Mughal Darbar

If the name conjures visions of sheesh mahals, viziers, courtesans, and exotic aromas, you’ve come to the right place.

Mughal Darbar, close to Tapti hostel in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus is the Indian communist’s homage to Persian indulgence. As you pass myriad expressions of youth culture (that are best left unelaborated), you spot a twinkling light in the distance, behind which the yellow bulb hides a proletarian shack. A decidedly Big Brotherly sign at the entrance advises: “Pay in Advance”.

The little paper flyer that lists the menu offers a wide choice of mughlai preparations, some of which are rationed. For the Greater Good, perhaps? Having made your selection and paid, you are dismissed to the nearby outdoor benches, where you can frolick with the resident mongrels, whet your appetite with kapital banter, pat yourself on having found a place which doesn’t serve those (*%$@*ing multinational) soft drinks — and convince yourself that it must be a matter of principle. But it’s worth it all. The naans are flavourful — just a little sweet, which makes them set off the rich food so much better. The paneer tikkas make an excellent combination with them, though you would certainly have done grave injustice to the place if you didn’t also sample the butter chicken, the seekh kabaabs, and the mutton stew..

I’ll spare the reader the details of how the meal was demolished; it’ll suffice to say that we spent two hours there, regaled ourselves with campus legends, ate to our heart’s content, ended up overordering so much that two or three more people could have easily dined on the leftovers… and yet it all came to just about Rs. 100 per head.

The satisfaction of having exploited the labouring classes by paying them far less than the use value of their produce, and that in the very heart of the country’s communist mecca, was of course a bonus.

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6 Replies to “Mughal Darbar”

  1. you seem to have had a real good experience in JNU compared to what i went through after eating at another JNU joint, Teflas (which is supposed to be quite good though i am scared to risk it again). i had lunch there one fine day, before i caught a flight home. and i had a tough time finding the loo in the under-renovation airport. 🙂
    will check out this place the next time i am there.

  2. I live on the JNU campus, but in so many years i have not dared to eat at TEFLAS. Which moron sent you there? Mughal is definitely a better bet. Must try the shami kabab and roomali roti. The Sheermal is good to, provided they serve it.
    You could also try parathas at Mamu’s Canteen, a little shack with open air benches near the Pink Palace (Administrative Block). The pyaaz parathas and sattu parathas are decent.

  3. Mughal Darbar

    I was at Mughal Darbar lately and I really liked the mutton Jahangiri with butter naans. The shiekh kababs were not all that great.

    Which other place can we go to in JNU and what should we order there.

  4. My experience of MD was from 2004-2006…I can die for their sheermal paired with that mutton stew…I don’t even know if they still make it (or make it that good)..It was a pleasure reading this post..thank you..btw really @ a country fellow–who sent you to TEFLAS???

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