fascinating dabba-wallahs

Midnite Toker · Jun 25th, 2002, 01:23

Some time back, I posted a question on the LP Throne Tree about "dabba-wallahs," those men who deliver home-cooked food in tiffin tins to Bombay's office workers.

It appears that they have a 99.9999999 accuracy rating; one tiffin tin is lost for every six million delivered!

From The Guardian, 24th June:
"Parking their bicycles outside a succession of middle-class tower blocks, they collect up to 160,000 home-cooked lunches. They take the tiffins to suburban railway stations. There, they sort them out by destination on the platform. The lunches then travel southwards into the centre of Bombay. Here, the dabba-wallahs deliver them by 12.45pm sharp to hungry office workers..."

Read the full story here

thestens · Dec 29th, 2002, 03:28

I,m going to Mumbai in April - have read about the dabba wallahs and would love to observe them - where would be the best place?

Architect · Dec 29th, 2002, 11:52

Thestens,
Go to the nearest suburban railway stations are between 10am-12 noon. Your are likely to see some dabbawallas on their way to deliver the meals.

Mirjam · Dec 9th, 2003, 14:41

There is a beautiful documentary film on the dabbawalahs! I really loved it and it gives a very good idea of the lives and work of these people.

Have a look at http://www.wilderellfilm.com/ for more details on the film.

Mirjam

Jun 25th, 2002, 01:23	#1
Midnite Toker absconding member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 477	fascinating dabba-wallahs Some time back, I posted a question on the LP Throne Tree about "dabba-wallahs," those men who deliver home-cooked food in tiffin tins to Bombay's office workers. It appears that they have a 99.9999999 accuracy rating; one tiffin tin is lost for every six million delivered! From The Guardian, 24th June: "Parking their bicycles outside a succession of middle-class tower blocks, they collect up to 160,000 home-cooked lunches. They take the tiffins to suburban railway stations. There, they sort them out by destination on the platform. The lunches then travel southwards into the centre of Bombay. Here, the dabba-wallahs deliver them by 12.45pm sharp to hungry office workers..." Read the full story here __________________ travel tips, blog, downloads, panorama photos, online security, tokes: the tokezone

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Dec 29th, 2002, 03:28	#2
thestens Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 44	I,m going to Mumbai in April - have read about the dabba wallahs and would love to observe them - where would be the best place?

Dec 29th, 2002, 11:52	#3
Architect Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Mumbai Posts: 37	Thestens, Go to the nearest suburban railway stations are between 10am-12 noon. Your are likely to see some dabbawallas on their way to deliver the meals.

Dec 9th, 2003, 14:41	#4
Mirjam Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 147	There is a beautiful documentary film on the dabbawalahs! I really loved it and it gives a very good idea of the lives and work of these people. Have a look at http://www.wilderellfilm.com/ for more details on the film. Mirjam

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