MEET TAAHIRA AYOOB

ON FOLLOWING HER INQUISITIVE NATURE AND FINDING TRUE PURPOSE

“My crazy is rooted in my curiosity.”

We’ve been so caught up with the daily hustle that it’s hard to admire the smallest things in life. That’s exactly what Taahira Ayoob does - she notices, questions and learns, leading her to connect her questions with her purpose. Check out her story below about her wonderful experiences halfway around the world and setting up her cooking venture, Spice Zi Kitchen with her mum.

MY STORY IS …

I have always questioned the way things are around me – rules, the things I see and learn. This inquisitivity helped me to realise there is always something beyond the surface; which led me to travel and work in places like Pakistan, Colombia, Catalonia and Rwanda.

Beyond going to other countries, in my own country, I realised there was a lack of nuance in understanding diversity. Why didn’t people know about the diversity of the Indian community? Why do they only see Muslims as Malays? I started Spice Zi Kitchen with my mum simply because I realised that people didn’t know who and what Indian Muslims are, how we eat and what we celebrate.

I aspire to continue doing work that questions and reveals the layers of anything for that matter – people, places and the things around us.  

What was it like working in places like Pakistan, Colombia, Catalonia or Rwanda?
Why did you pick working in those countries?

I'm instinctively curious about places that are lesser-known, or less represented in the media. I find myself asking things like what do I know about the country? Who is this informed by and what more might there be there? Working in Pakistan, Colombia and Rwanda were all different in their own respects.

In Pakistan, it was a little bit like a wild ride, in some sense because there was in the background, a sense of danger or threat from extremist groups or radicalised individuals. However, the community of people and friends I made became so important and integral to my safety, happiness and peace of mind. Precisely because the 'outer' world was quite chaotic, my 'inner' circle of friends were my guardians. They took care of me so well and made my 'outer' world almost unapparent.

In Colombia, things were far from what anyone would expect after watching shows like Narcos. However, Medellin actually has one of the best metro systems, I have ever been on in my life. It was a city throbbing with life, and people had the energy to do things. In Colombia, the way of life was different, people were friendly, happy-go-lucky and relaxed. It was easy to enjoy life in Colombia.

On Catalonia: It is a small autonomous region in Spain that most people know as the 'region that wants to exit Spain' but really, all they are asking for is respect for their millennial heritage, native language that is Catalan, not a dialect of Spanish but a language of its own, and culture. If this little region within a big country could celebrate its own uniqueness, what about my own community?

Lastly, for Rwanda, I would say, many people can't even place where it is in East Africa. But Rwanda takes a lot of advice from Singapore and how Singapore's economy is set up - you can see this on their roads, road signs, cleanliness, and the way they queued for things! Rwandans are exceptional in their professional and social behaviour, considering how young they are as a country and their horrific past.

Being in all of these countries made me realise many things about how I conducted myself, viewed my society, my community and what type of person I wanted to be.

What was your most memorable learning experience from working in those countries?

I would say it was learning to trust life, and giving things a chance. When I was in these countries, I took a chance at life. It could be a ride with a stranger, trying a new dish I can't pronounce, visiting places I can't even place on Google maps... and the list goes on. A memorable lesson was in replicating that trust in life and my choices; that it would take me where I am meant to go and that I will figure it out on the way and when I'm there.

On the topic of diversity, when and how did you realise there was a lack of diversity and understanding of your culture and background?

Many times, when I was explaining to people abroad where I was from or what my family was like, their first question would be — “Singapore? It must be all Chinese right?” It really bothered me that the *native* people of Singapore, who were definitely not Chinese were not recognised and neither were the other races. I felt like people had a narrow view of how Singapore was and looked. Not just foreigners, but also Singaporeans - some people could not understand the basic tenet of race like for example being an Indian does not mean there is only one language, religion or festival you celebrate.

There are so many diverse cultures within the Indian race. After a while, I gave up on the idea that the establishment would speak about my identity. I had to do it. I realised with my family, my understanding of my culture and what I knew of it, I could be a mouthpiece of my culture to people in Singapore and abroad. It was a scary mantle to take up (and still is) but I think it’s amazing that now, I am giving a young Indian Muslim person - a face and identity. Of course, I am not representative of the whole community, but I am one of us and this is a stepping stone for others to come up and for others to learn more.

Did living abroad or travelling further expand your understanding of the world? Did it raise even more questions for yourself or for the people around you?

Definitely, as I mentioned above, the way people perceived Singapore or Indians (as only people from India) made me realise the unique intersection of my identity. I am the daughter of an immigrant grandparent, and I am not from India nor 'Singaporean' in the traditional way most people perceived the country (Chinese, wealthy, etc.). So it was up to me to define myself and to build up my identity in a way that respected my upbringing and culture while staying true to my learnings and truths.

What is a unique takeaway as an Indian, a Muslim and a woman, in Singapore?

It has taken me a while (and I am still in the process) of giving thanks and respecting my culture, heritage and history; while maintaining my *own* sense of self that I've built through my own experiences and learnings.

Wherever you are in this journey, speak your truth and honour yourself, and how far you have come.

photography Revathie Dhanabalan