From Kol to Jhargram, jhalmuri, sellers find place in the sun

Jhargram/Kolkata: The crisp rustle of puffed rice, the sharp scent of mustard oil and green chillies, and the familiar clang of steel containers became as much a part of Bengal's political transition on Saturday as the oath-taking ceremony itself.From Jhargram to Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, humble jhalmuri sellers unexpectedly emerged as some of the biggest beneficiaries — and symbols — of the day Suvendu Adhikari took oath as West Bengal's new chief minister in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.At College More in Jhargram, Bikram Kumar Sau's modest roadside stall, where PM Modi had stopped over and ordered a Rs 10 packet of jhalmuri and chatted with the seller, instantly transforming the vendor into a local celebrity, continued to draw curious visitors on Saturday.While Bengal witnessed a historic political moment in Kolkata on Saturday, Sau quietly followed the ceremony from his stall on his cellphone. According to his mother, Sunita Devi, he opened the shop in the morning before returning home for lunch. Later in the day, his parents, Uttam Sau and Sunita Devi, took charge of the stall as customers continued arriving, many eager to catch a glimpse of the place where the PM had stopped for a snack.For nearly 12 years, Sau has been selling jhalmuri at College More in Jhargram and currently lives in the district's Station Para area."I have carefully preserved the Rs 10 note given to me by Modiji. The PM had asked about my family, earnings and daily life before paying for the snack himself," Sau told TOI. Despite the sudden fame, Sau insisted he had no plans to rename the stall, though he remained undecided about where to place the now-iconic photograph of the encounter.If Sau represented the emotional side of the jhalmuri frenzy, Brigade showcased its commercial success. Inside the tightly secured Maidan venue, Mohan Shah was among 20 selected jhalmuri sellers allowed to operate within the cordoned perimeter during the oath-taking ceremony."Jhalmuri was the only thing that was selling at my stall since BJP members started work at the ground on Thursday. I am thankful to have got a place during the programme and was amused to see the queue of people outside my stall. But everyone wanted the Rs 10 jhalmuri packet. I would have loved if people had opted for a higher price bracket, but I realise Rs 10 jhalmuri will sell more," said Shah, who has been selling jhalmuri on the Maidan for 15 years.Across the venue's 22 gates, serpentine queues formed outside pagoda-style tents selling jhalmuri, rosogolla and sandesh. Yet it was the spicy street snack — not the sweets Bengal is globally known for — that emerged as the crowd favourite. "Jhalmuri was always popular in Kolkata, but now it feels national," said BJP supporter Nitin Singh from Tollygunge.