About Me

Dr. Paul Chhabra is President & CEO of Rajput Group of Companies. He graduated from India & studied in lodging & Food Service Management from Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA (USA)
History and Ambitions:

Rajput Indian Cuisine was established in Dec. 1999 by Dr. Paul Chhabra in Hampton Virginia with the motto of providing a comfortable, Indian heritage inspires atmosphere and authentic home style cooking. Chhabra first gained experience in the Indian Restaurant business while living in Long Island, New York. When Chhabra moved to Virginia in 1992, he opened Nawab Indian Cuisine in Norfolk, VA with a partner. After a few years he decided to go back to India to stay with his family and gain more experience in restaurant industry and branch out his own. So, came back in 1999 and opened RAJPUT, is federally trade mark registered in USA. Paul Chhabra wishes to spread Indian Cuisine awareness to the areas where people still are not much aware of Indian healthy culinary and are in impression that Indian Food is hot& spicy.

Paul Chhabra always believe in give back and supported local charities or others by participating in fundraising events organized by Peninsula Foodbank of the Virgina , March Of Dimes, Foodbank of Southern Virginia, Easter Virginia Medical Centre, Virginia Zoo To Do, World Affairs Council, Norfolk Botanical Garden, Virgina Beach City Public Schools, Norfolk City Public Schools, Norfolk Christian Schools, Suffolk City Public Schools ,Tidewater Nutrition Council, Virginia Air & Space Center, SPCA Norfolk, Elizabeth City State University, United Nations International Day of Peace(Hampton Roads),Annual Norfolk Teen Cultural Fest, Norfolk Chamber Consor, Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, Temple Beth El and so on. Chhabra is supporting local community since 2001, averaging 4 to 5 fundraising event participations every year. Almost participated around 100 fundraising events since 2000. Paul Chhabra also supported political fundraising for Honorable Mark Warner @ Philipino Community Center Virginia Beach, Honorable Tim Kaine @Sidhu Home Richmond, VA, Honorable Dr. Ralph Northam (Governor) @Rajput Indian Cuisine Suffolk in 2017, Honorable Stephen Heretick (Delegate) @ Rajput Indian Cuisine Suffolk in 2018, Honorable Lynwood Lewis (Senator) at Ramin Fatehi Home in 2019.

