The famous dabbawalas of Mumbai are now included in the Class 9 English syllabus of Kerala through a five-page chapter in the state’s textbook.
Chapter included named ‘The Saga of the Tiffin Carriers’
Authored by travel writers Hugh and Colleen Gantzer, the chapter is named ‘The Saga of the Tiffin Carriers’. The Kerala SCERT included a chapter on the motivating story of the ‘dabbawalas’ in its revised 2024 curriculum.
The passage describes how Mumbai’s dabbawala service started in 1890 with Mahadeo Havaji Bachche as the first tiffin carrier delivering lunch from Dadar to Fort in Mumbai.
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“In 1890, a Parsi woman in Dadar suburb conversed with Mahadu Iwhaji Bacha. She asked him to assist in delivering a tiffin carrier to her husband in the bustling center of Bombay, known as the commercial heart of the city at that time.” The chapter indicates that was the beginning of the dabbawalas.
“Starting from its modest origins, this Indian organization that was built from scratch has expanded into a vast network that is highly efficient, earning praise from prestigious international business schools and even from Prince (now King) Charles of England,” the statement continues.
Mumbai dabbawalas have become a symbol of commitment and excellence
The Mumbai dabbawalas are now seen as a representation of commitment and high quality, drawing interest from universities and scholars around the world.
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Their service has been eternalized through films, documentaries, books, and doctoral theses. In 2019, Mumbai artist Abhijeet Kini created a comic book highlighting their daily grind.
They have given speeches at numerous esteemed institutes such as IITs and IIMs in both India and other countries.
