SLICE OF LIFE
Thepla in Bajan land
BY V. GANGADHAR
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The humble thepla from Gujarat broke all barriers and won over more locals than any formal diplomatic move in Barbados.
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The 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies did not leave pleasant memories for India but it brought to the limelight the foresight of some of the Indian spectators at the Caribbean fiesta. Two “Tambrams” (Tamil Brahmins) from Bangalore
, who were in a group of nine vegetarian cricket lovers, played a major role in making the trip pleasant, filling and economical. The group which spent nearly one month in Barbados watching the cricket, cooked their own food thrice a day in a rented villa and was benefited by the foresight of the Bangalore duo who carried with them nearly 750 pieces of theplas which constituted one of their main food items throughout their stay.
Popular snack
Thepla from Bangalore? It is actually a Gujarat preparation, something like a roti or bhakri, but made from a mixture of wheat, bajra, besan, according to
taste. The dough is mixed with a little oil, methi leaves finely cut, ginger, green chillies, salt, rolled like chapatti and shallow fried on a tava. Thepla is a staple food item
in Gujarat, and is generally preferred as a snack to be taken with hot masala chai.
Perhaps, the Bangalore duo got the theplas made from a Gujarati caterer but they had no idea it would be such a hit item during their West Indian sojourn.
Food in Barbados was expensive and did not offer much variety. The well packaged theplas occupied most of the space in the refrigerator. While Gopal, the self-appointed chef, made scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast, the theplas came in handy for lunch and dinner. Everyone in the nine-member group loved them and ate them in different ways. Sometimes, dipped in sambar, other times like a “frankie” where the thepla was rolled and stuffed with some vegetable curry. Having thepla both for lunch and dinner did not bother the cricket lovers. It was cheaper and tastier than anything available in the local market.
Tastier alternative
The real value of thepla was revealed when the group members took it to the cricket matches for the lunch break. The friendly, fun loving Bajans (locals), while opening their own packets of sandwiches or fried fish, were puzzled whe
n they saw the Indian visitors eat the same kind of lunch every day. “Mann, wat iz de stuff you eat daily?” one of them asked. “Want to try some?” offered the Indians. The Bajans rolled their eyes, not trusting what they were letting themselves into, but finally picked up the courage to sample the mysterious Indian delicacy.
Well, the Bajans may not have liked their team’s early exit from the World Cup, but they certainly liked the thepla. The stuffing, mostly potato, cooked South Indian style, was particularly appreciated. News about the thepla got around on the Kensington Oval cricket ground and more and more Bajans wanted to sample the stuff. Some of them wanted to return the Indian group’s hospitality. One day, as the packages of thepla were handed
out, the Bajans responded by ordering trays of the local beer. It was more than a fair exchange for the Indians and from then onwards, the exchange took place daily.
“The ground was noisy” recalls Gopal. “The locals were fun loving. They had steel drums which they played constantly, danced while watching cricket and the thepla appeared to add some extra zest to their entertain
ment.” The humble food from Gujarat broke all barriers and won over more locals than any formal diplomatic move. The thepla stocks were diminishing quicker than expected, but the Indian group did not mind. The beer exchange was m
ore than fair and they were happy to have made many new friends.
Leaving a bit of India behind
The cricket carnival was coming to a close though the final between Australia and Sri Lanka, played in semi-darkness, was a farce. Soon it was time to leave the magical Barbados which had produced, besides the famous Three Ws (Worrell, Weeks and Walcott), the incomparable Gary Sobers. The Indian group bid good bye to their thepla friends. On returning to the villa, they found the refrigerator filled with left-over items which consisted of sambar, ra
sam powder, varieties of chutneys and sauces and pickles. With some diffidence they approached some of their Bajan friends and asked them if they would accept the leftovers as gifts. They need not have worried; within no time, the huge refrigerator was empty and the Bajans left, singing calypso songs and grinning from ear to ear. They would never forget the thepla treat, which, according to them, went down excellently with beer.
The humble thepla achieved a diplomatic coup in cementing relations between the two nations. As a business enterprise, it holds exciting prospects. If an enterprising Gujarati businessman undertakes the export and distribution of thepla in Barbados, his future would be made. Any takers?
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