Would our youngsters believe there was a world before Maggi?

Even the probably temporary disappearance of Maggi noodles from Indian store shelves and homes for the first time in three decades signals a huge opportunity for others — to fill that two-minute gap in the cravings market that has just opened up. More so as other instant noodle brands are also reportedly slated to come under the scanner soon, leaving the segment practically unrepresented. Impossible as that may be for the younger generation of Indians to contemplate, there was a time before Maggi, when children, students, homemakers and sundry other always-in-a-hurry individuals sated their hunger for carbohydrates via other viands. And Maggi's sudden absence will remind Indians that this is still the land of carb fixes, with dough(t)y local snacks promising much the same energy boost.

It may, therefore, be time for Maggi-worshippers to consider ghar wapsi to the traditional, invented-in-India snacks. That would certainly be quite in line with the zeitgeist. Dhokla and khakhra, notably, are already on the modified list of 'healthy' nibbles being made available in the canteens of central government departments along with desi treats such as upma, pao-bhaji, bonda, poha and mattar chaat, most of which could also clear any two-minute readiness test. When Maggi returns, it would have fresh competition.