Straight Answers
Interview with Raghunath D. Megde, one of the two Mumbai Dabbawallas (tiffin carriers) who were royal guests of honour at the wedding of Prince Charles
How was it coming up-close and personal with royalty?
Both Camillavaini and Charlesbhau ('vaini' and 'bhau' are honorifics added to the names of women and men respectively in Marathi, the local language of Mumbai - Sujeet) thanked me for the gifts and said they were honoured to have me in their midst and asked to convey their best to India. At the wedding, I met the Queen who said that the prince had spoken highly of us Dabbawallas. The young Princes, William and Harry are very well brought up young men.
What does such an honour mean to you?
Dabbawallas are often ignored in our own city, despite the efforts we put in. To have someone like the future king of England bestow such respect upon us by making us a part of such a personal celebration is exhilarating. This is not the first time the prince has honoured me, in fact last year in October he had invited me to attend the World Summit on Organically Grown Agricultural Food held in Turin, Italy where I gave a small presentation on our food supply operations.
How different is London from Mumbai?
I would say they are like two cousins. They both share a similar architectural style. Even the red double-decker buses resemble their counterparts here in Mumbai. The only difficulty we faced was adjusting to the cold and bland English food. Luckily I took enough chapattis and chutney which was a life saver, but I must admit I quite liked the taste of champagne which was served at the reception.
Would you consider setting up a tiffin service operation in London?
I don't think a tiffin service is feasible in a city like London where people have forgotten the pleasure of sitting down and eating a meal, every one is constantly on the move.
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