Anubhuti Aggarwal: The Woman Who Stirred a Restoration in Every Soul.

In the quiet, serene town of Rishikesh, where the air smells of pine trees and slow mornings, took birth a woman who’s making change happen one recipe, one child, one fireless flame, and one healing at a time. Her name is Anubhuti Aggarwal—a name that’s beginning to resonate far beyond Uttarakhand’s borders. On April 2, 2025, she was honoured with the prestigious Astitv Puraskar, a national recognition for those who redefine identity and resilience through their work by none other than THE Laxmi Narayan Tripathi herself. But the award only scratches the surface of her story.

Anubhuti is not your everyday achiever. She’s a mother, a mentor, an ancestral healer, a cook, an engineer, and a quiet storm of willpower who dared to defy the blueprint life handed her. Her journey—from the laboratories of IIT Roorkee to the community halls of Dehradun, from UNESCO meeting rooms to crowded local classrooms—reads like a novel, only more real, more warm, and far more inspiring.

From Circuits to Social Change: The IIT Dream

It all started with curiosity. Anubhuti, born into a middle-class family, had a mind that questioned everything. This trait took her to one of the most prestigious institutes in the country—IIT Roorkee—where she pursued M.Tech. Engineering was not just a career path; it was proof that she could stand tall in a male-dominated world.

While her peers went on to chase high-paying jobs and foreign dreams, Anubhuti chose something else: meaning. Her time at IIT not only shaped her academically but also introduced her to the diverse realities of the world.

“I always felt like I wanted to do more than just create machines or run simulations,” she once shared during a local TED-style talk in Dehradun. “I wanted to build people—particularly young children who didn’t know how capable they were.”

The UNESCO Chapter: A Global Outlook

After her time at IIT, Anubhuti worked with UNESCO as a consultant. This phase took her thoughts across borders and gave her a macro lens on education, sustainability, and gender parity. She was part of teams that looked at how policies could uplift underprivileged communities, especially children and women.

But something kept pulling her back. While global initiatives were essential, Anubhuti realized her own community lacked the very basics that could make change sustainable: education that empowers, not just informs; opportunities that include, not exclude.

So, she remained in Uttarakhand to make it a better, healthier, stronger home.

Quirky Cook: A Fireless Idea That Lit a Thousand Lamps

That’s when “Quirky Cook” was born. A unique platform that turned conventional ideas of cooking on their head. The idea was simple: teach children how to make real, nutritious food—without fire, without fear.

“I didn’t want parents to say ‘Don’t go near the kitchen.’ I wanted kitchens to be playgrounds of creativity for children,” Anubhuti said.

She began hosting workshops in schools, community centers, even in her own home. Children as young as six started preparing their own snacks and meals. But more importantly, they began believing in their capabilities.

Soon, “Quirky Cook” evolved. It wasn’t just about food anymore. It was about self-reliance, about agency. Anubhuti wove in lessons on nutrition, sustainable eating, waste management, and even basic business skills.

Stereotypes, Stigmas, and Standing Her Ground

Of course, the road wasn’t smooth. As a woman, and a mother, Anubhuti faced her share of societal judgment. There were whispers: “Why does she work so much?” “Shouldn’t she be at home more?”

But for every doubtful glance, there was a little girl who looked up to her. For every roadblock, a young boy made his own sandwich and beamed with pride. For every rock they threw at her, she had a shield of ancestral healing technique.

The balancing act was never easy. Anubhuti often worked late into the night after putting her daughter to sleep. Her mornings started early—replying to emails, preparing workshop kits, coordinating with local NGOs. And yet, she showed up every day with the same gentle smile and a story to tell.

Healing Beyond Recipes: Ancestral Wisdom and Modern Wellness

As “Quirky Cook” found its feet, Anubhuti began expanding her vision. She dove deep into the science and spirituality of food. Drawing from Indian traditions, especially Ayurvedic practices and ancestral cooking methods, she introduced a new vertical to her platform: Ancestral Healing through Food.

This wasn’t about going back in time—it was about bringing wisdom forward. She hosted sessions where grandmothers spoke about age-old recipes and food rituals. She collaborated with nutritionists to decode how our ancestors ate according to season, geography, and body type.

Through this, Anubhuti wasn’t just building stronger minds; she was reviving lost conversations.

The Power of Community: Beyond the Look

What makes Anubhuti’s work stand out is her deep-rooted community involvement. Whether it was organising “Fearless Lil Chefs” drives or setting up Sharing Circles in local Cafeterias or Ancestral Healing Sessions for messy minds, she’s always believed that change is a dish best served together.

She often collaborates with groups like Niravadhi and local storytellers like Prachi Chandra to bring her message alive. Children aren’t just taught how to make fruit chaat—they’re taught how to source fresh, local ingredients, reduce waste, and respect labour.

This layered learning has had ripple effects. Parents became curious. Schools started requesting more sessions. NGOs started asking how they could replicate this model.

Recognition with Roots

On 2nd April 2025, Anubhuti received the Astitv Puraskar. It wasn’t just another award—it was a pause, a collective applause for the years of quiet, consistent effort. Astitv Puraskar, which recognises individuals who shape their identity through resilience and contribution, found its perfect recipient.

But when asked about it, she simply said, “This award belongs to everyone who believed in me before the world did.”

While the Icon of resilience – Laxmi Narayan Tripathi – herself was handling over her the Award on stage, I am sure Anubhuti would have felt proud of upbringing, her skills, and her mindset.

A Day in Her Life: Simplicity with Soul

Spend an hour with Anubhuti and you’ll see a woman who makes the extraordinary look effortless. You can get to interact with her in her Sharing Circles in Dehradun or during her Ancestral Healing Sessions. Morning routines are filled with lunchbox experiments for her daughter. Afternoons are for planning the next workshop or having tea with her team. Evenings might involve her sitting under a neem tree with a group of young ones, talking about why mental health is over everything else.

She has no PR team, no fancy office. Her power lies in her authenticity.

“Main bas chahti hoon ki har Insaan yeh samjhe ki woh khaas hai. Ki woh kar sakta hai. Chahe uske haath chhote ho ya sapne bade,” she says.

What Lies Ahead

Anubhuti dreams of setting up an Academy—an inclusive learning space where children and young adults can learn fireless cooking, sustainable practices, and holistic wellness. She wants to take her model across India, especially to underserved regions.

She’s also writing a book—a mix of recipes, reflections, and real-life stories from her journey.

But above all, she wants to keep showing up. For the kids. For the mothers. For the unseen change that starts in everyday life.

In Her Own Words

“If one girl can learn how to make her own meal, she can learn to make her own decisions. And if one boy learns that kitchens are for everyone, he will grow up to be a better partner, a better father. That’s the dream. That’s my quirky revolution.”

Today’s Takeaway

Anubhuti Aggarwal’s story is not about accolades or applause. It’s about action. Quiet, consistent, and powerful. In a world where people often wait for change to arrive from the top, she reminds us that revolutions can begin in your own home.

Through “Ancenstral Healing Methods,” she’s not just restoring Peace to minds —she’s nourishing futures.

And in doing so, she’s feeding a movement India didn’t know it was hungry for.