Latest news with #SubhajitSaha
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Balanagar custard apple inches closer to GI tag
HYDERABAD: Farmers and officials on Monday submitted an application seeking the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the world-famous Balanagar custard apple, marking the 19th GI application from Telangana. The application was filed by GI practitioner Subhajit Saha of Resolute4IP on behalf of three key farmer-based organisations — Pomal Farmer Producer Company Ltd, Balanagar Farmer Producer Company Ltd, and Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society — with support from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). The Balanagar custard apple is renowned for its thick rind, high pulp content, minimal seeds, naturally sweet flavour, and extended shelf life — characteristics that set it apart from other varieties and make it ideal for both fresh consumption and industrial use. This move places the Balanagar variety as the fourth custard apple in India to seek or obtain a GI tag, alongside Beed custard apple (Maharashtra), Seoni sitaphal (Madhya Pradesh), and Kanker custard apple (Chhattisgarh). 'This GI initiative underscores how formal recognition can create value at the grassroots level while reinforcing Telangana's position as a hub for high-quality, origin-linked produce,' said Subhajit Saha, expressing gratitude for the support extended by Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University (SKLTGHU). He added that the state is preparing to file six to eight additional GI applications for products in the handicrafts and horticulture sectors in the coming days. SKLTGHU V-C Danda Raji Reddy, said the university is committed to preserving Telangana's heritage horticultural crops and that further GI applications will be filed after thorough field investigations and consultations with farmers.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
GI application filed for Balanagar Custard Apple
Balanagar Custard Apple, a custard apple variety that grows wild in three districts of Telangana, has been pitchforked for a Geographical Indications tag on Monday. A filing with the Geographical Indications Registry shows the application number 1569 filed on behalf of three farm-based organisations, including a farm produced company, an agriculture cooperative society, and horticulture university. 'We identified the uniqueness of the variety by analysing the micro and macro nutrients found in the custard apple that is grown in five mandals of Mahbubnagar, three mandals of Rangareddy and three mandals of Vikarabad. Because of the rocky terrain and weathering, the nutrient profile of the Balanagar custard apple is different,' said Saidaiah Pidigam of Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University. The scientific documentation of the fruit's unique agro-morphological characteristics shows how its cultivation in a non-commercial manner in areas that are not irrigated marks it out. 'Irrigation and use of fertilizer makes the custard apple insipid. As the Balanagar variety grows in only rain-fed areas, its flavour profile is robust,' informed Saidaiah Pidigam. The application was filed by GI practitioner Subhajit Saha of Resolute4IP on behalf of Pomal Farmer Producer Company Limited, Balanagar Farmer Producer Company Limited, and The Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society, with funding support from NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development). 'The GI tag is expected to provide legal protection, strengthen brand identity, and open premium domestic and international market access for the Balanagar Custard Apple,' informed Mr. Saha.
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Telangana turns Miss World event into marketing spiel
Telangana has managed to turn the spotlight on its 1000-year-old heritage using the strobe lights of the Miss World beauty pageant. Instead of a single memorable event on a stage, or a leading question to 'World Peace', the 108 contestants have been taken around the different historical landmarks in the state. In the process, the contestants got to sample the culture, cuisine, and conviviality of the state. The Telangana Tourism got memorable photographs that it has splashed across the State and city. While it is still early to understand the impact, the State government has left no stone unturned in the effort. The Miss World contestants were taken to a private hospital to showcase medical tourism. They were taken to a sit-down dinner at a Nizam-era palace. They were taken to the weaving village of Pochampally. They were even shown around the Integrated Control And Command Centre which showcases the surveillance capabilities of the State. 'The real work begins now. We are working on the campaign narrative: 'Telangana Too Beautiful to Miss', which is a play on the Miss World Contest. India has been on the bucket list for visitors across the world but that has always meant some palaces in Rajasthan and Taj Mahal with Delhi as the stopover. We want to break that mindset,' says Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary Telangana, who played a behind-the-scenes role for the Miss World contest in Telangana. In an age of stagnant manufacturing sector, protectionist tariffs, the focus of Telangana on the service sector of tourism appears to be spot on. 'The Miss World contestants were taken to the sites of handicrafts production along with historic places in that region. Warangal, Laad Bazaar, and Pochampally have the Geographical Indications (GI) factor in common, GI can help in boosting tourism and also bring in a lot of rural entrepreneurship. New tourist circuits can be created to give a detour on how these crafts and products are made and also information on its tradition and culture linking places, products and people,' says Subhajit Saha, Founder, Resolute4IP, and GI practitioner. Buttressing Hyderabad and Telangana about its charms, on Saturday, well-known journalist Rajdeep Sardesai posted on X: 'Every time I visit Hyderabad, I come away with a distinct impression of it being India's truly future ready big metropolis that combines old world charm with new age energies... If I had any choice as to which city should be showcased as India's Olympic host in 2036, Hyderabad would be right on top.'
