During my usual day at work, I decided to step-out for some Vada Pav break craving my usual fix. Instead of heading to my-go-to spot to taste the warm and spicy goodness of pav, I decided to try the food at a Vada Pav food truck advertised as “MBA Vada Pav Wala”. The vendor looked fresh out of an MBA program who was taking orders on his iPad. I was shocked and intrigued at the same time.
It got me thinking about how our streets have changed. Remember when being a vendor was seen as a last resort? "Beta, padhai kar lo, warna zindagi bhar redhi bar chai bechoge," my mom used to warn. Now? It's all "Wow, look at this guy! MBA karke bhi street food bech raha hai. Job se zyaada kama raha hai. So inspiring!
But let's rewind a bit. After independence in '47, our cities exploded with people from villages looking for a better life. With just a few bamboo sticks and cooking equipment, they set up stalls at street corners. Today, as of 2024, India has more than 10 Million street vendors. That's more people than in all of Sweden, just hawking stuff on our roads! And they're not just selling snacks. From veggies to clothes, haircuts to shoe repairs – these vendors are the ultimate jugaadu entrepreneurs.
They contribute a whopping 14% to our urban economy. But still have it tough. They face police harassment, exploitation and what not. And the money? Most of them make a profit of INR 500-1000 a day. Try raising a family on that in Mumbai!
Now enter the new kids on the block. Take Prafull Billore, the MBA Chaiwala. He turned a roadside tea stall into a multi-crore business. Or Chandrika Gera Dixit, who went from flipping vada pavs to flipping the script on Bigg Boss. Suddenly, street food isn't just food – it's a "journey," it's "authentic," it's Instagram gold.
Don't get me wrong, it's great that street food is finally getting some respect. But I can't help but wonder – what about the Ashok kakas of the world? How does a guy who's been selling pani puri for 30 years compete with some hotshot who knows all about 'branding' and has a million followers on Instagram?
It's like watching a real-life David and Goliath story, except Goliath has an MBA and a killer social media strategy. These new “educated” vendors have access to resources; know-hows of marketing and branding; taxation; contacts, that traditional vendors can only dream of. They scale up faster than you can say "cutting chai” and attract customers who come solely because they are mesmerised with the fact that what makes an “Graduate or a Post-Graduate” ditch their profession and enter a profession which was always “looked down upon”.
Some would say that this is giving the vendors the much-needed boost they deserve. I agree but this is also ironic. The people who once looked down upon this profession are now cashing in on it, often at the expense of those who've been at it for generations.
It's a messy situation with no easy fixes. But here's what I think – the next time you're munching on some trendy street snack from a fancy food truck, spare a thought for the OG vendors. They might not have degrees, but they've got decades of flavor that no business school can teach.
So here’s to India– it’s become the place of dreams for everyone. Just maybe a little more fairness is needed and less masala. In every corner of India, there's a story waiting to be told – and it's a lot spicier than any chutney you'll find.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a date with a vada pav. Ashok kaka, I'm coming for you!
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