Cuttackias to miss delectable ‘Ishwar Dahibara’ forever
Cuttack: It was a heartbreaking moment for all Cuttackias when Dahibara Aloodum vendor Ishwar Behera, fondly called Ishwar Mausa, passed away reportedly due to cardiac arrest late last evening.
Considered as the legend of Dahibara Aloodum, the soul food of the Silver City, Ishwar had been satiating the taste buds of scores of customers over the last five decades. A resident of Tulsipur here, he used to put up his makeshift stall at Biju Patnaik Chhak every evening unfailingly.
His another stall a few furlongs away in the locality is managed by his two sons, who will continue to carry forward their father’s legacy. Both of his sons-Ganesh and Jagabandhu-are former national-level basketball players.
After news of his death spread, food lovers of all walks of life took to social media to express their grief. Many of his loyal customers termed his demise as a ‘personal loss’ and said Ishwar Mausa’s death has left a void that cannot be filled .
Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) Commissioner Ananya Das also condoled his death terming it as ‘a sad day for Cuttack’. Koraput Collector and former PD DRDA of Cuttack district Abdaal Akhtar also mourned his death.
Oh this is very sad! One of the few instances where an iconic place was worth the hype. Cuttack’s food culture is so much the poorer
— Abdaal Akhtar/ابدال / ଅବ୍ଦାଲ (@abdaal) May 23, 2021
Popular food blogger JustVish, who was also a loyal customer of Iswar Dahibara, said, “It breaks my heart to get this news that my childhood McDonald Ishwara Uncle is no more with us. He has been instrumental in shaping my love for Dahibara and respect for street food. And not just me but thousands of Cuttackias would resonate with me. My earliest memories of him was when he didn’t even have his cart and used walk with 2 Handis suspended over his shoulders with a bamboo pole. With the deliciousness of the Dahibara Aloodum created at his home in Tulsipur, he walked all the way to Barabati Stadium where he used to sell it under a banyan tree.”
He did this everyday for 5 decades or more. With such a street food icon gone, it’s like a chapter from childhood torn away forever. I pray to God to give strength to his family to bare this loss. We will miss you. Rest in Peace Ishwar Uncle.
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