India: Shopkeepers remove ‘Pak’ from sweets like Moti Pak, Mysore Pak

As anti-Pakistan sentiment intensifies in India, sweet shop owners in Jaipur renamed traditional sweets to remove the word "Pak" from their names and renamed it with the word "Shree."

Sweets such as Moti Pak, Aam Pak, Gond Pak, and Mysore Pak are now being sold under altered names like Moti Shree, Aam Shree, Gond Shree, and Mysore Shree.

According to Indian media, the move was taken in solidarity with "Operation Sindoor." 

This renaming reflects a broader trend in India, where rising hate has increasingly targeted anything perceived as connected to Muslim or Pakistani culture.

From renaming cities and demolishing Muslim homes and mosques under the pretext of reclaiming Hindu temples, to now even altering the names of food, cultural elements are being erased under the guise of patriotism.

Read: Indian govt issues notice to Amazon over selling Pakistani flag

Indian linguist Abhishek Avtans took to X to clarify the origin of the term "Pak" in these sweets.

He explained, “Who is going to tell them that पाक pāk in Mysore Pak, Moti Pak, Aam Pak, etc., is from pāka ಪಾಕ, a Kannada word meaning ‘sweet condiment’? It shares the same root as Hindi pāg पाग (sugar syrup). The shared root for both words is the Sanskrit pakva पक्व (cooked, ripe, baked).”

Despite this, cultural ignorance coupled with blind nationalism continues to shape public discourse in India.

Recently, the Indian government has intensified digital censorship of Pakistan by banning Pakistani artists, news, and entertainment content across the country.

Following the Pahalgam incident, India also revoked SAARC visa privileges for Pakistani citizens and reduced diplomatic staff.