Scent of a man: Ittar maker names perfume after RSS leader

Sections of the RSS are coming up smelling of roses, thanks to a special ittar that has been named after one of its leaders, Indresh Kumar.
The perfume -- called 'Indresh' -- has been developed by Delhi-based ittar maker and trader Hafeez Mohammed Sabreen, who says he has been greatly influenced by the RSS leader.
Sabreen, whose family has been in the business of making ittar -- produced with oils derived from botanical sources -- for generations, said 'Indresh' was the second ittar, after 'Kalam', that he had named in honour of a person.
"I named and developed 'Kalam' after former President APJ Abdul Kalam," Sabreen told PTI.

'Kalam' is likely to be launched in October by Kumar, the founder and patron of the the RSS affiliated Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM).
Sabreen said 'Indresh' was based on sandalwood, whose fragrance Kumar is said to be fond of, and rose petals.

"This ittar is a token of my respect for Indresh ji. It is not for sale and I distribute it free of cost at the events where he is invited," Sabreen, who is also an MRM office- bearer, said.
Kumar told PTI he hoped the ittar would have "not only an external but an internal effect" on the people who use it.

"We may belong to different religions but we are one country. So I hope all people who use it will be non-violent and believe in this idea," he added.
For the past few years the RSS leader has been raising issues such as triple talaq relating to the Muslim community. He had earlier said Muslims should not eat beef and break religious fasts with cow's milk.
His name also figured among the accused in the 2007 Ajmer blast case, but was later cleared.