Story of Boroline

Bengal became the nerve centre of India’s struggle for independence. People across the province united against what they saw as a deliberate attempt to weaken the nationalist movement.

Gour’s early memories got embedded with what his innocent eyes saw around him. Secretive huddles in the ‘para’ corners, fiery speeches arousing everyone, the elders regularly going out and joining protest marches. The ladies of the house and neighbourhood piled up the British clothes and set fire to them. Police vans swept in and carried away his uncles in the dead of night, and the child saw the evident signs of torture when their unconscious, bruised bodies were pushed out of the vans at ‘Sukchar mor’.

In 1911, when Gour was just two years old, mounting public agitation, strikes and economic pressure forced Lord Hardinge to annul the Partition of Bengal. The province erupted in celebration — a powerful lesson in the strength of collective resistance.

Education and Early Influences

During this time, a young revolutionary named Radhakanta established an independent school in Sukchar. His aim was to nurture young minds free from colonial servility. Sambhu Dhan enrolled young Gour in this institution. Intelligent and quick to learn, Gour completed his schooling ahead of his age.

From his beloved “Mastarmoshai”, he learnt how the mighty British Empire had been compelled to bow before the Swadeshi movement. These formative years instilled in him a deep belief in self-reliance — the conviction that true strength lay in making indigenous products of superior quality - “Make in India”.

Entrepreneurial Beginnings & the seed of the BOROLINE FORMULA

After completing his education, Gour left Sukchar and started working on his own business in Burrabazar, British Calcutta’s wholesale mandi. Through his firm, G. Dutta & Co., in Bonfield Lane, he dealt in imported goods, particularly medicines from Britain.

One such product was a British petroleum jelly based ointment containing 10% Boric with the trade name Borofax. White petroleum jelly was also available in the open market. Gour saw potential in it — but he envisioned something better. He wanted to create a superior formulation of this cream and offer it to his countrymen at a fraction of the cost of imported creams.

Realising that white petrolatum could be easily melted, he began experimenting at home, carefully blending additional beneficial ingredients to enhance its healing properties.

Guidance from Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy

In 1914, Rajabazar Science College was established. Six years later under the leadership of Sir Asutosh Mukherjee and Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy, India’s first Department of Applied Chemistry for postgraduate research began there. The stars had aligned.

In 1928, at the age of nineteen, Gour Mohan gathered the courage to approach Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy at Rajabazar Science College, located just two kilometers from his rented residence at  Balak Dutta Lane. Lacking formal training or a degree in applied chemistry, he was very sure he will be asked to leave.

To his utter surprise Acharya Prafulla Chandra gave him a patient hearing. Impressed by Gour Mohan’s self- practiced knowledge based product development, resilience and single-minded pursuit of purpose, the Acharya took the 19-year-old under his aegis. He gave him guidance on how to go about with the development.

The Birth of Boroline

After another year of dedicated research and refinement, Gour Mohan perfected his formulation. In 1929, he began making the cream at home, assisted by his young wife Kamala Bala. The product was packaged in a distinctive green container.

He called it Boroline — a homegrown remedy born from patriotism, perseverance and scientific guidance. In 1930, Gour Mohan Dutta got patent for Boroline and another self-developed product Asmolin, registered.