My First Masala Dosa

I'm not a 'Masala Dosa' craver. I hate potatoes. I hate onions. I despise dosas. Most of my friends refuse to classify me as 'human'. I'm the guy who had dared to eat Pooris on my first visit to the 'Vidyarthi Bhavan' in Bangalore.

If you happen to visit my house, the moment you talk of Masala dosa, a distant rumble is heard. Electricity is generated. A face gets lit up like a 1000 watt bulb. I'm talking about my dad. To dad, 'Masala dosa' falls first, followed by Marilyn Monroe and Julia Roberts. I'm not going to say much. Hear my dad say, in his own words, an account of his "First Masala Dosa !!"

It was in 1958. I was studying in Government High School, Tiptur. The usual discussions with friends brought about the topic of 'Masala dosas'. "There are a few good hotels like Vidyarthi Bhavan, Madras Cafe, Gundappa's hotel around Tiptur" my friends were saying. It was then that someone explained about the 'Masala dosa' of Vidyarthi Bhavan (of Tiptur).

Even imagining about the dosa made me ecstatic. I decided that I will eat my first masala dosa, at any cost.

But I did not have the money for it. It costed 2 1/2 annas (15 paise). I borrowed it from five of my friends and went to Vidyarthi Bhavan at 3pm. I choose this time as the place would be less filled up, and that probably no one would notice me and go complain to my elder brother at Aralaguppe. I was cautious, and walked around the place 2-3 times thinking over and over whether I should go to the hotel or not, because I was scared to face my brothers' wrath later. I had 2 choices - do a sinful act by going to the hotel, or remain a good boy.

Finally, the thought of the Masala dosa made me walk into the hotel. I seated myself in the General hall (so that I could order more chutney without the owner noticing). Once I placed my order, the server shouted out aloud "Masale ondhu, ondhu Masale". I was thrilled. I felt like being a really rich person, with the server taking orders from me. The 'chui chui' sound I heard when the dosa was being poured over the kadai made my body to pump more adrenalin. I was sitting close to the kitchen, and imagined the dosa floating and coming to my table any moment now. The Masala Dosa finally came.

I experienced heaven !! I enjoyed every bit of it, and completely cleaned the plate, making it shiny new. I ordered chutney 3 times. If eating a masala dosa in a hotel was sin, I was prepared to do this sinful act several hundred times.

Till today, I remember the fragrance of the dosa I ate about 50 years back. This was 'My First Masala Dosa !!'

Yeah ... that's my dad. Its so wonderful that such small experiences are actually the ones that create great happiness for years and years. And by the way, I had to eat 'Masala Dosa' at Vidyarthi Bhavan. They had run out of Pooris. Many things in life happens for the first time, and sitting in a place which has been visited by some of the greatest people , the dosa tasted as good as always. But I still love seeing the radiance of my dad's face when he hears the words 'Masala Dosa' and the frustration he expresses on hearing the words 'Bread sandwich'. He thinks 'Bread' is only for sick people, and the not-so-sick-people are better off eating 'Masala dosas'. The next time dad's coming to your place ... you know what breakfast to prepare, right ???