I met Dr Mahinder Tak at Cafe Carmellini in the trendy Nomad area of Manhattan. She entered dressed in her traditional vibrant shimmering brocades – a fiery black Kani inspired shawl draping her as if walking into her very own palazzo. Very apropos as the place has an elegant vibrant atmosphere set in an original neoclassical landmark mansion – a true 1907 Rennaissance Revival Palazzo. Mahinder felt at ease immediately because we were both familiar with L’Arpege in Paris, where Carmellini started, so it was just a continuation of old culinary haunts.
As we perched on our very own aerie , I reminded Mahinder that we had first met many years back in both NY and Washington DC where she resides. She had the same charming style and zest for life and why not? After all she is one of the biggest political fundraisers and also one of the largest art collectors of Indian Art. As we sipped on our Domaine de Villaine , we reminisced about her life in Kashmir to her military stint and medicine and of course her vast art collection.
Mahinder Tak is not easy to categorize . Born in Kashmir and educated as a physician in the US , she joined the US Army at a time when few women wore the uniform. Why I asked? I always believed in service – it made sense. As one of the highest ranking Indian American women in the military , a Colonel in the Army Medical Corps, Dr Tak combined the precision of a physician and the ethics of a soldier. But her true legacy lies in her philanthropic efforts, political advocacy for the Indian American community and her unsurpassable love for Indian Art .
The one image about Mahinder that I’ve noticed over the years is her choice of dress – always raw silk or brocades and Indian inspired jewelry. Her reason: I never felt the need to westernize my wardrobe. A sari can command the room as easily when worn with tradition and confidence. There’s a quiet dignity in her refusal to trade cultural authenticity for any kind of acceptance. In doing so, she opened doors for a generation of South Asian women navigating the Western corridors of power.
It was time to order – Scallops Cardoz because of our dear friend Floyd followed by the sweet crab Mille-Feuille. Mahinder is a force behind many Indian American political organizations and has served as co-chair of the Democratic national Committee’s Indo-American Leadership Council. She has been a formidable fund raiser for many political luminaries. But she is quick to point out that she is equally behind any one worthy of political support be it of either party.
Let’s talk about your Art – how did it start? Mahinder was always interested in Art but her serious interest grew when she met Husain in the early 1980s. Through Husain, she met Chester and Davida Herwitz, the major collectors of Indian Art at that time who ignited her passion further. To add to this burgeoning interest, she started supporting several artists like Bawa, Swaminathan, Raza, Souza, Bhavsar and others and would visit artist studios and exhibitions. Mahinder not only entertained these artists at her Washington home but held exhibitions furthering their careers and enhancing her own personal interest in the arts.
It was time for dessert- an apple cognac souffle. Of course, I brought up the historic Visionary Collection at the 2022 auction at Christies – a resounding success including Bhupen Khakhar’s Banyan Tree and Bawa’s Untitled . The Christies auction cemented Mahinder’s pre-eminence in the art world justifying her position as the top 100 collectors in the US as claimed by Arts & Antiques magazine. What about her other roles? Mahinder is on the Advisory Board of the National Museum for Women in the Arts . Her philanthropic efforts support microcredit and women’s development in India and elsewhere.
I was amazed at The Taks longtime patronage of the arts and their immense dedication to philanthropic and social and political causes. Mahinder has now slowly but steadily started immersing herself in Western art – an area which she will conquer with that same unsurpassed zeal. How can one person achieve so much while still maintaining her grace and equanimity? The adage “they don’t make them like them anymore” can aptly be applied to Mahinder. She has still a vast art collection at home. As I said goodbye, I asked when the next auction was scheduled – see you at Christies soon I said. Jaswant Lalwani is a global real estate advisor and lifestyle consultant in New York City. He is also an avid writer and globetrotter. To read more of his work visit www.jlalwani.com
