Nobin Chandra Das facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nobin Chandra Das
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| নবীন চন্দ্র দাস | |
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| Born | 1845 |
| Died | 1925 (aged 80) Bagbazar, Calcutta
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| Nationality | British Indian |
| Other names | Nobin Moira of Bagbazar, Columbus of Rossogolla |
| Occupation | Businessman, Confectioner, entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1864–1925 |
| Known for | Inventor of Banglar Rasogolla, Dedo Sandesh, Aata Sandesh, Kathaal Sandesh, Abar Khabo Sandesh, Kastura Pak, Baikuntha Bhog, Aam Sandesh |
| Successor | Krishna Chandra Das (K.C. Das) |
| Movement | Bengali Renaissance |
| Spouse(s) | Khirodmoni Devi |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Bhola Moira (Grandfather-in-law) |
Nobin Chandra Das (1845–1925) was a famous sweet maker, businessman, and important cultural figure from Bengal, India. He lived in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He is widely known as the person who created the "Rosogolla", a very popular sweet. People even called him the "Columbus of Rosogolla" because he discovered a new way to make this delicious treat.
Nobin Chandra Das was born and grew up in Kolkata, which was a very important city at that time. His main contribution to Bengali culture was his amazing new sweets. These sweets are still a big part of Bengali cuisine today. Besides Rosogolla, he also created other popular sweets like "Abaar Khaabo" and "Baikuntha Bhog".
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The Story of Nobin Chandra Das
In the mid-1800s, Bengal was a place of new ideas and changes, including in the world of sweets. Nobin Chandra Das, from Bagbazar in north Kolkata, was a key person in this sweet revolution. He was also known as 'Nobin Moira' (Nobin the sweet maker) of Bagbazar.
In 1866, Nobin Chandra opened his sweet shop. It was located on Rabindra Sarani, which was then called Chitpur Road. His dream was not just to sell sweets, but to invent completely new ones that no one had tasted before.
His Early Life
Nobin Chandra was born in 1845. When he was 18, in 1864, he started working for another sweet-making family. He was very poor and couldn't finish his education. However, he was not treated well there, so he left.
After leaving, he opened his own sweet shop with a friend in Jorasanko. At that time, his family was involved in the sugar business, which was respected. They didn't like his choice to become a sweet maker, as it was not seen as a high-status job. They even called him "moira" in a disrespectful way. But little did they know, this name would become famous and loved!
Unfortunately, his first business failed because he had a disagreement with his friend. Also, most sweet shops back then sold on credit, and Nobin didn't have enough money to offer credit to customers. But Nobin Chandra was determined. In 1866, he opened a new shop on Chitpur Road, right across from where he had first started.
Inventing the Rosogolla
In 1868, Nobin Chandra created the "Rossogolla". This was his most important invention. It quickly became a popular sweet that everyone, rich or poor, could enjoy. It took some time for it to become famous because there was no advertising like we have today.
Nobin Chandra worked with "Chhana", which is a type of fresh cheese made from milk. Before him, it was hard to make chhana into a firm, smooth shape. It would often crumble or burn when cooked in sugar syrup.
New ways of making chhana, using special acids, came to Bengal from Dutch and Portuguese traders in the late 1700s. This helped create a smoother chhana that could bind better. Nobin Chandra used this improved chhana and experimented a lot. He finally found a way to make a perfectly round, spongy, and juicy sweet by cooking chhana in boiling sugar syrup. He named this amazing creation the "Rossogolla".
How Rosogolla Became Famous
One day, a rich businessman named Raibahadur Bhagwandas Bagla stopped at Nobin's shop. His child was thirsty. Nobin Chandra offered the child water and some of his new Rossogollas. The child loved the taste so much that he shared it with his father.
The father was also very impressed. He immediately bought many Rossogollas for his family and friends. This "word of mouth" spread quickly. Soon, "Nobin Moira's" Rossogolla became famous all over Kolkata.
'Banglar Rasogolla' Gets Special Status
In 2017, the "Banglar Rasogolla" (which means Bengal's Rosogolla) received a special status called GI status. This means it's officially recognized as a unique product from Bengal. This status helps protect its name and origin. It also shows that "Banglar Rasogolla" is different from other similar sweets found elsewhere.
Nobin Chandra's Legacy
Nobin Chandra passed away in 1925, leaving his sweet-making skills to his son, Krishna Chandra Das (1869–1934). Krishna Chandra continued his father's work and even created new sweets. One of his famous inventions was the "Rossomalai", another beloved sweet.
To make Rossomalai popular, Krishna Chandra opened a new sweet shop in Jorasanko in 1930. He continued the family's tradition of creating delicious and innovative Bengali sweets.
In Popular Culture
In 2018, a film called Rosogolla was made about the life of Nobin Chandra Das. The actor Ujaan Ganguly played Nobin in the movie.
