Grain'doise plans for the humble millet

Millets have earned its monicker as the ‘super natural food’ for a reason. Aiding in weight loss aside, it is one of the most sustainable crops (requiring minimal pesticides and other resources for growth). And, with the new-age bevy of young folk finally taking note of the crop; 26-year-old  Abhishek Beeraiah is on mission millet! The city-based civil engineer conjured up Millet Mama, a low budget restaurant which aims at promoting a rather important message: About how making a switch to one of the most sustainable crops for farmers and the environment is the way forward. He recently got chatty with us...  

“Healthy-traditional-homemade-tasty. This is what I want to associate millets with, every time a patron drops by to check us out,” begins Abhishek. Like all good ideas, this one too attributes its origin to a rather interesting experience. “A year ago, I attended  a ‘Back to nature’ workshop organised by LSIKC (a community of individuals promoting sustainable farming) in MSRIT, which was mainly about natural farming, millets and water resources. This workshop introduced me to the father of millets, Dr Khader, and also millets that were grown on his own farm, I also learnt how millets contribute to overall health of the environment and humans,” he adds. 

What fuelled his debut venture was the awareness of the super crop’s potential. “Millets encourage the idea of being local, sustainable, water efficient, farmer-friendly, chemical resistant, cost effective and healthy living. So, I thought to myself, ‘Why not’?” 

With guests of all ages dropping by to sink their teeth into traditional and super healthy treats like millet Puliogare, millet pulao and millet idlis; the concept is garnering momentum in the city. Speaking of which, this RV Public School alumnus states, “Though it’s a challenge for us to convince people to make a shift to a Millet-based diet, we are fairly successful because this isn’t something new to us as Indians. We have broken all barriers and misconceptions about millets we have catered at auspicious functions like house warming ceremonies and also done marriages with a millet-based menu.”

Belonging to the health conscious frat; this 20 something vouches by healthy eating. “I believe in moderation and healthy eating. I don’t deprive myself of anything, and love doing what I do,” concludes Abhishek, who loves spending time with family, and interacting with youngsters in his free time.