History of Kacha golla (Natore)
In the 1760s, Madhusudan Pal's sweet shop in the Lalbazar area of Natore town was a famous shop in the region. Madhusudan Pal used to make sweets like pantua, chamcham, kalojam etc by pouring 1.5-2 maunds of chhana everyday in big pots in his shop. There were 10-15 workers in the shop. One day, suddenly the artisan who makes sweets didn't come to the shop. Madhusudan was in distress thinking what to do with so much chhana! Worried about the impending loss, Madhusudan Pal asked to pour sugar syrup on the chhana and heat it. After heating, when tasted by mouth, the chhana mixed with sugar had an amazing taste. He instantly named it Kachagolla. A new sweet was created.
In 1760, during the reign of Maharani Bhawani of Bengal, the fame of this Kachagolla started spreading. At that time, there were very few sweet shops in Natore. Apart from the famous Kachagolla, other noteworthy sweets at these shops were Abaak Sondesh, Raghobshahi, Chomchom, Rajbhog, Rasmalai, Pantua etc. But Kachagolla rose above all. As a result, this famous Kachagolla was used at that time to please the jamidars. Even the royal family of Britain used to get this Kachagolla. It used to go all over India.
For a long time, this heritage sweet Kachagolla had been sold in distorted shapes in different parts of the country. But the people of Natore did not have much to do about it. Last February, a renowned food manufacturing company of the country started selling round Kachagollas at their sales center in Natore. It sparked intense criticism on social media.
On request from the civil society of Natore to take steps regarding distortion of Kachagolla, initiatives have been taken to obtain GI certification for Kachagolla. It is hoped that this distorted production will stop after getting GI recognition.
Former Natore District Administrator Shamim Ahmed told Prothom Alo that finally the GI recognition has come. He is delighted to have played a role in getting this heritage delicacy of Natore recognized.
Jay Kali Mistanna Bhandar, a heritage sweet shop in Natore run by four men associated with the sweets business. In response to the announcement of GI recognition, current owner of the shop Prabhat Kumar Pal told Prothom Alo that the GI recognition application should have been made long ago. Because sweets of various inferior types are sold in different parts of the country in the name of Kachagolla. It damages Natore's reputation. He said now with GI product recognition, production in distorted shapes will stop. People of the country will be able to recognize original Kachagolla.
Good quality Kachagollas sell in the sweet shops of Natore at around 600 taka per kg. But sweets named Natore Kachagolla are also sold at 300 taka. But the original taste of Kachagolla is not found in those.
Natore District Administrator Abu Naser Bhuiyan told, that producers make Kachagolla maintaining the heritage of Natore. But it is often heard that distorted Kachagollas are sold outside. The district administration will take a stand against it.