During the pandemic and the lockdown, our hearts went out to the migrant workers who were suddenly rendered jobless and had to walk home. There was another group of people who suffered greatly but never quite got the public attention or sympathy they deserved.
Street vendors are at the bottom of the food pyramid. They barely make enough money to feed their families, and they are constantly harassed and shaken down by the police and municipal authorities. The vast majority of them are not in this sector for love. They do it because, in an economy where employment options are limited, they have no choice.
So, even though we like to say that the reason India has some of the world's best street food is because of a glorious tradition, it may be more accurate to say that it is also because of necessity.
Each year the National Association of Street Vendors (NASVI) organises a street-food festival in Delhi. Hundreds of vendors travel to Delhi to show off their food. It is, for me at least, the foodie event of the year, and as time has gone on, I have become more and more involved in it. And my friend Sameer Sain (whose views on the contribution of vendors to Indian food are as passionate as mine) has put his own money into helping the festival and financing awards for the best vendors.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Let's tri all the angles
BFFs falling for the same girl, kidnap twists, murders, bromances. These 10 three-way love stories play with geometry and our feelings
Should you Q up for this?
Audi's luxury SUV, the Q8, has had a refresh. But a sleeker grille and headlight tech don't make up for what's still missing
How to plan a great escape
It's getting colder. It's already hard to breathe. Why not plan a winter vacation that's a world away but not too far away?
Kababs, yes, but khandvi too
Mughlai cuisine has as many vegetarian dishes as meaty ones. A new translation of a 16th century manuscript shows how we ate, and why modern labels are pointless
I can be your hero
Gurfateh Pirzada, only afewroles old, is the green flag we didn't know we needed. He's learning from women. He wants to be more thana lover and a fighter. He's hoping we all do better. No wonder everyone's crushing on him
Meet the export experts
Khadi crop-tops in Spain, faux-leather hoodies in London, fairytale wedding gowns in the UAE. See how some desi labels are killing it on foreign shores
Why we're all feeling Blue
Coco Mellors's new novel is about grief, sisterhood, and of course, addiction and unlikeable women. How does she make it work?
This week, we're...
Changing the momo game, listening to kids, starting a new business, and supporting pro waxxers
Rohit Chawla
Photographer, artist, @RohitChawlaPhotography_
Congratulations, it's a goal
Lakeside vows, pastel palettes, bayous, backyards and boats. These celeb weddings are what modern fairytales are made of