Ladikanee is Lady Canning, transformed into an Indian term by the moira (professional sweet-maker in Bengal) who created it. Chitrita Banerji (1997) explains that Lady Canning, who was ‘Vicereine of India’ at that time (shortly after 1858 when Lord Canning became the first Viceroy of India), challenged Bhim Chandra Nag, a prominent moira, to create a new sweet for her birthday. He did, and ‘this new product, large, spherical, succulent and fragrant, became known as the ladikanee’. It remains very popular. See pantua.
