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- Published: September 9, 2022 15:27
New Delhi: The popular Dabbawalas of Metropolitan city have joined the Royal family in grieving the demise of Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away yesterday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Queen Elizabeth II is the longest serving monarch of Britain, having held the reins for 70 years.
“On behalf of all the dabbawalas of Mumbai, I pay my heartfelt condolences to the royal family,” Raghunath Medge, an office bearer of the Nutan Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association, told PTI.
Mumbai Dabbawala Association has had a very close relationship with British Royal Family ever since Prince Charles visited India. We’re very sad to hear about the death of Queen Elizabeth II & all Dabbawalas pray that her soul rest in peace: Subhash Talekar, Association Chairman pic.twitter.com/z767pNJ01K
— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2022
Mumbai’s Dabbawalas enjoy a long & close association with the Royal family. Their relationship goes back to year 2003 when Prince Charles met them on his first visit to Mumbai and heaped praises on them for professionalism, timeliness, and work ethic. In 2005, Prince Charles invited some Dabbawalas to his wedding with Camila Parker Bowles.
This bonding between the Britain’s royal family & famed dabbawalas went on to strengthen over period of time. In 2018, when Prince Harry & Meghan Markle got married, the Dabbawalas Association sent gifts to them. Again in 2019, the dabbawals showered the couple with gifts when they turned parents & welcomed newest member in the royal family.
Dabbawalas recall their association with Queen
Recalling their historic meet with the Queen, Raghunath Medge, an office bearer of Nutan Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association says that he & Sopan Mare, another dabbawala got a chance to speak to her and also had breakfast with her, when they visited London as special invitees for Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles wedding in 2005.
“We had breakfast twice with Queen Elizabeth and other members of the royal family. She was very humble,” he said.
Recollecting the memories, Medge says that the Queen was curious to know about their tiffin service and how it worked in a city like Mumbai.
He says that the Queen also enquired about them when Mumbai witnessed worst terror attack in November 2008 by by Pakistani terrorists.
The famed dabbawals of Mumbai operate a globally renowned lunchbox delivery and return system, supplying hot lunches from homes and restaurants to people at work and have earned global accolades & recognition for time-bound delivery of home-made food.