K.C. Das

Krishna Chandra Das (1869–1934), more commonly referred to as K.C. Das, was a Bengali confectioner, entrepreneur, businessman and Bengali cultural icon of the early 20th century. Born in the year 1869 in Bagbazar, Kolkata, Krishna Chandra was the only son and successor of the Bengali confectioner and sweetmeat inventor Nobin Chandra Das. Krishna Chandra was a versatile enthusiast with a spirit of scientific exploration. He developed an electric loom, a soda fountain machine, did extensive research on homeopathy, and researched eastern and western classical music. Krishna Chandra Das became an iconic figure in the 1930s Kolkata with his original creation the "Rossomalai" and the vacuum canned "Rossogolla", which were popularized and promoted throughout India by his family organization K.C. Das Private Limited, founded by Krishna Chandra's son and successor Sarada Charan Das.

Nobin Chandra Das left his confectionery business to his only son Krishna Chandra Das. Krishna pioneered an exploratory spirit in the family confectionery business, enabling it to grow as a leading Indian confectioner.

Krishna Chandra, having an immense liking for scientific innovations and machinery, initially started a mechanical and scientific workshop at Bagbazar. His primary focus was developing new technology to modernize and revamp the Bengali sweet confectionery. Unfortunately his mother Khridmoni Devi vehemently opposed the idea of redefining Nobin Chandra Das’ confectionery in the light of science and experimentation. This drove Krishna Chandra (K.C.Das) to break out of his father's confectionery and create an original development as an extension to the family business under his own title. His vision to imbibe scientific methodology was soon realized and rewarded in terms of economic and technological success. It is probably largely due to the pioneering efforts of K.C. Das that the "Rossogolla" is widely regarded as the national sweet of India.

Besides being privileged to have the legendary "Nobin Moira" as his father, Krishna Chandra also inherited a well-known confectionery legacy from his mother's family. His mother, Khirodmoni Devi, was the granddaughter of Bholanath Dey, better known as "Bhola Moira" in the history of nineteenth century Bengal. "Bhola Moira" holds a place in Bengali folklore and culture, not just as a professional confectioner but as an accomplished poet-minstrel. Krishna Chandra was married to Shwetangini Devi, who was known to be a great beauty of her time. They had five sons and one daughter. In 1930, Krishna Chandra started his first shop, "Krishna Chandra Das Confectioner" with his youngest son, Sarada Charan Das.

Krishna Chandra's major contribution was the introduction of the canned Rossogolla and the creation of "Rossomalai" in the year 1930, which became perennial favorites. To market his innovations, Krishna Chandra opened a new confectionery shop at Jorasanko (in 1930) with his youngest enthusiastic son Sarada Charan Das. From there he popularized the canned Rossogolla, which was the first and only canned dessert manufactured in India at that time. This was the inception of the "K.C. Das" confectionery company, which was later enhanced and legally reestablished as K.C. Das Private Limited under the Companies’ Act of 1946 by Krishna Chandra's son and successor Sarada Charan Das. Krishna Chandra died within four years of the opening of the company, leaving the affairs of the nascent company in the able hands of Sarada Charan. Today K.C. Das Private Limited is widely acknowledged for their original creations such as "Rossogolla" and "Rossomalai".