Mumbai

In a heartwarming tribute, several journalists in Mumbai gathered on Monday evening to honour 75-year-old tea seller Baban Kemkar, fondly known as “Babanseth”, for serving generations of reporters for nearly four decades.

The felicitation took place at the Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh hall, packed with former patrons of Kemkar’s late-night tea stall outside Dadar Railway Station. Many attendees recalled stopping there after finishing newspaper city editions, gathering over hot tea and conversation.

Kemkar had shut the stall nearly 20 years ago and later moved to Titwala, but old patrons reunited in Mumbai to celebrate his 75th birthday.

Regular visitors to the stall in earlier years reportedly included actors Nana Patekar and Prashant Damle during the early days of their theatre careers.

Senior journalist Ambarish Mishra praised Kemkar’s tea-making style, saying it was like watching a skilled Russian ballerina perform. He remarked that even high tea at Buckingham Palace could not match Baban’s tea.

Former MP Kumar Ketkar and former MLC Kapil Patil said they too had benefited from the famous “Baban tea.”

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Many journalists described Kemkar as more than a tea seller — a friend and family member. Responding emotionally, Kemkar said the feeling was mutual.