Meet the 'Mango Man' who grew 300 mango varieties on one tree

Mangoes and summers go hand in hand in India. As soon as the season arrives, markets are flooded with all kinds of mango varieties, tempting everyone who passes by. Indians have loved mangoes for generations but Kaleem Ullah Khan shares a bond with them like no other. His passion for the fruit led him to do something incredible—he grafted over 300 different mango varieties onto a single tree, earning him the title of ‘Mango Man’.

In his hometown of Malihabad, Uttar Pradesh, he transformed a 120-year-old mango tree into a wonder of nature. This tree, which might look ordinary at first glance, is actually home to hundreds of different mango varieties, each with its own taste, color, and shape.

Khan’s love for grafting started when he was just 17. Instead of following a traditional career path, he spent his days experimenting on trees, trying to create something new. Over time, he didn’t just stick to mangoes—he grafted other fruit varieties too. His dedication paid off in 2008, when he was honored with the Padma Shri Award, one of India’s most prestigious civilian awards, for his contribution to horticulture.

India has no shortage of mango varieties—Totapuri, Langra, Dussehri, Fazli, Chausa, Safeda, Ratol, Malda, the list goes on. But Khan took things a step further. Instead of just growing them, he started naming his mangoes after famous personalities.