Indian President Droupadi Murmu made history in 2022 as the first member of a Scheduled Tribe and the second woman to be elected to the highest seat of authority in the nation. Since then, President Murmu’s simplicity and conviction in the voices of the people of India have impressed Indians as well as people from around the world. But do you know what President Murmu’s diet looks like?
In a recent video published by NDTV, we get a glimpse not only of the Rashtrapati Bhawan kitchens, but also President Murmu’s diet. The video shows the kitchens in great detail, where the chefs can be seen making a simple raw papaya dish with turmeric, salt and coriander leaves. The chefs employed in the kitchen also open up about all that President Murmu eats in a day and the Odia cuisine dishes they mention will surprise you.
Chef Sanjay Kumar, Senior Cook, Rashtrapati Bhawan Kitchen, reveals that Murmu eats simply cooked Sattvik meals that are cooked without any onion or garlic. She does not eat any non-vegetarian food. “We feel good about cooking this Sattvik food for her,” says Kumar. “She does not have any demands about food, just that it should be Sattvik.”
Kumar also reveals all the things Murmu eats throughout the day. President Murmu’s day starts with a light breakfast of oats or the typical India puri-aloo sabzi combination. Her personal favourite items for breakfast include rice chillas.
For her other meals, Kumar says, the President often prefers dishes from Odisha. The two Odia dishes that are her clear favourites are Dalma and Santula. For those who don’t know, Dalma is a simple yet veggie-packed dal from Odia cuisine which is cooked with split chickpeas and vegetables like drumsticks, papaya, etc. Santula is a mix-veg curry from Odia cuisine that is prepared with plenty of seasonal vegetables like brinjal, drumsticks, pumpkin and papaya. Both dishes are completely Sattvik.
Clearly, President Murmu’s diet plate is not only loaded with seasonal vegetables, but also includes plenty of Sattvik recipes from Odisha. Though originally from the Santhal tribe of Jharkhand, President Murmu has a deep connection with Odisha and her dietary choices prove it. She served as a Minister of State in Odisha from 2000 to 2004 and also as a member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly from 2000 to 2009.