Viral after PM's visit, Bengal jhalmuri vendor swamped with calls, reel requests
A jhalmuri seller in Bengal is being swamped with calls and reel requests after PM Modi made a stop at his shop during his visit to the state. The video, shared by PM's official handles, quickly went viral, making Vikram's modest shop a magnet for content creators.
A modest jhalmuri stall in West Bengal's Jhargram has turned into a national talking point after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unscheduled stop during his poll campaign triggered an explosion of attention that overwhelmed its owner within hours.
The vendor, Vikram Kumar, originally from Gaya in Bihar, now finds himself at the centre of an extraordinary frenzy after the Prime Minister halted his convoy on Sunday and stepped out to buy and taste jhalmuri -- a popular Bengali street snack made of puffed rice, spices and green chillies.
Within 24 hours of the visit, PM's video crossed 100 million views on Instagram and nearly 90 million on Facebook. Google search interest for 'jhalmuri' has also hit its highest level in over two decades.
Vikram, who runs a 77-foot roadside stall named "Chavan Lal Special Jhalmuri (Bihari Babu)" near Raj College Mor, says his phone hasn't stopped ringing.
Speaking to India Today TV amid the sudden attention, he said his phone had become unmanageable. "Humein phone switched off karna pad raha hai, abhi flight mode par kar diya hai. Subah se sab aa rahe hain, reels ban rahi hain (I had to switch off my phone. It is still in flight mode. Everyone is coming to my shop and making reels)," he said, describing the chaos that began early morning after the visit went viral.
Recounting the moment of the Prime Minister's visit, Vikram said he arrived without warning after a public meeting at Jhargram stadium and stopped at his stall while heading towards the DM helipad ground. The Prime Minister, he said, asked about the price of jhalmuri, enquired about his background and education, and personally bought the snack.
"Kal Modi ji aaye the, jhalmuri khaye, naam poochha, pitaji ka naam poochha, padhai ke baare mein bhi poochha. Maine bola ninth class tak padha hun (Yesterday PM Modi came and ate jhalmuri. He then asked my name, my father's name. He then asked about my education and I said I am 9th pass)," Vikram recalled.
PM Modi later shared photos and a video of the stop on social media, writing that he had "savoured spicy puffed rice, jhalmuri in Jhargram" amid a packed day of four public rallies across West Bengal.
The Prime Minister also insisted on paying for the snack himself, a detail that has further amplified public interest around the brief interaction.
Behind the sudden spotlight lies a longer journey. Vikram's family moved from Bihar to Jhargram nearly 12 years ago. After shifting between small roadside setups, they eventually secured a 77 feet government-allotted space near Raj College Mor, where they built a permanent livelihood selling jhalmuri.
Over time, the family also began constructing a home in Jhargram's Bachhurdoha area, funded largely through the small business.
Now, the same stall has become a pilgrimage point of sorts. Customers have swelled in number, but so have selfie-seekers and vloggers. Vikram said the rush has made it difficult to run the shop.
A modest jhalmuri stall in West Bengal's Jhargram has turned into a national talking point after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unscheduled stop during his poll campaign triggered an explosion of attention that overwhelmed its owner within hours.
The vendor, Vikram Kumar, originally from Gaya in Bihar, now finds himself at the centre of an extraordinary frenzy after the Prime Minister halted his convoy on Sunday and stepped out to buy and taste jhalmuri -- a popular Bengali street snack made of puffed rice, spices and green chillies.
Within 24 hours of the visit, PM's video crossed 100 million views on Instagram and nearly 90 million on Facebook. Google search interest for 'jhalmuri' has also hit its highest level in over two decades.
Vikram, who runs a 77-foot roadside stall named "Chavan Lal Special Jhalmuri (Bihari Babu)" near Raj College Mor, says his phone hasn't stopped ringing.
Speaking to India Today TV amid the sudden attention, he said his phone had become unmanageable. "Humein phone switched off karna pad raha hai, abhi flight mode par kar diya hai. Subah se sab aa rahe hain, reels ban rahi hain (I had to switch off my phone. It is still in flight mode. Everyone is coming to my shop and making reels)," he said, describing the chaos that began early morning after the visit went viral.
Recounting the moment of the Prime Minister's visit, Vikram said he arrived without warning after a public meeting at Jhargram stadium and stopped at his stall while heading towards the DM helipad ground. The Prime Minister, he said, asked about the price of jhalmuri, enquired about his background and education, and personally bought the snack.
"Kal Modi ji aaye the, jhalmuri khaye, naam poochha, pitaji ka naam poochha, padhai ke baare mein bhi poochha. Maine bola ninth class tak padha hun (Yesterday PM Modi came and ate jhalmuri. He then asked my name, my father's name. He then asked about my education and I said I am 9th pass)," Vikram recalled.
PM Modi later shared photos and a video of the stop on social media, writing that he had "savoured spicy puffed rice, jhalmuri in Jhargram" amid a packed day of four public rallies across West Bengal.
The Prime Minister also insisted on paying for the snack himself, a detail that has further amplified public interest around the brief interaction.
Behind the sudden spotlight lies a longer journey. Vikram's family moved from Bihar to Jhargram nearly 12 years ago. After shifting between small roadside setups, they eventually secured a 77 feet government-allotted space near Raj College Mor, where they built a permanent livelihood selling jhalmuri.
Over time, the family also began constructing a home in Jhargram's Bachhurdoha area, funded largely through the small business.
Now, the same stall has become a pilgrimage point of sorts. Customers have swelled in number, but so have selfie-seekers and vloggers. Vikram said the rush has made it difficult to run the shop.
