Shamim Abbasi, popularly known as Chacha Shamim sharbat wale, has passed away, according to a post by Wajid. He was a familiar figure to many regulars at Batla House, where his Rooh-e-Afza sharbat stall became a popular stop, especially for those looking to quench their thirst during the summer months.
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Mohd Abbas shared the sad news of Abbasi’s death with his photo. “It is with great sadness that I announce the death of brother Shamim Abbasi, widely known as Chacha sharbat wale,” he wrote on his social media timeline.
Abbasi was laid to rest in the Batla House graveyard after Maghrib prayer today, as confirmed by Md Shageer Abbasi.
He said Abbasi, 55, had been unwell for the last few months and had recently undergone heart surgery. “He returned home four days ago from the hospital but sadly passed away today at 12:30 pm at his residence in Azim Dairy House,” he said.
Shageer said Abbasi was born in Okhla.
Many local residents and family members gathered at the Batla House graveyard to bid him a tearful farewell. Those who frequented Shamim’s sharbat stall will certainly miss him.
Located in the left corner of Batla House, near the turn leading to Azeem Dairy, Chacha Sharbat wale’s stall quickly became a popular spot, even attracting some creators who made videos there. While it’s unclear how well his business was doing, like the famous Mohabbat Ka Sharbat stall in Old Delhi, his stall became a major attraction in Batla House.
A visitor, Naseem, who once stopped by during the blistering heat, shared with the OT how the stall caught his attention. Here’s the grammatically corrected version:
“It was a hot day, with temperatures soaring as high as 42 degrees Celsius in Delhi at that time. I stopped at the stall on my way to the busy Batla House market. His kiosk, among others like the biryani, kebab, and other delicacies stalls, stood apart in the crowd. For my friend and me, it was a cool and refreshing drink to quench our thirst. The sharbat was available for Rs 10 and Rs 20 per glass. Chacha was a friendly man, and he immediately served us two glasses of Rooh-e-Afza,” he said.
As the name suggests, the Sharbat is a refreshing drink made with beloved ingredients like the childhood favorite Rooh Afza, lemon, and sugar. It quickly became a crowd favorite in the summer. This classic summer drink is so popular that people continue to enjoy it even in winter, especially during Ramzan, when they visit Batla House after breaking their fast to get their hands on special Eid or Ramzan treats.
The trend of opening sharbat stalls definitely gained popularity in Jamia Nagar, including Batla House, following the growing popularity of the Sharbat-e-Mohabbat kiosk run by Mohd Shuaib Chishti on the crowded road leading to Jama Masjid in Old Delhi.
Food lovers said it was after this trend that the humble Chacha also ventured into the sharbat business. Over time, many kiosks started popping up, but while it was difficult for any of them to match Chishti’s popularity, Chacha gradually built a name for himself.
