briefly changed at 11, when an NGO offered her help and gave her the opportunity for education. They provided her basic education and later enrolled her in Class 5. But a call from her aunt asking her to return home changed fate again. She returned to live with her aunt and younger brother, working at a shoe factory for Rs 2,000 per month, while also facing beatings.
When her elder brother got to know, he contacted activist Harsh Mander, who facilitated her enrolment at Kilkari Rainbow Home, an orphanage for girls in Kashmiri Gate. It was during this time that Lilyma felt her calling for cooking. After completing Class 12, she was able to work at a restaurant due to the Creative Services Support Group (CSSG), a charitable organisation that provides skills training to underprivileged young adults.
In 2012, a regular visitor to the orphanage noticed her cooking skills and helped her land a job at a fine dining restaurant. Her role involved preparing meals for the staff at a salary of Rs 7,000. Eager to learn more, she learned the basics of making silky smooth mashed potatoes and assembling burgers and salads with the help of the head chef.
In 2019, Lilyma joined a famous eatery in Delhi, Dear Donna as a Chef de Partie. A year later, she progressed to Sous Chef. Today, she leads a team of 35 people and some of her signature dishes include risotto, ravioli, salmon gravlax, roulade and beef wellington.
For those looking up to her, she says: "Have courage to move ahead in life. You too can achieve your dreams."
