Charmed by cafes

Let not the Irani cafes be closed down in favor of three or five star hotels. This is our heritage and when we are struggling for our survival, why are we aiming the axe at our own feet?

I just saw a simple movie, Tum Milo Toh Sahi where Dimple Kapadia plays the role of Dilshad Aunty who runs this typical Irani eatery. She not only doles out the famous Irani maska pao, brun-maska (crusted bread and butter), chai (tea) and custard which is light on the pocket but the place retains its unforgettable ambience along with her own typical Parsi style humor and humane philosophy! Finding land sharks wanting to gobble up her café by paying her an obscene price to turn it into a five or seven star hotel, she holds her ground and does not give in to the threats.

The movie evokes nostalgia and tears for the bygone days. It also tells us that we can do something. Why don’t trusts like the Bombay Parsi Punchayet take over these fast depleting Parsi/Irani cafes, have them declared as heritage sites and get them functioning instead of losing out on our very own culture-cuisine? It’s these little idiosyncrasies, our humor, hearty laughter and a penchant for simple, though finger-licking food that has made us so endearing to the rest of the world.

RODA D. HAKIM

Baroda

vadhakim@yahoo.com