Thursday, March 18, 2010

DHABAS AND CITY LIFE

HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF ROADSIDE EATERIES :
Road side dhabas have their origin in hoary past. Be it wild west of America or passes in hills or the river mouths near sea or even the sea beaches, the scene is not complete without hawkers, roadside eateries..which evolved into present days semi pucca or fully constructed places. Even in Delhi, when moghul empire sun was setting, the cooks came out of LAL QILA and spread their specialities for the common man.

The partition of India saw very large population explosion in Delhi. Road side eateries came up in almost every part of Delhi. Today, these places have spread their wings. Road sides, foot paths have been grabbed and traffic movements are obstructed. Developmental Works are at stand still unless these wonders of the past are removed. But then there are mobile eating places or the dhabas functioning in parking lots. Most of these are visited and cater to the poorest of poor and exist throughout length and breadth of this country. To demolish them all or to allow to function them cannot be decided as per laws of the land or city. We have to decide for each location.

So, be merry and enjoy your egg praathas or kebabs with drink or without drink till these dhabas are alive.

KK Ghei
A-78 Madhuvan
New Delhi 110092

No comments:

Post a Comment