`Joynagar er Moya' gets repeat Order from Overseas- Neighbour `Baharu' Starts Stir

``Joynagar er Moya' reached foreign lands. They melted into the mouth before the consumers realised it. All those who ate and those who heard about the melting episode placed orders. So Joynagar is buzzing with activity to send their next consignment. The consumers abroad could get its taste in the Covid -19 year. There is joy abroad for the new found sweet so it is in Joynagar. But neighbour Baharu is sad. It has started making cliams over the recently acclaimed abroad , `Moya'.

Baharu, the neighbouring town also manufacturers the `Moa'. The manufacturers call it `Baharu Moya' . They claim that the `Moa' manufactured there is of the same quality, if not better. The makers are disgruntled and claim equal share in the legacy of the `Moa' that is set to rock the cradle world over.

Joynagar manufacturers immediately announced that the `Moa' is manufactured in several pockets of the Block . Baharu is one of such Blocks. Going by the stakeholder concept, every place in the Block is a stakeholder. At this shopowners and makers of the `Moa' in Baharu say that Joynagar is an Administrative Block under which the two towns are situated. Accordingly, `Moa' manufactured and `Joynagar' stand in equal footing. So the legacy of the product should be shared .

The claim of Baharu is gaining momentum. The manufacturers are planning to approach the Government to resolve the dispute by having their name included . The moa manufactured by Joynagar received tag issued by the Geographical Registry at Chennai. The moa is made of `Khoi' ( popped rice) received the registration in November, 2014. Joynagar manufactures claim that the product is only manufactured in two Blocks of Joynagar.

But the people of Baharu dispute the claim of the makers of Joynagar. They claim that their product is no less delicious. Failure to capture the taste of the sweet from Baharu will be a loss to the country in the age of knowledge economy were intellectual property plays a major role.

People of Baharu consider them as a neglected lot. They say that after the GI tag in November, 2014, the moa has become synonymous with Joynagar and Baharu has been left out. People of Baharu are yet hopeful to sharing the laurels. This could lead to a patch up that has distanced the people of the two towns. There is a battle and to know all about it one must visit the two places It reminds of the bitter battle between West Bengal and Odisha for Rosogolla. It all started when West Bengal got the GI tag of the product. Odhisa immediately challenged it. They also got GI tag for their `Rossogulla'. Sweetness was spread to the two states but the product is now a divided lot.

What will happen to the `Moa ' fight between Joynagar and Baharu is yet to be known. An observer said that despite the bitterness in feeling between the people of the two towns, sweetness of the product remains. In the days to come people from abroad will be in the loop. The battle to claim right of the sweet from two places in the same state is a new angle which needs to be watched closely.

Whatever be the result, the `moa' is set to give India foreign exchange by winning many hearts abroad.