“Lakshmi Narayan Shaw & Sons” was established in 1918. In the year 1918, a young man from Gaya district in Bihar, opened a fritter eatery in Kolkata’s Cornwallis Street to make his living. His name is “Khendu Shaw”. That time was the active period of Indian freedom movement. In this place, various freedom fighters of India used to holds secret meetings in different hideouts. Khendu Shaw used to serve them chop (potato fritter), moori( puffed rice) and tea. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, later who founded azad hind fauj was also present in these meetings. Netaji was also fond of chop (potato fritter), and telebhaja(kind of fritter)like many other people of Khendu Shaw eatery. While studying at Scottish Church College Netaji Subhas even often ate potato fritter at this fritter shop.
Background History of “Lakshmi Narayan Shaw & Sons”
How this best heritage fritters eatery in kolkata became the custodian of secret documents exchange place for revolutionaries
In this way, Khendu Shaw became Netaji’s ardent follower. He regarded Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose as a god. As a result of his persona, Khendu Shaw’s apparently an average fritter shop (Lakshmi Narayan Shaw & Sons) turned out to be a place for freedom fighters to exchange confidential documents. Khendu Shaw also indirectly became a part of India’s freedom movement. A seemingly ordinary fritter eatery(now Lakshmi Narayan Shaw & Sons)bears witness to India’s freedom struggle. Lakshmi Narayan Shaw & Sons,this heritage fritters eatery of Kolkata is a page of the history of freedom struggle gained by the countless freedom fighters of our country. In this way the age of era touched to 1942 CE.At this time the 2nd world war was going on. As an impact of Second World War the Indian freedom struggle became stronger during this time. The Cripps mission came to India in 1942, sent by British Govt. failed. Indian national congress party was initiated ‘quit India movement’ in response to failure of Cripps offer to please Indians while Azad Hind Fauj was trying to fight armed struggle for India’s freedom movement with the help of various countries from outside India. Meanwhile in 1941 Netaji Subbhas Chandra Bose left India.
Background history commencement of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s Birth anniversary celebration By Khendu Shaw
The British administration ordered strict vigilance against the Indian freedom fighters, especially the Azad Hind Fauj. On 23rd January 1942, Sri. Khendu Shaw secretly started celebrating the birth anniversary of his ‘god’ Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. He distributed 2 tele bhaja (fritters) to children and 4 tele bhaja( fritters) to adults in his neighborhood for free. He distributed free “tele bhaja” of his Fritters eatery in his neighborhood. Thus he started the custom of celebrating Netaji’s birth anniversary. In subjugated India there was no way to celebrate Netaji’s birth anniversary publicly, so every year he secretly paid tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose by celebrating his birth anniversary. After that in 1947 our country India became independent. Our freedom came in exchange for the blood of many revolutionaries but then Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is no more with us. Govt. has declared official statement of his controversial death. The flag of independent India flew on August 15, 1947 amid the cries of the partition of the country, the loss of everything by hundreds of people. On Jan 23, 1948, Khendu Shaw no longer hides in independent India and publicly displayed a board on the birthday of his beloved revisionary leader Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and announced that ‘today is Netaji’s birth anniversary. All those who come to my fritter shop on this day will get free tele bhaja( fritter) ’. According to the same rule, 4 tele bhaja( fritters) allotted to the adults and 2 tele bhaja( fritters) to the children.
The post Khendu Shaw scene
Then, when Khendu Shaw passed away in 1955, his son Lashmi Narayan Shaw inherited the traditional heritage fritters eatery(Lakshmi Narayan Shaw & Sons). He also upheld this practice which his father had performed during his lifetime. Now this shop is called ‘Lashmi Narayan Shaw & sons’. When Sri. Lashmi Narayan Shaw was laid to rest in 2000, his sons Sri. Kesta Kumar Gupta (Shaw) and Sri.Mohan Gupta (Shaw) continuing this tradition, they are also celebrating Netaji’s birth anniversary by following the tradition. Sri. Mohan Gupta (Mona da) is currently the councilor of ward no. 17 of Kolkata Corporation. Even during the corona period, there was no exception, only one mask was distributed free of cost along with tele bhaja. ‘Lashmi Narayan Shaw & sons’ has crossed the centenary year since it started walking in 1908. In this long time, many talented people have tanged the fritters of the shop(Lakshmi Narayan Shaw & Sons). This includes famous actors like Uttam Kumar, Johar Roy, famous journalist Lt. Varun Sengupta who grew up in this area of North Kolkata, famous singer Lopamudra Mitra and so on. Starting from the many personalities of various television channels, the famous chef Sanjeev Kapoor and Ranbir Brar many famous personalities included in the list who visited this heritage fritters eatery “Lakshmi Narayan Shaw & Sons “in Kolkata! Countless common people like me who grew up in North Kolkata are buffs and addicts of Lashmi Narayan Shaw & Sons chop (fritters). In my father’s words, the taste of the “Netaji Prasad (Prasad= sacrament)” is incomparable. Actor Johar Roy came to eat fritters and wrote rhymes while standing in front Lakshmi Narayan Shaw & Sons .
চপ খাবো আস্ত
তৈরি করবো স্বাস্থ্য
বেগুনি খাবো গোটা
আমরা সবাই হবো মোটা
পিয়াঁজি খাবো শেষে
খাবো ভালোবেসে
চানাচুর খাবো অল্প
শোনাবো সবাইকে গল্প।
ইতি – জহর রায়
I am not efficient at writing rhymes so am explaining the meaning. He praised various fritters & products like potato fritter, eggplant fritter, onion fritter; chanachur etc. of this best heritage fritters eatery in Kolkata. Journalist Barun Senguopta was a particular admirer of this fritter eatery’s Palta patar Chop (pointed gourd leaf fritter). He was very ill in the last few days of his life. Netaji Subhas Bose and Varun Sengupta both were born on the 23rdJanuary. The list of fritters of this heritage fritters eatery in Kolkata will introduce you to various fritters such as phuluri( gram flour fritter), aloor chop( potato fritter), dhokar borfi, soybean chop(soybean fritter), vegetable chop( vegetable fritter) , paneer chop(paneer fritter) ,capsicum chop, beguni(eggplant fritter),peyaji(onion fritter), kashmiri chop( kind of fritter) , vegetable cutlet, paneer cutlet, phoolkopir chop( cauliflower fritter) narkeler chop( coconut fritter), mushroom chop( mushroom fritter) , soybean cutlet, amer chop( mango fritter) etc. Keeping middleclass crowd in mind the price list is also within the reach of common people limited between Rs. 5-15 /- . After a hundred years, the graph of the taste of this fritter shop’s food items has not decreased yet. Even today the magic of this ‘Netaji Prasad’ is poles apart. While studying masters in ‘Library & information Science ‘, computer practical classes were held at next to ‘Bou Bazar’ post office. One of our teachers Sabuj Sir (Dr. Sabuj Dasgupta) used to scold everyone for not paying attention at the end of our class, he used to give treat to all the students from this heritage fritters eatery and we forget our grumbles in happiness.
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In the end
The present owner Kesto Babu( Kesto Kumar Gupta) said Netaji’s birth anniversary will be celebrated in the same manner as long as the heritage fritters eatery remains(Lakshmi Narayan Shaw & Sons). He assured that the next successor, Sri. Sudhangshu Gupta, would continue this tradition. Khendu Shaw’s devotion to Netaji is a rare example. My country India is not able to give him due respect he deserves! Though Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose considered as the forgotten hero among Indian history but the founder of this heritage fritters eatery( Lakshmi Narayan Shaw & Sons) in 158, Bidhan Sarani in Kolkata and his descendents are still keeping Netaji’s memory alive in the minds of the younger generation by celebrating Netaji’s birth anniversary in this noble way. I salute them to this practice so IU say to those who have not yet visited that shop come to this shop at least once on Jan,23.Lets unite ourselves to pay tribute to Netaji in this way.
FAQ
Address of Lashmi Narayan Shaw & Sons?
Lashmi Narayan Shaw & Sons ,
158, Bidhan Sarani,
Kolkata – 700006
West Bengal
India
phone No. of Lashmi Narayan Shaw & Sons?
Ph no: +91 9830560484/9038833676
Present proprietor of Lashmi Narayan Shaw & Sons?
Sri: Kesto Kumar Gupta
How this heritage fritters eatery associated to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose?
This age old heritage fritters eatery in Kolkata celebrates Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Birth anniversary every year by distributing free fritters since 1942 CE
Encore Audio Visual of Lakshmi Narayan Shaw & Sons