College Canteens and the Magic of ₹ 20 Meals

The ₹ 20 Meal: A Symbol of Survival and Nostalgia

In many ways, the ₹ 20 meal is a symbol of survival during college years. We didn’t go to the canteen for extravagant food; we went because it was what we could afford. And in those early years, a plate of food that cost so little felt like a luxury. It didn’t matter that the curry might be watery or the roti might have been a little too hard. What mattered was the shared sense of experience. It was comfort food in its most basic form—simple, filling, and accessible.

Now, years later, when I think back to those days, I realize that the ₹ 20 meal was so much more than just food. It was the gateway to the bonds that were formed in those early college years. The canteen was a space where you shared everything—your food, your problems, and your dreams for the future. The low-cost meal wasn’t just a symbol of frugality; it was a marker of the times when we had nothing to worry about except whether we’d make it to the canteen before it closed for the day. In those moments, food wasn’t just a necessity—it was an experience.

The College Canteen as a Social Hub

What truly set college canteens apart from any other dining establishment was the people. No matter what time of day, you could always find someone at the canteen—whether it was the group of students who seemed to have made it their second home or the solitary figure hunched over a plate of rice and dal, lost in thought. The beauty of the college canteen lies in its informality. It wasn’t about the quality of the food, it was about the connections made over shared meals. You could talk about anything and everything, from relationships and exams to what was happening in the world beyond campus walls. The canteen was a place for philosophical debates, heated arguments, and moments of pure joy, all punctuated by the clatter of steel plates and the sound of chai being poured into chipped mugs.

For many of us, these meals were the first true taste of independence. No parents around to tell us to eat our vegetables or finish our milk. It was just us, our friends, and the food that, although basic, nourished us more than just physically. It was in those shared moments that we truly understood the importance of food beyond the mere act of consumption. Food in the college canteen was the glue that held us together, even when the world outside seemed uncertain. And, of course, there was always the chai—the never-ending supply of tea that accompanied every meal and every conversation.

The Simplicity of the ₹ 20 Meal: A Sense of Freedom

As time has passed, I’ve come to appreciate just how special those ₹ 20 meals were. When you’re young, the simplicity of a plate of dal and rice doesn’t seem remarkable. But looking back, I realize that it was precisely the simplicity that made it so special. In a world where every meal seems to come with more and more complex ingredients and expectations, there was something deeply satisfying about the unpretentiousness of the canteen meal. It didn’t need to be anything fancy. It didn’t need to come with garnishes or intricate presentation. It was just food—plain, straightforward, and satisfying.

And that, in many ways, is the essence of why the ₹ 20 meal became a symbol of freedom. It wasn’t burdened by expectations. It wasn’t about impressing anyone or following trends—it was about eating with friends, about feeling at home, no matter where you were. The canteen meal taught me something important about life: that sometimes, the best things are the simplest things. And in those moments, sitting in the canteen, with food that didn’t need to be anything more than what it was, I felt a sense of freedom. The world was open, and all that mattered was sharing this moment with the people around you.

The Legacy of College Canteens: A Taste of Youth

Now that I’m living in Austin, far from the chaotic lanes of Mumbai, I often find myself reminiscing about those ₹ 20 meals. There’s something magical about the canteen culture that sticks with you. It’s more than just a place to eat—it’s where you live, breathe, and experience the essence of college life. Whether it’s a university mess hall in Delhi, a roadside tapri in Mumbai, or a canteen in the heart of Chennai, these places are woven into the fabric of the student experience.

As I reflect on my time at the canteen, I realize that those meals weren’t just about sustenance—they were about culture, about finding your place in the world, and about connecting with people from all walks of life. And maybe, just maybe, that’s why the ₹ 20 meal has such a lasting impact on us. It’s not just the food; it’s the memories, the friendships, and the experiences that come with it.

The Simple Pleasure of Shared Meals

The ₹ 20 meal in a college canteen might seem like a small thing, but it carries with it a world of memories and lessons. It’s about simplicity, community, and the joy of sharing food without any pretensions. It’s a reminder that some of the best things in life are the most uncomplicated. Whether it’s the hot cup of chai shared over a conversation or the satisfying plate of dal rice that fills you up after a long day, college canteens offer a taste of something more than just food. They offer a taste of youth, of connection, and of the memories that stay with us long after we leave those days behind.