Aram’s Engineer Vada Pav Wala

There has to be hardly any Mumbaikar who hasn’t had Vada Pav at Aram outside CST station. The young man in the centre is Madhavrao Tambe, and he owns Aram, I happened to chance meet him and the few minutes discussion with this 82-year old young man gave me an insight on how humility is the best magic to win people.

He holds a degree in Engineering, yes he’s a BE, but jokingly says, ‘Vada Pav banate banate sab bhul gaya.’ (Forgot everything about engineering while making Vada Pavs.) Being a regular at Aram I love the Awla Suparis that they serve post the meal. I wrap them in a paper and take them home. He told me that introducing the supari was his elder brother’s idea.

I learnt that he and his brother were the first to direct noted theatre artist Dilip Prabhavalkar when he was a child. Being an engineer he did everything that interested him, serving people at his iconic restaurant and even directing plays.

The determination is what makes him come all the way from his home in Dadar-Mahim to CST everyday in a local train. I just pray that at his age, even I am as determined as he is.

(The one to left is Shriram Siddhaye, who is a veteran in Journalism)