Generations of students mourn death of St Stephen’s dhaba owner, Rohtas

Photos, poetry and heartfelt messages have been put up on Facebook by old students, talking about the advice given by Rohtas on various issues and the credit he extended to broke students.

For Bangalore-based chef Manu Chandra, his college memories are intertwined with the time he spent at Rohtas’ dhaba. So much so that the samosas from the dhaba also find mention in a chapter he’s written in Mita Kapur’s latest food anthology, Chillies and Porridge. “Rohtas ji was as much part of the charm as the samosas and nimbu pani he served. He had a dry sense of humour which was quite endearing,” says the 35-year-old executive chef of Olive Bangalore.

Chandra studied History at St Stephens between 1997 and 2000 and visited the dhaba for his daily dose of samosas. “The attention to detail was excellent, as day by day he created these samosas unlike any other. It is this exactly this aspect that I have written about in Chillies and Porridge. The best food memories come from these small, isolated eateries and that’s what Rohtasji did for me too,” said Chandra.

Rohtas had been running the dhaba in the college since 1955. Alumni also expressed “worry” that the college administration would not extend the licence to Rohtas’ son Sushil.