Mumbai's dabbawalas grieve with Royal Family, recall breakfast with Queen Elizabeth

Mumbai's popular dabbawalas said Friday they were mourning the demise of Queen Elizabeth-II, the longest-serving monarch of the UK, who took her last breath at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Thursday.

Dabbawalas, who operate a globally renowned lunchbox delivery and return system that supplies hot lunches from homes and restaurants to people at work, said they were grieving with the royal family and people all over the world after the demise of Queen Elizabeth.

"On behalf of all the dabbawalas of Mumbai, I pay my heartfelt condolences to the royal family," Raghunath Medge, an office bearer of the Nutan Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association, told PTI. Dabbawalas were unknown to the world but became famous due to Queen Elizabeth and the royal family, he said.




Medge and another association office-bearer Sopan Mare had attended the royal wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles in April 2005. During the eight-day visit to London for the royal wedding, Medge said they had breakfast twice with Queen Elizabeth and other members of the royal family.

He said they could not interact with her due to language barrier, but she treated them very humbly.

Medge said Queen Elizabeth had enquired about them when Mumbai was attacked by Pakistani terrorists in November 2008.


Mumbai Dabbawala Association has had a very close relationship with British Royal Family ever since Prince Charles visited India. "We're very sad to hear about the death of Queen Elizabeth II & all Dabbawalas pray that her soul rest in peace," ANI cited Subhash Talekar, association chairman, as saying.

(with inputs from agencies)