Masala Puri for thought!!

Yesterday (7 Feb 2011), i was at Uppina Angadi with my friend Kiran rao. We were there on work. After a tiring site survey in the morning and some technical class in the afternoon, we set out to explore the town in the evening. Uppina Angadi is a small town in Malnad about 60 Kms from Mangalore. It was a pretty big town many many years back where Salt from Mangalore used to be unloaded here before getting dispatched to various destinations (This information has to be authenticated).

We set out to Sangama (Confluence) of two lovely rivers;Kumara Dhara and Netravati. Its a beautiful place on the National highway 48. A massive RCC bridge on the highway connects the two banks of Kumaradhara. There is also a small Steel truss bridge for smaller vehicles which connects to the city. The Sunset here is pretty serene.

It was humid and we were pretty hungry by the time the sun left for the day in the horizon. Just next to the RCC Bridge, we met Lokesh, the Pani puri man in his push cart. There was a pretty healthy crowd around him. I asked a customer there for the speciality of the place. He immediately said “Masala Puri”. So we asked Lokesh to give us two plates of Masala puri. He served us a two plates of really superb hot masala puri. By the time we finished it, he had made another round of 16 Plates of Masala puri. He served it to the customers who had flocked there. Just one plate was left and i could not resist the temptation of another helping. Kiran and me shared this plate. By this time we had struck a good relationship with Lokesh. He explained to us the route to his house, his room etc. He explained the speciality of his Masala puri. I was quickly reminded of Srinivas of M.A.R. chats near Shivbalayogi Ashram in J.P.Nagar,Benglooru. Venkatesh had also started small in a small push cart near Mini forest specializing in “Kodu Bale Masala” and today he makes a pretty big business thanks to his courtesy, quality and cleanliness.

Unlike the push cart Pani puri walas of Benglooru, lokesh did not have any helpers. He was a one man army. Second best part of Lokesh’s shop after the taste was his cleanliness and next his courtesy. If we keep out the fact that it was on the highway, rest of the things were pretty neat. Since he had no helpers and the river was about 300 metre walk down the steep river bank, he would not wash the used plates there (cart). All the plates would be taken to his room and washed there with running water. So each plate is used only once in a day. This is pretty cool isn’t it?

Finally after 3 plates of tasty Masala puri and two plates of Pani puri, we left his shop but not before a few more words with Lokesh. Lokesh told us a story of a few travellers from Hassan who visited his room when the latter’s vehicle broke down on the highway. He explained to us his difficulty when he was driven away from the town and his helplessness during monsoons. He was a first generation masala puri entrepreneur in his 15^th year of entrepreneurial journey.

We left with Kiran rao telling these words “We have to come again to Uppina Angadi again just to have the Masala Puri or on our way to Mangalore next time, we should definitely stop for a Masala puri from Lokesh” ..

I have started enjoying these conversations with people who at the outset feel strangers but many times have fascinating stories to share (here are some examples http://sonublogs.blogspot.com/2010/08/happy-man.html , http://sonublogs.blogspot.com/2009/06/bahrath-aur-sharukh-khan.html.)

These interactions have many things to teach. It is not so difficult to strike a healthy chord with anyone. In fact its such a nice feeling to connect to people.

Highway Hell !!

In September 2010, i went on the longest drive of my life so far. I drove from Bangalore to Delhi and back. Onward i drove through the country side visiting small towns and temples. While returning i came on the golden quadrilateral route touching major cities and well industrialized towns of Gujarat. (Read about the drive here)

Well, that drive was good all in all. But the most depressing part of the journey was the pathetic roads coupled with heavy rains in Madhya Pradesh. Ever since the drive, i have cursed Madhya pradesh roads. I deliberately bring the topic of bad roads during casual talks in the family or with friends or with colleagues, kind of enjoy cursing and criticizing it and take pride in saying that Karnataka is far superior than MP so far as roads are concerned.

But i was in for a shock few days back. Accompanied by three 60+ people, i drove to Kukke subramanya and from there to Horanadu in the beautiful shiradi and Charmudi in the western ghats of Karnataka (On 3 and 4 of February 2011). Both the temples are located in the middle of thick forests and the drive to these locations is a treat to anyone who enjoys nature. I would at least drive here for 100 times in my life (only 94 to go since this was my sixth drive to these places.)

Internet gyaan said that Shiradi ghat is in a bad state. But it was not to be. It was quite decent given the terrain and abnormally heavy rainfall last year. So the drive in the ghats was OK rather enjoyable.

But what was most depressing is the state of National Highway 234 (NH 234) in the plains inthe border of chikmanglur-hassan districts. This road connects from Mangalore to the borders of Andra pradesh (AP). The stretch of the road from the scenic Mudigere (Try neer dosa here on the roadside) to the historical town of Belur is pathetic. This is the worst road that i have seen in Karnataka so far. I can say that i have traveled at least 50% of Karnataka by road, but have never seen the roads in this state. The roads in the remote villages of kodagu district like kothnalli, kumaralli, hegdemane etc where even state power grid has failed to deliver power are far better than this stretch of NH.

It took about an hour and a half to drive this 30 kms stretch between Mudigere to Belur. The road was so bad that at one of the pot holes, sorry pot well, more than half the tyre went inside the ditch. I am kind of used to driving long distances and negotiating bad roads but the condition of my three 60+ companions (My mother, my uncle and aunt) was pitiable.

On the lighter note, this stretch of road was so bumpy that any pregnant lady would have delivered on her way on this 30 kms road.

(PS: I have sent a letter and a few photographs to the state roads department. Please note that though its a national highway, only funds are provided by the central government for maintenance and that state government is supposed to execute the work)