About

PRITYA was born out of the need to publish “Cooking at home with Pedatha” in a timely manner and without compromising on content, design or layout. After all, it was a tribute to Pedatha who was a very special person for Jigyasa & Pratibha. Today PRITYA has consolidated its position with its second book “Sukham Ayu” as a publishing house dedicated to documentation of traditional wisdom.

Jigyasa Giri & Pratibha Jain are partners at PRITYA. Accomplished in their respective fields, they came together to create these cookbooks which have won international acclaim. They have made presentations across the world showcasing their books and demonstrating special aspects of India’s culinary traditions. They have also been invited by Terra Madre Slow Food to participate in their bi-annual event in Turin, Italy in September 2010.
Interview at Chennai Times by Anusha Vincent **********Interview at Malli by Sowmya Ravindranath

JIGYASA GIRI – Author, Kathak Dancer & Choreographer
>> A lover of the dance form, she teaches Kathak at her dance school in Chennai – Devaniya. She has received her formal training in Kathak  from Guru Shri Krishnakumar Dharwar and for a short period, from Guru Dr. Maya Rao as well. She has been recognized by the Guild of Women Achievers for bringing about a cross cultural synergy in the field of dance.
>> Her passion for language is seen in her writing & editing work, her strength being a keen eye for integrity in content & design.
>> Jigyasa is deeply sensitive to social causes, education in particular, and is an active trustee of Satya Surabhi Trust, which runs a school for underprivileged children in Attuvampatti, Kodaikanal, founded by her aunt Mrs. Padmini Mani. At My School Satya Surabhi, she enjoys teaching the children dance movements and rhythm every time she visits the school. She also manages fund raising activities and helps with the administration work of the school.
>> Friendly & well-informed, she is a typical Gemini & multi-tasks easily. She is married to Pedatha’s nephew, V V Giri & they have two children, Avani & Arnav.
An article in India Today – Simply Gujarati says:
Her kitchen is redolent with a profusion of tastes and fragrances – handvo in the baking oven, the delicious aftermath of freshly tempered Gujrati dal, and the irresistibly spicy aroma of rasam – helming the dishes single-handedly is Jigyasa Giri. (Feasting the Taste Buds by Akhila Krishnamurthy – Sept 2007)

PRATIBHA JAIN – Author and Translator
>> She holds a Doctorate in Philosophy of Language from the University of Madras. She has been a Recipient of the Junior Research Fellowship awarded by the Indian Council of Philosophical Research, New-Delhi. She has taught as a guest lecturer at the Dept. of Philosophy, University of Madras from 2001-2004. Apart from her interest in Philosophy, she has written many short stories and scripted some plays in Hindi. She has translated a range of literature – poems, stories, recipes, religious discourses – in the English–Hindi pair.
>> Her zeal for reading & research allows her to constantly expand her vision, her strength being the capacity to make conceptual connections.
>> Pratibha is a trustee at My School Satya Surabhi & is also associated with TULIR, an organization that works for healing & prevention of child sexual abuse.
>> Passionate & pro-active, she is a Sagittarian who connects with people easily. She is married to Mahendar Chordia & they have a daughter, Manasvi.
Click to read this article in Marwar
A marwari with a taste for hot Andhra curries. A research scholar with a penchant for writing recipes… Pratibha Jain’s platter of life is a combination of different flavours. (Southern Delight by Nina Mehta Vol 12, Issue 3, 2006)

PRITYA – THE NAME
While Jigyasa & Pratibha were discussing branding with Namekhoj headed by Prabodh Jain, he asked them what they wanted to reflect in their company’s name, they said something that reflects ‘two’. So he came up with ‘dvitya’ and then the common sounding word ‘pritya’. It instantly made perfect sense because pritya means ‘with love and affection’, and is also an amalgamation of both their names.