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| Panditji |
Name- Kishan Lal but popularly known around Jamuna Bazaar as Panditji
Birth place: Uttar Pradesh but feels at home in the lanes around the river Yamuna.
Address: Hanuman mandir, Jamuna Bazaar, a Yamuna resident for more than 35 years
Occupation: Chaiwallah, his kaleidoscopic stall dotted with pictures of innumerable deities also offer cold drinks, masala chai, cutting chai and Khari biscuit.
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| Busy at work |
Timings: 5.15 A.M till 10.00 P.M, due to the proximity to Nigambodh Ghat, he has a trail of customers throughout the day ' I have customers who come in Mercedes car and as well as simple rag pickers.'
USP: It is a great place to get the essence of Jamuna Bazzar area and acquaint oneself with stories floating around, there are mother in law's gossiping, people discussing the water level of the river Yamuna and reminiscing about the golden days when the river was clean.
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| I make around 100 cups of tea on a good day |
Favourite Yamuna spot: 'I love to sit by the ghats of the revered river Yamuna around 4.00 in the morning. It is so peaceful and in the dark of the darkness, I can escape all the buildings and construction, which has cropped up around the river.'
Yamuna moment: Swimming in the river. 'I miss doing that, it's been more than 22 years, I have not swam in the water of Yamuna, they have spoiled it for us, the wretched government.'
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| Yes...It is my river |
What is your Yamuna: 'My Yamuna is holy and gives solace to tormented hearts. In this life, I cannot leave the lanes of Yamuna.'
It is just not the river Yamuna but the people living around it makes the place more interesting. At Panditji tea stall, I was served a piping hot chai laced with cardamom and with generous helping of inside stories of Jamuna Bazaar... a must Delhi experience.
Text and images: Divya Dugar
Text and images: Divya Dugar
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