Seema Vahini�s
A family of Maharashtrians keep alive old culinary traditions in Belgaum by sharing them with people eager to cook good, home food, says MANISHA SUBHEDAR.

SEEMA and Sanjay Kulkarni�s �Seema Vahini�s Home Shoppi� at Radha Govind Park in Belgaum, is the one-stop shop (well, shoppe) for all kinds of unique and delicious home-made eatables. The couple is into the business in a big way, ably assisted by their two daughters, and by Sanjay�s mother Kundatai who perhaps has the most skilled hands at turning out the delicacies they popularly sell. The shop is on the ground floor of the G-1 building in Radha Govind Park. This is also the Kulkarnis�s residence and factory. They use a small portion in the front to display and sell their products. It does not matter if the shop is closed at night, or shut on a holiday, the regulars ring the Kulkarnis�s door-bell and make their purchases at the back door!

The most popular item at Seema Vahini�s is perhaps the Ranjaka, an amazing appetizer made of chopped chilies that are added with salt and lime juice to a mixture of fried asafoetida and fenugreek that is crushed into a powder in a blender. Seema�s business, in fact, took off as a result of the Ranjaka. She had made the delicious appetizer and since there was a lot of it, she put it up for sale. The response was phenomenal in the neighbourhood. People asked to her make it again and again. And they started placing small orders with her, prompting Seema to go into business one fine day. The slogan of her homely little shop is "For those who eat the best". And from Ranjaka, Seema went into making and selling spices, chutneys and other eatables. The Ranjaka�s fame has spread far and wide. And there are people from Belgaum who have now settled abroad who get the Kulkarnis to send them a regular supply around the year. Seema, who grew up in Dharwad, picked up the art of making home goodies from her grandmother when she was a child. By the time she was 15, Seema could make most of the eatables her grandmother had taught her.

In 1984, when she was 22, Seema married Sanjay, an agriculturist by profession. This is when her fascinating for cooking home-made delicacies really took off under the influence of her mother-in-law Kundatai. Seema�s already vast repertoire grew by leaps and bounds. By this time the Kulkarnis had their two daughters and when the girls started going to school, Seema longed to get into some kind of gainful occupation. She began dealing in ladies garments. And then, by chance, got involved in an exhibition that had home-made eatables for sale. Seema entered her Ranjaka among other goodies. The response was so overwhelming, she knew she had to get into business for herself. Since then Seema and Sanjay has become very popular in Belgaum. Most households use their Lahyapeeth and Metkut spices, and their varieties of chutneys and other products that number 35 in all. The food items available at Seema Vahini�s are clean, they are of high quality, and they are delicious. The business has grown like a small sapling into a big tree. And Seema is now a member of the Avishkar Mahila Mandal that works for the welfare of ladies. Seema takes part in the exhibitions staged by this institution. And by this, the popularity of her products goes on increasing.

The encouragement she received from the public helped her to set up shop recently. Seema runs it even while doing her home duties. Sometimes when customers enter in the shop in excess and in season, Sanjay, Kundatai and her daughters chip in with help. Sanjay purchase the raw materials for her products and supply the finished eatables to other shops and cities. The entire business is conducted in a homely atmosphere and it is a delight to spend time with the Kulkarnis at the Seema Vahini�s Home Shoppi.
Seema Vahini�s Home Shoppi,
G-1, Radha Govind Park,
Belgaum 590006.
Tel: 0831 2485595.
Mobile 9341106049.


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