New Delhi: Delhi has lost the architect of its favorite modern monument.
It’s no surprise Deepak Nirula’s Death Feels like a personal loss to an average Delhi resident. And the same is evident in the wave of mourning on social media after his death.
Why won’t it? After all, the ‘Ice Cream Man of India’ was the first to introduce the capital to fast food like burgers, pizza and of course a variety of ice creams.
“I don’t know if it was extra special or that it was a rare treat but nothing came close to Nirula’s sundae in taste or felt joy! Tear up!” wrote Maithili, Researcher.
To Gen Z, Nirula may seem like another forgettable fast food chain brand, but any old Delhi resident will tell you how Nirula’s story is woven into the modern history of Delhi.
It was nothing less than a temple for the youth in the 90s, the place of many.
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many first place
Nirula’s world was completely different. The variety of ice cream, its dishes, and the atmosphere… It was all very different, very new. It was far ahead of its time, a presentational place where the future was now.
And so Nirula’s first visit is a cherished memory, still fresh in the minds of Delhi’s 40- and 50-somethings. For Preksha Khanna, a Delhi-based designer, Nirula’s first was midnight; for teacher Daisy Rodriguez, it was the best reward after scoring well in an exam; for Couple Kumar, an advertising professional, it was where she Took his current wife. out on the first date.
“Nirula was a fifteen-minute walk from our school, but we could not go there as we had pocket money which was not enough. One day a friend threw a birthday party there,” recalls entrepreneur Sanjeev Bikhchandani, “that was where I had pizza and ice cream soda for the first time in my life, and I was shocked.”
On Deepak Nirula’s death, many nostalgic memories were shared on social media from ‘simple times’, when Maruti 800 was the car and Nirula’s was replaced.
This is me in late 1991 CP leaning over a Maruti 800 with Nirula in the background pic.twitter.com/oLCLzWIZZA
— Gulu Ezekiel (@gulu1959) 7 October 2022
History of Nirula
Deepak Nirula knew the gluttony of India very well. Back in 1977, he introduced India to the unique world of fast food.
Nirula was born on 3 April 1952 and graduated in Hotel Management from Cornell University in 1974.
But much older is Nirula’s, a family-owned brand considered experimental or risky, introducing Delhi to the joys of the world.
was nirula started In 1934 as ‘Hotel India’ by brothers Laxmi Chand and Madan Gopal. It reportedly had 12 rooms, a restaurant and bar.
In 1942 both the brothers opened Nirula Corner House, which was a sumptuous dinner. It featured band players, cabaret and magic shows, and flamenco dancers. It soon became the hottest restaurant in Delhi.
By the 1950s, Nirula’s Connaught Place had three successful restaurants – La Boheme, an Austro-Hungarian restaurant, Gufa, an Indian diner and the ‘Chinese Room’, the first restaurant to offer Chinese cuisine in Delhi.
In 1977, US-educated brothers Deepak and Lalit Nirula opened the fast food chain ‘Nirula’, which introduced Indians to the wonders of American fast food. This was An ice cream parlour, a pastry shop, a snack bar and a hot shop.
The best part? The outlet had 21 flavors of ice cream, and Delhi could not contain its excitement. They used to come here for large and small gatherings, with family and friends, for dates and hangouts.
Until multinationals like McDonald’s and KFC entered India, Nirula ruled as the leading fast food chain brand of Delhi.
As multinational chains enter India’s waters, Nirula’s with 60 outlets, which includes 2 outlets in Kathmandu, has the advantage of a first-mover. But his novelty died in the face of deep pockets.
The brand opened 70 chains across the country but soon lost its sheen. After the 2000s, children were no longer dutifully reporting Nirula with report cards.
Despite being alive and functional, the brand became a relic in the city of Delhi, visited by parents who wanted to introduce their children to a part of their childhood.
“Nirula has become very mediocre, very quickly. Other than maybe their hot chocolate fudge and pork chops, nothing is worth spending money on,” said a PR professional, who did not wish to be named.
In 2006, Lalit and Deepak sold the brand to Navis Capital Partners, who sold it to the A2Z tour in 2012.