AHMEDABAD: Piping hot bhajiyas with tea! Who can resist them? Not even the iron-willed Sardar. Patel’s passion for this delicacy has found a mention in the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s booklet ‘ Amdavad ni Krantiyatra’ .

So much so, that during his early days as a lawyer, Patel was an active member of a ‘Bhajiya Club’ in the city. In 1913, when Sardar began his practice as a barrister in Ahmedabad, it was a ritual to meet friends over a cup of tea and bhajiyas. This gathering came to be known as the ‘Bhajiya Club’. The sessions provided food for thought too.

Narayan Desai, in his book ‘Agnikund Man Khilelu Gulab’ on his father and Gandhiji’s secretary Mahadev Desai, has quoted an incident referring to this club. The book quotes a letter by Mahadevbhai to Pyarelal, a senior Congress leader, which mentions Sardar’s love for bhajiya.

He wrote, “When Vallabhbhai came to Ahmedabad after the successful Bardoli Satyagraha, he received a grand welcome in the city. And surprisingly, he forgot all his fatigue when he mingled with his own bhajiatmak club.

We should thank Jugatram for the word bhajiatmak.” This letter clearly spoke of Sardar’s affiliation towards ‘Bhajiya Club’. Initially, the club members gathered at Krushnalal Desai or Dr Kanunga’s house.

Later, it shifted to Dr Kanunga’s dispensary on Gandhi Road where bhajiyas and tea were ordered from a nearby hotel. Dr Kanunga, Chimanlal Thakor, Maganbhai Patel, Krushnalal Desai, Jivanlal Barrister, Dr Chandubhai and Dr Hariprasad Desai were the members of this club.

Many government officers and professionals were a part of this gathering. Everything except politics was discussed here. Adarsh Prakashan on Gandhi Road today is where Dr Kanunga’s dispensary used to be.

After Sardar become a national leader in 1935, this club rarely gathered. Leaders like Mahadev Desai, Pyarelal and Jugatram knew of Sardar’s love for the bhajiya.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ahmedabad