Amid Brics Summit all-vegetarian fare row, what new book says about banquets
Prime ministers’ menus have reflected tastes and politics since Jawaharlal Nehru began to Indianise state banquets
The controversy surrounding the all-vegetarian offerings at the Brics Summit has reignited interest in the evolution of state banquets, as highlighted in the book "The Prime Minister's Table: Delicacies and Diplomacies from the Era of Nehru to Modi" by journalists Purabi Shridhar and Sanghita Singh. Since Jawaharlal Nehru initiated Indianizing state banquets in the late 1940s, each prime minister's preferences and political considerations have shaped the menus, reflecting a blend of taste and diplomacy.
Indira Gandhi famously intervened when a turkey roast was on the menu for a 1983 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, requesting biryani instead. The chefs accommodated her request. The authors draw from extensive interviews, spending seven years entering the personal spaces of the prime ministers to document their banquets over 14 chapters.
Under Nehru's reign, state banquets transformed, with Indian dishes replacing bouquets and toasts made with orange juice. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, known for his simple meal preferences, has seen his dietary choices mirrored in the banquets. Nehru's aversion to spice led to a vegetarian menu in 1962, showcasing the extent to which personal tastes have influenced official meals.
The authors note that while Modi's vegetarian diet dictates his menu selections, the meticulous protocol surrounding these events ensures that the meals remain carefully curated and respectful of diplomatic nuances.
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