(Text and Photos by Pupps Roy)
Yes they still sell dry fruits and engage in money
laundering. Well, the former happens in
Delhi and the latter source is not a part of the story. A gritty side of Delhi
wrapped in exotic Candy Floss. Come eat it. The Crowd, hustle busle, flea
Market and people are around everywhere. They are walking, running and also
shoving you if you plunge into the crowd of Central Market. Once a refugee
colony still maintains its status for many. Welcome to Lajpat Nagar. One of a
kind and is the largest colony in the entire south Delhi. Lajpat nagar has a
history of embracing foreigners from pre-independence era. Many outsiders have
made this colony to their home but the presence of Afghan Community has been
manifested since many years very strongly. Some have their business, some come
to India for the medical facilities, Some for studies and rest are living here
permanently while others are just having a good time in Delhi as tourists.
Welcome to "Kabul Delhi Restaurant". This is a
pure Afghani restaurant where they serve delicacies of Afghanistan. It is
located right across the Central Market. You can actually see all tables are
full and mostly Afghan patrons and few Indians are starting at the menu deciding
and discussing what to order. This busy restaurant also has a dias where you
can sit down cross-legged and eat. It’s like sitting on the floor and eating
food. This restaurant is tiny but looks pretty with the giant picture of
Ayatollah Khomeini that goes so well with the size of bread that they serve
with pickled lady fingers, worth a try. The best and talked about dish here is
Biriyani and korma served by some young Afghan men.
Yes they still sell dry fruits and engage in money
laundering. Well, the former happens in
Delhi and the latter source is not a part of the story. A gritty side of Delhi
wrapped in exotic Candy Floss. Come eat it. The Crowd, hustle busle, flea
Market and people are around everywhere. They are walking, running and also
shoving you if you plunge into the crowd of Central Market. Once a refugee
colony still maintains its status for many. Welcome to Lajpat Nagar. One of a
kind and is the largest colony in the entire south Delhi. Lajpat nagar has a
history of embracing foreigners from pre-independence era. Many outsiders have
made this colony to their home but the presence of Afghan Community has been
manifested since many years very strongly. Some have their business, some come
to India for the medical facilities, Some for studies and rest are living here
permanently while others are just having a good time in Delhi as tourists.
There is no reason why have there been so many Afghanis. In
the close vicinity of Lajpat nagar in Bhogal area there is even a specialized
Afghani hotel called "Hotel Kabuli". There are handfuls of Afghanis
in Bhogal but the whole lot continue to exist in Lajpat nagar for over a
decade. They look different so they are easily identifiable. Tall, extra fair
with long clothes and loud accent. That’s how they have been dealing in
business. Many fly over the borders to India to sell dry fruits. Aaraq or
Aaragh is 32 years old man and drives a Honda City and has an Indian Driving license.
He finds handling business in Delhi easy but again there is a lot of
competition with other Afghanis who are emerging in the same business every
single day. With more and more Afghanis pouring in Lajpat Nagar has become the
hub of Afghanis.
Welcome to "Kabul Delhi Restaurant". This is a
pure Afghani restaurant where they serve delicacies of Afghanistan. It is
located right across the Central Market. You can actually see all tables are
full and mostly Afghan patrons and few Indians are starting at the menu deciding
and discussing what to order. This busy restaurant also has a dias where you
can sit down cross-legged and eat. It’s like sitting on the floor and eating
food. This restaurant is tiny but looks pretty with the giant picture of
Ayatollah Khomeini that goes so well with the size of bread that they serve
with pickled lady fingers, worth a try. The best and talked about dish here is
Biriyani and korma served by some young Afghan men.
Back to the rutted road of Lajpat Nagar. Next to Kabul
restaurant is an Afghan Medical store. Even the name and the address is written
in Afghani language or in Arabic. Afghani Women walking in groups and one of
them is carrying a Haruki Murakami, hawkers shouting and selling their stuff,
Rickshaw walas are waiting for their customers, a group of young men are
congregating around the tea stall and engrossed in some loud conversation,
Smart Afghani guys in skinny jeans are coming out of the parlor one by one and
the scene goes on and on. There is a also a small travel agency that sells
direct ticket of some Afghan airline and also promoting medical tourism. On top
of it there is a sign of "Room to let". Everyone has a place to stay
and live their own in Delhi. Diversified Delhi is proud to host Afghan
Community in its warm lap of Lajpat Nagar. Its crowded but welcoming. So come
and absorb.
No comments:
Post a Comment