The Egg Emperor of Jodhpur

Shops in India come in all shapes and sizes. From plate glass air-conditioned sanctuaries to a shaky table set up by the roadside, India is the Mecca of the small businessman.

RamKishan Gawlini plies his trade from a small cart by the old city gates inside Jodhpur city. His specialty is omelets, which he cooks and serves from an area measuring less than four square feet.

RamKishan is famous these days; he doesn’t hesitate to say that a mention in the guidebook Lonely Planet has changed his life. He has gone from a humble omelet wallah to the Egg Emperor of Jodhpur City.

And it’s not just the Lonely Planet now RamKishan is listed in just about every guidebook to India!

Tourists cluster around on plastic stools gobbling up his eggy treats to the tune of ten thousand eggs a week. A two-egg omelet studded with chili and onions then smeared with a cheesy mayonnaise mix is slapped between two slices of white bread and served with pride on a disposable paper plate.

All this for a mere 50 rupees (USD1.00), and the taste is so delicious that you just have to order another one. From long experience he knows that one will not be enough and your second omelet is in the pan before you can say more please.

RamKishan shows me his collection of comment books and articles written about him. He is quietly proud of his achievement that has allowed him to expand into another cart where he sells more tourist fare such as chocolate and batteries and other small items.

I love the idea of such a humble success, its eggactly the recipe for a world suffering a lack of faith in the success of the small man.