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Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
When patriotism becomes a food fight: The tragicomedy of Mysore shree
India finally has its 'freedom fries' moment. And it is sweet indeed. After 9/11, an American congressman renamed French fries as freedom fries because France had opposed the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. Patriotism, it seems, could run deep and be deep-fried although French fries actually originated in Belgium. Even more ironic — it was the Americans who had named them French fries in the first place. Now Tyohaar Sweets in Jaipur has decided that it will show its patriotism by renaming Moti pak and Mysore pak as Moti shree and Mysore shree. Anjali Jain, its proprietor, told news media they had decided to remove 'Pak' from the names of their sweets and replace it with something more 'culturally resonant and patriotic'. Jain's motives might be shuddh-ghee patriotic except words actually have meanings. That meaning does not change just because it sounds like a word we do not like. A descendant of Madappa, the royal cook from Mysuru, who came up with Mysore pak using besan, ghee and sugar, wondered how the sweet could be renamed just to suit another language. This isn't even like Karachi Bakery which had to clarify that it's 100 per cent Indian and started by a Partition refugee in Hyderabad. Unlike that Karachi, this pak has nothing to do with Pakistan at all. It's a Kannada word for a process of cooking by heating, baking or frying as well as the sticky syrup made by simmering sugar and water. The roots lie in Sanskrit. Thus, in Hindi, paag is sugar syrup. In Bengali, pak means to stir and thicken. So, the Bengali sandesh might be 'naram pak' or soft or 'kora pak' which is harder. If we change them to naram shree and kora shree they would sound, quips a friend, not like sweets but new additions to Mamata Banerjee's many benefit programmes like Kanyashree, Yuvashree and Rupashree. It's not just freedom fries and Mysore pak. During World War I, sauerkraut was named 'liberty cabbage' and frankfurters were named 'liberty dogs' to score some anti-German points. After many Muslims complained about how a Danish newspaper depicted the Prophet Muhammad in 2005, some bakeries and cafes in Tehran started serving 'Roses of the Prophet Muhammad' instead of Danishes. This year, after Donald Trump launched a trade war against Canada, some cafes there decided to rechristen their Americanos as Canadianos. Of course, the coffee beans came from neither the US nor Canada. Anyway, Americano was never particularly complimentary. The story goes that American soldiers stationed in Italy during World War II found the espresso a bit too strong. They diluted it with hot water. Thus Americano is basically an espresso with less machismo. Coffee fights often get bitter. When Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974, Greece angrily renamed Turkish coffee as Greek coffee, a linguistic counter-strike. It's interesting that patriotism so often turns into a food fight as if the best way to a patriot's heart is through their stomach (though in some Indian languages that is inconveniently called a pak-sthali). Food can bring us together. But it's also the most effective way to mark the other. Food bans are a well-established strategy to show one group or another its place in the scheme of things. By renaming a food we think we are in a sense wrestling it away from someone. Except as it turns out, French fries never belonged to the French. And Mysore pak certainly did not belong to Pakistan. Renaming Mysore pak to Mysore shree in no way ensures that Pakistan gets its just deserts. Or, just desserts. It's a bit like the Montreal restaurant who decided to rename poutine, the artery-clogging Canadian junk food where French fries are smothered in gravy and cheese curds. To show solidarity with Ukraine, it was unimaginatively renamed 'fry cheese gravy' although poor poutine had nothing to do with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Freedom fries had a tragicomic end. The congressman who renamed it was himself disgraced. The Iraq War lost favour with Americans and freedom fries quietly returned to being French fries. In all the brouhaha, the food never changed or improved in taste. Jingoism just became added food colouring. Calling Mysore pak Mysore shree might be intended as a tyohaar of patriotism. But sadly it just shows some of us do not know our own heritage — linguistic or culinary. That is always a recipe for disaster. What's next, wondered a friend. Should the pakora become a shree-ora? Roy is a novelist and the author of Don't Let Him Know
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Business Standard
24-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
'Mysore Pak' now 'Mysore Shree': Jaipur shops drop 'Pak' tag from sweets
