The unique taste of Gopal Paul’s Monda – a piece of tempting Sandesh – has spellbound all sweet lovers who have had the chance to taste this dessert in their lifetime, starting with Zamindar Maharaja Suryakanta Acharya Chowdhury, a landlord in Muktagacha of Mymensingh in 1824.
He inspired Gopal to start his business, and he was right to do so.
Locals and wholesalers are regular buyers, while tourists cannot resist stopping by the shop when they visit the Maharaja’s palace.
Eminent personalities from other places in Bangladesh and foreigners who have visited the area commended its unique taste; the latest was the Swedish ambassador, Alexandra Berg von Linde. She said that when in Myhmensingh, “you just have to stop for a delicious Muktagachar Monda” because of its “classic” taste.
Born in Murshidabad of West Bengal in 1799, Gopal first came to Rajshahi and then started living in Muktagacha in 1823. After his death in 1907 at the age of 108, his son Radhanath Paul carried on his legacy, as did Kedarnath Paul and Dwarikanath Paul.
Dhaka TribuneRamendra Nath Paul is the fifth descendant and current owner of this enterprise at 71 Jagat Kishore Road in Muktagacha town, the only branch of the store. The magic of curd, sugar, and a secret ingredient that Gopal invented still remains undiscovered.
It is told that the recipe came to Gopal in a dream.
Glorious history
The list of admirers of the desert is exceedingly long, but some notable members are Ustad Alauddin Khan, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, former Indian premier Indira Gandhi, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, former West Bengal chief minister Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, Russian leader Joseph Stalin, Chinese leader Mao Zedong and Queen Elizabeth II. Recently, several envoys visited the shop and recommended the genuine Monda.
Ambassador Alex was curious.
“Suddenly, the ambassador of Sweden came to my shop that day. At that time, officials of the administration were with her. She looked around the shop and ate Monda. She also bought some for others,” Ramendra Nath told Dhaka Tribune.
“Ambassador Alex continues to explore popular Bangla dishes and flavours, this time from her recent visit to Mymensingh,” said the caption of a photo post by the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka on October 6.
The photo, which depicts a happy tourist, was clicked outside the shop as she came out carrying two bags full of Monda.
Dhaka TribuneA flood of comments has poured in with people describing the other top sweetmeats in Bangladesh with pride, such as Malai Kari of Krishna Cabin in Mymensingh, Balish (pillow) Mishti of Goyanath’s shop in Netrokona, Rosh Malai of Matrivandar in Comilla, Sabitri of Basudeb Grand Sons in Meherpur, Chamcham of Porabari in Tangail, Bogra’s curd, Kacha Golla of Natore, and many more.
Ramendra Nath said they make this Monda using special cow’s milk, sugar, and a secret ingredient that makes it “incomparable”. The price now stands at Tk650 per kg (20 pieces).
Sandesh of similar shape and taste is also sold at other sweet shops in the Mymensingh region and Dhaka under the name Monda because of its sky-high popularity. Monda is also popular in India, especially in Bihar.
Ramendra Nath Paul said: “We’ve 20 cows raised with special care. After making Monda, it is not stored in a refrigerator. We serve them fresh.”
He again stressed that they had no branches anywhere else in the country.
Every sweet lover has tasted Gopal Paul’s Monda in the greater Mymensingh region. In Muktagacha, people buy it very often, and it is considered mandatory at weddings, birthdays, and other events.
To visit the shop in Muktagacha town, one has to take a CNG auto-rickshaw or Leguna from the Town Hall intersection in Mymensingh city. The fare is Tk30-40. Later, van-pullers will charge Tk5 and rickshaw-pullers Tk10-15 per person to take them to Gopal Paul’s Monda shop at 71 Jagat Kishore Road.
