Haile Selassie (Image: Wikipedia)

There are quotes that have survived decades, not just because they were poetic, but because they stood the test of time across generations. An example of this are the words of former Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, whose words on courage, humanity and unity continue to resonate in discussions on leadership, conflict, prejudice and global responsibility. His quote is memorable, not only because of its content but because of the time in history when it was spoken.The statement is not about politics or nationalism. It is about personal growth, social harmony and the need for people to go beyond divisions. As countries around the world struggled with war, colonialism, racial discrimination, and political instability, Haile Selassie spoke repeatedly about the importance of shared humanity. Even today, this quote is widely cited in books, speeches, classrooms, and on the Internet because many people still feel that it reflects the challenges that modern society faces.At the same time, this line also has emotional weight as it asks people to think beyond narrow identities and personal prejudices. The quote urges people to see themselves as part of a larger human community rather than focusing solely on borders, race, religion or nationality. That message still resonates with readers looking for meaning in a time of division and uncertainty.

Quote of the Day by Haile Selassie

“We must become bigger than ever before: bolder, bigger in spirit, bigger in outlook. We must overcome petty prejudices and become members of a new race, giving our ultimate allegiance not to nations but to our fellow men within the human community.”

The deeper meaning behind Haile Selassie’s quotes

The quote begins with a powerful call for change: “We must become greater than ever before. It is not about physical strength or power. It is about emotional maturity, moral development and a greater understanding of humanity.When Haile Selassie talks about becoming “more courageous,” he means having the courage to face hatred, prejudice, injustice, and fear. Courage in this case is not limited to the battlefield or politics. It also applies to everyday human behavior, such as standing up against discrimination, helping individuals, and choosing compassion in difficult times.The phrase “great in spirit” refers to inner strength. It reflects the idea that society progresses not only through technology or economic development, but also through empathy, kindness, patience, and understanding.Throughout history, many leaders have said that material progress alone will not solve human conflict unless people develop emotionally and morally.Perhaps the most important phrase in the quote is the last one, “larger in outlook.” It inspires people to think beyond narrow perspectives and think globally. Haile Selassie believed that divisions based on race, nationality or status often get in the way of societies achieving peace and cooperation. He suggests that when you look at the bigger picture, you see people’s shared humanity rather than just seeing differences.

Why do Haile Selassie’s words still matter today?

Although this quote was said decades ago, many people feel that the message is quite relevant to contemporary society. Countries around the world are still grappling with political polarization, social conflict, racial tensions, and questions of identity. And in that environment, messages of unity and common humanity often rise to the top again.While modern communications have made people more connected to each other than ever before, isolation remains strong. Debates on social media, political disagreements, and international conflicts often reveal how difficult it is for societies to overcome prejudice. This is why Haile Selassie’s quote is still widely shared on the internet. Many readers have interpreted it as a message of human evolution, that it is not just about money and science, but also about kindness and respect for each other.This quote is also attractive to the younger generation because it emphasizes personal responsibility. Instead of simply blaming systems or governments, it encourages people to think about how they treat others and how they view the world around them.

The historical person behind Haile Selassie’s quote

Haile Selassie ruled Ethiopia during one of the most turbulent periods of the twentieth century. Born Tafari Makonnen in 1892, he became Emperor of Ethiopia in 1930 and remained an important international figure for decades.During his time, Ethiopia had major political and military problems, such as the Italian invasion led by Benito Mussolini in the 1930s. Haile Selassie became a world celebrity when he appealed to the League of Nations for help against fascist invasion. His speeches at that time had worldwide appeal, as they were primarily concerned with justice, collective responsibility and resistance to oppression.Many historians consider him one of Africa’s most internationally recognized political figures in the twentieth century. But he also had an important symbolic role for the Rastafari movement, which views him as a figure of great spiritual importance.His speeches often focused on human dignity, equality, peace and cooperation between nations. The quote about becoming “big in outlook” echoes many of the themes he repeatedly emphasized throughout his public life.

