Odisha-Bengal row over rosogolla becomes bitter

The war over <g data-gr-id="30">rosogolla</g> between Odisha and Bengal has just got a bit more bitter.

In the wake of Odisha’s latest claim that the famous sugary delicacy of eastern India originated in the state over 600 years ago, a West Bengal minister has again asserted Bengal’s sole proprietorship over it.

There is “ample” documentary evidence to prove the sweet belongs to Bengal, Rabiranjan Chattopadhyay said on Saturday.

“No other state has the ‘golla’ (roundish sweets). It is exclusive to Bengal and though Odisha has said that <g data-gr-id="40">rosogolla</g> originated 600 years ago there, they have not shown any documentary proof,” West Bengal’s science and technology minister said.

Escalating the ongoing row between Odisha and Bengal over <g data-gr-id="43">origin</g> of <g data-gr-id="45">rosogolla</g>, an Odisha minister recently said a committee going into the root of the matter has discovered that the syrupy delicacy originated in the state 600 years ago. Based on the interim report of the three panels set up by the state government to prepare evidence to Odisha’s claim over the Rasgulla, Science and Technology minister Pradip Kumar Panigrahi said, “The committees, in their report, have stated that there is conclusive evidence on the use of Rasgulla in Odisha for a long time. This sweet dish was prepared by several mutts and temples in the state about 600 years ago,” he said.

Panigrahi said there were <g data-gr-id="32">evidences</g> supporting Odisha’s claim over Rasgulla in epics like Mahabharata, the one written by Sarala Das, Dandi Ramayan and also in Madala Panji, the ancient text used by the 12th <g data-gr-id="34">century</g> Sri Jagannath Temple.

“Even we have evidence regarding <g data-gr-id="28">availability</g> of Rasgulla in Odisha when Adi Shankaracharya visited Sri Jagannath Temple,” Panigrahi said.

Odisha is claiming that <g data-gr-id="36">rosogolla</g> was first served at the 12th-century Lord Jagannath temple in <g data-gr-id="44">Puri,</g> while Bengal only traces it back to 150 years. West Bengal has already submitted the application for a GI (geographical indication) tag for the <g data-gr-id="29">rosagolla</g> to stake <g data-gr-id="38">claim</g> on the delicacy and beat Odisha.

<g data-gr-id="37">Chattopadhay</g> said the state has submitted detailed dossiers with the GI tag application. “There is adequate, ample evidence from Bengal,” he added. West Bengal is claiming that Nabin Chandra Das had introduced the sweet in 1868.