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Success Story: Green tube cream which is made before independence and still uses in every house. Boroline, who won the hearts of Indians for 95 years, started from Kolkata and then reached Ghaziabad.
Of a cream that will be found in every Indian’s house. The green tube cream that is first remembered when there is an injury, when there is a burning of the skin, or the heels burst.
Yes, we are talking about Boroline. This cream, about 95 years old, is before independence, when the British ruled. Still, even today it remains a part of every household. It is nice to hear that a small cream has come so long.
Borolin started in 1929 with Gaurohan Dutta, a rich businessman from Kolkata. He used to import foreign medicines earlier, but inspired by the indigenous movement, he started GD Pharmaceuticals Company. Their aim was to make medicines that are as good as imported things, but cheap according to the pocket of every Indian. Boroline was made by mixing boric acid, lanoline and zinc oxide. This cream was the same solution to every problem of deep lesions, pimples and skin.
When it was brought to the market, the British tried hard to stop its production, but they failed. Gradually this cream reached every house. In order to cure cold skin in Kashmir, to protect it from strong sunlight in Kanyakumari, it began to be used everywhere. It was perfect for all ages and every skin type.
The company’s popularity increased. The first factory was built on 20 acres of land in Chakbagi, West Bengal, and the second in Mohannagar, Ghaziabad. Apart from Borolin, now the company makes Sutol antiseptic liquid, which is useful in summer, products such as Allen Hair Oil, Glosoft Face Wash, Panorab Liquid Pen Reliever. In summer, the sale of Sutol is more, in winter Borolin. Borolin’s name came from two words – Boro from Boric Powder and Oin from Olean Latin’s Ollion. And yes, its logo is an elephant, which is a symbol of auspiciousness and stability.
This logo did not change for more than 80 years. Many people also call it elephant cream. When India became independent on 15 August 1947, Gaurmohan’s son Debasis Dutta was the MD of the company. In happiness, he distributed more than 1,00,000 borolin tubes for free. Also advertised in two newspapers in Calcutta.
Not only this, Pandit used to use it from Jawaharlal Nehru to superstar actors. Boroline is not just cream, but is associated with people’s emotions. Apart from India, the company’s products are also registered in Oman, Türkiye, Bangladesh and UAE.
Think, today there are so many skin products in the market, yet Boroline is not leaving its place. It remained a symbol of indigenous movement, which teaches us economic self -reliance. This is not just cream, but part of our heritage.
