India, March 16 -- Sometimes the first sign of a crisis arrives not in the headlines but in the kitchen. A few days ago, my wife received a polite message from the organisers of a conference she plans to attend. They expressed regret that they would not be able to serve the traditional Kerala breakfast-no idli, dosa or puttu with kadala curry. Participants would instead have to be satisfied with sandwiches and other simple items.

At first glance, the message sounded almost comical. Kerala conferences without Kerala breakfast are like weddings without a bride. But the explanation was sobering. Cooking gas had become scarce, and the organisers could not risk planning a menu that depended on it.

By now, you would have guessed the larger st...