Odisha has claimed that Rasgulla originated from the Jagannath Temple in Puri, where it is a part of the religious rituals, and has been a part of the same since the 12th century.The Bengal government is taking steps for formally staking claim to ‘Rasgulla’ as the state’s invention through the GI route at a time when the famous sweetmeat finds itself at the centre of a debate as to where it originated.
GI authentication is a name or sign used on certain products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin (e.g. a town, region, or country) which may act as a certification that the product possesses certain qualities, is made according to traditional methods, or enjoys a certain reputation, due to its geographical origin.
*Two neighbouring states — West Bengal & Odisha*
Have drawn up the battle lines, and formed ranks as they get ready to defend their respective claims as the birthplace of ‘Rasgulla’, one of the most loved Indian sweet dishes.
West Bengal, the state synonymous with the quintessential ‘Rosogolla’, could hardly have taken the claim lying down. The Das family that runs the nearly 100-year-old Rosogolla Bhavan and traces its ancestry to Nobin Chandra Das, the legendary sweetmaker generally credited with inventing the sweet, is all prepared to defend their great-great-grandfather’s and their own claim on the sweet.
The Das family finds Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government on their side. The state has begun preparatory documentation for getting a Geographical Indication (GI) registration for rosogolla. “Yes, we have initiated the documentation process prior to submitting our application,”
GI authentication is used to mark a particular object as corresponding to a specific geographical location or origin, thus acting as a certification that the product would possess certain qualities and/or would be made according to traditional methods in the geographical origin concerned.
NDTV quoted Jagannath Ghosh, spokesman of ‘Paschim Bango Mistanno Byabsayee Samity’ and owner of a famous North Kolkata sweet shop, as saying: “Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has asked us to do the needful for ensuring that Bengal gets its rightful place as inventor of Rosogolla. Nobin Chandra Das had introduced the sweet in 1868, and we must not allow others to hijack our heritage.”
Dhiman Das, great-great-grandson of Nobin Chandra, has completely refuted the claims of Rosogolla being associated with Nabakalebara and Rath Jatra. “The sweets offered to Lord Jagannath were never made of chhana (cottage cheese), so they cannot be called rosogolla. They look different and are made differently,” he was quoted as saying in a National Newspaper.
Sanjoy Das, the fifth-generation descendant of Nobin Chandra Das, told a National Tv News Channel NDTV: “With Rosogolla getting the legal seal of having originated from Kolkata, the sweet can be showcased globally and there can be more R&D initiatives. But if there is a formal recognition of Rosogolla having originated from Bengal, we can also go for patents in future.”
(Source : Author With Help of Agent)
Prasanta Patnaik 
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