DRAVADIAN FORAGE- AN EXPLORER BEHIND A LAWYER1

[5/17, 07:46] Sekarreporter 1: 1
DRAVADIAN FORAGE- AN EXPLORER BEHIND A LAWYER1
‘The Indian way of life provides the vision of the natural, real way of life. We veil ourselves with
unnatural masks. On the face of India are the tender expressions which carry the mark of the
Creators hand.’- George Bernard Shaw
A country with multi-linguistic art and culture, India. Each and every part of country has its own
speciality and uniqueness. Similarly, Tamil Nadu is state with beautiful and enriched culture and
so is district Thoothukudi traditionally known as ‘Pearl City’. This place is famous for
Muthaaramman Kovil Festival, Panimayamatha Church Festival, and various tourist spots. With
all these specialities an application was filed on 03-07-2014 by Kovilpatti Regional
Kadalaimittai Manufacturers and Retailers Association in respect of Kadalai Mittai under Sub-
section (1) of Section 13 of Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act,

1999. A Geographical Indication (GI) tag is a
      sign used to identify a specific item to its
      geographic place of origin and is mainly used as
      a quality certification. The GI Laws prevent a
      product from being duplicated somewhere else
      in any way.
      ‘Kovilpatti Kadalai Mittai’ is very famous and
      great repute owing due to its unique flavour and
      manufacturing method. Since decades, the
      Kovilpatti Kadalai Mittai traditionally prepared
      during village festivals using palm jaggery and
      groundnuts from nearby districts. During pre-independence era i.e. around 1940’s the switch to
      sugarcane jaggery happened. A grocery shop owner in the bazaar Ponnambala Nadar, decided to
      use the sugarcane jaggery and peanuts in his store to make Kadalai Mittai.

It is produced by applying both groundnuts and organic jaggery. It is made using all natural
ingredients such as the traditional and organic special ‘Vellam’ – a fresh, pale, soft triangular
block of jaggery available across Tamilnadu, and particularly in around Kovilpatti like
Srivalliputhur. The groundnuts grown in and around Kovilpatti in the native black soil and the
groundnuts come from the nearby town of Aruppukottai, after which they are shelled and roasted
in a machine. The Kovilpatti Kadalai Mittai enhances its taste naturally because the water from
river Thamirabarani is used in the production. The Kovilpatti Kadalai Mittai constitutes of

1 Manasvi Shukla, III Year- BBA – LLB, Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad ( Email-
manasvi.shukla@student.slsh.edu.in)
[5/17, 07:46] Sekarreporter 1: 2
peanuts held together with glistening syrup, and topped with wisps of grated coconut dyed pink,
green and yellow. In Kovilpatti, it is sold as single rectangular chunks, or rather cuboids, sealed
in packets. Kadalai Mittai is a strong, brittle, ready-to-eat sweet made generally from casting a
mixture of dry nuts and hot jaggery syrup. It is called as Chikki in north India. The Kadalai
Mittai usually takes the shape of a slab of wedged squares. In Kovilpatti it is found in packages
sealed as single rectangular bits, or even cuboids. This is really cheap. The production of
Kovilpatti Kadalai Mittai is done in “Veragu Aduppu”, a special old form of stow, which gives
Kovilpatti Kadalai Mittai a special flavour.
This period of 5 years and hard work of P Sanjai Gandhi, a Chennai-based IP Attorney to get
Geographical Indication for Kovilpatti Kadalai Mittai became a huge success last week. Mr.
Sanjai pursued law at Madras Government College. Mr. Sanjai got 20 products registered from
Tamil Nadu, including Madurai Sungudi, Thanjavur Paintings, Salem Venpattu, Kovai Kora
Cotton Sarees, Arani Silk, Bhavani Jamakkalam, Eathomozhy Tall Coconut, Thanjavur Doll,
Pattamadai Pai, Nachiarkoil Kuthuvilakku,
Toda Embroidery, Thanjavur Veenai,
Mahabalipuram Stone Sculpture and
Thirubuvanam Silk Sarees, in addition to
‘Authorised User’ for Thanjavur Art Plate,
Swamimalai Bronze Icons and Temple
Jewellery of Nagercoil. In latest he got GI
of Dindigul locks, Kandangi Sarees and
Srivalliputhur palkava He has also
registered and received the GI mark for the
Tangalia Shawl from Gujarat. Mr.Sanjai
was honoured with the National IP Award
in 2018 under ‘Top Individual for Best
facilitation of Registration of GI and
Promotion of registered GI in India’ category. Mr.Sanjai has also authored a book titled Arts and
Crafts of India: Registered GI Products mainly to help foreigners understand GI registered art
and craft items in the country. He delivered address before Global Investor Meet, 2019 organized
by Government of Tamil Nadu. Mr. Gandhi has been appointed as member of IPR cell DSNLU,
Visakhapatnam. He is also appointed as a Nodal Officer, Geographical indication registered
products, Government of Tamil Nadu, 2019. During a discussion with Mr. Gandhi, he quoted
‘Thanks to Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Mr. Edappadi K. Palanisami for appointing
me as Nodal Officer, Geographical Indications registration products for the state of Tamil Nadu.’
He also quoted ‘Thanked Hon’ble Kadambur C Raju Minister for information, State of Tamil
Nadu for helping me in GI procedure of Kovilpatti Kadalai Mittai.’