Share
Kalimullah Khan, a Padma Shree Awardee Indian horticulturist and fruit breeder, is in the news again. This time, he is commemorating Operation Sindoor, precision strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan after terrorists killed 26 innocent people in Pahalgam, Kashmir, in April 2025.
Called the Mango Man of India, Kalimullah Khan has grown 300 varieties of mangoes in a single tree using grafting techniques. Does this not seem like a futuristic solution? Not only did he grow different kinds of mangoes, but he also named them after celebrities and politicians like Amit Shah, Sachin Tendulkar, Sonia Gandhi, Aishwarya Rai, and more.
Image Credit: X
He is currently leading headlines because of the new varieties he has introduced. Scroll down to read about them.
Also Read: Top 5 Desi Mango Desserts To Try
Mango Man Of India Introduces Two New Varieties - Sindoor Aam & Rajnath Aam
He named one variety after Defence Minister of India Rajnath Singh and called it Rajnath Aam. Another variety is called Sindoor Aam to celebrate the success of Operation Sindoor, a successful retaliation of India against the terror attack in Kashmir.
The 80-year-old horticulture expert has created Rajnath aam and Sindoor aam, which is a mix of dasheri, langda, chausa, amigudarsha, and other hybrids. The varieties aren’t available for sale, but he has been gifting them to people visiting his farm in Malihabad, Uttar Pradesh. “We don’t sell these fruits, but distribute them for free to visitors. They are a tribute,” he added.
In an interview with the Press Trust of India, he said, “Many kinds of mangoes are used in the process till we get the right flavour.”
The region where he belongs to is known for producing mangoes of different varieties. Reportedly, in 1919, there were 1300 kinds of mangoes in the region. In an interview with India Today, Kalimullah Khan said that he was trying to revive them, and had developed 300 kinds of fruits, while many cannot name 10 varieties.
He shared that he was never inclined towards classroom learning, because his heart was always in the orchard. His life mission has always been to keep creating different mangoes. He said, “Mango is one of the few fruits in the world that can help people stay healthy and has healing powers.” He also added that his research can be utilised by different institutions to make scientific advancements.
