India should realize the soft power of Idli

India cannot stand idly by as other nations take the lead in flexing their soft power. So, the initiative of a Tamil Nadu resident, Iniyavan, to celebrate March 30 as World Idli Day every year should be supported by both his state government and the Centre. As there are no other food-related claimants for the date, no one is likely to get steamed up by the suggestion. Having recently demonstrated 1,000 variants of the fluffy, fermented urad dal-rice dumpling, Iniyavan's credentials as an idlivangelist are impeccable. As for the idli itself, given its indubitable popularity in India and its affordability — selling even more like hotcakes now that the Tamil Nadu government runs outlets where they are priced a rupee a piece — it seems the perfect choice for a prominent role as an ambassador of India's soft power. As some scholars aver that it originated in Indonesia and the fact that it was called 'itali' in 17th-century Tamil literature, the idli is imbued with an intriguing foreign cachet anyway. 

Arecent study by an Indian university listed the standard idli as containing a mere 39 calories. Add to that a relatively neutral flavour and the fact that it is steamed, gluten-free and vegan, the likelihood of the idli securing a place on the international high table is very high, with Silicon Valley being an early example of its foreign appeal.