By Arré Bench Oct. 08, 2020
Last night, a video of an old owner of a roadside dhaba weeping because his business was hit by the pandemic went viral. Today, Kanta Prasad, the owner of “Baba Ka Dhaba” is all smiles, as Delhiites are queuing up outside his eatery. “It feels like the whole India is with us,” he says.
The pandemic has been cruel on small businesses. The impact it has had on the lives of people was heartbreakingly visible in a video shared on social media where an old man, the owner of a roadside dhaba in Delhi, is seen weeping because he is unable to draw customers.
This video completely broke my heart. Dilli waalon please please go eat at बाबा का ढाबा in Malviya Nagar if you get a chance 😢💔 #SupportLocal pic.twitter.com/5B6yEh3k2H
— Vasundhara Tankha Sharma (@VasundharaTankh) October 7, 2020
The person shooting the video tries to pacify the man, now identified as Kanta Prasad.
“Roiye mat, koi tension nahi hai, upar wala aapke saath hai,” he says, appreciating the mutter-paneer and giving directions to “Baba Ka Dhaba”, urging people to come and have a meal at this roadside eatery in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar.
The video truly moved India.
Celebrities with huge Twitter following like Ravichandran Ashwin and Sonam Kapoor wanted to help the old owner of “Baba Ka Dhaba”.
I am not able to message you, but is there a way I can help that man?? I would like to contribute.
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) October 7, 2020
Hi could you please dm me details.
— Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) October 7, 2020
Bollywood personalities Randeep Hooda, Swara Bhasker, and Raveena Tandon urged people to visit.
Do visit if you are in Delhi! 🙏🙏
बाबा का ढाबा
Block B, Shivalik Colony, Opposite Hanuman Mandir, Malviya Nagar, South Delhi. #SupportLocal #BabaKaDhaba https://t.co/yEfZPx3YAG— Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) October 8, 2020
#बाबाकाढाबा #dilliwalon #dil #dikhao. Whoever eats here, sends me pic, I shall put up a sweet message with your pics ! ♥️ #supportlocalbusiness #localvendors https://t.co/5DH73wz3SD
— Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) October 8, 2020
Big shout out to @gauravwasan08 @VasundharaTankh for spreading the word about Baba’s tears.. you guys lit this fire! ❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/yyJNbJwGhy
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) October 8, 2020
Others found creative ways to draw attention to the humble dhaba.
Roses are Red
Violets are blue
I am at "Baba Ka Dhabha"
Where are you?? #BABAKADHABA https://t.co/SL780XCru9 pic.twitter.com/qqdPddO7VV— Ashutosh🇮🇳 (@iashutosh23) October 8, 2020
Social media gets a lot of stick for promoting hatred and incessant trolling, but there stories like this that tell us the power of the medium. Now people are flocking “Baba Ka Dhaba”; Twitter is flooded with pictures and videos of customers queuing up outside the eatery.
Power of Social Media 💓😍#BABAKADHABA pic.twitter.com/0eNr3hl1kP
— 🌠 Sandeep Pathak 🌠 (@PathakAKWarrior) October 8, 2020
And Kanta Prasad is all smiles. “It feels like the whole India is with us,” he said in an interview to ANI. “… it feels like we’ve many extended families,” his wife added.
#WATCH: "It feels like whole India is with us. Everyone is helping us", says Kanta Prasad, owner of #BabaKaDhabha.
The stall in Delhi's Malviya Nagar saw heavy footfall of customers after a video of the owner couple went viral. pic.twitter.com/nNpne6Arqs
— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2020
#WATCH "There were no customers, we had to return home with food…. Now we are happy, it feels like we've many extended families," says Badami Devi of #BabaKaDhabha.
The stall in Delhi's Malviya Nagar saw heavy footfall of customers after video of the owner couple went viral. pic.twitter.com/KG2WjQuYTo
— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2020
#BABAKADHABA 😊🤩
How it started: How it ended: pic.twitter.com/9dyJguCaNP— Bnd News (@BndNewz) October 8, 2020
He also has a poignant message to give, saying that there are many like him out there, hungry and with no place to live.
Baba message for everyone!
RT if you Salute #BABAKADHABA pic.twitter.com/Y5xHijbxmm
— Pushpendra Kulshreshtha (@iArmySupporter) October 8, 2020
It’s really time to go vocal for local! And Baba Ka Dhaba is a good place to start.
Comments