Ramu S (fondly called Ramu Thatha), of the famous Valli Tiffin Centre near the Anna Bus Stand in Madurai, passed away on July 11, after a prolonged illness due to age. He was 91.
A native of Thirumangalam Villur village, Ramu Thatha ran a food shack near the Madurai Anna Bus Stand for over 50 years. Initially when he started, he served food for 25 paise, and gradually increased to ₹1 and ₹5 over the years to adjust to inflation. For the last few years, he has been feeding hungry stomachs cutting across sections at just ₹10. It was only in 2014 that Ramu increased the price to ₹10 upon compulsion from his customers, the Deccan Chronicle noted.
Poor people who cannot pay are requested to pay atleast ₹2. Some paid nothing at all while if someone offers ₹50 instead of ₹10, he politely declines. He refrains from accepting payments from senior citizens unless they insist.
Ramu’s Valli Tiffin Centre did not make any special dishes. He served simple and homely meals that had a huge customer base ranging from doctors, medical students, patients and their attendants, labourers, rickshaw pullers, travellers, police and homeless people. Knowing about him, even people from the United States had come to have a meal served by the humble Thatha. Though located at a place that is dotted with bigger eateries, hundreds would flock around his hole-in-the-wall shop during the afternoon lunch hours between noon and 3:30 PM to eat or take parcels.
His wife Puranathammal passed away in the year 2015 and he has been running the eatery solely ever since with his friend cook. What is more heartening to note is that before her passing away, he had made a promise to his wife that he will not buy ration rice. He used to purchase rice from the open market.
Valli Tiffin Centre opens sharp at 7 AM for its customers. The morning tiffin menu has Idlis, Dosais, Oothappams and Pongal all priced at ₹10, served with Sambar, Tomato and Coconut Chutneys.
Ramu facing poverty early in his childhood ran away from his home at 12 after his mother died. He worked as a waiter in small eateries in various places. At 17, he was inspired by Sage Vallalar whose ideals and emphasis on feeding the poor had a lasting impact on him. He married Purnathammal who was a good cook and settled in Madurai. Ramu and Purnathammal had started off in 1965 by selling Idli and Vadai for 10 paisa each. Purnathammal later started cooking full meals (saapaadu) and sold it for ₹1.25. Over the years, they have had a set of loyal customers and newer ones kept adding as they aged.
Ramu has outlived his two sons and a grandson. With his passing away, Madurai has lost a grandfather with a grand heart.
Source: Dinamalar, The Hindu, Deccan Chronicle