How does this quote connect to modern conversations about prejudice

A key element of the quote is its complete rejection of “petty prejudice”. This phrase still persists, as prejudice continues to affect society in many forms, such as racism, religious discrimination, nationalism and social intolerance.Psychologists and sociologists have long argued that prejudice is often rooted in fear, misinformation or a lack of connection between communities. Haile Selassie’s words imply that overcoming these divisions requires people to think beyond inherited prejudices and see their shared humanity.Today, such ideas are often at the center of conversations about inclusion and equality. Academic institutions, social movements, and international organizations often advocate empathy with people of different backgrounds. This quote is very appropriate for these conversations because it focuses on broadening one’s horizons.This quote is also seen by many readers as a reminder that humanity shares many global problems, including climate change, poverty, migration crises, and conflict. These are not matters that can be easily resolved by isolation or prejudice. They need cooperation across borders and communities.

Leadership lessons hidden inside quotes

The quote is often shared as a philosophical statement, but it also contains important lessons about leadership. Haile Selassie argues that true leadership requires a vision that goes beyond the limits of narrow interests of personal ambition or nationalist concern.The term “big in spirit” reflects emotional resilience, and “big in outlook” indicates strategic thinking and a long-term perspective. Leaders who think only about short-term gains often fail to make lasting progress. On the other hand, those who think about larger human consequences tend to leave stronger legacies.Today, many leadership experts cite emotional intelligence, empathy, and adaptability as important qualities for successful leadership. Haile Selassie’s quote was given long before modern leadership theory became popular, but it is very much in line with these ideas.

Why do inspirational quotes continue to attract readers?

Big ideas are contained in a few memorable sentences and that is why such quotes are popular. Readers, when feeling stressed, uncertain, or reflective, often turn to inspirational quotes. Sometimes a short sentence expresses feelings or ideas more clearly than longer explanations.In today’s digital world, these quotes spread quickly through social media, motivational pages, podcasts, and educational platforms. But it is usually the quotes tied to actual historical experience that endure the longest. Haile Selassie’s words carry greater weight because they were spoken by a man who experienced war, colonial pressure, world diplomacy and political turmoil first-hand.In modern crises, people also revisit old quotes as they seek wisdom that seems timeless. Words about unity, courage and humanity often remain relevant, no matter what the era.

How does this quote reflect the idea of ​​a shared human community

The last part of the quote speaks of a pledge of allegiance “not to nations, but to our fellowmen within the human community.” It symbolizes a worldview that places humanity above division.Nations, cultures and traditions still matter, but Haile Selassie believed that people should not let these identities fuel hatred or conflict. His words are words of cooperation, not separation.”This perspective has become important in an increasingly globalized world where economies, communication systems and environmental challenges are all interconnected. Events in one country can immediately affect people around the world. Thus, many thinkers argue that humanity must learn to cooperate better on cultural and political grounds.This notion is expressed simply but memorably in the words of Haile Selassie. This means that progress requires thinking of people not just as citizens of individual nations but as members of the larger human family.

Other famous quotes from Haile Selassie

“Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could act that has made possible the triumph of evil.”“Peace demands the united efforts of all of us. Who can imagine what spark might ignite the fire?”“Knowledge is power. If it is not properly used for creation, there is no doubt, it will destroy.”“Education develops intelligence; intelligence distinguishes man from other creatures.”“Until the philosophy of considering one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, war is war everywhere.”

Why this quote continues to inspire readers generation after generation

Its beauty and timelessness lies in its simplicity and honesty. It doesn’t promise easy answers. Rather, it asks people to become better versions of themselves through courage, understanding, and openness.A lot of inspirational quotes focus solely on personal success. What makes Haile Selassie’s statement unique is that it combines personal development with general responsibility. It tells us that individuals and societies become stronger when they rise above fear, prejudice and narrow-mindedness.Today, the reader can find quotes both personal and global. It makes you think about yourself on some level. On the other hand, it is concerned with the future of mankind.Perhaps that is why this quote keeps coming up in discussions of leadership, peace, education and social progress. Decades after it was first spoken, its core message remains incredibly relevant: humans must continue to think bigger, care deeper, and learn to live together with greater understanding.

