Why do Indian leaders shy away from formal vacations?

The west has a hoary tradition of holidays, come what may, and that applies even to their heads of government. It takes something really serious for them to cut short their off-time. Of late, however, events in West Asia and North Africa — and occasionally in their own backyards — have made western VIP vacations increasingly tenuous. Even if the presidents and prime ministers fly home to deal swiftly with whatever party-pooper crisis has erupted, that hiatus interruptus probably makes a return to their Mediterranean idyll or even Martha’s Vineyard somewhat deflating. It might be argued that technology could ensure that they save the world without budging from their beach towels or basketball courts but that may not go down well with their electorates, who expect a hands-on rather than hologram approach.

Very few Indian leaders across the political spectrum go on holiday at all. Perhaps their adroitly scheduled official trips round the country and abroad provide them with all the downtime they need. Indian prime ministers, with the notable exception of Rajiv Gandhi who famously splashed around en famille in Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands and A B Vajpayee who regularly retired to muse in Manali, appear to have a particular aversion to taking time off. Both these practices need modification.