Mumbai:
Next time you curl up your nose at what some call the burger's Indian street cousin, think again as the humble vada pav is going places after becoming the subject of a Ph D thesis by an American scholar.
Harris Solomon, a Ph D scholar from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island is looking at the vada pav's impact on Maharashtra politics.
"Everybody has a story for how it came, how it developed, which style is which, and to me their story is about the development of the city and who are the important players of the city," said Solomon.
Besides studying them, Harris also samples the desi burger. "I have no particular favourite but yes the ones selling off the street are the best," says Harris.
Labhesh Vasaikar the owner of a Shiv vada pav stall, a Sena initiative is a bit intrigued but happy at this interest in what he calls the "asli Mumbai snack."
"It is matter of great pride and happiness that this study will give Mumbai's vada pav international exposure," he said.