AAP leader Sanjeev Arora (file photo)

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate The (ED) on Saturday arrested Punjab Minister Sanjeev Arora in connection with the ongoing money laundering probe of Rs 100 crore linked to alleged fraudulent Goods and Services Tax (GST) transactions, officials said.Read this also ED raids Punjab Minister Sanjeev Arora’s house in money laundering caseOfficials said Arora has been arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).The Punjab Industries Minister was taken into custody hours after the ED conducted raids at five locations in Delhi, Gurugram and Chandigarh, including his official residence in Chandigarh as well as premises linked to his associates and companies.Arora also faced ED action just days after a similar raid was conducted against then AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Kumar Mittal in April. Shortly after, Mittal joined the BJP along with six other Rajya Sabha MPs from the party, including Raghav Chadha.Read this also ‘I am happy where I am’: Minister Sanjiv Arora refuses to leave AAP after ED raidsAccording to the ED, Arora and his associated entities prepared fake purchase bills for mobile phones through non-existent firms operating out of Delhi. Investigators suspect that these transactions were used to fraudulently claim input tax credit (ITC), GST refunds and export-related benefits.The central agency further alleged that the proceeds from the transactions were routed through exports and later “round-tripped” from Dubai to India in an attempt to launder the illicit funds.The 62-year-old leader is an MLA from Ludhiana West and a former Rajya Sabha member. His arrest comes less than a year before Punjab holds assembly elections in February 2027.AAP leaders have linked the action to the upcoming elections and accused the BJP-led Center of waging a campaign of political vendetta through central investigative agencies.“By conducting the ED raid, their aim is not to find any black money or illegal documents. Their aim is to send a message to the person being raided that if they join the BJP, everything will be forgiven,” Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwat Mann told reporters in Sangrur.Read this also ‘This is Punjab, not afraid of threats’: Bhagwant Mann after ED raid on ministerAAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also attacked the BJP and claimed that the party would face political backlash in Punjab.“Modi ji, go ahead and do four more ED raids – BJP will lose bail on all its seats. The leaders you arrest may come out in four days, but BJP will not be able to set foot in Punjab for the next twenty years,” Kejriwal posted on Twitter.

अयोध्या क्षेत्र में दर्शन नगर चौराहे के पास फैजाबाद से अकबरपुर जाने वाली सड़क पर बने ओवरब्रिज पर सुरक्षा व्यवस्था का अभाव लोगों के लिए बड़ी चिंता का कारण बन गया है। स्थानीय लोगों का कहना है कि ओवरब्रिज पर वाहनों की गति काफी तेज रहती है, लेकिन गति को नियंत्रित करने के लिए कोई ब्रेकर या चेतावनी संकेतक नहीं लगाए गए हैं. इससे आए दिन छोटी-बड़ी दुर्घटनाएं हो रही हैं और लोगों में भय का माहौल बना हुआ है. स्थानीय नागरिकों और व्यवसायियों ने प्रशासन से ओवरब्रिज पर ब्रेकर और अन्य सुरक्षा सुविधाएं लगाने की अपील करते हुए तत्काल कार्रवाई की मांग की है.

तेज रफ्तार वाहनों से दुर्घटनाएं बढ़ रही हैं
स्थानीय लोगों के मुताबिक ओवरब्रिज पर वाहन चालक तेज गति से वाहन चलाते हैं। सड़क पर किसी भी प्रकार का ब्रेकर या गति नियंत्रण की व्यवस्था नहीं होने से लगातार दुर्घटना की आशंका बनी रहती है. कई बार बाइक सवार व अन्य वाहन चालक दुर्घटना का शिकार हो चुके हैं। लोगों का कहना है कि अगर समय रहते सुरक्षा के इंतजाम नहीं किये गये तो बड़ा हादसा हो सकता है.

