'Mangoes and Meanings' is an interesting exhibition (upto 14 June) at Museum of Goa. Interesting stories come from displayed mangoes, stuff made from them and art inspired by the king of fruits. One such story is of India's Mango Man, Kalimullah Khan featured in a painting put up at the exhibition.
He lives in Malihabad, Uttar Pradesh - India's mango belt. On his family farm, he grafted over 300 different varieties of mangoes onto a single 120-year-old tree. Each branch gives mangoes with different taste, texture, color and size. He calls it 'the biggest mango college in the world'.
He dropped out of school after 7th standard and started experimenting with grafting at age 17. His first attempt produced 7 varieties, but that tree was destroyed in a storm. Since 1987, he's been working on his famous 120-year-old tree.
In 2008, the Government of India awarded him Padma Shri, for his work in horticulture. He is over 82 years of age and still walks to his tree every morning at dawn. He says, 'people will come and go, but the mangoes will remain forever'.
In Hindustani lingo, the common man is called 'aam aadmi'. 'Aam' also means mango and has become reason for the inspiring success of a common man called Kalimullah Khan who backed his dream with continuous commitment.
Passion backed by perseverance will take you far
India's Mango Man shows the way to be a star
~ Pravin K Sabnis
#mondaymuse23rdYear #pravinsabnis #since2004 #motivation #blogging #MondayMuse
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