Rooh Afza History: Rooh Afza has once again come into the limelight due to the statement of Yoga Guru Ramdev. Baba has warned those who drink it. Now that Rooh Afza is in the middle of the debate, its history is also being explored. Hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed is being remembered, who in the summer of 1907 prepared a thick red syrup by mixing fruits, herbs, rose, kewda and poppy seeds for his patients suffering from dehydration. Know its full story.

Rooh Afza, which gives relief in the heat, is currently in the grip of the heat of Baba Ramdev's statement. Baba has raised questions on the use of the income of this century-old drink that gives sweetness to the tongue and freshness to the body. Of course, he did not take names but it did not take long for people to understand where the target was. Temple-mosque remedies have been very effective in politics. Now they are being tried in business as well. Baba has warned those who drink it. Now that Rooh Afza is in the middle of a debate, its history is also being explored. That hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed is being remembered, who prepared a thick red syrup by mixing fruits, herbs, rose, kewda and poppy seeds for his patients struggling with dehydration in the heat of 1907. Which later became a necessity in the kitchen and dining table of many houses.

There is a lot of discussion about Hafiz Padma Bhushan Hakeem Abdul Hameed, who took this drink to the heights of popularity. His name is associated with many organizations related to the study and research of Unani system of medicine as well as the spread of education and social welfare. Read the stories of Rooh Afza and the efforts of Hakeem Abdul Hameed, who made it popular among the entire population.

A medicine for patients which became a sherbet

In 1906, Hakeem Hafiz Abdul Majeed opened a dispensary named Hamdard in Lal Kuan market of Delhi. Patients suffering from heat would come complaining of lethargy and weakness due to lack of water in the body. Hakeem, who treated patients with Unani method, started working on such a recipe which would give both coolness and nutrition to the body. Hakeem soon got success. The syrup prepared by mixing things like fruits, herbs, rose, kewda and poppy seeds was liked by both the body and mind of his patients. Hakeem Majeed's confidence also increased. He named it Rooh Afza. Rooh means soul and Afza means refreshing. This was the medicine in 1907. Gradually it became a sherbet and became a necessity of many homes and families in the summer season.

Hafiz Padma Bhushan Hakeem Abdul Hameed who took Rooh Afza to the heights of popularity.

He took responsibility at the age of fourteen

Hakeem Abdul Majeed died in 1922. But by that time his small Hamdard dispensary, which he had started a decade and a half ago, had expanded a lot thanks to Rooh Afza. In 1910, colorful labels were prepared in Bombay for marketing Rooh Afza in bottles.

Interestingly, Rooh Afza has maintained this label along with its taste in its long journey. Hakeem Abdul Hameed was born in 1908. He was only 14 years old at the time of his father Abdul Majeed's death. But at a young age, he took over the responsibility of Hamdard Company along with his mother Rabia Begum. Later, his younger brother Mohammad Saeed also joined the business.

The country is divided, the family is divided

With the partition of the country in 1947, Hakeem Abdul Hameed's family also got divided. Younger brother Mohammad Saeed chose Pakistan. Elder brother Hakeem Abdul Hameed stayed in India. But the division of the family did not create any obstacle in the progress of Hamdard and Rooh Afza. Abdul Hameed continued to succeed in expanding it in India. On the other hand, Mohammad Saeed started the production of Rooh Afza in Pakistan and made it popular there too. After the formation of Bangladesh in 1971, Rooh Afza was also produced there.

Production of Rooh Afza has started. Currently, Rooh Afza is available in forty countries. Two spoons of Rooh Afza can be consumed not only in water but also in milk, lassi, kulfi and falooda, which gives them a special taste. Rooh Afza's popularity is intact even amidst so many options in the market.

In 1910, colourful labels were designed in Bombay to market Rooh Afza in bottles. Photo: Pradeep Gaur/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Not just business, but involvement in all noble endeavours

Hakeem Abdul Hameed, who achieved success in the business world through Hamdard, also paid attention to the lack of education and poverty in a large section of the Muslim community. He felt it necessary to do some concrete work in this direction. Today's crowded Sangam of Delhi, Bihar, used to be a jungle in those days. Hakeem Hameed bought a large piece of land during that period. The journey of Hamdard Education Society began on this land and then this campus was named Talimabad.

Hamdard Education Society runs several schools, coaching centres and Hamdard Study Circle from here. The society mainly works for the education and welfare measures of minorities. Hakeem Abdul Hameed is also credited with establishing Hamdard Charitable Trust and Hamdard National Foundation. He also established Rabia Girls Public School for the education of girls in the memory of his mother Rabia Begum. He also established the Pharmacy College of Jamia to preserve the Unani system of medicine even amidst the expansion of allopathy.

Despite the many options in the market, Rooh Afza's popularity remains intact. Photo: Yasser Chalid/Moment/Getty Images

And the caravan became

Hakeem Abdul Hameed's personal life was full of simplicity. While constantly trying to make Hamdard successful, he kept trying to improve the lives of the backward minorities through various organizations. Those who were in direct contact with him were impressed by his humility. The government also honored his contribution to society. He was also awarded Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan. Rajiv Gandhi was also included in the long list of his admirers. APJ Abdul Kalam, a graduate of Jamia Hamdard, expressed his respect for him by repeating the famous couplet of Majrooh Sultanpuri, "I walked alone towards the destination, but people kept meeting me and a caravan was formed."

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