How India turned its cuisine into a weapon of peace, power, and planet-saving potential
Take mangoes, for instance. Not just any mangoes, India's world-renowned Alphonsos. In 2007, they starred in what came to be known as the 'nuclear mango deal,' where the U.S. lifted a longstanding ban on Indian mango imports in tandem with broader nuclear negotiations. Mangoes became more than dessert; they symbolised a soft-power breakthrough. But in 2025, that sweet story soured. The U.S. rejected 25 tonnes of Indian mangoes over minor paperwork issues. The fruit was destroyed, costing exporters $500,000 and bruising bilateral ties. Diplomacy by mango had suddenly turned to mush.Undeterred, India doubled down—not on mangoes, but millets. Declaring 2025 the International Year of Millets at the United Nations, India transformed these hardy grains from village staples into climate champions. At the G20, Prime Minister Modi served millet-centric menus to world leaders, blending sustainability with strategy. Millets were rebranded not just as health foods but as geopolitical statements. In a world worried about water scarcity and food security, India positioned itself as both solution and supplier.This culinary campaign reached new heights at World Food India 2025 in New Delhi. More than a food expo, it was India's gastronomic G20. CEOs, diplomats, chefs, and investors converged not just to taste but to trade. Alongside it, India Food 2025 showcased the country's food tech innovations—think blockchain-tracked basmati, AI-tested paneer, and IoT-enabled ghee production. Because in global food markets, it's not just about flavour. It's about safety, traceability, and digital trust.Still, India's gastrodiplomacy isn't just about commerce it's also about culture. Dosa is now a breakfast regular in Nairobi. Masala chai is Instagram's new comfort drink. Embassy dinners are less about policy papers and more about paneer platters. India's cuisine has become a tool of soft power, building goodwill in places where negotiations fall flat.But the path isn't without potholes. India's vast food ecosystem struggles with standardisation. Bureaucratic delays and inconsistent farming practices can still sabotage a great dish—or a great deal. And globally, the food diplomacy game is crowded: Italy has pasta, Mexico has avocados, Thailand has curry. India must keep innovating, digitising, and diversifying its plate to stay competitive.Yet, in a world where hard diplomacy often ends in deadlock, India's culinary strategy is cooking up trust, culture, and cooperation. It's proving that you don't always need a summit or a sanction to make a statement. Sometimes, you just need a good thali.advertisementSo, the next time someone asks how India plans to sway the global order, you'll know the answer: with bajra, biryani, and a side of strategic spice.- Ends
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
29 minutes ago
- Mint
Nimisha Priya's death sentence overturned by Yemen authorities: Grand Mufti's office
The death sentence of Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse convicted of murder in Yemen, has been "completely overturned," according to a statement released Monday by the office of Indian Grand Mufti Kanthapuram AP Abubakker Musliyar. The Grand Mufti's office said the decision came following a high-level meeting in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, where authorities agreed to fully revoke the death penalty, which had previously been under temporary suspension. According to the statement, as reported by ANI 'The death sentence of Nimisha Priya, which was previously suspended, has been overturned. A high-level meeting held in Sanaa decided to completely cancel the death sentence that was temporarily suspended earlier' Nimisha Priya, a 37-year-old Indian nurse from Kerala, was scheduled to be executed on July 16, after she was convicted of killing a Yemeni national in June 2018, a decision that was upheld by the country's Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023. However, her execution was postponed, following "concerted efforts" by the Government of India. Earlier on July 17, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that it was actively working to support Nimisha Priya and was extending all possible assistance in the case. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, during a press briefing, stated that the MEA had appointed a lawyer to assist Priya's family in navigating the complex legal process in Yemen. This includes exploring options for clemency or pardon under Sharia law. Nimisha Priya is a trained nurse and has worked in private hospitals in Yemen for a few years. Her husband and minor daughter returned to India in 2014 because of financial reasons, and in that same year, Yemen was gripped by civil war, and they could not go back as the country stopped issuing new visas. Later in 2015, Nimisha joined hands with a Yemeni citizen, Talal Abdo Mahdi, to set up her clinic in Sanaa. She sought Mahdi's support because, under Yemen's law, only nationals are allowed to set up clinics and business firms. In 2015, Mahdi accompanied Nimisha Priya to Kerala when she came for a month-long holiday. During the visit, he stole a wedding photograph of Nimisha, which he later manipulated to claim that he was married to her. A plea made by the mother of Nimisha Priya had stated, "After a while, Nimisha's clinic began, Mahdi manipulated the ownership documents of the clinic. He also began to take money out of her monthly earnings after telling everyone that Nimisha was his wife. Nimisha had alleged that Mahdi had been harassing her and her family for years. Mahdi also seized her passport. This was done to ensure that she would not leave Yemen. He tortured her under the influence of drugs. He threatened her at gunpoint several times. He took all the money from the clinic and her ornaments." The plea further alleged that, unable to cope with the torture, Nimisha complained to the police in Sanaa, but instead of taking action against Mahdi, the police arrested her and put her in jail for six days. It was further alleged that on her return from jail, the severity of the torture increased manifold. In July 2017, Nimisha took the help of a warden of a jail located near her clinic. The warden suggested that she should try to sedate him and then convince him to give her the passport. However, sedation did not affect Mahdi, who was a substance abuser. She tried sedating him again, using a stronger sedative in order to retrieve her passport, but he died within a few minutes due to a drug overdose. (ANI)
