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Modi has ditched dhokla for jhalmuri. He’s an honorary Bengali

All eyes are on the dramatic and often savage elections in West Bengal, where so much is at stake, besides Didi’s survival.

Even though I have been married to a very Bong man for the past four decades, I have not converted to all things Bong. Like jhalmuri ( jhal means fiery, and muri is puffed rice): a spicy, crunchy roadside snack, expertly mixed in a paper cone by chatty vendors who frequently ask customers if they have any special preferences—with or without raw onions?—before drizzling mustard oil liberally over the tongue-tingling concoction, die-hard Kolkatans swear by. You can keep your jhalmuri. 

I am loyal to Mumbai’s far more complex and yummy bhelpuri, which wins hands down in the street food stakes. What’s wrong with being brazenly parochial? I am Maharashtrian, and sorry, but bhel wins.

One would have imagined Prime Minister Narendra Modi (ravenously hungry after addressing four major political rallies in West Bengal), preferring a Gujju snack like dhokla devdi, khandvi, thepla during a chai-nashta break in Jhargram. But, no! He waited for the cameras to get into position before walking up to the owner of a jhalmuri stall and sweetly saying, “Bhai, hamein aap ka jhaalmuri khilao (Brother, feed me your jhalmuri).” Bhai promptly obliged. 

Supporters cheered wildly as the efficient stall owner asked, “Ap pyaaz khatey ho? (Do you eat onions?)’’ To which our witty PM replied, “Haan, khaatey hain, dimag nahi khaata, bas (Yes, I do. I just don’t eat brains)’’ Touche! Well played. The clip went viral as fans gushed, “Modiji is so approachable, he’s........

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