Nobin Chandra Das

Nobin Chandra Das

Nobin Chandra Das (1845–1925) was an Indian confectioner and entrepreneur, best known as the inventor of the Rasgulla, a popular Indian sweet. Born in the town of Bagbazar in Kolkata, then part of British India, Das started his career in the confectionery business in 1866. His invention of the Rasgulla marked a significant turning point in Indian cuisine, making him a notable figure in the culinary history of India.

Early Life

Nobin Chandra Das was born into a family with a modest background. His father, a small-time sweet maker, passed away when Nobin was very young, leaving the family in financial difficulties. Despite the hardships, Das had a keen interest in the art of sweet making, which he pursued with passion and dedication.

Career

In 1866, Das established his own sweet shop in Kolkata. He experimented with various recipes and techniques in an effort to create a new type of sweet. After many attempts, he succeeded in creating the Rasgulla, a soft, spongy ball of chhena (cottage cheese) soaked in sugar syrup. This invention was revolutionary, as it introduced a completely new texture and taste to Indian sweets.

The Rasgulla quickly became popular, and Nobin Chandra Das's shop gained fame not only in Kolkata but across India. His son, Krishna Chandra Das, expanded the business and is credited with popularizing the sweet further, including introducing canned Rasgullas, which made it possible to transport them over long distances.

Legacy

Nobin Chandra Das's contribution to Indian cuisine is immense. He is not only remembered for inventing the Rasgulla but also for setting the foundation for modern Indian sweet making. His innovative approach to sweet making inspired many other confectioners, leading to the creation of numerous other sweets.

In recognition of his contributions, several books and articles have been written about his life and work. The shop he founded still exists and continues to be run by his descendants, serving traditional Indian sweets to this day.

Controversy

The origin of Rasgulla became a subject of dispute between the states of West Bengal and Odisha, with both claiming to have invented the sweet. After a long debate, the Geographical Indications (GI) tag for "Banglar Rasogolla" (Bengal's Rasgulla) was awarded to West Bengal in 2017, officially recognizing the state as the birthplace of the sweet and Nobin Chandra Das as its inventor.

See Also

• Indian cuisine
• List of Indian sweets and desserts
• Geographical Indications in India