Indian Express
29 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Indian nurse Nimisha Priya's death sentence ‘cancelled' in Yemen, says Indian Grand Mufti Musliyar's office
In a major relief for Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who was convicted of murder in Yemen, her death sentence announced by Yemeni authorities has been 'overturned' and 'completely cancelled', news agency ANI reported quoting the office of Indian Grand Mufti, Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar on Tuesday. According to the statement issued by the Indian Grand Mufti's office, the decision to overturn Nimisha Priya's death sentence was taken after a high-level meeting held in Yemen's capital Sanaa, wherein it was reportedly decided that her execution would be 'completely cancelled' which was earlier temporarily suspended. On the case of Nimisha Priya, an Indian national facing the death penalty in a murder case in Yemen, Indian Grand Mufti, Kanthapuram AP Abubakker Muslaiyar's office says, 'The death sentence of Nimisha Priya, which was previously suspended, has been overturned. A high-level… — ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2025 The 37-year-old Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who belongs to Kerala, was originally scheduled to be executed on July 16 by the Yemen authorities but the death sentence was temporarily halted a day earlier amid the intervention of the Indian government, after it requested the Yemen administration to seek more time for the family to reach a mutually agreeable solution with the other party. The statement issued by the Indian Grand Mufti, Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar's office said, 'The death sentence of Nimisha Priya, which was previously suspended, has been overturned. A high-level meeting held in Sanaa decided to completely cancel the death sentence that was temporarily suspended earlier.' The Ministry of External Affairs, on July 17, had said that it was actively working to support and provide all possible assistance to Nimisha Priya in Yemen. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, during a press briefing, had said that the ministry had appointed a lawyer to assist nurse Priya's family to aid in the legal procedures in Yemen.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
AICTE chief stresses on need to teach science subjects in mother tongue
Kochi: Higher education, including subjects such as engineering and medicine, should also be taught in the mother tongue so that even those who are not proficient in English can learn these subjects, said All India Council for Technical Education ( AICTE ) chairman T G Sitharam while addressing the press on the sidelines of Njana Sabha organized by Shiksha Sanskriti Uttan Nyas. Sitharam said that the successful rollout of engineering textbooks in regional languages is ongoing, including the release of Malayalam texts last year. He cited the example of Maharashtra, where a batch of engineering students graduated entirely in Marathi and secured 100% placement, proving that learning in regional languages ensures employability. He urged stakeholders to embrace mother tongue instruction in fields like engineering and medicine to ensure inclusivity for those less proficient in English. Sitharam also spoke on AICTE's efforts to enrich education with Indian ethos and ethics. He said universal Human Values (UHV), offered as a minor course with 12-18 credits, has gained widespread acceptance among students and faculty alike, with lakhs of teachers trained to conduct these courses. While acknowledging the closure of some institutions, he clarified that this is due to the removal of intake caps, leading to increased capacity in quality institutions. "Across India, including Kerala, engineering seats have gone up by 15% over the last two years," he said. He also noted a significant development in international education, stating that 11 foreign universities are set to begin operations in India, with approvals already in place for campuses in Delhi, Mumbai, and Gujarat. He also said India's higher education enrolment is currently at 4.3 crore and is projected to touch 9 crore by 2035, he added. Former Union minister of education Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, who presided over the closing day of the ceremony, said that since ancient times India has been a destination for knowledge seekers and philosophical teachers from around the world. "Universities like Takshashila and Nalanda attracted numerous students to India. Indian education focuses on three main aspects - culture, language, and knowledge. The Indian tradition of knowledge is enriched by many scholars such as Patanjali, Sushruta, Bhaskaracharya, and Chanakya," he said. He said the new National Education Policy (NEP) aims to realise dreams like Swachh Bharat, Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat and Atmanirbhar Bharat, transforming India into a global leader.
