My eyes popped open when I read today the heading of this news item on the online edition of the Australian newspaper, The Australian - ‘WITH a little wine, soft music and an impressive view, Julia Gillard has worked to woo influential leaders ahead of a UN vote on a Security Council seat,’ screams the byline. Australia is in the running for a non-permanent seat on the council and the Prime Minister is on the front line of a campaign charge in New York where 200 people were invited for the dinner. The list of invitees, I presume, included India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Hardeep Singh Puri.
Of course, wine is a regular part of such diplomatic soirees. It would be naïve for anyone and even me to presume that a glass of wine could make people more favorable to the hosts. If it were so, the ensuing annual elections this week-end in the two most elitist clubs of Delhi - Delhi Golf Club and Delhi Gymkhana, where multiple parties are the order of the day and the evening - would see the 52 candidates throw only wine parties where wine and champagne would be flowing. This would also include the bureaucrats and other government decision makers who are in the fray.
But wine can play a small role in diplomacy as the above report would rightly suggest. That is why I have been such a proponent of the Indian government coming out of its shell and considering allowing serving wine in state functions. I had even written a letter to the President of India a couple of years ago, knowing that no immediate decision would be coming and knowing that it would probably have been thrown in the dustbin. Perhaps the Ministry of External Affairs might have been a better address for the plea. But it is time the government starts thinking about it.
When I have a party in my house, I serve wine - lots of wine. But I respect those who don’t drink alcohol and never insist that they try a glass or a sip. The teetotalers do not object and respect the right of others to drink wine. I see no reason why anti-alcohol lobby (barring wine, I could be a part of this brigade!) should influence the government into not serving wine, especially Indian wine which is what I would like to see being served.
Wine is legally allowed to be produced and consumed in India. It gives employment to thousands of people and has a great export potential. Fundamentally, it is a food product (simple, natural fermentation of the fruit juice) so why should it not get the status of a food product like it does in other wine producing nations? Georgia, the oldest civilization in terms of wine production, has practically every house making their own wine to be consumed with food for family and friends!
The step taken in that direction would help in recognition of the beverage as a food product. In that respect, the detractors would claim it is promoting an alcoholic product. But I am talking of a banquet where foreign dignitaries are present. I am talking of a product that has a huge export potential and has huge job opportunities. I am talking of a product that is a natural fruit product. I am talking of a product that is healthy, when taken in moderation; you would hardly expect any guest to drink more than a glass or two at such functions. I am talking of a product that our ancestors have been drinking, perhaps since the Vedic times.
I am talking of the product-wine that could be used as one of the tools of diplomacy.
Subhash Arora
For an earlier related article and my letter to the President, please click here: Serve Indian Wines at State Banquets |