The Story of Muchchad Paanwala

Page one:
Once upon a time there was an extraordinarily large - moustached man called Shyamacharan Tiwari. He lived in a remote village called Tiwaripur in India. In early India, where you lived or your occupation became your surname.

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Shyamacharan Tiwari was by a Paanwala by occupation. A Paanwala is somebody who sells Paan.
Paan or Betel Leaf, is a type of Indian digestive, which consists of fillings wrapped in a triangular package using leaves of the Betel pepper. Paan can be plain or sweet and is made to suit every palette.
Paan is eaten in every part of India. This characteristic of paan is a rarity for a country with so many diverse religions and castes. Paan belongs to a common Indian culture.
Some believe it strengthens India’s unity because of this.

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Shyamacharan Tiwari had four sons. Premshankar Tiwari, Harishankar Tiwari, Jayshankar Tiwari and Kripashankar Tiwari.
One fine day, Shyamacharan Tiwari decided to expand his business and move from his little village to the land of opportunity i.e the romanticized city of Mumbai, the birthplace of Bollywood (India’s glamorous and over powering film industry.).
So Shyamacharan Tiwari, along with his four sons Premshankar Tiwari, Harishankar Tiwari, Jayshankar Tiwari and Kripashankar Tiwari, all packed their bags and migrated to the enchanting city of Mumbai.

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It was a struggle to survive. The tremendous hustle bustle of Mumbai can be overwhelming for a simple-minded villager. People in Mumbai can often be cunning and dishonest.
But Shyamacharan Tiwari, Premshankar Tiwari, Harishankar Tiwari, Jayshankar Tiwari and Kripashankar Tiwari were no cowards. They had left their wives behind in Tiwaripur with promises of all kinds.
So although they had many a sleepless night but that didn’t stop them from chasing their dreams.


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After being tricked and duped time and time again, Shyamacharan Tiwari was frustrated exhausted and much poorer than when he had arrived in Mumbai. His mind told him to cut his losses, take his sons and surrender to a normal existence in Tiwaripur. But his heart was hopeful and determined.
One last chance, he said to himself.

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One day Shyamacharan Tiwari, Premshankar Tiwari, Harishankar Tiwari, Jayshankar Tiwari and Kripashankar Tiwari, were walking on Marine Drive, forlorn.
Marine Drive is a spectacular walk by the Arabian Sea. The view of the ocean is exquisite and inhabitants of Mumbai often come there to find solitude amidst the serenity of the sea.
Suddenly, from almost nowhere, appeared an astonishingly captivating old man. He was from a distance, a normal Mumbaikar (a person from Mumbai). But from close up, through the harsh wrinkles on his face, the five Tiwaris could distinctly see a child like glint in his large blue eyes. His bright blue eyes had a near hypnotic effect on the Tiwari men.
They couldn’t help but trust him. With no exchange of words, the Tiwari men began to follow the mystery man.
Every now and again the mystery man would turn around and nod reassuringly.

Mucchad Paanwala

My illustrated book will tell the success story of a curbside Paan-seller. (Paan or Betel Leaf, is a type of Indian digestive, which consists of fillings wrapped in a triangular package using leaves of the Betel pepper (Piper betle) and held together with a toothpick or a clove.)
He is called “Muchad” which translates to Moustache in English, as his moustache is a mark of his pride. For over 20 years he still sits by a popular curbside, he now has his own website where you can order online, and rumour has it that he owns a Mercedes. A typical paan sells for equivalent to 10 pence.

http://www.paan.com/index.html