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K. Narayanan's Narnari sarbath has had takers for more than five decades.
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Photo: S. Mahinsha
EVEN IN this age of artificial soft drinks, there is one drink that has had takers for more than five decades. K. Narayanan, who has a small shop near the GPO Junction in Thiruvananthapuram, has been selling Narnari Sarbath since 1949.
Mixing the drink in his small rented shop, he says, "My shop and I are old. But the sarbath is still young." His wife, Vasantha, who helps out in the business, agrees, "We have regular customers. Business is down only during the rain, when it is hard to make a living out of the meagre income."
Narayanan says any business would do well if the customers are satisfied with the quality of the product. "Many people make sarbath using artificial sweeteners and rotten fruits, which are harmful to health. The Narnari Sarbath contains sugar and Ayurvedic medicines and has a regular clientele," he says.
The name Narnari is derived from naruneendi (sarsaparilla, a medical plant) and naranga (lemon), the main ingredients of sarbath. Leaves and stem having medicinal value are added to it.
The Narnari sarbath has been a favourite of several political and cultural leaders as well. M. M. Govindan Nair, T. V. Thomas, K. R. Gouri Amma, the former U. P. Minister, Saraswathy Amma, Thopil Bhasi, were among the regular clientele. Narayanan and his daughter have also acted in Thopil Bhasi's film `Chakravaham'. Narayanan says the drink has been certified by the former associate professor and physician at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, H. Kathirel, who was a regular user, as the "syrup is made from pure ingredients and is of excellent taste and quality".
S. Sreeraj, a civil engineer who drinks three glasses of the Sarbath as his daily quota, says, "I have been drinking it for the past five years. My friend introduced me to the drink." R Vijayan, who works in a courier service firm, says he has been drinking the sarbath for the past four years. "It cools not only my body but also my mind," he says, adding that he travels 6 kilometres to have the drink.
Narayanan, actually, began his life as a beedi-maker, when he sat in the corner of small shops and made beedis for them. He learnt to make sarbath here and later developed his own formula. In no time, the mix was popular. Now, Narayanan sells more than 150 glasses of sarbath daily. When he began the business, the Narnari sarbath was priced 1.5 chakram. Now, it costs Rs. 3.50.
"Several people have approached me to sell it as a branded bottled product. I am 73 now. Why should I go in for that in the evening of my life?"
Even after five-and-a-half decades of sarbath business, he has not earned much. "Both my son and daughter are married and we have five grandchildren; they are our wealth. I also have a small house in Cherukkulam Colony," he smiles.
BINU JOHNSON
Photo: S. Mahinsha
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