This & That Saga and Serendipity. Memoirs and Musings.Prof. Aloke Kumar
Prof. Aloke Kumar

It is silverware that was very popular during the 19th century. Paan Dan is a container for storing paan (betel leaf) used in South Asian households. It also stores other ingredients such as zarda, supari, kattha, choona, clove, cardamom and other accessories. Paan Dan has several compartments for storing the individual ingredients for making paan. The last ruler of the kingdom Oudh, Wajid 'Ali Shah' who was deposed and exiled to Calcutta by the British in 1856, used a Paan Dan to store his every day paan ingredients. The specific Paan Dan that was used by Wajid was later given to Queen Mary during the Delhi Coronation Durbar and Indian tour of 1911-1912, then presented to the British Museum in 1912. Paan Dan were commonly carried by the dancing girls of the court of Nawabs in Lucknow. This particular Paan Dan was used as a prop in the film Satranj Ki Khilari.