स्थानीय लोगों में बढ़ा गुस्सा
लगातार हो रही घटनाओं को लेकर इलाके के लोगों में आक्रोश बढ़ता जा रहा है. लोगों का कहना है कि प्रशासन को कई बार इस समस्या से अवगत कराया गया, लेकिन अब तक कोई ठोस कदम नहीं उठाया गया. क्षेत्र के नागरिकों ने मांग की है कि जल्द से जल्द ओवरब्रिज पर ब्रेकर, चेतावनी बोर्ड और अन्य सुरक्षा इंतजाम किए जाएं ताकि लोगों की जान सुरक्षित रह सके.

व्यापार मंडल अध्यक्ष ने उठाई मांग
व्यापार मंडल अध्यक्ष राममिलन विश्वकर्मा ने कहा कि हाईवे व बाजार क्षेत्र में वाहनों की गति पर नियंत्रण बेहद जरूरी है। उन्होंने प्रशासन से मांग की कि जहां-जहां बाजार क्षेत्र हैं, वहां ब्रेकर बनाए जाएं, ताकि वाहन धीमी गति से चलें और दुर्घटनाओं को रोका जा सके।

सड़क सुरक्षा को लेकर लोगों की अपील
स्थानीय निवासी रत्नेश जयसवाल ने भी प्रशासन से तत्काल कार्रवाई की मांग की. उन्होंने कहा कि ओवरब्रिज और आसपास के इलाकों में सुरक्षा के पुख्ता इंतजाम किये जाएं, ताकि लोग सुरक्षित यात्रा कर सकें और दुर्घटनाओं को रोका जा सके.

(रिपोर्ट:अनूप कुमार अयोध्या)

10 मार्च को ग्राम रम्पुराकाजी के ग्राम प्रधान बलविंदर सिंह ने ग्रामीणों के साथ गांव की खसरा नंबर 196 रकबा 0.538 हेक्टेयर भूमि को कब्जा मुक्त कराने के लिए एसडीएम डॉ. अमृता शर्मा को शिकायती पत्र सौंपा था। एसडीएम के निर्देश पर तहसीलदार ने ग्राम रम्पुराकाजी निवासी कुलवंत सिंह को उक्त जमीन से कब्जा हटाने का नोटिस भेजा था।

शुक्रवार को तहसीलदार प्रताप सिंह चौहान के नेतृत्व में राजस्व विभाग की टीम ने श्मशान घाट के नाम दर्ज भूमि पर हुए निर्माण को जेसीबी से ध्वस्त कर दिया। सुरक्षा की दृष्टि से थाना प्रभारी धर्मवीर सोलंकी पुलिस बल के साथ मुस्तैद रहे।

तहसीलदार ने बताया कि श्मशान घाट के नाम दर्ज जमीन पर अतिक्रमण कर बनाए गए पोल्ट्री फार्म को हटाने के लिए कब्जेदार को दो बार नोटिस दिया गया था। समयावधि पूरी होने पर जेसीबी से निर्माण ध्वस्त कराकर जमीन को कब्जा मुक्त कराया गया। वहां कानूनगो धनेश शर्मा, पटवारी विपिन कुमार, प्रधान बलविंदर सिंह, कृपाल सिंह, नसीम आदि थे।

Starmer appoints Labor veterans as advisers

Following Labour’s landslide defeat in the 2026 local elections, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has turned to senior party stalwarts to stabilize the situation, and appointed former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and former deputy leader Harriet Harman to key advisory roles.In a surprise move, Gordon Brown has been appointed special envoy on global finance, while Harriet Harman has been named adviser on women and girls.Starmer said, “I am delighted to appoint Harriet Harman as my adviser on women and girls. Harriet is a strong advocate for women and girls and I know she will deliver great opportunities for women in public life.”

