The market, as always, has risen to meet the demand for safe,
herbal colours and for healthy, correct weight sweets and savouries. Women’s Day is also
happening on the 8th of March, with all its complex web of implications. Today when women
like Nooyi and Sunita Williams, who have shot through glass and atmospheric ceilings to reach
where it matters, we are all justifiably, not only proud of them, but also see hope on the horizon
for millions, still unaccounted for women, in the back of beyond of our hinterlands. We are of
course fortunate to have our Medha Patkars and Aruna Roys, amongst us, struggling on
women's behalf. However, one thing that appears to help women emerge as self-possessed
individuals, is undoubtedly education.
Another thing, specially of concern to 'saadhi Dilli' is the Supreme Court edict banning cooking
on streets. I have spent my entire life in Delhi, and I do believe that Delhi's USP is its street food.
Delhi-wallahs unabashedly bite into anything from the Tibetan momos to southern idli, vada,
dosa, or the west coast dhokla and sreekhand, to Bengali paani poori. Mumbai pav-bhaji is an
all time favourite and bhelpoori sells everywhere all the time. What is Delhi without its chaat
and aaloo tikkis, punjabi sheekh kababs and tandoori chicken, all adorning the make-shift carts
on wheels, which serve anything from kulchas, naans, boiled eggs, biryanis to tandoori fare.
Where will people stop on their way to office, for hot breakfast? Or hop out of work places for
quick, affordable, hot lunch, or just for a snack, any odd time? We have been waging a war on
the popcorn and soft drink rip-off in cinema halls for years, where you are forced to pick up
absolute junk for astronomically ridiculous prices. Now their tribe can flourish in our city thanks
to the ban. Many a foreign Kentucky Fried Chicken, hot dog stall and Chinese food cart have
tried to jostle our indigenous fare off the Delhi streets but not only have they been stoutly
resisted, but also rejected outright by the savvy consumers of Delhi. Street food is the best
exercise in nationalism and in spreading awareness about our own health drinks from Jaljeera
to thandai to mango pana, to say nothing of the ubiquitous daab.
We are well aware of the dangers lurking in the hygiene concerns, as well as in water and
disposability issues. Why can't we find ways to circumvent that and institutionalise street food,
as it is, rather than just impose bans. This manner of food availability caters to a huge need in
a sprawling, bursting at the seams, urban scenario, and provides instant employment
opportunities to rural migrants in a sector, where their regional knowledge systems can not only
find expression, but support and enrich urban lives in a myriad ways. How boring will our city
become without all the colour, and variety that this presence adds to the city profile? The music
of many tongues mixes well with flavours and aromas and the rasas of ‘Incredible India’.
To think that we are all poised to be deprived of the tingle, crunch and bite, of our food
menus—is a most depressing thought.
Enjoy Holi and celebrate life this March, before the summer or the bans set in.
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