Gujarat government has decided to rename Dragon Fruit to ‘Kamalam’ (Lotus fruit).
According to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, the use of the word ‘Dragon’ is not suitable for a fruit.
Mr Rupani said that since Dragon Fruit looks like a lotus flower, it shall be renamed to Sanskrit word ‘Kamalam’.
Farmers in Gujarat’s Kutch and Navasari have started cultivating Dragon Fruit.
It is very interesting to note here that the BJP office in Gujarat is also named ‘Shri Kamalam’.
Gujarat government has applied to get the new name patented and a petition has been submitted to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had mentioned this fruit in his radio program Mann Ki Baat on July 26, 2020.