Vishaka George

Photos and Text

Riya Behl

Photographs

Priti David

Editor

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Biman started off selling chow mein (stir-fried noodles) and a few
dishes from a pushcart. He opened a 10-seater restaurant two years later in
2019, serving fries, burgers, pizzas, pastas, milkshakes and more.  

KFC is a hit not just with Kulamora’s local folk ibut even with
tourists from across the world who visit the river island. They are responsible
for its 4.3 star rating on Google Reviews, where this KFC’s taste and freshness
is widely appreciated. 

So, why is it called Krishna Fried Chicken? Biman takes out his phone and
points to a picture of him, his wife Debajani Das and a young boy, no older
than 7-8 years. “I named it after my son, Krishna,” says the proud father,
smiling.  The youngster, Biman says,
comes to KFC everyday after school and sits in a corner doing his homework,
while his parents serve hungry customers. 

It’s lunchtime and Biman recommends a crispy fried chicken burger with
a side of fries.  He even shows us how
it’s made. “I&#39;m known to have one of the cleanest kitchens in Majuli,” he says
making his way around the small space that has three counters, a fridge, ovens
and a deep fryer. Cut vegetables are neatly stacked, while bottles of ketchup
and other sauces line the kitchen shelves.

Meanwhile he also fell in love and married Debajani – now his business
partner at KFC. His younger cousins, Shivani and her sister also named
Debajani, help out at the eatery.  

After Hyderabad, Biman decided to move back to Majuli and initially
worked at a restaurant in Demow block in Sivasagar district of Assam. All
the while, he nurtured his dream of opening his own restaurant. And he did
manage that – today he runs a brick and mortar eatery here in Kamalabari block. “I built the kitchen [at
the back of the restaurant] but rent the seating area for 2,500 rupees a
month,” says Biman. 

I pay Rs. 120 and scarf down the excellent burger and fries as I hear
his story. The other hot favourite among customers, he says, are his pizzas
which are priced at Rs. 270. Reviews mention the refreshing nimbu paani drink, milk shakes and
vegetable rolls.  

Biman
and his family live in Sensowa,
ten kilometres away from Kulamora. He drives to his restaurant in his Swift
Dzire every day.  “I start my day at 9
in the morning by doing all the cutting and preparation for the vegetables and chicken,”
says Biman.

KFC in Majuli, Kulamora style

ماجولی کا ’کے ایف سی‘، کولامرا اسٹائل میں

మాజులీలో కులామరా శైలి కెఎఫ్‌సి

மஜுலியில் ஒரு கேஎஃப்சி

ਕੁਲਮੋਰਾ ਦਾ ਆਪਣਾ ਕੇਐੱਫ਼ਸੀ

ମାଜୁଲିରେ କୁଲାମୋରା ଶୈଳୀର କେଏଫସି

മജൂലിയിലെ കെ.എഫ്.സി, കുലമോര രീതിയിൽ

ಕುಲಮೊರ ಶೈಲಿಯ ಮಜುಲಿಯ ಕೆಎಫ್‌ಸಿ

माजुली का अपना केएफ़सी

માજુલીમાં કુલમોરાનું કેએફસી

माजुली मं कुलमोरा स्टाइल मं केएफसी

केएफसी से जादे सस्ता, जादे चहटगर एगो ‘केएफसी’

কুলামোড়ার একান্ত আপন কেএফসি

কুলামৰা ষ্টাইলত মাজুলীৰ কে.এফ.চি.

Majuli

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KFC in Majuli, Kulamora style

A small eatery on an island in the Brahmaputra sells delicious fried chicken. It has a more famous namesake, but no one is complaining!

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