'Mango Man' names new hybrid variety as 'NaMo Aam'

Indore, May 6: After developing several varieties of mango that he named after celebrities and leading personalities, renowned horticulturist Haji Kalimullah Khan has grown one more variety of the royal fruit which he named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kalimullah Khan, 74, recipient of Padma Shri award, has named his newly-developed mango variety as 'NaMo Aam'.

Explaining his logic behind the name, Kalimullah told reporters, "Just like the Prime Minister, who has joined the league of world famous leaders, this mango will also be in the limelight and promote brotherhood."

"By inviting the heads of neighbouring nations to his swearing-in ceremony as Prime Minister, Modi has extended an olive branch to them. Better relations with neighbours will foster brotherhood in the world. I have been inspired to name my new variety of mango as Namo Aam," Kalimullah, who is also nicknamed 'Mango Man' of UP's Malihabad region said.

Kalimullah, who has been growing mangoes since 1957, describes the 'NaMo' variety as "beautiful and juicy". The horticulturist has a penchant to develop and grow new and rare varieties of mangoes and name them after celebrities.

So far he has named the varieties after Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai, cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, among others. Kalimullah said he names the new mango varieties after celebrities to make the legends "immortal".

Khan's mango orchard is spread over five acres area at Malihabad, in which he has developed new varieties of mangoes. The orchard has about a century-old prized tree, on which he started working in 1987 to develop the craft of growing different varieties on it.

He has named the mangoes grown on this tree after his family members, who were also mango growers.

PTI