Chiggali...chiggali...

Sriranga VN
Jul 23, 2025
3 min read

Chiggali.....Chiggali...sar....

Subbaraya felt faint and weak. Still he cried" Chigaali beka? Togale sir. .sar.." He pleaded as he trudged along the road....Subbalakshmi, his wife, gave him support as always, holding him and steadying him.

Subbaraya was indeed a old man. He had seen almost seventy summers. Now he was old, tired, and helpless. Lost in the years, of a time gone by.....

He had been selling door to door different articles in the streets of Bangalore from his childhood. Yes, Bangalore of his younger days was a wonderful place. No traffic, roads full of shade and nice relaxed, welcoming people who had time to bargain with him and buy his merchandise.

Sometimes, they made him sit and gave butter milk and told their family stories. Yes Bangalore of yore was an enchanting place. He used to bring fresh merchandise depending on the seasons. Sometimes fresh vegetables, sometimes fruits of the season, sometimes honey, sometimes handicrafted articles and small wooden toys. Lots of variety he had. And he used to sell all his products with love.

Usually, during Sankranthi, he used to get Chigaali prepared by his Subbi, and that along with Yellu and Bella used to sell it in the streets of Bengaluru.

Now, times had changed. Very rarely people bought Chigaali. No one had time to spend with him. Traffic was horrid. He had to save himself from bikers who took wicked pleasure in running him over.

People had no time, nor the inclination to buy from small sellers. Most did not even know what Chigaali was....

Chigaali, Chigaali...togalee, he cried, preeti enda madethe, togalee....(made with love, plz buy).

"Rayare, leave it", his Subbi said. "No one will buy. I told you no, we should leave Bangalore and go back to our village. Thats better," Subbi said with great feeling.

Tatta,Tattaaaa.... suddenly Subbu saw a little girl with pony tails running to him calling Tatta, tattaa. "I want chigaali, koduu... "

"Ba ma magale", Subbu hastened to the little girl. He handed the freshly made Chiggalli as a small lolly-pop with a small stick to hold.

" Tatta", the little girl licked the chiggali with great relish and a big grin. "It is so delicious, tatta". "My grandpa used to give this in my village and I loved it" she said as she slurped.

Subbu hugged her, "magale I am so happy", he said with tears in his eyes. He handed her a bigger chiggali and said "God bless u".

The little girl hesitated, "tatta, i have no money", she cried in remorse. "Bedda ma, I dont want money". "My chiggali is made out of preethi(love), it is for wonderful girls like you, maggale", Subbu said, as tears ran down his cheeks.....

Subbi wiped a tear as she held Subbu who swayed and sat down. Subbi wiped Subbu's tears as she stroked the young girl who was slurping the Chiggali with great relish..."God bless u maggale", she said with great feeling ...

Subbi now knew in her heart, time had come to depart from Bengaluru. ....Life will go on. Thats order of the world....years pass, time passes, but life goes on...Subbi felt warm tears as she held Subbu who was wet in face but at peace .......life has to go on....

Bye maggale, bye Bengaluru....sic...