Big shock in local elections

Labor suffered major defeats in local elections, losing over 1,300 council seats across England. Key areas including Manchester, Salford, Wigan and Oldham fell away from Labor control, while the party lost control of the Welsh Senedd for the first time and performed poorly in Scotland.The results triggered criticism within the party and increased pressure on Starmer, although senior leaders have publicly supported him.Following the appointments of Brown and Harman, Starmer posted a video on Twitter, titled: “Together, we will build a stronger and fairer Britain.”

Brown returns as global finance ambassador

Brown will advise the government on international financial cooperation and help develop partnerships to support defense and economic security. Former Chancellor and Prime Minister Brown will also engage with global institutions and leaders in this unpaid, part-time role.Downing Street said his experience during the financial crisis made him suitable for the job.

Harman will focus on women and girls

Harman will work on issues affecting women and girls, including violence against women, job opportunities and representation in public life. She will also push for cultural changes within government systems.While the appointments are seen as an attempt to reset the government’s image after the election shock, questions remain within Labor about its direction.Senior figures have urged focus and unity, even as pressure mounts after a poor election performance.

New Delhi: There have been many broadcasting mistakes over the years, but the one that happened during the first Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh will definitely stand out. During the opening Test in Dhaka, the broadcasters mistakenly displayed India’s scorecard instead of Pakistan’s playing XI.The error occurred after Pakistan won the toss and decided to field at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. While the broadcasters were supposed to show Pakistan’s playing XI, they mistakenly showed India’s scorecard which included players like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Verma, Shivam Dubey, Jitesh Sharma, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh and Mukesh Kumar.The incident reportedly occurred during the live telecast when scenes involving the Indian team were shown instead of match graphics of the Pakistan vs Bangladesh Test.Although the video of the mistake is no longer available on social media, fans immediately took screenshots and photos of the moment, which soon went viral on various platforms.The broadcast mistake soon turned into an online meme fest, with fans flooding social media with reactions and jokes.So far, there has been no official explanation from the broadcasters regarding the glitch.Meanwhile, Pakistan bowled out Bangladesh for 413 after electing to field first. Nazmul Hossain Shanto scored a brilliant century, while Mominul Haq contributed 91 runs. Shento brought up his ninth Test century with the help of 12 fours and two sixes in just 129 balls to entertain the home crowd at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

There was a time when nightfall meant relief. After the glare of a long summer day, with the promise of a cool breeze through an open window in the hours after sunset, the temperature had dropped enough that a light blanket had been pulled up, sleep coming easily. That time, for much of the world, is quietly disappearing.Across all continents and climates, nights are getting warmer, and they are warming faster than our days. While record daytime temperatures dominate the headlines and heatwave warnings dominate our phones, a subtle, arguably more consequential change is taking place in the dark. The minimum temperature, which is the lowest point a thermometer reaches in a 24-hour cycle, almost always occurs in the dark of night, exceeding the rise in daytime temperatures in many parts of the world. Scientists are observing this disparity with increasing concern.The results are not abstract. Farmers depend on cool nights to help their crops recover from the stress of the daytime heat. Ecosystems run on temperature rhythms that have been calibrated over millennia.

AI generated image

The human body uses the nighttime drop in temperature as a biological signal to repair cells, strengthen memory, regulate hormones, and prepare for the next day. When that decline doesn’t occur, everything from crop yields to heart health begins to suffer.There are many factors driving warming nights, including greenhouse gas accumulation, urban expansion, changing cloud patterns and a planet that has absorbed more heat than it can handle. Each factor feeds off the others in ways that are still being mapped by researchers.

