Hooray For The Dabbahwallahs!

.
One of the most complex but highly organised and efficient food distribution systems is that operated by the tiffin-carriers, the Dabbahwallahs, who operate in Mumbai. Each day around 5,000 men collect nearly 200,000 metal tiffin-boxes from private homes and deliver them to the right customers at lunchtime.

It is most impressive to see these lunch-boxes, often two or three tins which fit one on top of the other, being bought to various collection points and then distributed to their hungry clients on time. The system has been the subject of a television documentary, the tiffin-carriers themselves have received international recognition for their supply-chain management and some even attended Prince Charles’ wedding in 2005.

But the 21st century has introduced a few problems to the dabbahwallahs, many of whom have only the most basic education and who may not speak English. So a university in Maharashtra has introduced a new course which teaches basic English and computer skills so that in future the graduate tiffin-carriers will be able to understand orders and addresses sent by email or text.

The distribution of tiffin-boxes is a tradition going back more than one hundred years and it would be good to see a new documentary about the dabbahwallahs and how they operate in the 21st century to bring lunches from the homes of hungry folk to their place of work each day.
.

Happy Independence Day!

.
Today is India’s Independence Day, a national holiday on which the country celebrates its independence from British rule and its birth as a sovereign nation. All across the country there will be flag-raising ceremonies and patriotic speeches.

Today is also the day on which the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai will be officially reopened after it was extensively damaged by a terrorist attack in November 2008 in which 167 people were killed and many others injured.

In the days when I was usefully and gainfully employed, I made a number of trips to India and it was a country I came to love very much. Despite some of its squalid areas, it is a wonderful, vibrant country full of amazingly varied sights and sounds. And, as might be expected, I enjoyed its food. Its people are extremely energetic and it is no surprise that those Indians who emigrated subsequently prospered by their efforts.

I have many fond memories of my visits to India.

On this day I shall recall a visit to the Red Fort in the walled city of Old Delhi, capital of the Moguls until the last emperor was exiled by the British in 1857. In celebration of the day the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, will raise the national flag above its ramparts and deliver a speech which will be broadcast nationally.

And I shall fondly remember also my visits to the Taj Hotel, opened in 1905 and still one of the world’s grandest of hotels. Of stays in the old, colonial-style part and also of stays in the ultramodern tower that was added in the 70’s. I shall remember the warm greeting given to guests on arrival by one of the saluting doorman, the beautiful sari-clad staff and the general air of courtesy and charm of every employee there.

There are many other things I shall be reminded of today.

Chief of these will be to remember the many friends I made during my visits there.
.