Now, a tragedy-tinged Indian rose for European lovers

LONDON: A rose called Taj Mahal has been unveiled in the British capital by Indian growers with an eye to the European Valentine's Day market.
 
"It is deep red in colour with faint black streaks, symbolising both romance and sadness," said S. Ramasundaram, an Indian bureaucrat who has brought the rose with him to London on a marketing drive.
 
"Love is not untouched by unhappiness. Bright red roses are a dime a dozen."
 
"The full name is Taj Mahal, Symbol of Eternal Love," added Ramasundaram, chairman of the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (Tidco), which grows the roses in a joint venture called Tanflora with floriculture specialists MN Associates.
 
The roses are grown on 125 acres of farms in Hosur by 25 grower-investors under a model where Tanflora is responsible for processing, branding, marketing and distributing the flowers.
 
Ramasundaram said the Taj Mahal rose, which was developed by Dutch breeders and patented by Tanflora, has been popular in East Asia and Australia.
 
The company expects to sell three million Taj Mahal roses next year, well above expectations, Ramasundaram said, adding he is considering expansion plans so that the roses can be grown over 800 acres of farmland.
 
The company, which hopes to reach its production capacity of 70 million roses this year, has also patented the name 'Kohinoor, Jewel of India,' for another variety of rose being developed in Holland.