T.S. Tirumurti, the Indian permanent representative (PR) to the UN who is known to his counterparts as just “Tiru”, will hold on Monday morning a traditional breakfast that PRs of incoming presidencies host for counterparts from the rest of the 15 member nations – five permanent and 10 non-permanent.
On the menu will be the usual fare for such working breakfasts: crepes, some breads, juices, coffee and fruits.
But some of Tirumurti’s guests would probably have had something already, something really Indian before heading out – oat clusters with multi-grain flakes and Alphonso mango bits or crunchy millet granola bar or buttermilk millet crackers with caramelised onions, or just some Cajun trail mix.
These may not sound like average aloo-paratha, idli-sambhar or eggs-and-toast breakfasts popular in most Indian homes but each of them is made of Indian grains, Indian nuts and fruits – Alfonso, the nest known Indian mango around the world – and, as intended, ties in nicely with Indian foreign policy.
“We did it to highlight the initiative take by the Prime Minister to declare the year 2023 the International Year of Millets, which we had successfully spearheaded in the UN General Assembly a few months ago,” said Tirumurti, who spent months on the breakfast hamper, with a lot of help from his wife Gowri Tirumurti and mission colleagues.
India plans to focus its presidency on maritime security, peacekeeping and counter-terrorism but it could find itself overwhelmed by the most concerning of international developments “sooner than later”, as a diplomat said: US pull-out from Afghanistan, which will be completed this month, on India’s watch at the UNSC, and Taliban’s possible return to power.
– HINDUSTAN TIMES