The urban heat island effect: how cities trap the heat of the day

Go out into any major city at midnight in July, and you’ll feel it, a thick, lingering heat that makes no sense. The sun had set hours ago, yet the heat radiated through the streets as if the day had never ended. This is the urban heat island effect, and it is one of the most important and most overlooked factors in hot nights.The criminal is hiding in plain sight: in the city itself.Concrete, asphalt, brick, and steel are the primary building blocks of modern urban life, and they are remarkably efficient heat trappers. Unlike soil or vegetation, which reflect sunlight and release moisture through evaporation, these dense materials behave like thermal sponges. They aggressively absorb solar radiation throughout the day, store it deep within their mass, and then slowly release that stored heat throughout the night. A sun-warmed street or rooftop can remain hot even after midnight, effectively turning entire city blocks into low-grade radiators.Lack of trees in cities is further increasing the problem. Green cover provides shade that keeps surfaces from overheating in the first place, and through transpiration, trees release moisture that cools the surrounding air, nature’s own air conditioning. As cities have expanded, green spaces have replaced parking lots, towers and roads, destroying this natural buffer and sending urban temperatures out of control.Then there’s the heat that cities actively generate. Every car engine idling in traffic, every air conditioning unit pushing hot exhaust onto the street, every industrial process humming at night adds thermal energy directly to the urban environment. In dense metropolitan areas, this anthropogenic heat, heat generated by human activity, can spike local temperatures, especially after dark when natural cooling processes are already diminished by heat-saturated infrastructure.The result is that such cities never really get cold, and for the millions of people who live in them, they don’t get cold either.“Nighttime temperatures are rising fastest in already hot and densely populated areas such as South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and other rapidly urbanizing tropical regions. The World Meteorological Organization has confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year on record, about 1.55 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, the previous decade was the hottest ever. “This global trend is clearly visible in India, where CEEW’s analysis shows that more than 70% of districts have experienced at least five additional very hot nights every year over the past decade compared to the 1982-2011 baseline,” said Dr Vishwas Chitale, Fellow at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).

Greenhouse gases and the blanket of night: why the atmosphere no longer lets heat out

Think of the atmosphere as a blanket wrapped around the Earth. During the day, sunlight passes through it and warms the ground. At night, Earth tries to release that heat back into space, but the blanket is getting thicker, and less heat is getting out.

AI generated image

That thick blanket is made up of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor. These gases absorb heat rising from the Earth’s surface and push it back down, warming the lower atmosphere instead of letting it escape into space. The more of these gases there are, the more heat will be trapped and the warmer our nights will become.Since the Industrial Revolution, CO₂ levels in the atmosphere have increased from 280 parts per million to more than 400, driven primarily by the burning of fossil fuels, and methane and nitrous oxide levels have also increased rapidly. Each additional molecule of these gases adds another layer to that blanket. This matters most at night. During the day, the sun keeps the temperature up regardless. But after sunset, the Earth relies entirely on releasing heat into the atmosphere to cool down. When greenhouse gases prevent that release, nighttime temperatures remain elevated after dark, and the natural cool of night never fully recedes.The numbers testify to this. Over the past 50 years, nighttime temperatures globally have increased about 40 percent faster than daytime temperatures. On the world’s land surface, almost twice as much heat is observed at night as during the day. It’s a quiet but impactful change. The same mechanism that warms our days is warming our nights, doing its most damaging work in the dark, when the planet has no sun to blame and no place left for the heat to hide.“Summer is no longer just about hot afternoons – India is now seeing very hot days, very hot nights and a combined increase in humidity, even in traditionally dry regions, making heat more persistent, more humid and harder for both people and infrastructure to deal with,” Dr Chitale said.

when climate scientists talk global warmingThe public imagines scorching afternoons and record-breaking summer days. But among researchers, it is that night that causes deep concern. Not because the heat of the day is harmless, it’s not, but because what happens after sunset tells a more honest story about the state of the planet.This concept is called asymmetric warming. Day and night are not warming at the same pace. Over most of the world’s land surface, nighttime minimum temperatures are rising faster than daytime maximum temperatures. It’s a distinction that may seem technical, but it is of great importance to climate scientists.Minimum temperatures are difficult to manipulate. They are less affected by short-term weather events, urban activity, or seasonal fluctuations. They reflect the baseline, the bottom of the climate system, and when that bottom keeps rising, it signals that something deep and structural is changing.A hot day can be explained by a passing heat wave, dry weather or summer sunshine. But one hot night, and then another, and then a decade of them – all that points to is that the atmosphere is behaving fundamentally differently. After dark the heat of the planet is decreasing. The insulating effect of accumulated greenhouse gases is not a day’s story; This is going on around the clock, and nights are where it is most clearly visible.This is why minimum temperature trends have become one of the key indicators that climate researchers watch most closely. They act like a vital sign, a pulse check on the planet’s ability to cool itself. And right now, that pulse is heating up night after night, giving the natural world less and less room to recover before the next day begins.

