Parle-G: G Mane Genius. Right from the iconic chubby-cheeked girl on the yellow packaging to the famous tagline (G means Genius), Parle-G is undoubtedly India’s favourite biscuit. Dip it in chai, and munch on it. And the caramel sweet notes will instantly exuberate a familiar, comforting taste, taking you on a trip down nostalgia. Interestingly, the 83-year-old biscuit has a patriotic history to it and was an integral part of the Swadeshi movement. Read on to know-how.
Parle Company Established As Part Of Swadeshi Movement
Mohanlal Dayal, who hailed from a Mumbai-based family of silk traders was deeply influenced by the Swadeshi movement. The movement promoted the production and consumption of Indian goods. At that period in time, Mohanlal noticed that there was an overwhelming number of foreign goods that were sold at high prices across India. This includes foreign-made candy that was sold at high prices, making it unaffordable for Indians. So, Mohanlal Dayal had a goal- to produce and sell Indian-made candies that were delicious and affordable. So, he went to Germany to learn the art of making candies and even purchased a candy maker machine for ₹60,000.
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Parle-G Biscuits In Demand During World War II
So, the patriotic entrepreneur launched Parle Gluco, an affordable source of nourishment for the common public. The biscuits were made from wheat keeping in mind the Indian palate. It was even much in demand during World War II as it provided nourishment to the British-Indian army. Over the years, the glucose biscuits became so popular, that after the end of World War II, Parle Gluco become a giant brand.
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Over 1 Billion Packets Of Parle-G Sold Per Month
But a short halt came in 1960 when Parle Gluco started facing tough competition from other brands that sold glucose biscuits like Britannia. Customers were also unable to differentiate between the different types of glucose biscuits available at shops. So, Parle changed the name of the biscuits from Parle Gluco to Parle-G. They also transformed its packaging to the present day yellowish wrapper with a chubby girl imprinted on it and even changed its logo to bright red. Today, Parle-G sells over a billion packets every month.
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It’s a biscuit that has captured India’s heart and soul. So, the next time you gorge on Parle-G, do know that it has the rich flavours of India’s patriotic history,