Indira Gandhi's ‘antakshari’ games to Modi's ‘sabudana khichdi’ recipe: Behind PMs' dining tables

From former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s games of 'antakshari' with her doctor to PM Narendra Modi guiding a BJP worker's wife to whip up the perfect sabudana khichdi, “The Prime Minister's Table” dives into foods and stories that reveal the personal side of the prime ministers.

The book by journalists Purabi Shridhar and Sanghita Singh, published by Manjul Publishing House, steps directly into the kitchens and dining rooms of India's prime ministers - from Jawaharlal Nehru to PM Modi, according to news agency PTI.

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Seven decades of food and power

The stories have come from interviews with the leaders' families, cooks, friends, and visits to restaurants associated with them.

Thus, the book documents seven decades of Indian food and culture. It captures how the food culture around the prime ministers shifted, moving from the munificence of royal kitchens to the everyday meals of democratic power, the report added.

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Dining, dishes, and more by PMs

Indira Gandhi is remembered playing 'antakshari' with her doctor.

Manmohan Singh assisted his wife with the dishes during their early years overseas.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee's love for chaat in Lucknow and golden fried prawns at the Taj Mahal Hotel.

An account of PM Modi teaching a party worker's wife about 'sabudana khichdi'.

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What the authors said

Sridhar, in a statement, said, "Are PMs just primary political figures? What lies beyond their political and public persona was a subject I found intriguing: their homes, family life, friendships, working relationships and dining table choice and talks."

Sharing the experience about the process, the author said that putting together the book was a long process.

"Putting together the book was a long process and not very easy either. Doors were thrown open- by nonagenarians to youngsters; doors were slammed shut, but finally persistence paid," Sridhar added.

Singh said, "By the time we finished writing 'The Prime Minister's Table', it no longer remained a book but an honest tribute from us to the leaders who shaped our country post independence."

Singh also said that the goal was to uncover the "human side" of the leaders and for that they travelled into the past.

"As we travelled into the past of our Prime Ministers, we uncovered intimate stories, from family dining memories to vacations and exotic official trips. Our attempt was to unravel their human side," Singh added.