Remembering Pinki Uncle: The Beloved Bhel Puri Vendor of Delhi University | Delhi News – Times of India

Students remember him not just for his delicious snacks, but for his warmth, humor, and the sense of community he fostered at his stall.

NEW DELHI: For nearly four decades, he was a beloved figure on Delhi University‘s North Campus, serving up bhel puri with a generous helping of smiles and witty comebacks. And of such are memories of university made, not the formulae on the blackboards or the theories or the textbook. Sunil Sethi, or Pinki Uncle, as he was called by all students, ran a humble establishment.
But it was more than just a food stop — it was a place where friendships bloomed, laughter echoed and the stress of student life melted away, one bite at a time. The North Campus recently lost more than just a vendor in Pinki Uncle’s passing, it lost a cherished presence that represented so much more than just a snack.
Miranda House alumna Tulika said, “I distinctly remember Pinki Uncle for the warmth he exuberated each time we went to his stall. DU is a lot of things but it’s the people that impact you in the most unassuming ways. He was one such person.”
Sethi sold bhel puri near Campus Law Centre. When the era of social media began, he became an internet sensation through his vlogs, amassing millions of views. His hands moved at lightning speed in reaching for the murmura, papdi, boondi, peanuts, coriander, chutney and lemon, crafting a plate of bhel puri for Rs 60 and sev puri for Rs 80.
If a student asked him how old he was, Sethi would flash a mischievous smile and respond, “It’s between 20 and 22 years.” But he would wink and follow this up by saying he had sold bhel puri at the same spot for 40 years. “Now, don’t ask me how that’s possible if I’m only 20. It’s a matter of science,” he would guffaw.
His witty remarks, especially about his wife whom he referred to as “aunty”, often brightened the day for students. With a playful grin, he often joked that his bald head meant his wife couldn’t pull his hair. In one viral video, he was heard saying, “I don’t get angry; I only spread love. Your aunty took all the anger out of me.” In another, he chuckled, “Sev puri costs Rs 80, but I’m worth Rs 22 lakh. Your aunty has put a price tag on me.” And when a youngster asked if he would ever create a new version of his famous bhel puri, Pinki Uncle responded, “Kaam ya biwi change karna aasan baat nahi hoti (Changing your job or wife isn’t an easy thing to do)”.
Such banter endeared Sethi to students. Kanika Bist, who graduated in 2012, recalled, “I have fond memories of him. I often enjoyed his bhel puri and sev puri during my time at Miranda House. He would always ask things like, ‘Class bunk kar ke aaye ho (did you skip class to come here)?”
Known for being secretive about the recipe of his signature chutney, Pinki Uncle prepared the tangy concoction himself, while his wife prepared the sweet one. If someone asked, ‘Aur kya banate ho (What else do you pepare)?’, he would cheekily reply, ‘Bewakoof banata hoon (I make fools of people)’.
Many generations remember Sethi on campus, but it’s the freshers who are particularly heartbroken. “I only had the chance to visit him once, just a month ago,” said Deboleena, a first-year student. “I had heard so much about him before even setting foot on campus and seen his online videos. At least, I feel lucky to have had the chance to be served by him.”