Mona Verma (nee Pahlajani), was born in 1940, in Sukker, Pakistan, before the fateful events of Partition. Following an Intermediate in Arts from Bhopal University, her interest in cookery took wing after marriage. She learnt the art of cookery by attending classes and experimenting on her own with ingredients and flavours. In 1968, she started her own cookery classes in Calcutta, which became extremely popular, and she was soon appointed cookery teacher for graduate students at St. Loretto’s Convent.

In 1971, she moved to Mumbai and so did her cookery classes. The fact that, at one time, 13 of her students were running their own cookery classes, is a tribute to her skill both as a cook as well as a teacher. For many years she also conducted Finishing Courses for final year students at Vivekanand Education Trust’s High School & College. Mona has varied social interests.

She has been actively involved with the Lion’s Movement; served on the board of Seva Samiti, a charitable trust working for needy women; and is an active member of the National Council of Women in India (Nagpur Chapter). She is also a poet and student of Indian classical music.

Writing is one of her many passions and her articles have been published in many newspapers and magazines. She continues to write a Sunday cookery column for The Hitavada. Mona lives in Nagpur with her husband Asoka, a Management Consultant. Mona can be reached at: monaverma@ sancharnet.in