'Tirangi Burfi', The Sweet Weapon Of Quit India Movement, To Get GI Tag

The famed ‘Tirangi burfi’ of Kashi, a 'sweet weapon' used by the common people and freedom fighters in the battle against British Empire during the Quit India Movement, is all set to join the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) club 75 years after the country’s independence."The application seeking GI certification to ‘Tirangi burfi’ has been filed by the Mahanagar Udyog Vyapar Samiti, the apex body of local traders’ organisations, on Monday, exactly 80 years after the launch of Quit India movement by Mahatma Gandhi," said Dr Rajani Kant, president of Varanasi-based Human Welfare Association (HWA).

The HWA has created a history of sorts by facilitating technical support to filing of 75 GI applications from 14 states and Union Territories in just one year — from August 1, 2021 to August 8, 2022 — during the year of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.Kant said, "During the Quit India Movement, a section of people in Varanasi adopted the unique and non-violent ‘sweet’ mode of taking part in the freedom struggle by using ‘Tirangi burfi’ to serve as a catalyst to arouse nationalist sentiments when the country was witnessing a popular and widespread uprising against the British."Made of cashew and pistachio, ‘Tirangi burfi’, as the name suggests, comes in green, saffron and white colours of the national flag. It was first introduced by Shri Ram Bhandar in Thatheri Bazaar locality of Varanasi in 1942 following Mahatma Gandhi’s call of ‘do or die’ during the movement.“The basic idea behind introducing the sweet was to spread the message of patriotism and also pass on secret messages among the common people and freedom fighters. Later, many other local shops started making ‘Tirangi burfi’,” Kant said.