The kebab was invented by a chance shortage of meat, he said.
"In ancient Turkey, invading armies were in short supply of kitchen hearth fuel. They skewered the meat in open fields. The soldiers pierced the meat with swords and charbroiled them in open fires. These kebabs were nomadic - basic grilled meat which later evolved into Turkish kebabs.
"The origin of the meat kebab was also associated with the fact that in those countries, there were fewer vegetables and more animals. And the soldiers had to be fed," he said.
The Turks brought the aromatic kebabs to India, Gujral said. "And my grandfather created the tandoori kebab."