Achievements and Awards:
  • Executive Founder & Business Secretary: NRI Sabha Punjab (NGO) 1995-1999
  • Invited to Prime Minister House in 1997 for helping NRIs through NRI SABHA PUNJAB by Shri I. K. Gujral (Prime Minister of India)
  • Appreciation Letter from Indian Prime Minister Shri Atawal Bihari Vajpayee’s office for celebrating India’s First Independence Day on August 2000 in the history of City of Hampton, VA in 2000
  • Proclamation from Hon. Mamie E. Locker, Mayor of the from City of Hampton on Sunday, August 20th, 2000 as India’s Independence Day 
  • Appreciation Letter from Mahatma Gandhi House by Dr. Gandhi on October 25th, 2000
  • Proclamation From Hon. Paul D. Fraim, Mayor of City of Norfolk on Sunday, November 20th, 2005 as A Day of Support for The Victims of the October 8th, 2005 Earthquake in Pakistan and India
  • Virginia Trade Delegation to India with Governor Mark Warner in 2005
  • Full Page writeup “A Passage to Health”- Vegan Cooking Demonstration  with Dr. Neal Barnard @ Rajput Norfolk  in Portfolio Weekly Magazine Nov 2007
  • Graduate of FBI Norfolk Citizen Academy in June 2009
  • Chef Award @ Signature Chefs Auction by March of Dimes in 2015
  • Demonstrated Cooking Show at WAVY TV to support March of Dimes and also got “Best Taste Award at event in 2016 
  • Featured in Profile of The Indian Panorama Magazine in New York & Dallas Texas- “Yash Paul Chhabra–A Fascinating Journey from Punjab to Virginia” in 2017
  • Cooking Show with Celebrity Chef of India, Mr. Harpal Sokhi in Mumbai, India 2018 
  • Featured in News & Views Charitable Work of VEER Magazine in Hampton Roads- “Food & Community are Spice of Life for Rajput’s Paul Chhabra” in 2018
  • Invited as a Guest of Honor by Salam India Food Kebab Contest in Delhi in 2019
  • Resolution for presentation to Y. Paul Chhabra, as an expression of the House of Delegates’ administration for his contribution to the Commonwealth, January 10th 2020  
  • Appreciation Letter by the Hon. Mayor of Norfolk for a significant milestone and accomplishment on 20 years for outstanding services, January 19th 2020
  • Appointed as a member of Asian Advisory Board under the governorship of Hon. Dr. Ralph Northam (Governor, Virginia), from July 1st 2020-June 30th 2023
  • Profiled in the Indian Panorama October 2021″ This Punjabi middle-aged man is destined to achieve and contribute much more to his community and the country. https://lnkd.in/eAuvAAmv
  • Yash P Chhabra’s column in Readers Write of Indian Panorama January 2023. https://tinyurl.com/indianpanaroma
  • Invited to meet with Honorable Joe Biden,46th President of the United States on his visit to Virginia Beach on 28th Feb.,2023
  • Appreciation letter from Hon. Glenn Yougkin ( Governor, Virginia) on May 30, 2023 for celebration of Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month @ Rajput. His letter also included “The First Lady and I send you our best wishes for your company’s continued success. Your hard work and dedication strengthen the spirit of Virginia”.
  • Yash P Chhabra was also awarded an honorary doctorate by American East Coast University New York, NY. on the 17th day of July in the year 2023.
  • Dr. Chhabra’s long awaited Indo-Vegan 100 Recipes Book was launched  by Celebrity Chefs Manjit Gill & Harpal Sokhi in Indian International Centre, New Delhi the 23rd day of July in the year of 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulchhabra/recent-activity/all/
  • Yash Chhabra’s Buffet Of Vegan Flavors | New cookbook by Yash P. Chhabra of Rajput Indian Cuisine boasts 100 plant-based recipes from Cauliflower Manchuria and Onion Pakora to tandoori, lentils, rice, bread, desserts and more.
    By: Betsy DiJulio | November 1, 2023 https://coastalvirginiamag.com/article/a-buffet-of-vegan-flavors/
  • Eminent Speaker Dr. Paul Chhabra CEO-Rajput Groups of Restaurant (Virginia-USA)  @ SIMS Institute of Hospitality & Hotel Management, for Job Opportunity in Hotel Overseas on 18th April 2024
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4Q5bJD3oMM
  • EXCLUSIVE LIVE COOKING SESSION BY RENOWNED INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL CHEFS Event on 20th April 2024, Curated by Shafale Lal @ SK Klyde Grand, India. All Recipes Made At The Event Will Be Published In Upcoming Cookery Book Of Master Chef Rajesh Kumar.
    Recipe Developer Dr. Paul Chhabra / Chef Satender Negi / Chef Mani Shankar Jha https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77WxGQCVLII
  • Graduated from ODU Police Citizen Academy Norfolk on April, 2024
  • Awarded  By Asian American Alliance  on 31st May in Virginia Beach, VA on the occasion of American Pacific Heritage Month May 2024
  • Invited to meet with Honorable Jill Biden, First Lady of United States on her visit to Virginia Beach, Virginia on 27th June, 2024
  • Full Page article in Coastal Virginia Magazine July/August 2024 “  Meet a Remarkable Restaurateur Who Has Nourished the Coastal Virginia Community for Decades”. Community service is at the heart of all of Dr. Yash P. Chhabra’s operations https://coastalvirginiamag.com/article/more-than-good-food/
  • Honored with Prestigious Award Shiksha Sewa Sanman Award 2024 as a Indo-Vegan Culinary  Teacher to explore plant based cooking while celebrating the rich flavors of Indian Cuisine through cooking classes & TV cooking shows in Hampton Roads, Virginia and through cookbook to the culinary World. The award was given by Prof. Dhananjay Joshi, Vice Chancellor of Delhi Teachers University, on the occasion of Teachers Day on 7th Sep,2024 in New Delhi, India.
  • Honored and Grateful! I’m thrilled to announce that I have been named Business Person of the Year by AIHR (Asian Indian of Hampton Roads) on October 5, 2024 through outside panelist, Jolie R. Spiers, Executive Director of Hampton Roads Chamber! 🎉 It’s an incredible honor to be recognized for my hard work and dedication. A special thank you to Parineeti Chopra, Bollywood Celebrity whose presence made the evening even more unforgettable! 
  • Recognized with the prestigious “Wallis Annenberg Public Service Award on October 17, 2024” by Kathy Magee President & CEO of Operation Smile. Operation Smile has presented such awards since 2003 including Elizabeth Daley, Dean at USC, Roma Downey, Cindy McCain, The Trump family, Bill Guthy & Vicky Mense.
Academic Qualification:

Completed degree of business at Doaba College, Jalandhar, Punjab, India. After that, did internship at Hans & Co. (CPA), C-1 Dilkusha Market, Punjab, India. Further, did lodging and food service Management course from Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA.