Three-storeyed, facing the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Marg, — the old Shafikur Rehman Kidwai (SRK) — was once the star-boys-hostel of Jamia Millia Islamia, today, it is an administrative block. Many even jokingly referred to it as the Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) hostel. Hostellers, took pride of it’s location, facilities and Amir Bhai’s Canteen. Amir Bhai, who perhaps was in his late 30s or early 40s was the owner of this one-room eatery, just outside the hostel gate. During breakfast, hostellers flocked more to this eatery than the hostel mess. Assisted by boys, who aged between 12 and 16, Amir Bhai’s Canteen did rocking business from morning till night. It was a hit among day-boarders, too. Next to a huge tree, discussions among students wavered from UPSC exams to syllabus issues. It was here that I had something, and it was love at the first sight — anda chole (egg chole).

The menu comprised omelette, half-fry, boiled egg, chole and the star attraction anda-chole (egg chole). Before coming to Jamia, I thought Kabuli Chana is chole, but in Amir Bhai’s canteen, and other eateries in Jamia Nagar, yellow chickpea was/is chole. If eggs were sold more in the morning, chole was sold all through the day.

The chole and anda chole preparation was a treat for the eyes. In a pan, milk is poured; once it starts boiling, boiled chole (yellow chick pea) is added. The milk adds some wonderful texture and flavour to the chole. Then when it starts getting hot, an egg is broken over it, and to finish it up a spoonful of butter, onion and green chilli and coriander leaves are sprinkled atop. Since the officials didn’t allow paranthas to be cooked, they were served with bread.

Amir Bhai’s canteen is long shut; you get the similar chole with parantha at an eatery called New Sameer Restaurant in Zakir Nagar behind Jamia campus. Today a plateful of chole comes for Rs 20 and a parantha costs Rs 5 (I remember eating a plate of chole for Rs 6 and a parantha for Rs 2, in 2002).