Nostalgia in an ice-cream cone

Nirula's is today struggling to stay relevant in the Delhi food scene

In March 2001, I accompanied my parents to collect my school report card with serious trepidation. As soon as I saw my final tally, I let out a sigh of relief: I was nowhere near the top of my class, but my score had made me eligible for a free scoop of ice cream and a congratulatory stamp on the report card at Nirula’s. 

Most people who lived in Delhi in the 1980s, ’90s and early 2000s have similar stories to share. It was an integral part of the good life in the city. Visitors from outside were promptly taken