Sweet potato is an important and popular vegetable crop grown throughout India. However, it goes by different names in different regions and languages of the country.
Names of sweet potato in India
Here are some of the common names that sweet potato is known by in different parts of India:
North India
- Shakarkand – Hindi
- Mitha aloo – Urdu
South India
- Sakkara valli kilangu – Tamil
- Chilagada dumpa – Telugu
- Kaattu chembu – Malayalam
- Genasu – Kannada
East India
- Raktakanda – Bengali
- Kath aloo – Odia
West India
- Ratalu – Gujarati
- Ratalya – Marathi
As you can see, sweet potato is known by distinctive names in different languages and regions of India. The most common terms seem to be ‘Shakarkand’ in Hindi, ‘Sakkara valli kilangu’ in Tamil, ‘Ratalu’ in Gujarati, and ‘Raktakanda’ in Bengali.
Reasons for different names
There are a few key reasons why sweet potato is called by so many different names in India:
- Linguistic diversity – India has a remarkable linguistic diversity with 22 official languages and hundreds of dialects. The local names reflect this richness.
- Geographic spread – Sweet potato is grown and consumed across the varied agro-climatic zones of India.
- Cultural connotations – The local names have cultural and culinary significance attached.
- Historical influence – Some names reflect foreign influence and introduction of the crop by early traders.
The diverse soil, climate and food habits within different regions of India have contributed to sweet potato getting distinct identities and names across the languages.
Etymology and meaning of the names
Most of the Indian names for sweet potato have an interesting etymology and meaning attached to them:
Shakarkand
Shakarkand means ‘sugar root’ in Hindi, referring to the sweet taste of the tubers.
Mitha aloo
‘Mitha’ means sweet while ‘aloo’ means potato in Urdu. Hence, mitha aloo literally translates to sweet potato.
Sakkara valli kilangu
In Tamil, ‘sakkara’ means sugar, ‘valli’ means creeper or vine, and ‘kilangu’ means tuber or root vegetable. Hence, it refers to the sweet tuber from a creeping vine.
Chilagada dumpa
In Telugu, ‘chilagada’ means sweet taste and ‘dumpa’ refers to yam. So the term refers to the sweet yam.
Kaattu chembu
In Malayalam, ‘kaattu’ means wild or uncultivated, while ‘chembu’ means Colocasia. So the name compares the sweet potato’s taste to wild colocasia.
Genasu
In Kannada, ‘genasu’ refers to a class of creeping vines from which the sweet potato grows.
Raktakanda
In Bengali, ‘raktakanda’ means bloodroot or red root, referring to the reddish-purple color of some sweet potato varieties.
Kath aloo
In Odia, ‘kath’ refers to wood or timber, comparing the fleshy roots to an underground timber log.
Ratalu
In Gujarati, ‘ratalu’ comes from ‘rat’ meaning night, as sweet potatoes are generally harvested at night.
Ratalya
In Marathi, ‘ratalya’ also refers to sweet potato being a night harvested crop.
Clearly, the local names beautifully capture the characteristics of sweet potato and how it is perceived in terms of taste, appearance and cultivation practices within different Indian languages and regions.
Scientific name
While there are numerous vernacular names, the scientific name of sweet potato is Ipomoea batatas. It belongs to the Convolvulaceae or morning glory family of flowering plants. This generic Latin name covers all varieties and cultivars of sweet potato across the world.
Importance of sweet potato in India
Here are some key facts about sweet potato in India:
- India is the 2nd largest producer of sweet potato after China, with annual output of around 4 million tonnes.
- The major sweet potato growing states are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
- Per capita consumption is around 3 kg per year, with higher consumption in rural and coastal areas.
- It is a versatile crop grown in both kharif and rabi seasons across diverse agro-climatic conditions.
- Tubers are rich in starch, sugars, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Leaves are also nutritious and consumed as greens.
- Used in a wide array of Indian sweets, snacks and curries. Also used as animal feed.
Given the nutritional value and adaptability of sweet potato, it is an integral part of Indian agriculture, food culture and health. The diverse vernacular names reflect the crop’s significance and identity within local food habits.
Table: Names of sweet potato in different Indian languages
| Language | Names |
|---|---|
| Hindi | Shakarkand |
| Urdu | Mitha aloo |
| Tamil | Sakkara valli kilangu |
| Telugu | Chilagada dumpa |
| Malayalam | Kaattu chembu |
| Kannada | Genasu |
| Bengali | Raktakanda |
| Odia | Kath aloo |
| Gujarati | Ratalu |
| Marathi | Ratalya |
Conclusion
To conclude, sweet potato has diverse vernacular identities across India reflecting the country’s linguistic, cultural and agricultural diversity. While the local names vary, they commonly draw reference to the taste, appearance, origin or cultivation method of this versatile tuber crop. The popularity of sweet potato is evident from the fact it is grown and consumed in all parts of India and has gained unique names in every region.