Saqib Bashir
Srinagar:- “KASHMIR” whenever one hears this name, a different type of vibe hits the person. Kashmir valley is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful parts of the world. The heavenly landscape, endowed with mountains and hills, gardens and orchards, lakes and rivers, chinars and flowers makes the place so beautiful that you want to stay here forever. But there is much more that makes this place so beautiful and pleasant. The valley is blessed with a variety of street food.
During the summer season, the streets of Kashmir witness a range of street foods like Barbeques, Matka Kulfi, Bhel Puri, Golgappas etc but the one food that has taken over all these items is the famous Masala Roll of Kashmir. Masala Roll is one of the most consumed street foods in the valley. People from all corners of the valley enjoy it during the summer season and people from all ranges of age love to eat it whenever they get a chance.
Many people in the valley have taken the initiative to sell the refreshing Masala Roti and earn their livelihood but there is one man who stands out above all the crowd. Mohd Yousuf Ganaie, “The Cycle Man of North Kashmir”
Mohd Yousuf, a 44 year old man belonging to the Reenji area of Baramulla District is an example of utmost hardwork and dedication who has taken his profession to higher levels. What makes Yousuf’s story more thrilling is that he sells the food by traveling from place to place on his bicycle. Yousuf has been running this small business for the last 6 years and is equally supported by his wife and two sons in preparing the food before he leaves to sell it through various places of North Kashmir. Despite extreme heat in the summer season, Yousuf never misses a day to go out on his bicycle to sell the mouth watering Masala roti and earn some bucks for his family.
Yousuf growed up in a middle class family in the Reenji area of Sopore and from his early childhood, Yousuf was very much interested in food and food recipes. Due to family struggles Yousuf gave up his studies very early in class 4th and started to work in different sectors of society to earn some money. Yousuf used to work on a day by day basis and used to get Rs 250 per day before he finally saw a video on his relatives phone regarding the famous Masala Roti. Since that day, Yousuf developed his interest in Masala Roll making and has never looked back since then.
The Masala roll is prepared by grinding Chickpeas , onion and mixed with yogurt and then is wrapped in freshly made tortillas and served to customers.
Yousuf’s struggle has not been easy at all, he has faced difficulties at various stages of his life but still keeps going with the same enthusiasm and dedication towards his work.
“I have been selling this food for almost the last 6 years and I am satisfied with what I am earning from it. My family supports me equally in this job especially my wife who has been like a backbone for me and has helped me at every single step to move forward in this profession. I take care of my family from the earnings and my two sons are studying and their fee is also managed from this and I don’t feel any shame in going from place to place to sell my food. People all over the area love my food and I am happy with it. There are a lot of people who sell this food at different locations but I thought going from place to place would be a better idea in order to reach maximum people.” Yousuf said.
Yousuf also stressed upon the fact that in a time when everything seems to get more and more expensive, the Masala Roti is one such food which everyone can afford as it is not very expensive.
“Masala roti is not very expensive. That’s what makes it more special and affordable to everyone. I sell it at Rs 10 and 20 which is very less keeping in mind the present scenario. People of every age group can easily afford it, the students also love to eat it and maximum of my customers are students. I usually sell around 100-150 rolls per day and I am satisfied with my work and I want to make it big in the coming years by Allah’s will. Moreover people love my food because of the quality of ingredients I use to prepare this. I generally use pure Channa ‘s to prepare this while others use a mixture of potatoes and other pulses as well,” Added yousuf.
Mohd Yousuf also shared the hardships that he faces in everyday life in order to fulfill the needs of his family. Yousuf travels through a number of villages starting from his home village Reenji and after that to Buchoo, Hygam, Bulgam, Choora , Putkha, Sangrama, Chinad, Delina, Delina Ghat, Darpora returns back from Kanispora and this is his daily routine.
“I start to prepare the material around 5:30 in the morning and leave at 7 from my home towards different places starting from Reenji to Kanispora. It is a tough job to drive the bicycle for a long distance but it has now become a part and parcel of my life. Sometimes the weather is not good and when it rains it is really difficult to drive through rain and reach customers and usually customers also don’t turn up in numbers on bad weather days.
“I have known Mohd Yousuf for the last 2 years and I eat the Masala Roti consistently whenever I get the time. The taste of the food is very good and I have always enjoyed it. Yousuf is a very kind person who has a very different personality and also has a different style of serving food to his customers. I honestly wait for him to arrive so that I can buy this tasty food from him. He never argues over things and sometimes gives the rolls on credit for me which I pay back later to him and I really enjoy the quality of food he serves.” Added Adil Sultan, a regular customer from Delina.
” Being in touch with Yousuf from last week, I tasted the famous Masala Roll and I clearly found the difference between his Roti and all others. Yousuf has a very hygienic set up and the taste of the food was really great. What makes Yousuf’s Masala Roll more tasty is the kind of personality Yousuf is. He has a very polite nature and loves to serve his customers with open arms.”
Mahrukh Mehraj, Pursuing Masters in Nutrition and Dietetics at Lovely Professional University highlighted the nutritious benefits of the food.
“Masala roll can be a nutritious food that provides a balanced combination of carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats. The ingredients, including vegetables, yogurt, and pulses, make them a perfect food to provide you with essential nutrients that your body needs to function correctly. They are also rich in fiber, which helps to keep you feeling full for longer and promote healthy digestion. Protein is essential for the growth and repair of the body, and these rolls are a great source of protein. Including protein-rich foods in your diet can help to maintain and build muscle mass, increase strength, and boost metabolism.” Mahruk added.
“These rolls are typically made with ingredients such as beans, which are high in fiber and can help regulate bowel movements and in turn relieve constipation. Overall, incorporating these rolls into a well-rounded and balanced diet can certainly contribute to better digestive health and help alleviate constipation symptoms. However, it is important to note that individual results may vary and that other lifestyle factors, such as hydration and physical activity, also play a crucial role in digestive health “. She further added.
