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Being Indian means drinking `Kolahol`
Kolkata, July 04: Months after introducing Swadeshi `Kolahol` drink in its campus, as part of anti-MNC campaign, a section of faculty of West Bengal`s premier Jadavpur University has joined hands with the All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health (AIIHPH) to produce another indigenous concoction which can take on cola majors.
Kolkata, July 04: Months after introducing Swadeshi 'Kolahol' drink in its campus, as part of anti-MNC campaign, a section of faculty of West Bengal's premier Jadavpur University has joined hands with the All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health (AIIHPH) to produce another indigenous concoction which can take on cola majors.
But while the 'Kolahol' -- produced by professors of English and Geology departments during Iraq war -- was lapped by both students, teaching and non-teaching staff of the university harbouring strong sentiments against US-based MNCs, the new venture has no apparent links with any such 'crusade', university officials claim.
"The experiment to bring out a drink like 'Kolahol', was a temporary one. It was definitely a token form of protest, individually on the part of the students and members of faculty, who felt strongly against the US aggression in Iraq. But the project with AIIHPH is a scientific one undertaken by JU's department of food technology and biochemical engineering," universty registrar Rajat Banerjee says.
The carbonated liquid, to be extracted from fresh fruit and herbs, would neither contain any chemical nor have artificial flavours, department professors say.
The university would provide research inputs to the interested persons inclined towards the project, they say.
An awareness programme on the project would take off in Santiniketan, the abode of Rabindranath Tagore, while another function would later be held in Kolkata aimed at creating public awareness about the collaborative venture.
Utpal Roychoudhury, professor of the food technology department says the liquid would have anti-oxidant elements to position it as a 'health drink'.
This would be unlike the fizzy colas, increased intake of which could result in appetite loss and health disorder, he says.
To be given a traditional look in earthen containers, the drink could throw a real challenge to the cola culture, he says.
"I am not directly associated with the project. But what I heard about the work of the department professors the whole effort is to give something both tasty and healthy to the consumer and wean him from over-dependence on cola," Banerjee says.
The food technology department can also provide tips on possible expense for setting up a project with the technology to prospective small entrepreneurs who can procure raw materials from their respective areas after the training in Santiniketan, Roychoudhury says.
In April, some professors of university's English faculty, with helps from students and other employees produced the 'Kolahol' (Hustle Bustle) and 150-200 earthen cups of the drink, each containing 250ml and available for a fortnight in the campus canteen, were sold every day far outstripping sale of colas.
Professor Sajani Mukherjee, who along with her department colleague Gautam Gupta and Prof Sugata Hazra of Geology department concocted the drink, said the no-profit, eco-friendly venture could not be sustained for long. "A beginning has been made. However, if somebody else is inspired by our work and embarks on making indigenous alternatives to soft drinks produced by multinational companies it is welcome," she says.
The teachers and students had taken enthusiastic part in the whole process - from concocting the cool drink to sketching a logo and colourful posters.
The university faculty during the peak of the war also decided not to be associated with any US or British projects and the registrar pledged his moral support to the symbolic cause.
"We have displayed that in our little way we can take on the multinational behemoths. Let others follow suit," a student Sayantani Choudhury says.
Bureau Report
But while the 'Kolahol' -- produced by professors of English and Geology departments during Iraq war -- was lapped by both students, teaching and non-teaching staff of the university harbouring strong sentiments against US-based MNCs, the new venture has no apparent links with any such 'crusade', university officials claim.
"The experiment to bring out a drink like 'Kolahol', was a temporary one. It was definitely a token form of protest, individually on the part of the students and members of faculty, who felt strongly against the US aggression in Iraq. But the project with AIIHPH is a scientific one undertaken by JU's department of food technology and biochemical engineering," universty registrar Rajat Banerjee says.
The carbonated liquid, to be extracted from fresh fruit and herbs, would neither contain any chemical nor have artificial flavours, department professors say.
The university would provide research inputs to the interested persons inclined towards the project, they say.
An awareness programme on the project would take off in Santiniketan, the abode of Rabindranath Tagore, while another function would later be held in Kolkata aimed at creating public awareness about the collaborative venture.
Utpal Roychoudhury, professor of the food technology department says the liquid would have anti-oxidant elements to position it as a 'health drink'.
This would be unlike the fizzy colas, increased intake of which could result in appetite loss and health disorder, he says.
To be given a traditional look in earthen containers, the drink could throw a real challenge to the cola culture, he says.
"I am not directly associated with the project. But what I heard about the work of the department professors the whole effort is to give something both tasty and healthy to the consumer and wean him from over-dependence on cola," Banerjee says.
The food technology department can also provide tips on possible expense for setting up a project with the technology to prospective small entrepreneurs who can procure raw materials from their respective areas after the training in Santiniketan, Roychoudhury says.
In April, some professors of university's English faculty, with helps from students and other employees produced the 'Kolahol' (Hustle Bustle) and 150-200 earthen cups of the drink, each containing 250ml and available for a fortnight in the campus canteen, were sold every day far outstripping sale of colas.
Professor Sajani Mukherjee, who along with her department colleague Gautam Gupta and Prof Sugata Hazra of Geology department concocted the drink, said the no-profit, eco-friendly venture could not be sustained for long. "A beginning has been made. However, if somebody else is inspired by our work and embarks on making indigenous alternatives to soft drinks produced by multinational companies it is welcome," she says.
The teachers and students had taken enthusiastic part in the whole process - from concocting the cool drink to sketching a logo and colourful posters.
The university faculty during the peak of the war also decided not to be associated with any US or British projects and the registrar pledged his moral support to the symbolic cause.
"We have displayed that in our little way we can take on the multinational behemoths. Let others follow suit," a student Sayantani Choudhury says.
Bureau Report