Bhubaneshwar, July 29: Odisha got Geographical Indicator (GI) tag for its version of Rasgulla, which will now be recognised as ‘Odisha Rasagola’. The Chennai based GI Registry today issued formal certification for ‘Odisha Rasagola’.
This sweet result for Odisha has come after a bitter battle between the two neibouring States, Odisha and West Bengal. When West Bengal received its GI tag for its variety of Rasgulla in November 2017 ahead of Odisha, it was falsely believed that the GI Registry has recognized that Rasgulla originated in West Bengal. However, The GI tag for the same product to both the neighbouring states recognizes the two distinct varieties of Rasgullas in taste and texture.
Though Bengalis claim Rasgulla was invented by Nobin Chandra Das at his Bagbazar residence in Kolkata, Odias cite the age old tradition of Niladri Bije where Rasgulla is offered, at least started in 12th century, when the present structure of the temple was constructed. However, there was little written evidence available to support the claim.
At one time, even the Odisha government declared that a committee set up for the purpose has failed to collect any evidence. However, an Odia culture scholar Asit Mohanty brought out many unknown facts about Rasgulla through his diligent research.
Mohanty found mention of the word Rasagola in the 15th Century Odia Dandi Ramayan written by the famous poet of the mediaeval age Balaram Das, who wrote his own version of the epic well before Tulasi Das wrote Ram Charita Manasa in the 16th century. Mohanty also quoted many other Odia and Sanskrit texts to prove that chhena or cottage cheese was known to Indians much before the French and Portuguese arrived in India.
In its submission before the GI registrar, the Odisha Small Industries Corporation Ltd had said that Odisha Rasagola is very soft to feel, juicy and non-chewy in consistency and can be swallowed without teeth pressure. The rasogolla/rasgulla prepared in other places is circular in shape, milk white in colour and basically spongy and chewy in consistency.