Mustaque Ahmed is the visionary founder behind Michinga.
Step into Michinga at Uzan Bazar and it feels less like a restaurant and more like a gathering. Warm bamboo and wood, soft light on brass plates, easy conversations. At the centre is Mustaque Ahmed, whose journey from ARPS classrooms to corporate boardrooms and finally to the kitchen has made him one of the region’s most respected entrepreneurs.
After more than two decades running a successful BPO firm in Bangalore, Mustaque chose a different calling. Drawn back to home, food, and culture, he turned to the kitchens he grew up in, where hospitality was instinctive and food meant connection. His travels across the Northeast, and early exposure to Khasi, Naga, and Mizo cuisines, shaped a vision that led him to open his first Northeastern restaurant in 2010.
Michinga is the result of that journey. A celebration of Assamese, Naga, and Northeastern flavours, built on authentic ingredients sourced from places like Wokha, Dimapur, and Jalukie. With a partner from Nagaland’s Lotha community, authenticity remains non negotiable.
What defines Mustaque is intent. He didn’t follow trends. He chose to preserve memory, culture, and identity. His advice to young entrepreneurs is simple. Stay obsessed, stay resilient, and protect your positivity.
From ARPS to Guwahati’s most loved ethnic food hub, Mustaque Ahmed’s story is proof that success sometimes means coming home, with purpose, pride, and a meal worth remembering.
The Michinga brand identity was designed by Rupam Borah (NL18), another proud ARPS alumnus and branding expert, adding one more chapter to the school’s legacy.