What is Jadavpur University’s Dhoper Chop?
What does dhop mean in Bengali? Well, it means ‘white lies.’ But imagine gorging on lies! Can dhop be eaten too? Ask the Jadavpur University students, and they will vouch for the famous dhoper chop, available at Milan da’s canteen. A monsoon afternoon without this delicious fried item, is something unthinkable. Milan da is no more, but all that he served from his famous JU canteen is still served to hundreds of students who flock the canteen.
JU has around eight canteens. Each has a character of its own, and the dishes found here are also unique. If you walk through gate Number 4 towards the World View area, then you can locate the oldest canteen --- known popularly as Milan da’s Canteen. It is always over-crowded. Exciting shouts of ‘2 to gorom jol’ or ‘ekta dhop’ (either 2 mugs of warm water/tea or one dhoper chop) are often heard. Students and teachers, down generations, have enjoyed these shouts and many ex-students of JU in different parts of the world can still relate to the old-world Kolkata charm of Milan Da’s canteen. The canteen belts out some of the most innovative dishes.
Milan Kanti Dey was an icon by himself and experimented with food since decades. He could beat any 5-star chef in his ‘food thoughts’. Since ’60s, this canteen has been running, and Milan Da had served generations, from wild young students to the academic ones, and witnessed several student movements, that were born over a cup of tea and his famous dhoper chop. Another attraction of the canteen is the Fruit Ice Cream, that was started in the’80’s.
When he was alive, he often told students how he stumbled upon Dhoper Chop. Some students of the Arts Department asked him one day to do something new. He made a bread pakora and stuffed it with meat and yes, they gave the name. Now, in short, it’s known as ‘Dhop.’ There is queue for this dish every day. Not only students, but many foodies of the city, come to this canteen to have ‘Dhoper chop’. This chop finishes off before afternoon, thanks to its popularity. So, if any of you wish to have a bite, make sure to reach Milan Da’s canteen before noon.
