Sweet riot

Talking of rasgulla, it is basically of two types. The Bengali rossogolla is a piece of art. Softer, spongier and dipped in thin syrup, such is its shape and size it can be wolfed down at one go. Bikaneri rasgulla is like its country cousin. But what it lacks in sponginess, it makes up in size and sweetness.

I got introduced to the sweet through the latter variety, for I spent part of my childhood in Bikaner. That was in the late sixties. Then, the rasgulla of Chhotu Motu Joshi8217;s Sweet Shop was the famous one. But those were the days of long queues for milk and sugar in India and the household income was in the warp of the 8216;Hindu growth rate8217;. One got rasgulla only on special occasions.

Once some students from the medical college had gone to have sweets at the shop of Chhotu Motu Joshi. They picked up a quarrel with the workers there. In the scuffle that ensued, some students got roughed up. When news of the incident travelled to the medical hostel, students descended in big numbers and ransacked the shop 8212; wreaking sweet revenge, literally.

The incident became the talk of the town. It was discussed with much interest in my school the next day. One classmate, who lived near the shop, gave an eyewitness account of the incident.

He narrated how the irate students sent panfuls of rasgulla flying on to the road, and how they let anyone who wished consume the prized sweet have it. All for free, naturally. He also bragged that he had lost no opportunity to fish in the troubled waters. We found the whole thing regrettable.

Oh, not because of the questionable conduct of our friend but because we were not at the scene of the crime to share in the spoils!