The Operation Flood- a government initiative has resulted in India (once a poor begging nation)  becoming the world’s  largest producer of milk. A stupendous cooperative revolution to be lauded. Anand, near Baroda was its cradle, with Amul spearheading it. 

Amul’s topicals - in the Guinness as the longest running campaign are as unique & successful as its business model. The Amul Girl (Born: 1967) – chubby cheeked with the Polka dotted frock & loved by all ,  doesn’t  have a name. A debate on the wackiest,  best or cutest, topical would never reach a consensus.

Even much before this revolution, Punjab was a milk surplus state. Mogha in Punjab prides itself with the high milk yielding cattle, tastiest  & best  milk ever produced. Nestle has got a unit at Moga, which is also its test kitchen. All its brands are born here.

My initiation to this sweet in its original recipe happened at YamunaNagar of those years. The roads from the station used to be lined with shops selling this sweet, Gajjar Halwa & panneer ( at 50% cost of Mumbai).  

Over to the sweet, for its story.

Punjab  had to find ways to utilize the surplus milk that was a persihable; This necessity gave birth to  lassi & Gajjar Halwa. Surplus milk also ensured that I exist to date in my original recipe here.

In my original avatar I am made from freshly curdled milk, kneaded into small balls, deep fired to golden brown & tossed into a pool of sugar syrup. Rose water needs to be added as it has some therapeutic properties. People have me as it is or slightly warm me.

My figure, my brown colour, uniform textured skin can drive people crazy.  My full flavoured taste & texture comes from the richness & freshness of milk.

The best way to enjoy me  : Stealthily walk into the kitchen. While no one is looking, just put in the hand ( No – the spoon, won’t do) , pick up one & simply put me in. I effortlessly glide down your  throat. if you are caught in the act, your sheepish expression will be simply accepted with an understanding grin.

My shape allows me to have the least contact area of all shapes minimizing the frictional resistance. The sugar syrup coating lubricates the path & further reduces friction. That’s why I glide much smoother & better than any other sweet.

My cloned version – claiming to be me – is popular & part of every desi buffet, festival & household. Perhaps it is because of the ease of preparation, universal appeal  equally to new born & grown up kids.  It is made out of ready-mixes prepared from milk powder rather than fresh rich cream milk & without the rose water.

I –my original self -refuse to be called by the same name all keep calling my cloned version. Hence I go in this post, without being named - like the Amul girl.  You all know me well. You may call me egoistic.  A little bit of ego isn’t bad either as it spurs  people to  achieve greater results.