Jacob Sahaya Kumar Aruni

Jacob Sahaya Kumar Aruni was an Indian Chef. He was born on June 4, 1974, in Uthamapalayam, Tamil Nadu. He built an interest in cooking at the age of 14. Jacob was born in a family of doctors. His mother, Vimala Aruni, was the principal of CSI Jeyaraj Annapakkiam College of Nursing in Madurai. Jacob is a graduate in B. Sc (physics) from American College. He admired his mother’s cooking and started learning catering from S.N.R. and Sons College in Coimbatore. He was famous for his South Indian cuisines. Earlier, Jacob was a visiting chef at several leading hotels. He became a consultant chef at some of the best restaurants in India and abroad. He was a dedicated food historian, spice collector, and a promoter of South Indian cuisine cooking.

Aruni worked in different catering schools as faculty. He studied further for an advanced degree in catering technology. He became the head of the Department of Catering at Cherraan's Arts Science College, Kangeyam, and was later promoted to the principal’s position. Later, he became the director of the Catering Department at the Sankara College of Science and Commerce in Coimbatore.

In 2010, Aruni set a new Guinness World Record for the longest individual barbecue-cooking marathon. He cooked for 24 hours and five minutes, cooking 485 dishes, including vegetarian and non-vegetarian, at Radisson Temple Bay's, Chennai. He was the first and only individual to participate in the barbecue marathon event. Jacob received greetings from the former President, Abdul Kalam, for his research on ancient South Indian cuisines. He cooked food and served dignitaries at a week-long official dinner at President's official residence in New Delhi, Rashtrapathi Bhavan. He received recognition from The Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA) and was awarded the Best Young Chef Instructor for the years 2005-2007.

He was well-known for his weird television stunts. His restaurant, “Jacob’s kitchen” in Chennai, had a specialty in traditional South Indian cuisine. The restaurant received praise and became an instant success. Aruni starred in a TV show, Aaha Enna Rusi, in which he cooked with kids and even trained them. Jacob Aruni died on 4 November 2012, after having a cardiac arrest at the Apollo First Med Hospital in Chennai. The well-known chef was only 38 years old at the time of his death. His restaurant was shut down a few days later.