Sipu Jha
Mango is the king of fruits and one among the most cherished fruits for most people, who wait with bated breath all year round to relish the sweet, juicy and pulpy fruit on a hot summer day!Although the fruit is found in many varieties, for each of which there are innumerable trees in different orchards, but what if a single tree bursts with over 350 different kinds of mangoes, each one with its own juicy sweetness, vibrant colour, and special story.This might seem only imaginary but a man nearly 85 years of age made this a reality at an orchard in Malihabad, Uttar Pradesh. Without fancy degrees or big labs, this man taught himself tricks that scientists envy, and he is most popularly known as the Mango Man of India.
In photo: Haji Kaleem Ullah Khan (Credits: hajikaleemullahkhan.in)
Meet Kaleem Ullah Khan- The mango man of India
Kalimullah Khan never shone in school. He dropped out after failing Class 7, but mangoes became his true classroom. Taking over his family’s orchard in Malihabad after his grandfather’s passing, he found purpose among the trees.“I was never interested in studies, and when I began working in the orchard, I realised I can work hard in areas I am interested in,” he said to The Better India. Today, this Padma Shri awardee from 2008 and Limca Book of Records holder is celebrated as the “Mango Man of India” for his 22-acre orchard, especially one 125-year-old tree, originally an Alphonso, bearing over 350 varieties.
How did he get this extraordinary idea?
Khan’s big idea hit in 1957 to graft seven mango types onto one tree. Floods wiped it out, but he learned to manage waterlogged soil from the failure. By 1987, he sped up experiments on his grandfather’s ancient tree. “The tree is nearly 125 years old now, and it belongs to my grandfather, yet it still stands tall, bearing all the diverse varieties of mangoes,” he told The Better India.Over decades, relentless trials turned it into a nine-meter giant hosting 300-350 distinct fruits, each keeping its flavour, size, and hue with the help of precise grafting or joining branches to a strong rootstock.
What is his secret to this success?
Grafting is Khan’s secret: slice healthy branches from donor trees, fuse them to the rootstock, and nurture them until they bond. “The grafting process is an art. It’s like a puzzle. You need to choose the right varieties, join them carefully, and nurture them for years before you can see the fruits of your labour,” Kalimullah says. His son Nazimullah, 57, who quit studies after Class 12 to help, notes hybrids like “Dushehri Kalim”, a Dushehri-Sinduri mix, took 12 years. They source seeds from Mumbai, Delhi, and beyond, ensuring compatibility and space.
What are the various varieties found on the tree
The tree includes varieties like Alphonso, the velvety sweet, Langra, the super-sweet green, Kesar, the fragrant tangy one, Dasheri the juicy, Chaunsa with aromatic pulp, plus hybrids named “Sachin Tendulkar,” “Amitabh Bachchan,” “Narendra Modi,” “Anarkali,” and “Aishwarya Rai.” “I have named these mangoes after people who have inspired me or who are significant in some way,” Khan explained to The Better India.Nazimullah handles upkeep by monitoring rain, where less means smaller fruits, draining floods, and fighting fungus and pests. “Growing mangoes takes time, research, and effort. It’s not an overnight process,” he says.He is proud of his trees“People should visit my orchard to see the tree and understand the variety of mangoes, each with its distinct qualities.” Farmers from Dubai and Iran study his methods, drawn to this blend of tradition and innovation. “Mangoes are always in my heart. If given the chance, even desert landscapes could taste the sweetness of mangoes,” he says.
English 
हिन्दी