The Tea Seller Who Kept a College Connected
This feature piece profiles Ishwer, a dedicated tea seller who became a beloved fixture for generations of students at Baring College in Batala. His consistent presence and service made him an integral, albeit unofficial, part of the college's cultural history.
Why it matters
It highlights the role of informal community figures in shaping the social fabric and memories of educational institutions.
Batala carries many identities within its narrow streets and crowded bazaars. Known for its industrial legacy as the “Iron Bird City of Asia”, the town also occupies an important place in Punjab’s religious, literary and cultural history. It gave the celebrated poet Shiv Kumar his enduring literary name, Shiv Batalvi, and once attracted film star Dev Anand, whose visits stirred dreams of cinema among local admirers.
Yet for generations of students at Baring College, especially those associated with its postgraduate department, the most memorable landmark was neither a monument nor an institution. It was a modest tea stall near an octroi post—and the man who brought it to life was Ishwer.
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