By Mohd. Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: Known for promoting innovative mango species Padam Shri Kaleemullah is ready this season with a new variety of mango with unique features. The fruit will be named after Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. Kaleemullah is presently making efforts to get an audience with Sonia Gandhi for approving his ‘Sonia’ mango variety.
Lucknow is famous for its mangoes with several indigenous varieties relished across the globe. Home to famous Dussehri variety, the mango belt of Lucknow which includes villages as Malihabad, Raheemabad and other adjoining areas have carved their niche for tasteful and beautiful varieties of mango. Lucknow produces around 35 metric tones of mango which besides being consumed in domestic market also is exported across the globe. Several Middle East countries as Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Malayasia, Singapore and some European countries eagerly await Lucknow’s pride- the Dussehri mango.
Kaleemullah who has been conferred Padma Shri award by the President of India has developed several new varieties. Many of them have attracted attention of high and mighties. Some of the varieties developed in mango orchards owned by Kaleemullah in Malihabad have been christened by state governor after relishing them. Aishwarya, Anarkali and several other varieties which double colour with two coatings are a treat to eyes with red and yellow colour coverings.
This time Kaleemullah has come up with another variety and named it ‘Sonia’. “This is beautiful fruit with great in taste. The fruit will be available this season with unique features,” said Kaleemullah over phone from Mumbai. He, however, refused to divulge the details of the fruit. “I need to keep its features under wrap as it needs approval from Sonia Gandhi. Once things are settled we will present it for the Lucknowites,” he said. Kaleemullah who is desperately trying to meet Sonia Gandhi and apprise her about his product, expects the fruit to be ready in second week of June.