उत्तर प्रदेश सरकार की ‘एक जिला-एक व्यंजन’ योजना के तहत बिजनौर जिले की मशहूर सोन पापड़ी को अब एक नई पहचान मिल गई है. योगी सरकार पारंपरिक व्यंजनों को देश-दुनिया तक पहुंचाने के लिए लगातार काम कर रही है. इसी कड़ी में नजीबाबाद की प्रसिद्ध सोन पापड़ी को जिले के विशेष व्यंजन के रूप में चुना गया है। करीब 75 साल पुराना इतिहास रखने वाली यह मिठाई अपने खास स्वाद और बारीक परतों के लिए जानी जाती है। इस फैसले से स्थानीय व्यापारियों और मिठाई कारोबार से जुड़े लोगों में खुशी का माहौल है. इससे रोजगार और बिजनेस को भी काफी फायदा मिलने की उम्मीद है.

नजीबाबाद की सोन पापड़ी का इतिहास 75 वर्ष पुराना है।
नजीबाबाद की सोन पापड़ी का स्वाद दशकों से लोगों की पसंद बना हुआ है। कहा जाता है कि इसकी शुरुआत करीब 75 साल पहले चतुर्वेदी मिष्ठान भंडार से हुई थी. बेसन से बनी यह मिठाई अपनी बारीक परतों और मुंह में घुलते ही स्वाद के कारण खास पहचान रखती है. चतुर्वेदी परिवार ने इस मिठाई की परंपरा को आज भी बरकरार रखा है। सोन पापड़ी में सूखे मेवे और इलायची का संतुलित इस्तेमाल इसे अन्य मिठाइयों से अलग बनाता है.

अब सोन पापड़ी 15 किस्मों में उपलब्ध है
पहले सोन पापड़ी मुख्य रूप से गोल आकार में बनाई जाती थी, लेकिन समय के साथ बाजार में कई नए डिजाइन आए। अब यह मिठाई काजू कतली स्टाइल, चौकोर डिजाइन और कई आकर्षक कटिंग में उपलब्ध है। बाजार में इसकी लगभग 15 किस्में उपलब्ध हैं। इनमें चॉकलेट फ्लेवर, ड्राई फ्रूट्स और कई अन्य फ्लेवर शामिल हैं। इसकी सबसे बड़ी खासियत यह है कि यह करीब चार महीने तक खराब नहीं होता है, जिससे इसे दूर-दराज के बाजारों में आसानी से भेजा जा सकता है.

निर्यात और रोजगार को बढ़ावा मिलेगा
अब आधुनिक पैकेजिंग तकनीक के जरिए इसकी ताजगी को लंबे समय तक बरकरार रखा जा रहा है, ताकि इसे वैश्विक निर्यात के लिए तैयार किया जा सके। जिलाधिकारी जसजीत कौर के मुताबिक सोन पापड़ी हर वर्ग के लोगों की पसंदीदा मिठाई है. इसे बच्चे, बूढ़े, अमीर और गरीब सभी पसंद करते हैं। उन्होंने बताया कि इस मिठाई को बिजनौर के विशेष उत्पाद के रूप में सूचीबद्ध किया गया है। इस पहल से लगभग 500 परिवारों को प्रत्यक्ष और अप्रत्यक्ष रूप से रोजगार मिलने की संभावना है। स्थानीय व्यापारियों को उम्मीद है कि इससे नजीबाबाद की सोन पापड़ी को देश ही नहीं बल्कि विदेश में भी नई पहचान मिलेगी.