Lala Kedarnath Aggarwal, who once sold bhujia and
rasgullas in buckets on the streets of old Delhi before establishing sweets and
snacks brand Bikanervala, passed away at 86 on Monday.
The death of Kedarnath Aggarwal, fondly known as
Kakaji, “marked the end of an era that has enriched palates and touched
countless lives,” Bikanervala said in a statement.
The company operates more than 60 outlets in Bharat and
has presence in countries such as USA, New Zealand, Singapore, Nepal and UAE.
“Kakaji’s departure is not just a loss to Bikanervala;
it’s a void in the culinary landscape. His vision and leadership will forever
guide our culinary journey,” said the group’s Managing Director Shyam Sunder
Aggarwal.
Kedarnath Aggarwal started his entrepreneurial journey
in Delhi.
Hailing from Bikaner, his family owned a sweet shop in
the bylanes of the city since 1905. The shop was named as Bikaner Namkeen
Bhandar and used to sell a few varieties of sweets and snacks.
Aggarwal, who had larger ambitions, migrated to Delhi
in the early 50s along with his brother Satyanarayan Aggarwal, bringing his
family recipe to the city.
Initially, both struggled with carrying buckets filled
with bhujia and rasgulla, selling in the streets of old Delhi. However, the
Aggarwal brothers’ hard work and the unique taste of Bikaner soon gained
recognition and acceptance among the people of Delhi.
Later, Aggarwal brothers set up a shop in Delhi’s
Chandini Chowk, where they used their family recipes which were handed down
from generation to generation.
Bikaner Namkeen Bhandar soon became famous for its
Moong Dal Halwa, Bikaneri Bhujia and Kaju Katli, amongst others. The two
brothers and the shop soon became popular as Bikanervala.
“As we bid farewell to a legend, we carry forward his
legacy with a deep sense of responsibility. Bikanervala will continue to be a
reflection of his values – a place where
every dish tells a story and every customer is part of our extended family,”
said Radhey Mohan Aggarwal, Director of Bikanervala Group and eldest son of
Kakaji.
PTI
