Mumbai has been termed as "The Maximum City" by Suketu Mehta. There is enough of everything here, be it the night-life, the peaceful beaches, the honking pubs, the rush of the local trains or the hush of the Kanheri caves. It was April 2016, a group of around 30 IRS probationers were staying in this city. Many had come here for the first time. It was a dream come true for most of them, being in the maximum city. They were enjoying the place, walking in the streets of Colaba in the evening, and sitting at the Marine Drive till late at night. It seemed that all the desires of the probationers have been fulfilled here. However a silent resentment was building among a small faction in the group. It was the group of vegetarians, those who were not at all impressed by the delicious Seekh Kababs served by Ayub's, or the tasty Chicken Tikka Rolls served at Bade Miyan.
The vegetarian group had so far not been able to find a place that could match the standards set by the stalls famous for non vegetarian dishes. They were increasingly feeling being marginalised. They had so far approached the hotel manager, their taxi driver, the local tea vendor, the Panwala, and their several similar people asking for information about restaurants where they could enjoy good vegetarian meal. Several names came up like Stadium Restaurant, Shiv Sagar etc but none could satisfy the hunger of the vegetarian group.
It was another fine Saturday and the vegetarian group had lost any hope of getting tasty food in Bombay. They were going to the Stadium Restaurant to quell their hunger without any hope to satisfy their need of tasty food. The leader of the vegetarian group was Parmod, a person who had great belief in the power of the astrology to predict the future. By coincidence a Yogi was sitting on thr pavements outside the Stadium Restaurant. Parmod could not resist himself from approaching the Yogi. Being upset with the quality of vegetarian food they had eaten so far in Bombay, his prime concern was the the type of food they would be getting in future in Bombay. He went to the Yogi and asked him if the future stored good vegetarian food for him or not. Yogi looked at his palm and told him that there is a place that could satisfy his urge for vegetarian food and its name was "Pancham Puriwala". Parmod could not believe his luck. He thanked the Yogi by handing him a note of Rs 100/- and rushed for a taxi. he asked the taxi driver to take him to the Pancham Puriwala.
Ten minutes later he was there. Standing in front of the shop, he tried to smell the air. It smelt good, there was smell of spices, potato, paneer and lassi. A stream of lightening ran inside him, he was feeling highly energetic. He slowly entered the shop and sat the corner seat. He looked at the Menu. It was quite a beautiful menu. He ordered a "Pancham Thali" for himself.
The vegetarian group had so far not been able to find a place that could match the standards set by the stalls famous for non vegetarian dishes. They were increasingly feeling being marginalised. They had so far approached the hotel manager, their taxi driver, the local tea vendor, the Panwala, and their several similar people asking for information about restaurants where they could enjoy good vegetarian meal. Several names came up like Stadium Restaurant, Shiv Sagar etc but none could satisfy the hunger of the vegetarian group.
It was another fine Saturday and the vegetarian group had lost any hope of getting tasty food in Bombay. They were going to the Stadium Restaurant to quell their hunger without any hope to satisfy their need of tasty food. The leader of the vegetarian group was Parmod, a person who had great belief in the power of the astrology to predict the future. By coincidence a Yogi was sitting on thr pavements outside the Stadium Restaurant. Parmod could not resist himself from approaching the Yogi. Being upset with the quality of vegetarian food they had eaten so far in Bombay, his prime concern was the the type of food they would be getting in future in Bombay. He went to the Yogi and asked him if the future stored good vegetarian food for him or not. Yogi looked at his palm and told him that there is a place that could satisfy his urge for vegetarian food and its name was "Pancham Puriwala". Parmod could not believe his luck. He thanked the Yogi by handing him a note of Rs 100/- and rushed for a taxi. he asked the taxi driver to take him to the Pancham Puriwala.
Ten minutes later he was there. Standing in front of the shop, he tried to smell the air. It smelt good, there was smell of spices, potato, paneer and lassi. A stream of lightening ran inside him, he was feeling highly energetic. He slowly entered the shop and sat the corner seat. He looked at the Menu. It was quite a beautiful menu. He ordered a "Pancham Thali" for himself.
The thali came and he started eating. He ate non stop for fifteen minutes, didn't even feel the need to have some water. After finishing everything, he looked up towards the roof of the shop, thanked God for sending him to this place. For the first time he felt satisfied after having a meal in Bombay.
PS: Pancham Puriwala is located at 8 To 10, Perin Nariman Point, Fort.
