Have you ever wondered how sweet-corn aka challi is made? The call ‘Chaaaaali raait wala’ (Sweet-corn cooked in sand ) still echoes in streets across Pakistan (more commonly seen in Punjab). Challi is an amazingly simple yet delicious treat, usually served with a quoting of lemon and red chillies.
I had the chance of getting to know about the whole process of making sweet corn from one of the sellers. Aslam, a sweet-corn vendor, sells these beautiful treats in the F-7 area of Islamabad. He is a Pathan from Mardan. He has a 10 year old son named Kashif, who helps him with the daily business. After I bought some sweet corn I asked him if he would be kind enough to tell me a little something about how he makes them and goes about his work on a daily basis. He was a bit hesitant in the beginning but he became comfortable once we started talking.
He started off by telling me he has been selling challis since the past six years.
I was very much interested to know how the corn was grown. He told he me he grows it in a field in Rawalpindi. From there, him and his younger son picks out the sweet corn and cooks them overnight. The Challis are inserted into pre-heated sand and then the top is covered with a few small planks of wood. As dawn approaches the cooking process is complete. Once it’s ready its wrapped in 2 sacks and a plastic sheet to keep it from getting cold.
I asked him if people still loved eating sweet-corn. He said that the enthusiasm never dies. I went further by asking how much money he made on an average day. He says he makes a profit of Rs. 500 – Rs. 600. He added that he made a bit more extra on Friday as a lot of peopel buy Challi after Friday Prayers
The price of a single Challi is Rs. 20. Almost 120 pieces are sold every day. He sells his entire stock by the evening
I asked him which season has a higher demand for challis. You might think it’s summers but to my surprise it turned out to be winters!
Finally, I asked if he was happy with this line of work. He said he really didn’t have much of a choice. It was the only thing he knew how to do. I asked him what else he would’ve liked doing if have been doing if not this. He said he would’ve been a laborer. He added that by having his own business he’s only answerable to God, so it’s better in some ways. A true entrepreneur, isn’t he!
Aslam has a wife and 5 kids who live in his hometown of Mardan. He visits his family once every few months.
