Lucknow: Kalimullah Khan, famously known as India’s ‘Mango Man’, has honoured Defence Minister Rajnath Singh by naming a newly developed mango variety after him.

The mango, called ‘Rajnath Aam’, was grown using Khan’s signature grafting technique at his orchard in Malihabad, a region renowned for its mango cultivation.

Khan, who has previously named mango varieties after notable Indian figures such as Sachin Tendulkar, Aishwarya Rai, Akhilesh Yadav, Sonia Gandhi, Narendra Modi, and Amit Shah, was awarded the Padma Shri in recognition of his remarkable contributions to horticulture and fruit breeding.

Speaking to ANI Videos about his latest tribute, Khan said, “I name my mangoes after people who have served the country meaningfully. I want these names to live on for generations. Sometimes people forget great leaders, but if a mango reminds them of Rajnath Singh's good work, then it's worth it. He is a balanced and thoughtful individual. During a recent discussion about Pakistan, I found that he sincerely desires peace, not war.”

Reflecting on the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, Khan blamed Pakistan for the aggression but expressed hope for improved relations. “But today, the atmosphere has improved. Peace, not conflict, is the solution. Problems should be resolved through dialogue. War only escalates hatred and brings harm to all. We are all human, and division only causes more damage,” he said.

Khan recalled that Malihabad once boasted over 1,300 mango varieties in 1919, many of which have since vanished from the market. “I've been working to preserve and revive them, and today I've developed over 300 varieties,” he added.

Background

Born in 1945 and having studied only up to Class 7, Khan shared insights into his lifelong passion. “I was never inclined toward classroom studies. I respected my teachers and classmates, but I kept failing in Classes 4, 5, 6, and even 7. My heart was always in the orchard.”

Despite his 80s and having undergone heart surgery, Khan says he remains physically fit. Among his prized creations is the “Asl-ul-Muqarrar” mango variety, which he began developing in 1987. He also recalled an encounter with the former World Bank president who visited Malihabad. “I told him about a special mango tree that emitted a fragrant aroma, which I believe works like a tonic for the brain. At first, I wondered what I was doing, telling such things to such a high-ranking man. But he came to the orchard, smelled the tree's fragrance, and was amazed. He then instructed officials to allot me five acres of land to expand this work,” Khan said.

However, Khan expressed disappointment that despite the presence of senior officials during the visit, no action was taken on the land allocation promise.

Reflecting on his mission, Khan said, “I want people to keep enjoying different varieties of mangoes long after I'm gone, especially those who truly love this fruit. Mango is one of the few fruits in the world that can help people stay healthy and has healing powers.”

He added that he has documented evidence of the mango’s medicinal benefits and urged research institutions to further investigate. “Now, we have to see how far the research institutions can take these findings and turn them into real scientific progress.”