It is a story told so many times that it has started to ring true. The legendry mince mutton cutlets at St. Stephen’s College; the paneer cutlets with mint chutney at Shri Ram College of Commerce; and the countless Maggi made by the countless uncles positioned near this or that gate and kiosk.
Students coming for admissions are advised by at least one newspaper in the city every year to carry just water and to not even think of taking packed lunches. After all, it is not every day that you can get to sample some of the campus’ “legendary” food.
Therefore, a hot Monday almost nearing lunch time seems like a nice time to try out those mince cutlets with perhaps a nice glass of lemonade or nimbu paani like they say. Once inside St. Stephen’s College canteen, the white wicker chairs, after a morning spent elbowing one’s way through sweat-drenched fellow human beings seem inviting in their emptiness. Two attendants there tell you that you can get yourself a soft drink there but nothing else.
Once outside, the Hindu College is immediately visible opposite the road. Students inside say their “yellow” canteen located at the far end of their college might be open and serving samosas . A better option seems to be the Delhi School of Economics canteen, which is overflowing with students and teachers from across the university. However, it is too late to sample their famous mutton dosas and jelly in a cup.
Down the road is Ramjas College. Its canteen is always open with its quick-selling rajma chawal and french fries every admission season. Here, too, there is some confusion. The canteen is being renovated and students cannot locate where the “temporary” canteen, which is sometimes open, is located.
Miranda House College sports a deserted look. Till last year, the college was a centre selling application forms and its canteen, cafe and small kiosks used to be packed. Canteen food includes only dal chawal though the outdoor cafe sells a decent cake, puff and coffee.
In one street is the Daulat Ram College, which is a centre selling forms this year. No drinking water is available, leave alone refreshments here. Next door is the famous Shri Ram College of Commerce canteen situated on the second floor. Its doors are shut and students coming for exams say it is functional at times.
Opposite is the Arts Faculty housing the Indian Railways Corporation-run canteen, which the university is especially proud of, because of high standards of hygiene and the variety of food. The lunch these days, however, is limited to a vegetarian thali — the only problem here is managing to find a table that is not overrun with dirty dishes.
A longer walk takes you to the former Nirula’s, famous for its ice-cream sundaes and milkshakes. It has been replaced by a non-profit student-run enterprise, which is closed because of renovations. Comparatively, roadside eateries thrive, but there are no students lined up in the blazing sun anywhere near them selling two-minute noodles.
“I read the papers on the first day and they all said it is better not to get lunch, so I carried just one bottle of water. I neither want to eat dal chawal and roti here nor do I want to stand or sit on the pavement and eat momos or bhelpuri or chole kulchas under the blazing sun. I wish I had gotten my lunch,” said Akansha who had made the trip to buy the “extra-curricular activity” forms that were available in all colleges.