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Andhra Pradesh's famed Polavaram cotton sarees seek GI tag
1 2 3 Hyderabad: After the artisans of Andhra Pradesh's renowned Madhavamala wood carvings and Palamner terracotta, it is now the turn of weavers of the state's famed Polavaram cotton sarees to make a bid for a geographical indication (GI) tag for their unique handloom product. Woven by weavers from Polavaram and Bandar regions in Krishna dist, these sarees are made from high-count cotton yarns (around 80s to 100s count), which gives them a fine, soft texture and also makes them lightweight. Polavaram sarees are also known for their cotton border that is embellished with intricate butta work (motifs) and jacquard pallus. They trace their origin to Krishna dist's weaving. Polavaram cotton sarees trace their origins to Machilipatnam and date back several centuries when it was a prominent port under dynasties such as the Qutb Shahi as well as the Dutch. The GI application has been filed by Polavaram Cotton Handloom Weavers Mutually Aided Co-operative Society Limited with financial assistance from Nabard and help from Hyderabad-based Resolute4IP. Set up in 1944 with just 42 members, the society today has 213 weavers as members. The society is a part of Andhra Pradesh State Handloom Weavers' Cooperative Society Ltd. The GI application, which was filed on May 19 and has been numbered 1,539, is the 22nd product from AP to file for GI registration, said Resolute4IP founder and GI practitioner Subhajit Saha, who helped with the filing. Saha said there are three more products from AP in the pipeline for GI filing that will take the total number of GI products from the state to 25. These include Kadapagunta Tella Jilledu, Madhavaram cotton and silk sarees, as well as Dupion cloth. So far, 1,546 GI applications have been filed in India, with 697 GIs registered till date.
Hans India
23-04-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Arts College building at Osmania University receives trademark status
Only a select few buildings worldwide enjoy the legal protection of a registered trademark—icons like the Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower and the Sydney Opera House. On 19 April 2025, Osmania University's Arts College joined this exclusive group, becoming only the third building in India to achieve trademark status. The certificate was officially recorded on 19 April 2025 and was handed over in a formal ceremony to Vice-Chancellor Kumar Molugaram by Subhajit Saha, founder of intellectual-property firm Resolute4IP. This recognition places the century-old Arts College alongside Mumbai's Taj Mahal Hotel and the Bombay Stock Exchange, India's only other trademarked buildings. Built in the 1930s in the distinctive Indo-Saracenic style, the Arts College has long been celebrated for its soaring domes, intricately carved arches and spacious porticos. The trademark secures legal protection for these architectural elements, preventing unauthorised commercial use of the building's likeness. Beyond safeguarding its design, the trademark elevates Osmania University's profile on the global stage. As a home to generations of scholars, the landmark now doubles as a brand asset that reinforces the university's heritage and reputation. Legal experts say the move also opens avenues for authorised merchandising and partnerships that feature the building's iconic façade. With this milestone, Osmania University underscores its commitment to preserving cultural heritage. The Arts College building's trademark ensures that both its physical presence and its symbolic value will remain protected for decades to come.
