Walking in the grounds of Lutyens' palace when it was still the viceroy's House, Mahatma Gandhi told Lord Mountbatten that it would have to be turned into a museum once the British had finally departed. Mountbatten protested that, on the contrary, the building was perfectly suited to lend grandeur to Asia's largest democracy. Today, as the home of the Indian president, the Rashtrapati Bhavan is a venue for celebrating important moment in the life of the republic and where visiting dignitaries are treated to Indian hospitality at its best. Central to these occasions are the appetising snacks and sumptuous banquest prepared in its basement kitchens by a small team of dedicated cooks and bakers, the longest serving of women have been employed there for more than 40 years.