Discovering Gular: The Forgotten Fruit that Found Me

Intro: When a Fruit Stopped Me in My Tracks

It wasn’t planned. It wasn’t researched. But sometimes, nature sends a subtle nudge.

While visiting Kids Garden Senior Secondary School, Jharia for my younger son Amu’s Sainik School examination, I noticed a tree right outside the school boundary wall. Its bark was rugged, its posture humble, but the clusters of green fruits hanging from its trunk and branches caught my attention. ‘Amla?‘ I guessed. But something didn’t add up. The leaves were broader, and the fruit seemed softer. Curious, I turned to a few bystanders nearby who identified it as ‘Dumar’ or ‘Gular’. That moment sparked my discovery journey.

So Far I only Knew Gular as a tree which doesn’t get flowers and grow fruits directly. We read about in middle school and I had one Tree in my primary school, it was much smaller plant though not a tree, and all students keep looking at the Plant to look for a Gular Flower, that we believed then, that one who sees the Gular Flower will become Richie Rich. And that’s the reason perhaps of the phrase Gular ka Phool Hona गूलर का फूल होना (Be a Gular Flower) – meaning Rare in Sight!

The Tree with a Trunk Full of Secrets (Rarest Flower)

Known botanically as Ficus racemosa, the Gular tree doesn’t scream for attention, yet it thrives in almost every part of India, especially near old temples, dry riverbeds, and rural schools, as I discovered. It’s one of those trees that quietly supports ecosystems, cultures, and even medical traditions. One of its most curious features? The fruit doesn’t grow on branches. Instead, it emerges directly from the trunk and large limbs — a phenomenon called ‘cauliflory’ and that’s the unique quality which had attracted my eyes! Many people call it or relate to Sycamore as well, but let me clarify Sycamore is not Gular.

Its fruit, when unripe, is a common sight in rural kitchens where it’s chopped, spiced, and made into dry sabzi or rich curries (I didn’t know at all Dumar as Sabzi, never heard before????, but the bystander boasted with eyes widened and sparking – he had it’s curry at home day before and claimed it is very good for digestion and works as coolant in summer, – Really That’s a SECRET).

The taste? Earthy, mildly bitter, and deeply satisfying when cooked well — especially when tempered with mustard seeds and garlic. In some regions, it’s sun-dried and preserved for year-round use.

Wow! and that’s when my curiosity spiked to the sky and I started my research – of course through Google, ChatGPT and talking to more people. Let’s Decode Gular the hidden gem around you 🙂 …

A Forgotten Healer in Your Backyard

Beyond the culinary, Gular is a pharmacy of its own. In Ayurveda, every part of this tree has a role — the bark is used to control blood sugar, the latex helps in treating wounds, and the fruit is valued for aiding digestion, cooling down internal heat (especially helpful in Indian summers), and alleviating acidity. As someone deeply involved in wellness and psychology, I was fascinated to realize that Gular doesn’t just help the body — it soothes the gut, which modern research often calls the ‘second brain’.

Stories, Symbols, and Spiritual Roots

In ancient scriptures, the Gular tree is referred to as ‘Udumbara’ — a symbol of spiritual rarity. In Buddhist mythology, its rare blossom is a sign of auspicious change. In folk culture, especially in Uttarakhand and Himachal, Gular fruit is tied to stories of love, longing, and resilience. The popular Kumaoni folk song ‘Bedu Pako Baro Masa’ uses Gular as a motif to signify groundedness and prosperity. In some oral traditions, the tree is said to listen — a witness to generations of storytellers and wanderers.

When a Tree Reflects the Mind

Standing beneath that tree, I couldn’t help but draw parallels to our lives. Isn’t the human mind like the Gular?

So much growing beneath the surface. So many hidden fruits of potential. But unless you pause, notice, and reflect — you walk past, never knowing what wisdom stood quietly by your side.

In my work as a mindset and life coach, I’ve seen this often. People with immense inner resources, talents, ideas — but clouded by noise, doubt, and the fast-paced world. All they need is awareness, like I needed that day — to pause and pay attention.

Your Turn to Discover the Gular Within

So here’s a gentle invitation. Maybe your Gular isn’t a tree. Maybe it’s a skill you forgot. A dream you shelved. A part of yourself you’ve ignored for years.

What if today, you paused and noticed it?

At Premit Brothers, we help you reconnect with your inner Gular — your dormant strengths, your clarity, your purpose. Through psychometric assessments, personalized coaching, and mindset re-alignment, we bring science and soul together to guide your journey.

Let This Be More Than a Read — Let It Be a Realization

If this story nudged something in you, follow that feeling. Visit our website, book a clarity session, and begin your journey of mindful living. And if you enjoy these kinds of reflections — follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube for more.

Sometimes, a fruit on a forgotten tree is all it takes to remember who you are…