The premiere of MasterChef India Season 9 on Monday, January 5th, brought not just culinary talent but also deeply inspiring personal stories to the fore. Among the contestants participating in pairs this season, the mother-son duo of Parvati Soni and Himansh Soni from Bikaner captured hearts with a remarkable tale of perseverance and family support.
From Homemaker to Palace Chef: A Journey of Grit
Parvati Soni, who now works as a professional chef, hails from a conservative background in Bikaner where even stepping outside was restricted. Her life took a progressive turn after marriage. She currently resides in Jaipur and holds the position of Chef de Partie (CDP) at the Indian restaurant within the iconic City Palace, which is owned by the royal family. In a striking revelation, Parvati shared with judges Kunal Kapur, Vikas Khanna, and Ranveer Brar that she is the sole woman in a team of 80 chefs. "I am the only woman in the team," she stated, highlighting her unique position in a male-dominated professional kitchen.
Before this role, Parvati was a homemaker who occasionally assisted her husband in his jewellery business. Her educational journey, however, had been paused after the ninth standard. Despite her husband's consistent encouragement to resume studies post-marriage, societal norms made her hesitant. "I come from a conservative society, so I thought who studies after marriage?" she recounted on the show.
A Son's Tutelage: Studying Together Via Video Calls
The pivotal push came from her sons, especially Himansh. He took the initiative to fill out her Class 10th application form when he was registering for his own State Board exams. "My son filled our forms for Class 10," Parvati said, with Himansh adding, "We did our Class 10 and 12 together." What makes this story even more extraordinary is the outcome: Parvati not only passed but also scored higher marks than her son.
Balancing her demanding job at the palace, Parvati relied on her son's innovative tutoring methods. Himansh would read chapters to her over video calls, turning lessons into digestible stories. "My son made me study for the 12th standard via video calls. He used to read the chapter, and I would hear it as a story," she explained. Now, her son encourages her to pursue a diploma from the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM).
A Family Legacy of Encouraging Education
This belief in education is a family value. Parvati revealed that her husband, who struggled from the age of 14, had previously helped his own mother complete her schooling. "His mother was a Class 8 passout, he made her study till Class 10 along with him," she shared, illustrating a generational commitment to empowering women through learning.
The duo has successfully cleared the auditions for MasterChef India 9. Their fate in the competition post the intense overnight bootcamp remains to be seen as the season progresses. MasterChef India Season 9 airs every Monday to Friday at 9 PM on Sony TV and the streaming platform SonyLiv.
Parvati Soni's story transcends the kitchen. It is a powerful narrative about breaking barriers, the role of supportive families, and proving that it is never too late to achieve one's academic and professional dreams. Her presence as the only woman among 80 chefs in a royal kitchen and her academic accomplishment alongside her son serve as a potent inspiration for viewers across India.
