True Or Views Of a Few?

 Sunday Times edition dated June 25, 2023 had this question on the cover page-

"True or views of a few?"

Sunday Times is the Sunday edition of the Times of India- "India's largest English newspaper".

Times of India is "India's Most Trusted Newsbrand."

The question in question here made me think of all the possible answers.

Many times, views of a few have been imposed on the vast majority.

Over the years, those views and those cunning stories and concocted tales have been accepted as the reality.

Truth has gone for a toss, and people do not even know or realise or bother about their loss!

Leading media have been publishing wrong information based on the previous fake news or incorrect data.

For example, the recent Manchester Marathon- Khandua Saree worn by Marathon-runner Ms Madhusmita Jena Das. Despite corrections being made, updates have been few, wrong info exists on cyberspace and the saree is still being erroneously referred to as- "Sambalpuri Bandha".

Rasagola (Rasgulla) has been a part of the age-old cultural tradition of Shreemandira i.e. the Shree Jagannatha Temple, Puri, Odisha.

Trust The Trustworthy and Hone The Honesty

 Trust is a very serious term. It signifies much more than love. 

It is reliance and faith and assurance for support. Trust is the foundation.

Once trust is lost, there is no support and foundation and a relationship falls flat.

Trust is linked with honesty. Honest people are trustworthy.

A Sanskrit shloka I had read in high school comes to my mind. One of the lines was-

"One who trusts the untrustworthy is the most foolish or low-grade person." 

Personally, I have been a foolish person many times as I have trusted the untrustworthy and have been taken for a ride.

Trust can only be expected from trustworthy people.

But, who are trustworthy? How do we make the right selection? 

Who are responsible and can be relied upon?

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 Rasagola Project #RasagolaProject

Do you know that Mahabalipuram Stone Sculpture earned the GI (Geographical Indications) tag on Children's Day this year?
Yes, on the same day when Banglar Rasogolla earned the GI tag!

One of the newspapers of India had found this news important enough to be reported on 14th November 2017. A few others reported the same news the next day.

Sweet Fake News On Children's Day

But, in stark contrast, on 14th November 2017, most news channels and media-houses focused on the news that West Bengal had won the GI tag for 'ROSOGOLLA/RASGULLA'!
Why the special status and attention to Rasagola?
All of them reported that Bengal has won the Rosogolla war against Odisha. Most of them spread misleading & fake news. 

From the news-reports, netizens and viewers inferred that 'Odisha has lost' and 'Odisha's claim for Rosogolla has been rejected' by the authorities of the GI Registry. 
How Odisha's claim has been rejected when the state has NOT submitted her application towards GI tag for Rasagola?
But, the readers and viewers were given incorrect gyaan:

Finally a decision, rosogolla belongs to Bengal, not Odisha
Read: https://t.co/SXvCkt4h04 pic.twitter.com/pZlqF9cDq9

— NDTV (@ndtv) November 14, 2017

Bengal's Gain Is Not Odisha's Loss

The next day, some papers reported that GI authorities had stated that Odisha can also apply for a tag.

Though some papers presented updated news, yet some information was wrong or kept hidden.
Note- Pahala Rasagola is not the only variety of Rasagola available in Odisha and it's not just brown, as it is available in off-white colour too!

Odisha’s Pahala rasgulla is different from the Banglar rasogolla; it is brown, soft and not spongy, and usually has a thinner syrup. #FPTrending #Rasgulla #Rasogolla pic.twitter.com/E6gRLWC3LO

— Firstpost (@firstpost) November 15, 2017

Plus, as per the GI authorities, despite the Banglar Rasogolla GI tag, the Rasagola origin debate is yet to be settled.

Chill! Rasagola belongs to India & to the Mouth & Stomach!

When anyone tries to question the incorrect news-reporting and stresses on the uncomfortable truth, conflict-managers & peace-lovers step in to dissipate tensions and to spread cheer saying there's no reason for a war!
"Rasagola tastes as good in all the states!" 
"Rasagola doesn't belong to any state, it's an Indian sweet!" 
"Rasagola belongs only to the mouth & stomach!"
Why the special status and attention to Rasagola?

If GI wasn't important, hundreds of applications wouldn't have been submitted for GI registration by the states so far.
Subsequent to West Bengal's products including Banglar Rasogolla, a number of products from Bihar and Rajasthan have also earned the GI tag.

Loopholes in the Banglar Rasogolla Application

There are some loopholes in the GI Application that Odisha can challenge.

The Rasagola Project 

As per some news-reports, there seems to be no intention to challenge the Banglar Rasogolla GI tag. Can a project ensure that the truth comes to light?

#RasagolaProject ??!*#!??

"Battle" Over Rasgulla - Misleading Media Information

"Banglar Rasogolla" was "invented" in Bengal in 1868.
West Bengal had filed an application and has received a certificate for "Banglar Rasogolla" today.

Source: ipindia.nic.in

Geographical Indications (GI) Registry is a Quasi Judicial Authority. This impartial authority grants GI status on the basis of details and supporting documents.
Application Number- 533 refers to "Banglar Rasogolla".
It has been available from 14th July 2017.
Today, on 14th November 2017, West Bengal has got the GI certificate for "Banglar Rasogolla".

It may be noted that Odisha Govt. is yet to file any application for Rasagola.
There is a mind-boggling choice as many varieties of Rasagola are available in Odisha. Each region has its unique preparation and specialty e.g. Pahala, Salepur, Jatni, Kukudakhandi, Nuapatna etc.

Jim Smiley And His Jumping Frog

“When it came to a challenge, Jim Smiley just had to jump right in!"

Jim Smiley loved challenges, participated enthusiastically and won.

Yes, he won each and every challenge he took part in, that too creating new records!

Jim Smiley was all smiles as his home was full of trophies and medals.

Everyone said that the secret of his success was talent, hard-work, dedication, determination, perseverance, confidence...

They didn't know that he had a lucky charm- a magic jumping frog that gave him the power to win and create world records...

Photo-Prompt- Mondays Finish The Story