Sweet Tooth West Bengal

West Bengal is popular for its sweets. In places other than West Bengal all call sweets from it, Bengali Sweets. Coming to West Bengal people do not forget to have the sweets. Some carry it back home. People from West Bengal do not forget to pack Sandesh ( Karapak) with `Khejurer Gur' for their guest. I once was told to buy `Karapak Sandesh' for a dignitary who was flying back to Delhi. Not finding the type of sandesh , I arranged to pack of `Norompack`. I went back home satisfied having done my duty. It was after about three months I got my reward for the pack of `Norompack'. There was rebuke and I had to make it sure that the packet sent to Delhi contained `Korapack Sandesh'.

Sandesh was first made in 1823. It has not obtained GI Registration. When we speak of Bengali Sweet we first take the name of Rosogolla. It has got GI Registration after stiff opposition from Odisha. West Bengal has made `Mishti Doi' ( Sweet Curd ) popular. There are many other sweets that make their taste linger for long. One of such sweet is `Langcha' from Saktigarh. The place is about 80 KM from Kolkata on the way to Bardhaman, the place where once Nur Jahan lived with Sher Afghan. The tomb of Sher Afghan is there in Bardhaman. Lataji was on her way to Bardhaman to sing in a function when she tasted `Langcha'. She praised the taste of the sweet.

`Rabdi' the sweet that originated in Mathura made its presence felt among the many sweets. Via Varanasi it entered Bengal. To-day there is village called `Rabrigram'. The name of the village is Anya, Gangpur. It is about 50 Km from Kolkata near Dankuni. There are about 50 families that make Rabdi everyday. Market for the sweet is of course Kolkata.

When Rabdi came to Bengal is not known but the nameless shop in Barrackpore continues to serve Rabdi . The shop is 190 years old having been established in about 1832. The shop owned by Paresh Nath Sau who falls in the sixth generation. Rabdi which is the most popular sweet is taken away to far of places like Mumbai, Delhi amongst others and is also exported to Bangladesh. Of course Kolkata is the nearest market. It is learn't that former President used to order Rabdi a; ;east once in each year. Rabdi from the shop is much in demand in Tollywood. After Rabdi the next most popular sweet sold by the shop is Rosogolla. The shop has withstood the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 . We do not whether the legendary Mangal Pandey was a regular visitor to the shop.

Nameless the shop continues to sell its specialised product , Rabdi. Marketing Gurus need to do research to find out the secret of continuance of this shop. To-day's concept is that a product must have a name which is called a brand. `Hadliram' is a brand which immediately reminds us of sweets and other delicacies. The name attracts all those who want to eat delicacies. The shop at Barrackpore continues to attract customers even though it does not have name. It continues to stand and sell and today its age is 190 years. Like `Coca Cola' the Rabdi sold from the shop has a trade secret. No wonder there is som much of demand for Rabdi.

The report on the shop answers a query which was raised in my mind many years back. We had gone to the house of a famous Barrister at Kolkata for conference As we neared the appointed time we went around looking for the number of the house we were to go. After a long search we found the house with the number. We found that the house had no name. The conference was over. Our Chief gave his card as a mark of his identity . The Barrister did not give his card which was expected. Later we asked the Solicitor who guided us throughout about not seeking the Barrister's name any where. The Solicitor told us that the Barrister does not print cards. Asked why , the Solicitor said that the Barrister believed that those who wanted to meet him would find him. Name plate or visiting card was not required. About thirty years back I did not agree with the Barrister but today I agree with the Barrister. He was right in his perception, one who needed him would surely find him.

A person does not have his name written on him is identified . His card or the card hanging on his neck as is the trend today does not help him. The loudest drum does not add sweetness to the song. A sweet melody continues to remain in our mind for time immemorial.