Selling N'gud rasabale for 87 years

Beware, the bright yellow coloured bananas sold across the city as rasabaale for a higher price need not be the original Nanjangud rasabale, which is distinct in taste and aroma, cautions Gayathri V Raj.

Do you know that boxes of original Nanjangud rasabale are being sent to the residences of late matinee idol Rajkumar’s family, several other actors and influential politicians from a shop in Devaraja market in Mysore?

Well, this small shop selling only bananas, is not an ordinary shop but has a history of its own. The shop’s owner Nanjangud A Shivanna, hailing from Devarasanahalli in Nanjangud taluk in Mysore district migrated to Mysore and opened the stall in 1925.
 
A farmer by profession, he was into growing banana crops in his native and when he settled in Mysore began selling these bananas and as he had migrated from Nanjangud added it as a prefix to the bananas which later on became a history. Now the Nanjangud rasabale enjoys the recognition and has bagged the Geographical Indications (GI) tag in 2005.

Being a freedom fighter himself, the shop became a spot for holding patriotic discussions with several leaders of the bygone era having heated discussions on the freedom struggle over a cup of coffee.. rather a banana!

Speaking to City Herald, Kailash, last son of Shivanna recalls that leaders K Puttaswamy, S C Dasappa, Sahukar Channiah, Kengal Hanumanthaiah, Nijalingappa and others had visited the shop and were holding discussions.

Former chief minister D Devaraj Urs had also attended his wedding. There was a great demand for the Nanjangud rasabale of their shop and had even supplied the fruits during the coronation of Adichunchanagiri seer Balagangadharanatha Swamiji in 1970s.

Loaded with medicinal qualities, Nanjangud rasabale has a unique taste and aroma of its own is unmatched by any other variety.

Patronised by the royals

It is also said to be the best banana variety in the world and is said to have been patronised by the Wadiyars.

M Partha, grandson of Shivanna who is the third generation involved in the business at the same spot in Devaraja market said the business gathered momentum in 1930s and there was no looking back. The shop became so popular for its authenticity that many influential persons are still their customers.

Shivanna’s second son S Krishna is also a wholesale merchant and is the former president and current director of Mysore Cooperative Bank.

Duping customers

Many vendors are duping the customers with ordinary elakki variety banana and a similar variety from Salem as Nanjangud rasabale. He gives an easy method to detect the original Nanjangud rasabale saying the skin is not as bright as the ordinary variety and has a dull and matty look.

These varieties are sold at above Rs 150 per dozen between September and December, which is unseason and during season that is between March and July it is sold at Rs 4 to Rs 7 per fruit.

Customers from US, Sweden and settled in other parts of the country do not forget to visit the stall to have the authentic Nanjangud rasabale. So, next time you visit the Devaraja market do not forget to buy some of this delicious fruit loaded with nutrients.