A prime minister’s plate might reveal what a political biography cannot. “The Prime Minister’s Table” by journalists Purabi Shridhar and Sanghita Singh uses food, family stories and kitchen memories to uncover the more personal side of India’s prime ministers—from Jawaharlal Nehru to Narendra Modi.The book, published by Manjul Publishing House, steps into their kitchens and dining rooms to explore what they ate, how they entertained, the recipes they cherished and the relationships that shaped their lives away from the glare of office.Indira Gandhi, for instance, is remembered playing ‘antakshari’ with her doctor, while Manmohan Singh helped his wife with the dishes during their early years overseas.Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s fondness for golden fried prawns at the Taj Mahal Hotel and chaat in Lucknow finds a place alongside an account of PM Modi teaching a local BJP worker’s wife how to perfect ‘sabudana khichdi’.“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.“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,” said Sridhar in a statement.The authors trace everything from daily dining preferences and favourite dishes to family recipes that have survived generations.In doing so, it documents seven decades of Indian food and culture against the backdrop of politics and contemporary history, offering a different perspective on the country’s prime ministers and the evolution of the Prime Minister’s Office since Independence.The book also looks at the changing food culture around India’s highest office—from the munificence associated with royal kitchens to the more private world of democratic power.The stories have emerged from interviews with the prime ministers’ families, personal cooks, chefs, friends and acquaintances, as well as visits to restaurants and homes associated with them.The result: a collection of intimate accounts that take readers behind the public persona of the leaders.“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.“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.The authors also delve into staple foods and generational recipes from the families of the prime ministers, showing how seemingly ordinary dishes became part of the memories and lives of those who went on to occupy the country’s highest office.The two authors previously collaborated on “The Seven Sisters: Kitchen Tales from the North-East”, documenting the food heritage of Northeast India.“The Prime Minister’s Table”, priced at Rs 1,499, is available for purchase across online and offline stores.