Wednesday 28 April 2021

EXperts And Rasgulla And GI Tag #RasagolaA2Z

This post is about "My Experience With some Experts" regarding Odisha Rasagola GI tag.


April 26th is World Intellectual Property (IP) Day.

Geographical Indication (GI) is a type of IP.

This writer has been attempting to share information and create awareness regarding GI. 

A few days ago, it was shocking to see an "expert" still (mis)using the word "Patent" instead of "GI".

Like GI, Patent too is a type of IP. 

Despite this writer having shared much information regarding GI over the past couple of years, and this particular expert also being a part of the group that has been constantly bombarded with GI info, the said expert still continued using the word "patent" while discussing Odisha Rasagola GI tag on an Odia news channel!


Odisha had not submitted the GI application for Odisha Rasagola before 2018 , and still media had pronounced (and some are still continuing the misinformation) that Odisha "lost" the GI war.

It was important to submit the GI application. There was a lot of convincing and work to do as some were opposing the GI application. 

This writer had voluntarily stepped in as a  self-appointed facilitator. 

The first step was to get Rasagola stakeholders on the same platform. 

Such connection had been done earlier in 2015, when this writer had united some fellow Twitter users together in a group to plan the maiden celebration of Rasgulla Day online, and by all our collaboration and implementation, our combined efforts had trended #RasagolaDibasa on Twitter on the Niladri Bije of the Nabakalebara Ratha Jatra i.e. on July 30, 2015.

In 2017, contact-tracing of experts began as a self-initiated Rasagola Project.

This was done as the Odisha Govt did not take action of filing the said GI application within one week as they had promised.

On 28 November 2017, this writer created a WhatsApp group "Odisha Rasagola" and started adding members of Rasagola producer groups and experts from various fields, including some members of the Rasagola committees that had been set up in 2015 by the Odisha state govt. (that included the expert mentioned in the beginning, who is still misusing the word patent).

Attending meetings just to speak to experts and to get their contact details including phone-numbers began. Many emails and messages were sent.

It was tough to come across GI experts in Odisha. References were asked from everyone.

GI experts from all over India were contacted and their views were solicited. 

It was wonderful to speak multiple times with GI experts like Prof. Ganesh Hingmire, Prof. K.D. Raju, Dr. T.K.Rout and many more, who whole-heartedly supported Odisha's historical and cultural connection and gave pro bono guidance for Odisha's "claim for Rasgulla GI tag".

Food authors and historians were also contacted. Sadly, there are few unbiased food historians and authors, who can give a fair verdict about this issue.

Why is misrepresentation and misinformation still being allowed?

How many experts dare to express that they have made a mistake in their assumption earlier, and agree with the fresh evidence?

Earlier, eminent food historian and author, Prof. Pushpesh Pant, had written about cottage-cheese i.e. chhena's introduction in India by the Portuguese.

However, after our celebration of Rasgulla Day trended, and there was "controversy" about this sweet, he undertook fresh research and shared his findings that- Chhena existed in India before the Portuguese came. 

Prof. Pant informed in his tweet:

"I firmly believe that Chhena was used in India before the Portuguese came. I too in past have erred relying on secondary sources that uncritically accepted this ‘gift’. Sweets offered in Bhog at the (Shree) Jagannatha temple are documented very well in ancient texts."

Prof. Pant also shared that all chhena-based and sugar-syrup sweets have their origin in the Shree Jagannatha Temple, Puri, Odisha in the television show - 'Raja, Rasoi Aur Anya Kahaaniyan' on Epic Channel.

Despite experts like Prof. Pant having shared this information many times and despite Odisha having earned the GI tag for Odisha Rasagola in 2019, it is disappointing to find "experts" still continuing the incorrect arguments and contributing to propaganda.

It is amazing that some "scholars" and researchers" are totally ignorant of Shree Jagannatha culture and have zero experience, and yet are self-proclaimed "experts"! They do not know that a large variety of chhena dishes are served as Mahaprasad in the Puri temple.

Why are those, who are considered "experts", not willing to accept the evidences and change their attitude and outlook regarding Rasgulla's history and origin?

What will happen when such people write articles, share bytes, or participate in TV-debates regarding Rasgulla and GI Tag? 

Sadly this is what has been happening. Small wonder, many people are yet to know that Odisha is the birthplace of the Rasagola.

Requesting all "experts" to please rely on correct information and refer to true experts, and not blindly follow those with vested interests. Let us support the facts of the case. 

Looking forward to a discussion by the real subject-matter experts and #EndRasgullaDebate.

I’m participating in the April #A2ZChallenge #BlogchatterA2Z

X For- eXpert, eXperience

I am writing A-Z posts about Rasagola26 #RasagolaA2Z posts this April :

A- A To Z of Rasagola - April 1- Utkala Dibasa

B- Blatant Lies And Biased Reports About Rasgulla Invention

C- Cottage-Cheese, Chhena And Comments About Rasgulla

D- Rasgulla Day - Rasagola Dibasa Celebration

E- Odisha Rasagola At Exhibitions And Events

F- Facts, Fake News, And False Information About Rasgulla

G- GI Tags of Odisha And Odisha Rasagola

H- Historical Evidence of Rasgulla And Research

I- Indigenous Knowledge, IPR, Rasgulla And Indian Sweets

J- Lord Jagannatha's Favourite Sweet & Food

K- Khirmohan And Rasagola

L- List of Lunar & Solar Indian New Year Days

M- Maha Bishuba Sankranti Or Pana Sankranti

NName Rasgulla, Niladri Bije And New Year Wishes

O- Odisha Art And Sweet- Pattachitra And Rasgulla 

P- Proposal to Odisha Government For Rasagola And GI Celebration

QQuiz About Rasgulla 

RRasabali And Rasagola

SRasgulla Songs- Odia Songs Dedicated To Rasagola 

TText-books, Torture, And Rasgulla GI Tag

UUniform Spelling And Authorised Users of Rasagola

VValuable Victorious Virtue - Valour

W- Wikipedia, Rasgulla War, Wife And Husband Fight

This sincere attempt is to share information about Rasagola/Rasgulla and #EndRasgullaDebate.
Rasagola is a part of Odisha's traditional knowledge, continuing tradition, cultural heritage and identity.  
More Rasagola posts here.
This is my fifth #A2Z Challenge, and my last four challenges have been about Odisha, India. 
Are you aware of Rasagola/Rasgulla? Did you know that Rasgulla 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. 

3 comments:

  1. A patent is a monopoly right granted to a person who has invented a new “thingy”. A geographical indication is a designation used on goods that have a specific geographical origin. Don’t know why people confuse.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This kind of mistake is not expected from experts especially when they had been a part of the research and are aware of all the struggles behind the scenes. I hope, people understand the significance of correct and authentic information before sharing it publicly.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Experts doing mistakes is just not acceptable. It's inspiring to see that you have been spreading your struggle on so many platforms ! More power to you and to correct information!

    ReplyDelete

Your words mean a lot to me.

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