Often in difficult times, we remember the things taught by our parents and with the help of that learning, we also get the power to fight the challenges. The life of Omkar Godbole, who lives in Dombivli in Thane district adjoining Mumbai, was also full of difficulties a year ago. In such a situation, he was supported by the Vadapav recipe taught by his mother.
Omkar lost his parents in 2018 itself. His father was a clerk in a bank and mother was a housewife. Recalling his mother, he says, “From the time I studied in class VIII, my mother used to be ill. Due to illness, the mother could not cook. It was during this time that I learned to cook from him and started helping him in this work.”
After his parents passed away in 2018, Omkar started living with his sister. In the meantime, he left his studies and started working in an event company. His sister worked in a tour company. Last year during Corona, his sister was away from home in connection with work. In such a situation, Omkar was alone in the house and he started doing a lot of experiments in preparing food.
Business started with Rs.300
Omkar said, “I am more fond of cooking than eating. Being from Mumbai, I have a special attachment to Vada Pav. During the lockdown, I and all my friends were missing out and eating Vadapav. That’s when I got the idea of this business.
When he had the last Rs 300 left in the lockdown, he thought that instead of spending it, why not start some business with it? He says, “I just wanted to give one a try because I had to do my own thing instead of a job. My friends love my hath ka misal pav, vadapav, naan and biryani.”
On May 20 last year, he started the business of Bindhasta Vada Pav through an online post and on the very first day he got orders for 102 Vada Pav. It was a great success for him. After getting the order, he bought gram flour, potatoes and other essential items to make Vadapav from Rs 300 lying with him.
With the money of the first order, he bought goods for the second order and thus his business went on. Initially, he did not even have a fridge, so he used to make Vadapav according to the orders. At the same time, today he has also bought a fridge with the money earned from this business.
Friends took over the work of delivery and marketing
Omkar attributes his success to the taste of his mother’s hands and the company of his friends. All his friends did not have much work during the time of Corona. So they were all ready to do the delivery work for him. His friends also have a big hand behind the marketing of his Vadapav.
Vedanta, a friend of Omkar says, “I am fond of photography. That’s why I take pictures of Omkar’s recipes and put them on social media. At the same time, we make funny memes to attract more and more young customers. With these small efforts, we help Omkar.”
However, his friends also had some difficulty in making deliveries during the lockdown. But Omkar says that his friends always helped him in delivering orders on time.
Business hit on social media
Often people ask Omkar the secret of the taste of unwashed Vadapav. In response, he says, “Cooking is my childhood hobby. I have learned everything from mother. I remember, when she was ill, she used to say that whatever you make, make it with your mind, the taste will come automatically. It’s all because of the mother.”
A small effort by Omkar would get so much love from people within a year, he had not even imagined it. But today his Vadapav has become famous in Dombivali area. Last year he started his online business from home. In which he was getting regular orders every day.
At present, Omkar has taken a stall in Dombivali on rent for Rs 7500. After which his online work has stopped. He sets up stalls from 4 in the evening to 10 in the night. He told, “All my friends have returned to their respective work after the lockdown. So I had no one to do the delivery work. That’s why I decided to start a stall. We have decorated the stall of Bindhaast Vadapav very attractively.”
Omkar now earns up to 20 thousand rupees every month from this business. However, he considers it the beginning of his journey and is trying to take it to a bigger level in the coming days.
If you want to know more about Omkar’s Bindhaast Vadapav, you can visit his Instagram page.
Editing – G N Jha
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