Bengal sweet shops close ranks on Rasogolla issue

Kolkata, Aug 28 (IBNS) In a battle between Kshirmohan, Odisha's special delicacy dedicated to Lord Jagannarth, and Bengal's very own Rasogolla, Bengal sweet shop owners now sink differences for getting the delicacy benchmarked as the state's discovery dating back one and half centuries.
  
Extending support to them is a section of the city's intelligentsia, from scholar-writer Haripada Bhowmik to eminent dentist Barin Roy, from former Justice and Governor Shyamal Sen to other luminaries living in north Kolkata.
   
In a congregation at the heritage Rasogolla Bhavan, set up by the Navin Chandra Das' family in the hub of Kumartuli in 1920, Bhowmik launched his book 'Rasogolla Banglar Jagat Matano Abiskar' where he says citing history records that Kshirmohan was made of Kheer and not chhana (cotton cheese) which is used to make Rasogolla originally invented by Navin Chandra Das.

Das set on experimenting for three years for a unique sweet after setting his shop in 1864 in Baghbazar area and chanced upon a unique sponge-type ball after dipping it in sugar juice and Rasogolla came into being in 1868.
    
"This is a known fact and there had been several records to prove this. Then how come Odisha stake claim to Rasogolla suddenly in 2002/04 equating Kshirmohan with Rasogolla. How can that be!!," Bhowmik points out.

"Who can take away the right of Baghbazar as the birthplace of Rasogolla which then went on conquering the world? Who can ignore that Sri Ramkrishna Paramahansa went into a trance after savouring Rasogolla in Dakshineswar temple. Who can forget Girish Ghosh buying Rasogolla in earthen pot from the Baghbazar shop?," Bhowmik continues.
    
And Rasogolla (cotton cheese ball dipped in sugar liquid) is never made of Kheer as the name  of Kshirmohan suggests, the researcher points out supported by Roy and Justice Sen. 
    
Dhiman Das, one of the owners of the K C Das Grand Sons, adds:"We have invented Sponge Rasogolla and we will leave no stone unturned to get the official sanctity through GI identification."
    
Das, speaking through skype at the book launch at heritage Rasogolla Bhavan, says: "Like introducing skype in the backdrop of a heritage building set up by our great grandfathers, we have our roadmap ready to experiment more and more with the traditional Bengali sweets in term of proper packaging so that Rasogolla can compete with the dessert in other parts of the world, not only for Bengalee-Indians, Bangladeshis and Indians but for other world communities. If we get the GI that might help us move forward."
     
Das says the Paschim Bango Mistannao Byabasayee Samity, of which the flagship sweet meat store is an important functionary, is together waging the battle to save and protect Rasagolla from the claims of other states. "Let them talk about their own delicacies. We will also support."
     
West Bengal Minister of State Sashi Panja affirms the government would be on the side of the association and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is taking active interest in it.