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Simple 'Sandesh', 'Pantua' and sweets of that ilk, were
available in Calcutta in the early days. 'Rosogolla' and
the different types of superior sandesh, arrived in Calcutta
much later. Sweets made of 'Ksheer' or thickened milk was
not in vogue and people in general, were not fond of such
delicacies brought from Burrabazar.
At this time, Paran Chandra Nag, a confectioner and owner
of a small sweet shop in the village of Janai, Hooghly,
came to Calcutta to set up a shop. He started with a sweet
shop at Bowbazar. His shop did not sell a multitude of sweets.
On the contrary, Paran Chandra only sold 'Sandesh' as he
had specialized on this sweetmeat. He wanted to grab the
market at first with his unique 'Sandesh' so that later
on, while diversifying into other sweetmeats, the customers
would flock in to bu y
them, keeping his reputation in mind.
Later Bheem Nag who integrated this shop, excelled in the
art of making sweets. His shop at Bowbazar, hogged the attention
of the opulent 'Babus'. Business started flourishing in
laps and bounds. Since then, there has been no looking back
for the 'Bheem Nag' shop. To this day, the 'Bheem Nag' shop
takes utmost care in the preparations of its special 'Sandesh'
and is unfurling to compromise with their standards. Above
all, the Nags are very enthusiastic and ever innovative to
make their special 'Sandesh' more palatable.
Incidentally, it derives mention that Bheem Nag's 'Sandesh'
is different from the general 'Sandesh' found in every
confectionery
shop. The house of Nags has conducted all possible experiments,
in an attempt to render perfection to it. The Nags have
always tried sincerely to do justice to the glorious tradition
of Bengal in the department of sweets and confectioneries.
Sandesh is made in different moulds – as of various fruits.
'Bheem Nag' is also famous for its 'Diabetes Sandesh' – a
sweetmeat made by special process for the diabetics, which
is devoid of sugar or treacle. Queen Rashmoni used to be
one of the regular customers of this shop in her days. Palatable
'Sandesh' from this shop, was also sent to Sri Ramkrishna
in Dakshineswar.
LADYCANNIE - On the eve Lady Canning's birthday,
Lord Canning's men came to Bheem Nag's shop and ordered a
special sweetmeat, which would be entirely different in shape and
size than the existing range of sweets and would also outclass them
in taste. The Nags after pondering over it for days, made
a new kind of sweetmeat, much above the expectation of
Canning's
men. It was partially a 'Pantua' and partially a 'Lancha'.
It resembled both to some extent but at the same time, was different from
them. From the name of Lady Canning, this sweet came to
be known in Bengal as Ladycannie and is very popular even
to this day.
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