New Delhi, India – April 16, 2025 – For over a century, Rooh Afza, a ruby-red herbal syrup, has been a staple in Indian households, offering sweet relief from the scorching summer heat. Concocted in 1907 by Hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed in the bustling lanes of Old Delhi, this refreshing drink—whose name translates to “soul refresher”—has transcended borders, becoming a cultural icon in India, Pakistan, and beyond. But now, the beloved beverage finds itself at the center of a bitter controversy, ignited by provocative remarks from yoga guru and Patanjali co-founder Baba Ramdev, who dubbed it part of a “sharbat jihad.”
The uproar began earlier this month when Ramdev, in a promotional video for Patanjali’s rose-flavored sharbat, claimed that a rival company—widely understood to be Hamdard Laboratories, the makers of Rooh Afza—uses its profits to fund mosques and madrasas. “If you drink that sharbat, mosques and madrasas will be built,” Ramdev said, contrasting it with Patanjali’s product, which he claimed supports Indian institutions like gurukuls and universities. He went further, coining the term “sharbat jihad” and likening it to other inflammatory phrases like “love jihad” and “vote jihad,” urging consumers to “protect” themselves from such products.
The remarks, posted on Patanjali’s social media on April 3, 2025, triggered a firestorm. Social media platforms buzzed with outrage, with many accusing Ramdev of stoking communal tensions for commercial gain. “As someone who grew up drinking Rooh Afza during Ramadan, this hurts,” one user posted on X. “Why drag a simple sharbat into controversy?” Another called Ramdev’s rhetoric “bottled hatred,” a sentiment echoed by cartoonist Satish Acharya in a biting satirical illustration.
Hamdard, a Waqf trust since 1948 dedicated to charitable causes, issued a restrained response on X, emphasizing the quality and authenticity of Rooh Afza without directly naming Ramdev. The company highlighted its rigorous testing and FSSAI-approved ingredients, reaffirming its commitment to serving all communities. “Every sip of Rooh Afza is made with herbs and natural flavors,” the post read, sidestepping the religious jab.
The controversy escalated when senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh filed a police complaint against Ramdev on April 15 in Bhopal. Singh accused the yoga guru of inciting religious hatred and promoting enmity, calling his “sharbat jihad” remark unconstitutional and tantamount to hate speech. “Ramdev’s opposition to Rooh Afza simply because its maker is Muslim is an offense,” Singh told reporters, demanding an FIR under sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. He vowed to take the matter to court if police fail to act within a week.
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Local police confirmed they are investigating the complaint. “We are probing the matter and will take appropriate action,” said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Rashmi Agrawal.
Rooh Afza’s story is one of resilience and cultural unity. Born in a small Unani clinic, it blended fruits, herbs, and floral essences like rose and kewra into a cooling elixir. By 1910, its vibrant label, designed in Mumbai, became iconic, unchanged to this day. After India’s partition in 1947, Hamdard split operations, with one branch in India and another in Pakistan, yet Rooh Afza’s popularity soared in both nations, becoming a shared symbol of heritage. Today, it’s sold in over 40 countries, savored in everything from falooda to lassi.
But this isn’t the first time Rooh Afza has faced scrutiny. In 2024, health claims about its herbal content were questioned in Bangladesh, and doctors warned about its high sugar content. A 2022 dispute in Haryana over alleged hiring biases at Hamdard’s factory also stirred local tensions, though the company denied the claims.
Ramdev’s remarks have drawn sharp criticism for exploiting religious sentiments to boost Patanjali’s sales. “This is cheap marketing,” one X user fumed, pointing out that Hamdard’s profits fund education and healthcare for all communities. Others noted the irony of Ramdev’s past controversies, including Patanjali’s halal certifications for Gulf markets.
As the debate rages, Rooh Afza remains a bittersweet reminder of a shared past now tangled in modern divides. Whether this storm will dent its legacy or simply fizzle out like so many summer squabbles remains to be seen. For now, the drink that once cooled tempers is ironically fueling them.
