Agar: Interesting facts

Agar alias Ud, Oud, Oudh, gaharu, Agarwood, Agar is well popular in Arabic world and part and parcel of their life and tradition. It is mentioned even in Kur-An, the divine text of Islam. When a Keralite or Indian reaches Arab countries and comes to india on leave and back, one of the request he may get is to 'get some Oud from India'. What is this Oud with that is of this much importance to Arabs?

Those who does not know about this scented wood, can refer to wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Agarwood

Those who does not know about its strong connection and use in Arabian countries can refer to: http://www.saudiara mcoworld. com/issue/ 200006/the. hidden.history. of.scented. wood.htm (I liked this well written article)

Of course the above article may also help to know that Oud is 10 times costlier than Gold!!! No wonder now we can find Oud shops even in Kerala from where the Gulf Malayalees (Kerlites in Gulf Countries) by Oud and supply to their Arabian friends (Arabis). Oud is not created in Kerala, the Agar tree does not grow in Kerala, and even if it Agar tree is grown Oud will not get produced, since only the attach of a special mold (the trees occasionally become infected with mold and begin to produce an aromatic resin in response to this attack) can cause Oud to be produced! In India Oud (Agar) is produced in Assam only and goes to all parts of India and later to Arabia. Truly it is the Assam Scent Gold exported to Gulf countries!

Please Note: The dependence of Gulf countries on India (Assam) to get a scent that is tightly connected with their life, tradition; a scent that gets mentioned even in Kur-An and is respected and valued, indicates the dependence the Arabian countries once had on India and its natural resources. For food, cosmetics, scents and for almost every thing they depended on India!!! (And now we depend on them - just due to Petrol, the gold of the dry land!)

What an irony!