Amitav Ghosh gives Indians a glimpse of Rashtrapati Bhavan

Noted author Amitav Ghosh on July 8 announced his stint as the writer-in-residence at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Twitter. 

According to a report by Scroll.in, the In-Residence programme at the Rashtrapati Bhavan is the brain-child of President Pranab Mukherjee and was launched in 2013.

Ghosh, noted for works like The Shadow Lines and Sea of Poppies, has already started providing the wider world a glimpse of what it is like to be inside the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Starting from July 10, Ghosh has posted various photographs of his stay there so far through his Twitter handle. 

A picture capturing the Rajpath was followed by one of the Rampurva Bull Capital, originally from an Ashokan pillar in Champaran, Bihar. 

 

Rajpath, New Delhi, from Rashtrapati Bhavan; looking towards India Gate pic.twitter.com/DP0itjndAP

— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) July 10, 2016

Rampurva Bull Capital, from Ashokan pillar, 2nd century BC, polished sandstone, Rashtrapati Bhavan pic.twitter.com/jR2xiJbXfJ

— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) July 10, 2016

There was more to come, and more Ghosh did provide. On the same day, he posted a picture of one of the rooms inside the Rashtrapati Bhavan. 

Just in case you've ever wondered what it's like to watch Wimbledon in rooms where leaders & statesmen have slept... pic.twitter.com/kLRQv6TPXm

— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) July 10, 2016

Next day, another picture followed showing all of us how the President, the President's guests and dignitaries dine, or in this case where Ghosh and his wife, Deborah Baker, had lunch with the President and his daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee. 

Such an honour and pleasure for us to have lunch with President Pranab Mukherjee and his daughter @Sharmistha_GK pic.twitter.com/JAnJEwPk3C

— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) July 11, 2016

According to the Scroll.in article, Ghosh's five-day stay is different from those of his predecessors. The article states that he is the first to be put up in Rashtrapati Bhavan’s guest wing, the section "normally opened up only for heads of states".

Ghosh also visited the stables of the President's Body Guard. 

Enjoyed visiting the stables of the President's Body Guard at Rashtrapati Bhavan ... pic.twitter.com/fDougwdW6n

— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) July 11, 2016

This is Vikrant; he leads the ceremonial parades. pic.twitter.com/rJPndprlY8

— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) July 11, 2016

Some members of the President's Body Guard pic.twitter.com/sNFR2AUKTe

— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) July 11, 2016

Further, in keeping with the theme of his recent book The Great Derangement, Ghosh also documented the environment-friendly facilities on the presidential estate's premises. Ghosh went on to post photos of the sewage treatment complex, describing it as "beautifully designed". 

Great to see the beautifully designed sewage treatment complex at Rastrapati Bhavan. Why don't hotels etc have them? pic.twitter.com/R1OA8QZgG6

— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) July 12, 2016

The sewage treatment complex at Rastrapati Bhavan also has a fine (and productive) constructed wetland. pic.twitter.com/hckE5xR0iQ

— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) July 12, 2016

On July 12, he went on to post another picture of "sustainable, drought-resistant millets" being grown on a part of Rashtrapati Bhavan's grounds. 

Great to find that sustainable, drought-resistant millets are grown on a part of Rashtrapati Bhavan's grounds pic.twitter.com/b7JrcB4R9r

— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) July 13, 2016

What followed was a snap of the table "where Nelson Mandela breakfasted during his stay at Rashtrapati Bhavan". 

Amazing to find oneself at the table where Nelson Mandela breakfasted during his stay at Rashtrapati Bhavan pic.twitter.com/EAA2nlpkp6

— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) July 13, 2016

Ghosh told Scroll.in that he didn’t have any "immediate plans to write about his experience". However, the article quoted him as saying, “But it may well find its way into my work indirectly.”

Love the pairing of cycads with ponytail palms (actually not palms; related to asparagus) around Rashtrapati Bhavan pic.twitter.com/xP5bUlxVRd

— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) July 14, 2016

Am not a fan of the massed cannas in the Rashtrapati Bhavan gardens -but my anti-canna prejudice may be unreasonable pic.twitter.com/zGmhGZtG5O

— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) July 14, 2016