2023
I walk into Montaz, Ziaur’s acclaimed restaurant in Newmarket, UK, and meet the man himself for the first time. He’s reserved. I’m not. But there’s an instant curiosity to dig deeper into the enigma that was Ziggy. Our chat covers everything from food, travel, and life to the weightier topics of racism, immigration, mental health, and, of course, the raw beats of old-school rap, the gangsta style. Music and food, we agreed, shared a common universal language. Amidst the clatter in the kitchen, I notice a language foreign to my ears. ‘”Bengali” Ziaur casually says, as flames dance perilously close to the ceiling from a wok, an unexpected chaos under his calm control. My ignorance about Bangladesh hits hard, prompting an immediate need to swim deeper. Our subsequent meetings turn into riveting discussions about Bangladesh, the struggles of the Bangladeshi Community in England during the tumultuous ’70s and ’80s. Ziaur vividly recounts his upbringing in Birmingham, fleeing from the NF after school and divisive racial lines in tight-knit communities. But from adversity springs resilience and unity, creating an iconic multi-billion-pound industry in the UK — The industry of going for an indian. We wrap the book — part social history, part recipes — so enthralling that I won’t spoil the story. Its essence lies in Ziaur’s voice; I’m just a conduit. Our collaboration forged a deep friendship. One whimsical idea — ‘I’ll come to Bangladesh with you, shoot street food, explore, crash with friends’ — uttered in jest, swiftly turned into reality, thanks to Ziaur’s no-nonsense nature. But that’s a story for another book.
- Cook Book Food & Documentary Photography — Going for an Indian
- Publisher — Away With Media (2023)
- Author — Ziaur Choudhrey