In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and India's subsequent military action under ' Operation Sindoor", several iconic sweet shops in Jaipur have undertaken a symbolic rebranding of their traditional sweets. Popular confections that traditionally carried the suffix 'Pak' have been renamed with alternatives such as 'Shree' or 'Bharat,' reflecting a surge of national pride and solidarity. At Jaipur's well-known Tyohaar Sweets, proprietor Anjali Jain spearheaded the initiative to remove 'Pak' from sweet names, replacing it with culturally resonant terms. 'The spirit of patriotism shouldn't just reside at the border but in every Indian home and heart,' Jain told news agency PTI. -Mysore Pak → Mysore Shree -Aam Pak → Aam Shree -Gond Pak → Gond Shree Also Read -Swarn Bhasm Pak → Swarn Shree -Chandi Bhasm Pak → Chandi Shree -Moti Pak → Moti Shree The shop's offerings, which number over 125 varieties, have long been a staple in Jaipur's festive culinary scene, and this swift rebranding illustrates how deeply current events can shape even traditional businesses. A citywide trend of culinary rebranding Tyohaar Sweets is not alone in showcasing this patriotic gesture. Other renowned establishments, including the decades-old Bombay Misthan Bhandar and Agarwal Caterers, have also dropped 'Pak' from their sweet names. Vineet Trikha, general manager of Bombay Misthan Bhandar, described the renaming as a 'sweet, symbolic retaliation,' saying, 'We wanted to send a clear message — those who dare raise their eyes against India will have their names erased, and every Indian will respond in their own way.' Businessman Ramesh Bhatia echoed this sentiment, calling the gesture 'a powerful cultural response' that signals unity from the battlefield to civilian life, PTI reported. 'Changing the names of sweets may seem small, but it's a powerful cultural response,' he said. Retired teacher Pushpa Kaushik added, 'This initiative feels like a sweet salute to our soldiers — simple, symbolic, and heartfelt.' Linguistic irony: 'Pak' has deep Indian roots Despite the patriotic fervour, linguists have pointed out an ironic twist. The suffix 'Pak' in these sweets has no connection with Pakistan. Instead, it stems from ancient Indian culinary vocabulary. Times Now reported Abhishek Avtans, a linguist at Leiden University, as saying, 'Pak is from 'paka,' a Kannada word meaning sweet condiment. It shares the same root as Hindi 'pag' (sugar syrup), both deriving from Sanskrit 'pakva' meaning cooked or ripe.' Mysore Pak, for example, originates from the royal kitchens of the Mysore palace in Karnataka, created by chef Kakasura Madappa during the reign of King Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV. The sweet's name commemorates its city of origin and its signature sticky sugar syrup that binds the ingredients, rather than any political association. Karachi Bakery outlet in Hyderabad attacked Earlier this month, a Hyderabad outlet of the 73-year-old Karachi Bakery came under attack days after renewed criticism over its name surfaced during heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. According to PTI, around 10 to 15 individuals assembled outside the bakery, chanting "anti-Pakistan slogans". Rajesh and Harish Ramnani, owners of the bakery, told PTI that Karachi Bakery is a '100 per cent Indian brand', established by their grandfather Khanchand Ramnani in 1953 after migrating to India during the partition. 'We request Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and senior officers of administration to support to prevent any change in the name. People are putting up tricolour in the outlets of the bakery across the city. Kindly support us as we are an Indian brand and not a Pakistani brand,' they told PTI. This is not the first time the bakery has come under fire. In 2019, following the Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel, a group had stormed the Bengaluru Indiranagar outlet demanding a change in its name.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Mysore Pak' renamed ‘Mysore Shree': Jaipur confectioners drop ‘Pak' from sweet names to express patriotism; See the new names
What's in a name? For many sweet shops in Jaipur , quite a lot. In a patriotic move, several well-known confectioners in the city have started changing the names of their popular sweets by dropping the word ' Pak ' and replacing it with 'Shree'. So now, people are buying ' Mysore Shree ' instead of 'Mysore Pak', 'Moti Shree' instead of 'Moti Pak', and 'Aam Shree', 'Gond Shree', even luxury sweets like 'Swarn Shree' and 'Chandi Shree', instead of their original names ending in 'Pak'. This name change comes after recent Pakistan-backed terror attacks in Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor, where India targeted terror camps in Pakistan. Sweet shop owners say this is their small way of expressing patriotism. 'Patriotism in Every Sweet' Anjali Jain, the owner of Tyohaar Sweets in Vaishali Nagar, said their sweets should reflect national pride. 'The spirit of patriotism shouldn't just stay at the border, it should be in every Indian home and heart,' she said. Live Events She also said the decision is not just about words, but feelings. Customers are also supporting the move. A Sweet, Symbolic Message Bombay Misthan Bhandar, one of Jaipur's oldest sweet shops, has also renamed all sweets ending in 'Pak'. Agarwal Caterers joined in too. 'We want to send a clear message: if anyone dares to go against India, we will respond in every way. This is our sweet, symbolic answer,' said Vineet Trikha, general manager at Bombay Misthan Bhandar. Customers Approve Many customers feel proud of the change. Businessman Ramesh Bhatia said that such actions show unity. 'It may seem like a small thing, but changing the names of sweets is a strong cultural message. It shows we stand with our soldiers.' Retired teacher Pushpa Kaushik added, 'When I heard the name 'Mysore Shree', I smiled with pride. It feels like a sweet salute to our brave soldiers.' Smaller sweet shops in Jaipur are also following the trend. What Does 'Pak' Mean? According to the Rekhta dictionary, the word 'Pak' comes from Persian and means 'sweetmeat or confection', and also 'pure, clean or holy'. The Hindi dictionary defines 'Pak' as 'cooking or preparation'. But for these Jaipur sweet makers, the word change is not about the dictionary, it's about national pride.
