Blatant Lies And Biased Reports About Rasgulla Invention #RasagolaA2Z

Blatant lies have been and are still being peddled about Rasgulla and "Bengali invention".

Do you know the history of this "king of sweets"?

Your version of the story will depend on your source of information.

Check out this video for the special "Rasgulla History" report by Zee News. 

Here is another report by Zee News about Rasgulla's Birthplace.

Money power and propaganda can succeed in creating such fake stories.

These reports claim that Bengal is the birthplace of Rasgulla! They are also claiming Rasmalai dish was invented in Bengal!

Though both these reports are of March 2021, they don't even mention that Odisha has earned the Odisha Rasagola GI in 2019. Zee News has made it look that only Bengal is synonymous with Rasgulla!

Why is wrong news report regarding #Rasgulla again being shown on @ZeeTV @ZeeNews?
Why false info @zeenewseditor @ZeeNewsSudhir? #Rasagola is a traditional Odia dessert with cultural & historical link with Shree Jagannatha #Puri #Odisha@sudhirchaudhary, pl share correct info🙏

— Dr. Anita Sabat (@anitaexplorer) March 4, 2021

What you know has been fed by either media or people you know, who in turn are fed by media and people they know! 

This is a bad case of 'Chinese Whispers'. One media house publishes a false or misleading report with vested interests, and others may reuse the same biased report & continue the trend.

Also, of money and muscle power. Truth is suppressed by the so-called "superior intellectual and cultural prowess". Superior people must not steal others credit and identity. 

This is a glaring case of cultural appropriation.

The truth is- Rasagola has existed in Odisha for centuries and is a part of continuing tradition of Ratha Jatra.

The Banglar Rasogolla was supposedly "invented" in 1868.
Present generation Bengalis and most of the world was and is still unaware about the real origin of Rasagola. 

Odisha is yet to establish the branding or let its Rasagola brand known to all.

The blatant lies continue.

You may say- "It is Odisha's fault. Who or what is stopping Odisha from branding Rasagola"?

Agreed. That is why Odisha is proud to be- "India's Best Kept Secret."

But, who or what is stopping media from sharing the correct info?

Just take a look at this article published in the Hindu newspaper in 2015-
Odisha claims! But, it's Bengal's right to peddle lies, right?

What is the proof of Nabin Das and K.C.Das family that they "invented" the Rasagola ?
Just a stone plaque that has been set up in 1968!

You can read this article for more info about attempts to "settle" issue with lies- No Postal Stamp For "Inventor of Rosogolla"

Why hasn't the media reported so extensively about all the products that have got the GI status pre and post "Banglar Rasogolla" viz. Bengali sweets like "Bardhaman Sitabhog and Bardhaman Mihidana" and Bihar handicrafts like "Sikki Grass Products"?

Why didn't the media inform the public about "Mahabalipuram Stone sculptures" that also earned the GI tag on the same day as the "Banglar Rasogolla"?

Why has the media given so much importance only to "Banglar Rasogolla" and has been continuously feeding misinformation, and, in contrast, according step-motherly treatment to Odisha Rasagola?

The media across the world has given and is still giving excessive coverage to "Banglar Rasogolla", and most of the reports about 'Rosogolla' GI (Geographical Indication) tag have been biased and misleading and are still hiding/suppressing the truth, and not mentioning Shree Jagannatha Temple connection and Odisha's cultural tradition.

Why are the propaganda videos and fake news reports not being deleted/corrected/updated in the respective sites?

This is the three-step smart strategy to take over Rasagolas-

1. Hide the truth

2. Take over ownership

3. Repeat the blatant lies till they are accepted as the truth 

"Lie travels half the world while truth is wearing its shoes."

Do you realize that though much has been written about Rasagola in the recent times and evidence has been and is still being shared by some passionate Odias that Rasagola has existed in 15th Century Odia Ramayana, many are yet to know/accept that Rasagola is a bhog offered to MahaLakshmi and Puri Shree Jagannath?

On #niladribije, The Lord offers #rasagola to Mahalaxmi. @sudarsansand with his masterpiece @Puri. #RasagolaDibasa pic.twitter.com/nvnusnaRgi

— Odisha Tourism (@odisha_tourism) July 30, 2015

Some find this Rasagola issue 'sickening', 'tiring' and 'boring'; while others feel this 'fight' is 'silly and inconsequential'. By discussing about the uncomfortable Rasagola GI topic, one risks to be viewed as a trouble-maker and considered as a serious threat to our national integration. Note- All this is just to ensure the triumph of truth- Satyameva Jayate.

This writer has been consistently and persistently writing and sharing about this topic from 2014 onwards as someone has to "do something" and "bell the cat", and settle this Rasgulla controversy once and for all. That was the reason why this writer had proposed and initiated the Rasagola Dibasa - Rasgulla Day celebration on social media in 2015. Thereafter, this writer had united stakeholders, created awareness, advocated and facilitated the filing of the 'Odisha Rasagola' GI application. However, the misleading and biased articles and videos still continue. All mindless propaganda must stop. The truth about Rasagola's Odisha origin must be accepted by all.

I’m participating in the April #A2ZChallenge #BlogchatterA2Z

B For- Blatant, Biased, Bengali, Brand, Branding

I will be writing A-Z posts about Rasagola- 26 Rasagola posts this April.

This sincere attempt is to enrich cyberspace by sharing correct information about Rasagola.

Rasagola is a part of Odisha's traditional knowledge, continuing tradition, cultural heritage and identity.  

Only when the truth is shared, people can learn and be aware.
You can check out my other Rasagola posts here.
This is my fifth #A2Z Challenge, and my last four challenges have been about Odisha, India. 

My previous #AToZChallenge posts here.

Are you aware of Rasagola? 
Did you know that Rasagolas originated in Odisha? 

Please do share any information about Rasgulla that you may have and which you feel must be documented and shared so that all are aware.