Limbdi Corner, situated at the heart of the Institute, has a special place in the college life of every IIT (BHU) graduate in the past three decades. A regular hangout spot, this is where the students stop for a sip of hot tea after a tiring day of classes and assignments. Breakfast at the mess is often skipped for samosas and kachoris sold here all day.
Everyone’s favorite, the owner of the small shop at LC, has been serving batches after batches of students with love and care. He fondly remembers many incidents that have embraced his 34 years of career here. Recalling one such event, he says, "I still remember everyone's names - Kapil Rao, Shukla Ji, Bhutani, Bhardwaj. They had fantastic bonding with me, as well as my children, and used to spend a lot of time together. When someone among the mess workers or guards or the staff at LC got ill, students used to take them to the hospital and pay for their treatment."
A perfect depiction of the respect and love that the students have for him, this is one amongst several other heart-warming incidents.
He has not only provided the students with delicious food and savories but has also helped transform the lives of many. Remembering one such memory, he tells us, “I used to motivate students to excel in their studies. A student named Raman was teased by the others for he did not study anything. I called him and made him understand the importance of studies. I asked him to study for one hour daily for a year and see the improvement. From that day, he started studying late into the night and eventually landed up getting three jobs. Raman bhaiya visited the college after becoming an IAS officer; he came to my shop and burst into tears. He asked me to sit on the ground with him and eat cholla samosa just like we used to back in the days. When he was about to leave, I couldn’t stop myself from crying either. I still love them all.”
Times have changed, and so has the environment at Limbdi Corner. Remembering the old days, he recalls how there used to be only eight girls in the entire college who rarely came to LC. He says, “The number has increased significantly by almost 30%. Now many girls come here and buy things from me fearlessly.”
Placing his interaction with the students of the IIT (BHU) and the satisfaction of helping others above all financial gains, the ‘LC waale bhaiya’ is an inspiration for all who choose to interact with him. A part of the daily routes of every student during college, LC also remains one of the places that alumni visit back on trips to their alma mater.
This article has been written by Garima (CSE '25), Content Team, SAIC, IIT (BHU), Varanasi.