Farzana Kadri sits at the head of the table in the antiquely furnished dining room of Divan’s Bungalow in the heart of Ahmedabad, while her team brings in each course of the prix fixe meal, Divan’s Special. “It includes kebabs like our Husseni Kebab, which is marinated with nuts and dry fruits to give it a richness. Main courses have Khatta Gosht, which gets its tanginess from being laced with curd, and Handi Kebab, a kofta curry with a rich gravy. Masoor Pulao is cooked in such a way so that the dal does not become too mushy. Shakkeriyaki Kheer is a sweet potato and milk pudding. We also have Rajasthani and north Indian dishes, vegetarian or vegan food and Jain-friendly dishes,” says the 46-year-old. “These dishes are our family’s house specials. Our chef works with two women whose families have been heading our kitchens for two or three generations. This is my attempt to make Divan’s Bungalow into a culinary destination of Ahmedabad.”
Divan’s Bungalow was built for Farzana’s ancestor Saiyed Bavamiyan Kadri, in the mid-1800s. Since he was the minister in the court of the Nawab of Radhanpur, it was called Divan’s Bungalow and is still a landmark in this area. An English architect was involved with its design, which explains the fusion of European and Islamic features, with a superbly carved wooden balcony representing the regional Gujarati style. Many Independence activists used to visit the house in the early 20th century. The city’s first deputy mayor in the 50s, M B Kadriwas, held meetings at Divan’s Bungalow.
In 2011, a part of Divan’s Bungalow was leased out as a heritage hotel. After the lease expired, Farzana decided to run it on behalf of the family in June this year. She didn’t have any experience in the hospitality industry, so she retained some of the staff that had been managing the heritage hotel. “For marketing, I hosted travel agents and tour operators, who gave ideas on pricing and stategy,” she says. “The change I decided to bring in was more of a regional touch, so that the property would connect to Gujarat.”
Farzana tied up with NGOs to add handicrafts of Gujarat to the property—bandhani or tie-dye, block prints, embroidery, etc. Each room is themed on a craft and a write-up gives details of
the artisans.
Entry to Divan’s Bungalow is through a courtyard with a garden, fountain and pond. The front room is called the Divan Khana. The rear courtyard garden is next to the kitchen. “Rooms are named after family members who occupied them,” explains Farzana. “The suite has a traditional low-seating and table that goes with the heritage.”
Farzana plans to promote Divan’s Bungalow as a heritage hub in Ahmedabad. “The property has courtyards and public areas where we can host art shows, performances and food events. This will raise awareness about Divan’s Bungalow,” she says. She is also committed to heritage causes and plans to have awareness programmes on the property to make locals and tourists more aware about the culture, architecture and threatened heritage buildings in Ahmedabad.