The shop, located near the CH flyover junction, often has around twenty people waiting outside at any time of the day.
The shop near the CH flyover junction often has around twenty people waiting outside at any time of the day.
All the auto rickshaw drivers in Kozhikode are familiar with ‘Bhaskarattan ki Sharbat Ki Dukan’ as it is popular. At least a dozen commuters come here daily from Kozhikode railway station or bus stand. Such is the fame of this small bunk shop near CH Flyover Junction that it has become a must visit place for the visitors, especially the foodies in the city.
Sadly, Bhaskaraton’s shop closed on Sunday following a High Court order to vacate the premises by evening.
The brothers Bhaskaran and Kumaran started the venture about 70 years ago on Kannur Road, a little away from their present location. It flourished under the supervision of Kumaran’s son Anand and Bhaskaran’s sons Muraleedharan and Manoj Kumar.
“We use genuine sarspilla syrup. This is our only secret”, said Mr. Anand.
The last day of operations for this Sarbat shop under the CH flyover in Kozhikode was as busy as any other day. , photo credit: K. Ragesh
Kumaran and Bhaskaran were the pioneers of ‘milk sharbat’, which has now become popular in northern Kerala. In addition, the lime soda, spice soda and milk-egg syrups available here were quite popular. The shop often has around twenty people waiting outside at any given time of day, causing considerable traffic blocks at this busy junction. The turn out is so high that they use around 90 liters of sarspilla syrup (1 liter makes 10 milk syrup) during the hot months.
The trouble came in the form of a multi-storey building behind the shop. The owners of the new structure, who also own the syrup shop building, demanded the brothers vacate, citing the need for an access road. A lawsuit was filed and it went on for 12 years. The District Sessions Court and the High Court ruled in favor of the building owners.
“We appealed to the Supreme Court. But it was rejected,” Mr Muraleedharan said, adding that he had no option but to shut shop.
Having established themselves as an iconic brand of Kozhikode over the past 50 years, the brothers are confident that sharbat lovers will follow them to a new location.