The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that Indian food heritage is a mixture of art and science and is exceptionally vast and diverse. He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the Indian Culinary Institute, Tirupati and two projects in Nellore and East Godavari Districts of Andhra Pradesh, implemented under the Coastal Circuit theme of Swadesh Darshan Scheme of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh today. The Minister of State for Tourism (I/C), Shri Alphons Kannanthanam, the Minister for Tourism, Andhra Pradesh, Smt. Bhuma Akhila Priya Reddy, the Minister for Industries, Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Amarnath Reddy and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.The Vice President said that the rich cultural diversity, native ethnicity, unique flavor of each region and different customs are best encapsulated by the Indian cuisine, which became enriched over thousands of years due to the intermingling of people belonging to different religions, languages and eating habits. ‘Annam Parabrahma Swaroopam’, loosely translated as ‘Food is like God’ is a part of our collective conscience and our ethos, he added.The Vice President said that a painter appeals to visual sense, while a musician plays to auditory senses; an actor performs to engage both, the eyes and ears of the audience. However, a culinary artist has a much more complex role to play, he said. He is said to be successful with his creation if he is able to satisfy all five senses of the recipient; the eyes, ears, touch, smell and taste, he added.
The Vice President said that Indian cuisine reflects the culture and tradition of the country which includes varied landscapes, linguistic diversity, colorful festivals, and multi-ethnicity. He further said that he looks at Chefs as not only the practitioners of their art but also as the protectors and flag bearers of our great culinary heritage and legacy.The Vice President said that India’s rich cultural, historical, religious and natural heritage provides a huge potential for development of tourism and job creation. He further said that the tourism industry is one of the greatest sources of economic growth and job creation. Tourism sector has become a mass industry in the last two decades and is considered to be a significant sector for regional development, he added.The Vice President said that he was happy to inaugurate Projects worth 60.37 cr for the development of tourism destinations in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh viz. Nellore Tank, Ramatheertham Beach, Mypadu Beach, Moths Koduri Beach, Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Iskapally Beach, B.V. Palem Beach (Pulicat Lake). He further said that he was equally delighted to inaugurate Projects worth 69.82 cr for the development of tourism destinations in East Godavari district viz., Kakinada Beach, Hope-Island, Coringa Wild-Life Sanctuary, Vodalarevu/Pasarlapudi, Aduru, S. Yanam and Kotipalli. These were the schemes which were initiated and followed up by him during the period he was a Central Minister, he added.