West Bengal can now finally claim its right as the place of origin of the famous sweet, Rasgulla. The Geographical Indications (GI) Registry, on Tuesday, granted West Bengal GI status for the sweet, syrupy delicacy, thus ending the state's long, legal battle against its neighbouring state, Odisha.
In 2013, Odisha went to Commerce Ministry of India to get a GI tag for Rasgulla, which it claimed had originated in Puri and was used as a prasadam during the rituals and pujas. Odisha government took the iniative after getting news that some sweets makers in Kolkata had applied for a GI tag for the same sweet.
Soon the issue turned into a battle between the two state governments after the West Bengal government moved to commerce ministry supporting the claims of Kolkata businessmen.
After a prolonged investigation, the West Bengal government today received a letter from the commerce ministry saying that there is no proof of Rasgulla being available thousands years ago and its texture and taste is completely different from what is available elsewhere in India.
“A detailed investigation from the commerce ministry said other claims that Rasgulla used to be available in states like Odisha since 11th century did not find any evidence. Rasgulla is made of milk produces like chhanna or chenna. It used to be available in only in Bengal, and particularly around Kolkata,” said an officer at the commerce department of West Bengal.
However, the tricky part is that Odisha was a part of Bengal until early 1900s, and it is difficult to locate the region from where the first Rasgulla originated.
The ministry of commerce found that similar form of sweets that were made in Odisha and other parts of the country thousands years ago were not made of chenna, but of kheer.
“So two of them could not be compared,” said the officer.
Present day’s spongy Rasgulla was made famous by the Das family of Bagbazar (mainly Nobin Chandra Das) which opened its first shop and prepared Rasgulla in nineteenth century in Kolkata. Apparently, the sweet was an instant hit amongst the British rulers. It is widely believed that prodded by demand during British rule, Rasgulla became part of Kolkata household.
However, there are records of Rasgulla being a popular sweet even before the Das family made and sold it. It has been traced to other parts of the state as a sweet liked by then-Governor General of India, Warren Hastings who used to have them during his visits to Sovabazar royal palace near Bagbazar in Kolkata.
It is also believed that before the Das family reshaped the sweet into present days Rasgulla, it had already made its way into the Kolkata household thanks to the popularity of street food. Apparently, it used to be sold near Calcutta High Court as well.
The GI confirmation of such an historic sweet item has brought cheers to Bengali community.
“I think we are very happy. Odisha can demand a GI tag. But that cannot be for Rasgulla. What was given as prasadam in Jagannath temple was completely different than what we call Rasgulla. All controversies ended with this decision,” said Nitai Das, a historian based in Kolkata.
Sources in the West Bengal government said that the decision would help the sweet makers in Kolkata who exports Rasgulla outside India even.
