Tuesday 21 November 2017

Rasagola

Controversy about Rasagola is now almost two and half years old after it started for the 1st time when Odisha twitter users started trending #RasagolaDibasa on 30th July 2015, on the tithi of #NiladriBije ritual after #RathaJatra in Puri Odisha.

After the twitter trend, Odisha Govt entered to it and made some committies to search the proofs if Rasagola originated in Odisha. Around 2016, the researchers found the mention of "Rasagola" in the 15th century Odia text "Dandi Ramayana" written by Balaram Das.

But the time passed, Bengal Govt prepared the documents for Banglar Rasogolla and in November 2017 got the GI tag for their product.
On the other side, Odisha Govt didnt apply at all for Odisha Rasagola. Not sure what was the reason. They are planning to apply now.

Though Bengal has got the GI tag for Banglar Rasogolla, not the Rasagola/Rasogolla/Rasgulla of the world as a whole, but many people in themainstream media in India and in US published that Bengal won Rasogolla War against Odisha and got the GI for Rasogolla and Odisha's claim was rejected.
Some articles corrected the fake news and published new articles but many media till date continue with the blasphemy. In 2016, the media in Odisha published the screenshots of the particular page of "Dandi Ramayana" which mentions "Rasagola". The mainstream media must be knowing this very well. But when they write their articles, either they create fake news or they intentionally hide the text of Dandi Ramayana. Some guys just divert it by giving a new angle that Portuguse might have brought it with them. But Dandi Ramayana was written much before Portuguese.

Those media who dont know about the Dandi Ramayana because it is written in Odia, please have a look here.
https://archive.org/stream/typicalselection01mazuuoft#page/n119/mode/2up



See how many times, the word "Chhena(Cheese)" is mentioned.
1) Dudha Chhena - Milk Cheese
2) Chhena Puri - Cheese Puri
3) Chhena Ladoo - Cheese Ladoo
4) Chhena Manda - Cheese Manda
5) Chhena Tarada - Cheese Tarada

So "Chhena(Cheese)" was in use in Odisha much before Portuguese, isn't it?

What about "Rasagola" then?
It is also clearly mentioned as "Rasagola" and Rasagola is prepared from Cheese.

Now another dimension given by some other people. Since Krishna's food habits does not include Chhena(Cheese), then for Jagannatha also, same concept applicable.
It clearly states that those persons have no idea about Jagannatha.
Vaishnavism entered Jagannatha temple only during the time of Ramanuj. Later Chaitanya propagated Jagannatha as Krisha. So whatever other sects got linked to Jagannatha , becomes invalid??? Tribal, Shakta, Saiba, Jaina and Boudha were linked to Jagannatha much before before Ramanuj or Chaitanya came to Puri Odisha. 
If only Krishna's reference is taken and told that usage of cheese was not there in Odisha before Portuguese, then it is a clear blasphemy. 
We have the 15th Century text "Dandi Ramayana" which mentions "Rasagola".

Now, someone asks a counter question, why Rasagola is not cooked inside Jagannatha temple? And the answer is "We are now mainstream Hindus" and some mainstream rules and thoughts also entered Odisha. But still, a ritual "Niladri Bije" happens yearly once and Jagannatha gifts Rasagola to Lakshmi. 

For unnecesary argument or blasphemy, we also have the answer. If someone takes the example of Krishna, then we give the example of Rama in Dandi Ramayana.
Krishna didn't take Cheese but Rama had Cheese and Rasagola in Odisha and so mentioned by Balaram Das in 15th century text Dandi Ramayana. Futher countering the blasphemy of some media, Rama is from Tretaya juga/yuga & Krishna is from Dwapara juga/yuga and you know which juga/yuga is earlier. 😉

Coming out of the blasphemy, we have the written proof about "Rasagola" in Dandi Ramayana which is a valid proof. While writing any article, the mainstream media should mention this. If they know and not writing, then it a clear-cut case of intentional information hiding.

Thanks
Ashish Kumar Nayak