It’s not for any small reason that Mango is called the ‘King of Fruits’. After all, which fruit’s variants have the most well-thought-out, beautiful names? From Alphonso, Mallika, Kesar to Amrapali, the names are as creative as beautiful as their taste. Adding to these creative names is ‘Rajnath Aam’, a moniker dedicated to India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, by India’s Mango Man, Kalimullah Khan.
Mango Man Of India Names Fruit ‘Rajnath Aam’
Kalimullah Khan, is a Padma Shri-awardee who has dedicated his whole life to India’s beloved mango. Having dropped out of schooling in the 7th grade, Khan’s interests as a child lay in fruit grafting and horticulture. Today, Kalimullah Khan has proudly grown over 300 varieties of mangoes on a single tree in Malihabad. A place near Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
The Indian horticulturist has mastered the asexual propagation technique of grafting. Using this technique, he has developed several varieties of mangoes. Some even named after Indian personalities like Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Sachin Tendulkar and Aishwarya Rai. This year, Kalimullah Khan introduced India to his latest creation, ‘Rajnath Aam’, a mango that pays tribute to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s contribution towards keeping our borders safe.
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He Believes ‘The King of Fruits’ Has Healing Properties
As per an article by The Hindu, Khan states that he names his mango varieties after people who have served India meaningfully. Through his mangoes, he hopes their names live on for generations. In an interview with The Hindu, Khan feels that Rajnath Singh sincerely desires peace and not war. This is what appealed the most to him.
India’s Mango Man even spilt the ‘seed’ of his life’s mission. Generously, he stated to The Hindu that he wishes people to keep enjoying different varieties of mangoes. And not just during his life, but even after his demise, he wants this to continue. Kalimullah Khan believes that mango is one such fruit that helps people stay healthy and is filled with healing powers.
Also Read: Fake Mangoes Flood Markets: Here’s How You Can Spot Chemically Ripened Mangoes Easily
Meanwhile, what do you think about India’s new ‘Rajnath Aam’?
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/Vinayak Jagtap (Image used for representation) and Wikimedia Commons
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