October 20 is celebrated as the International Chefs Day.
The story of Indian Catholic chef James Biaka reads like an inspiring recipe, one stirred with perseverance, seasoned with creativity, and garnished with faith.
From Humble Beginnings to Culinary Success
Born into a modest family in the highlands of Manipur, James grew up with dreams far larger than his humble beginnings. At a very young age, he traveled to South India, where he learned to cook and studied the basics of how to run a restaurant kitchen. His quiet intelligence, discipline, and keen eye for detail drew the attention of his boss. Recognizing his potential, the boss sent James to Japan to learn the art of Japanese cuisine. James’s life and career took an upward turn.
Upon returning from Japan, James opened a small restaurant in Mumbai. Armed with newfound skills and global exposure, he soon became a much sought-after chef, and his restaurant a hot spot. His food tasted different, in a good and tantalizing way. Having learned a few tricks in Japan, James mixed Indian variety with Pan-Asian subtlety, creating dishes that left Mumbaikars asking for more. His name became a staple in the culinary circuits of Mumbai, a city that thrives on diversity and innovation.
When Illness Struck
However, life’s toughest trials often come when success is at its peak.
In the prime of his career, James was diagnosed with advanced renal disease. As the only breadwinner, his world began to crumble. His young wife and two little daughters watched helplessly as his strength declined. James sought treatment at CMC Vellore, one of the country’s most reputed hospitals. But the treatment made little improvement in his health. Tethered to a machine, daily dialysis became part of his life for seven long years. The illness drained him not only physically but also emotionally. “I had big plans, so much yet to do,” he recalls, “but my body simply refused to cooperate.”
His condition worsened. At that point, the doctors advised that the only way forward was a kidney transplant. His devoted wife readily volunteered to donate her kidney. But she had a medical complication that made her donation impossible, dealing a fatal blow to James’s hope of living. When all hope appeared to have been lost, Jacinta, their elder daughter, barely 22 at the time, stepped forward. “I will donate my kidney to my father.”
The family was stunned. James was hesitant at first, but Jacinta stood her ground. “The thought of walking down the aisle on my wedding day without you beside me, Daddy, terrifies me. I want to give you my kidney,” she told him.
A Miracle of Faith and Love
What greater love could a child offer than the gift of life to a parent? But the path ahead was not easy. The surgery was risky and expensive, and support from friends and acquaintances was scarce. The once-vibrant home, always surrounded by laughter and visitors, now echoed with quiet prayers and tears.
Despite the odds, the family held on to faith. James’s wife prayed unceasingly, especially the Divine Mercy Chaplet, which became her lifeline. The surgery was scheduled at one of Mumbai’s top hospitals. Yet fate tested them again — complications arose mid-surgery. The kidney removed from Jacinta lay on the operating table for longer than expected as doctors called in specialists from other hospitals. The situation grew critical, and at one point, the doctors almost gave up hope.
But miracles are often born out of faith. Against all medical predictions, James survived. The hospital, acknowledging its lapse, waived a significant portion of the charges. Later, when he returned for a follow-up, one of the doctors reportedly said in disbelief, “It’s like seeing a dead man walk again.”
A Second Chance at Life
Today, Chef James Biaka stands as a living testimony to divine providence and a daughter’s incredible sacrifice. Fully recovered, he has returned to his passion, cooking. His business, once at a standstill, is flourishing again. In just three years, he has opened three successful outlets, each reflecting his signature style: a harmony of simplicity, flavor, and soul. His dishes carry the tenderness and the newfound energy of someone who has faced death and found new life.
More than just a celebrated chef, James has emerged as a man of profound faith. His time of isolation and illness transformed not just his body but his spirit. “I owe my life to God and to my family,” he says softly. “It was on my sickbed that I learned the meaning of mercy.”
Each day now begins with prayer and ends with thanksgiving. Between running his restaurants and mentoring young chefs, James ensures he makes time for his family, and for God. The balance he once struggled to find has become the secret ingredient of his renewed life.
In a world driven by ambition and speed, the story of Chef James Biaka reminds us that success tastes sweetest when blended with gratitude and grace. His life continues to inspire — a reminder that even when the body falters, the spirit, nourished by faith, can rise again.
(Sr. Dorothy Adaha, FSP, is a Daughter of St. Paul based in Mumbai, western India.)
