The Bisi Bele Bath & Beyond: The Canteen Culture of UVCE through Decades

Continuing from my last article, the mysterious 1970s author described that beside the office at that time, there was a staff washroom with somewhat better fittings. The kicker? Running water came here only once a semester.

Can you imagine the sarcasm, the water scarcity, and the real struggles of that era? If the staff members themselves were getting water once a semester, just imagine the situation for normal students!

The Scent of the Canteen

Next on the tour, the author notes that the smell itself would poke you to guess where the next stop was: the UVCE Canteen. At that time, it was incredibly famous.

While we have the Nandini Canteen at present, the canteen back then was so much more than what it is today. The author specifically mentions that the canteen was the only place where both teachers and students were treated exactly alike.

The Infamous "Menu"

The author mentions two famous dishes that used to be prepared in the historic UVCE canteen. You might be shocked reading the names, so brace yourself.

At that time, modern hygiene standards were clearly not a priority. Yet, students used to enjoy their food, hold deep conversations, and teachers would gather to gossip about how to grill the students even further in exams.

Of course, UVCE was, is, and will be a great institution, but it certainly had its unique ups and downs—at least in the culinary sector!

Coming Back to 2025/26

Today, we have a Nandini Canteen near the RG block. It remains the center of refreshment, chit-chat, and pressure stabilization. The spirit of oneness still prevails, along with the mood of rejoicing by fulfilling our stomachs.

The canteen culture has prevailed not just for a few years, but for many decades. The mysterious author’s accounts date back 50 years, but the canteen existed even before then. This culture is much older than we might guess.

It's a natural instinct to protect this culture, and I'm sure we'll continue to do so. Today, the "Bisi Ili Baath" and the "Masala Cockroach Dosa" have thankfully been replaced by safe, hygienic Samosas and Bread Pakodas at the Nandini Canteen.