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
In Jaipur, ‘Mysore Pak' is now ‘Mysore Shree' as sweet shops drop all traces of ‘Pakistan'
At least three famous confectioneries in Rajasthan's Jaipur have changed the names of their offerings to reflect their anti-Pakistan mood after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and India's military action under 'Operation Sindoor.' According to a PTI news agency report, all traditional sweets with the word 'Pak' in their names have been renamed to reflect the prevailing sentiment and 'national pride.' • 'Aam Pak' has been renamed as 'Aam Shree'. •'Gond Pak' will now be called 'Gond Shree'. •'Swarn Bhasm Pak' is now 'Swarn Shree'. •'Chandi Bhasm Pak' is now 'Chandi Shree'. Anjali Jain, the owner of Tyohaar Sweets in Jaipur's Vaishali Nagar area, explained the rationale for renaming and said their delicacies must reflect national pride. 'The spirit of patriotism shouldn't just reside at the border but in every Indian home and heart,' PTI quoted Jain as saying. Also read | Angry protesters attack Karachi Bakery in Hyderabad, demand name change amid India-Pak tensions Jain also claimed that her customers are appreciating the new nomenclature, as everyone was unhappy after the Pahalgam attack, in which 26 civilians were killed by terrorists who were found to have links with Pakistan. Bombay Misthan Bhandar, a decades-old chain of sweet shops, and Agarwal Caterers have also joined the renaming spree by removing all suffixes with 'Pak', the report said. 'We wanted to send a clear message -- those who dare raise their eyes against India will have their names erased, and every Indian will respond in their own way. This is our sweet, symbolic retaliation,' said Bombay Misthan Bhandar general manager Vineet Trikha. Also read | Karachi Bakery defends name as protesters storm outlet amid rising India-Pak tensions: 'Not a Pakistani brand' Welcoming the move, businessman Ramesh Bhatia said that every 'patriotic gesture' after the terror attack feels personal. 'Changing the names of sweets may seem small, but it's a powerful cultural response. It shows that even civilians stand united with our forces — from battlefield to sweet shop, the message is clear that India will not forget or forgive,' he added. Pushpa Kaushik, a retired government teacher, said he smiled with 'pride' when hearing the new name 'Mysore Shree' instead of 'Mysore Pak.' This initiative feels like a sweet salute to our soldiers — simple, symbolic, and heartfelt, she said.
Mint
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Name changes for Mysore Pak with ‘patriotic alternatives': Social media calls it ‘high level of stupidity'
Tyohaar Sweets, a popular sweet shop in Jaipur, has changed the names of its traditional sweets apparently to show national pride. The word 'Pak', which is often used in Indian sweet names, has been replaced with 'Shree'. For example, Moti Pak is now Moti Shree, and Mysore Pak is now Mysore Shree. The shop's owner, Anjali Jain, said this change was made to spread the feeling of patriotism among citizens, not just soldiers. 'We decided to remove 'Pak' from the names of our sweets and replace it with more culturally resonant and patriotic alternatives," she told Local18. Jain's initiative seems to have gone well with its tagline, 'OrdinaryIsBoring - Tyohaar don't do ordinary." She added that many customers were uncomfortable with the word 'Pak' after recent tensions with Pakistan. The emotion was even more intense after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. Tyohaar Sweets is known for its special sweets, including gold and silver-covered delicacies. These sweets are now called Swarn Shree and Chandi Shree. Social media users reacted to the name change. 'Who is going to tell them that Pak in Mysore Pak, Moti Pak, Aam Pak etc. is from paak, a Kannada word which means 'sweet condiment' and it shares the same root as Hindi paag (sugar syrup)? The shared root for both words is Sanskrit Pakka (cooked, ripe, baked),' wrote one user on Reddit. 'The reason for this change among shopkeepers is 99% WhatsApp forwards. And, ladies and gentlemen, introducing Reason 34, why you shouldn't graduate from WhatsApp University,' commented another. Another commented, 'Crowd pulling, Pak & Paak has a lot of difference.' 'This reflects the limited understanding of religion and culture prevalent in the country today. Consequently, terms like "Paaka Kala" may be misconstrued as the art of Pakistan, and "Paaka Shastra" as the scriptures of Pakistan. High level of Stupidity going on in this country,' came from an X (formerly Twitter) user. Another user reacted, 'Every day, the collective IQ of this country goes down with stories like these!' 'Did You Know? Mysore Pak was first prepared in the royal kitchens of the Mysore Palace by a cook named Kakasura Madappa during the reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV,' informed another. After India's Operation Sindoor targeted terror camps in Pakistan, Karachi Bakery outlets in Telangana faced protests. Some groups demanded a name change, saying Indian shops should not use Pakistani city names. In response, bakery owners displayed the Indian flag on their shops. They clarified the bakery had been started in Hyderabad in 1953 by a Partition migrant. The franchise has been Indian for 73 years.
