Bengal govt to stake claim to rasogolla through GI route

The Science and Technology department of the state government has started the process to approach its central counterpart for GI authentication of <g data-gr-id="25">rasogolla</g> so that it is identified with Bengal.

Jagannath Ghosh, spokesman of 'Paschim Bango Mistanno Byabsayee Samity' and owner of a famous North Kolkata sweet shop, said it was conveyed to their delegation by Minister of State for Women and Child Welfare Sashi Panja on Monday.

Asked about it, the minister said, "Our Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has asked us to do the needful for ensuring that Bengal gets its rightful place as <g data-gr-id="32">inventor</g> of Rasogolla. Since Nabin Chandra Das had introduced the sweet in 1868, it is high time we don't allow others to hijack our heritage." 

Director of KC Das Private Ltd, Sanjoy Das, the fifth generation descendant of Navin Chandra Das family, said it was historically known that the Das family had been the pioneer of Rasogolla, made from cottage cheese dipped in sugary syrup.

“With Rasogolla getting the legal seal of having originated from the city, the sweet can be showcased globally and there can be more R&D initiatives,” Sanjoy Das said.

“On our part we had introduced automated machines at our Baghbazar plant from the day of <g data-gr-id="44">hand-operated</g> coal-guzzling boiler in 1868 introduced by Navin Chandra Das and in use for years. We brought new techniques of packaging tinned <g data-gr-id="33">rosogollas</g> which is taken abroad by Indian expatriates. 

But if there is a formal recognition of <g data-gr-id="34">rosogolla</g> having originated from Bengal, we can go for patents also in future," he said on the sidelines of the launch of the book '<g data-gr-id="35">rasogolla</g> <g data-gr-id="36">banglar</g> <g data-gr-id="37">jagat</g> <g data-gr-id="38">matano</g> <g data-gr-id="39">abiskar</g>' (Rasogolla, the conqueror of world from Bengal) by a well known academician.”

GI authentication is a name or sign used on certain products which <g data-gr-id="23">corresponds</g> to a specific geographical location or origin.