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Food
From Indira Gandhi’s Antakshari to Modi’s Sabudana Khichdi: Book Charts PMs’ Food Journey
✍️ Hindustan Times
🗓 23 Aug 2026, 09:40 PM
👁 2
A newly released book chronicles seven decades of Indian cuisine, highlighting how the dining preferences of successive prime ministers—from Indira Gandhi’s informal antakshari gatherings to Narendra Modi’s sabudana khichdi—have mirrored broader cultural shifts.
A new volume has entered the market documenting seven decades of Indian food and culture, with a particular focus on the meals served at the prime ministerial residence. The author traces how each leader’s palate has both reflected and influenced the nation’s culinary trends.
The book cites vivid episodes such as Indira Gandhi’s informal antakshari sessions, where simple snacks accompanied the musical game, and contrasts them with the contemporary preference of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sabudana khichdi, a dish associated with fasting traditions.
By juxtaposing these moments, the work illustrates the broader evolution of Indian dining habits, from post‑independence modesty to present‑day health‑conscious choices. It offers readers a cultural lens through which to view political history, underscoring how food can serve as a subtle indicator of societal change.
The publication arrives amid growing interest in culinary heritage, inviting scholars and the general public alike to reconsider the everyday meals that have shaped India’s leadership narrative.
The book cites vivid episodes such as Indira Gandhi’s informal antakshari sessions, where simple snacks accompanied the musical game, and contrasts them with the contemporary preference of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sabudana khichdi, a dish associated with fasting traditions.
By juxtaposing these moments, the work illustrates the broader evolution of Indian dining habits, from post‑independence modesty to present‑day health‑conscious choices. It offers readers a cultural lens through which to view political history, underscoring how food can serve as a subtle indicator of societal change.
The publication arrives amid growing interest in culinary heritage, inviting scholars and the general public alike to reconsider the everyday meals that have shaped India’s leadership narrative.