“Laughter is an instant vacation.” said Milton Berle. Here at NK, we would like to contribute to lightening your mood in preparation for a meaningful and relaxed weekend. So here’s the tongue- in-cheek look at the events of the week gone by that you’ve been waiting for :)
For a while, even the Chief Justice of Television Prime-time, was flummoxed by the events of state when news first surfaced that Senior Judges (Judges 2 – 5 in terms of seniority) of the Apex Court of India had held a presser at the end of last week. Their presser highlighted their differences with the Chief Justice of India (Supreme Court) on matters of Court Processes and Procedure, from appointment of Judges to assignment of cases based on seniority. The presser apparently followed a failed attempt to resolve the differences of opinion through internal correspondence and discussions on the morning of the presser.
Interestingly, the last time a presser was held by a constitutional authority, zero was assigned an infinite value and brought down a government on its own. Naturally, fear instantly went viral in the studios of television and power. But, age does not create rage like a zero does a hero!
The country’s top law officer called it a “storm in a tea cup” and predicted that it would die down quickly. By the start of the new week, some outside the charmed circle looking in claimed that the differences were resolved through, ironically, a ‘Chai pe Charcha’ on a bright Monday morning in the Court premises. The fairy tale ending appeared to be just that, when a constitution bench excluding the four judges was formed to hear important constitutional matters. It was clear that tea had not helped as much as it does in elections. The latest is that they are meeting over lunch…
The trigger for the judicial crisis appeared to be the death due to natural causes of a Judge who was hearing a case of death due to unnatural causes 12 years previously. What is intriguing television anchors is why judges were vying to hear the same case, when previously everyone was trying to ignore it and its raison d’être. It was also ironical that a Judge could trigger a judicial crisis among his own, posthumously. In our country, justice exonerates the innocent slowly either through persecution or prosecution!
Huggies (the American diaper brand) have been a fashion statement for adults in India since May 2014. If they are worn around the arms, they can come with a lot of benefits – favoured treatment at airports, in deal rooms, meal rooms and election booths. They may get soiled occasionally (you can’t see it obviously) especially when greeting neighbours, because neighbours often have that kind of gooey effect, but generally they have proved beneficial as they cover what they are meant to cover, look good on television and unlike costly suits and boots, they come cheap. Importantly, though they were invented in the USA, they are now being made in India. They are also disposable and come in different sizes to suit a variety of people. There’s only one drawback – they are gender sensitive!
India loves Israel as much as their two leaders love each other as was evident on television –it’s natural, for the two countries have a lot in common – some of which they admit, some of which they don’t or can’t.
For a start, both their countries names commence with an “I”. How significant is that! The first alphabet of the current leaders’ last names follow each other in the English alphabet – naturally there is affinity! They have common enemies, and now, also common allies. They both want the best for each other in defence and trade (one is a synonym for the other) (the Barrack Missile deal worth 500 million USD is back on track) and of course in agriculture – India can learn a lot from a country that has turned a desert that did not belong to them into an oasis of green that does! There are a couple of differences though, mainly in approach – they had no natural resources so they created them (Water for example), India has plenty – so they drain them!
A state in which 3 rapes and a murder (two actually) took place over 4 days, has banned ‘Padmavaat’ from being screened in the state – this despite the CBFC having certified it for screening after much internal debate and external disruption. Apparently, blinding one ‘I’ didn’t help change minds. They want an eye for an eye! The matter went before the Supreme Court which banned the ban. Still however, the banners are out on the streets with none to take them down and put them inside. A thought that comes to mind is that there may be fewer such incidents if people are busy having some clean healthy entertainment – watching an entertaining film without an eye!
India’s strongest cricket team in years, ranked No. 1 in the world, found their batters battered and bowlers bettered in the African Subcontinent. There was Indian Ocean of difference in the way they played. Silly mistakes beyond silly point, added to the misery of the loss of the series. There is one more test match to come, and it is perform or the IPL!
If you can’t listen to bull, you mustn’t stand and watch (except if it’s on a television debate). You will get hurt. In Tamil Nadu, a bull gored to death a spectator watching the now revived Jallikattu – the bull taming sport (Taming of a shrew may be easier). All he was doing was watching. Unfortunately for him, the bull was not – he was just going where he thought he should be going like most of us in India do…
At a closed oval office bi-partisan meeting to thrash out immigration policy, which he wants to be the cornerstone of his Presidency, the American president was quoted as describing Haiti and African nations as “shithole countries”. No way, he said, indicating his preference for immigration from countries like Norway. Either way, India was not mentioned it appears, despite being a large component of the immigrant population. He has denied the remark, saying he used strong language but not the S word. Does a word make a difference to the way one thinks, me wonders. Incidentally, the White House doctors claimed, after the US president underwent his annual medical check-up, that Donald Trump is in “excellent” health and has no cognitive issues – which means he said what he meant and meant what he said! He usually does, unlike most politicians with better cognitive abilities!
It was heartening to see Moshe Holtzberg, one of the three survivors of the Chabad House carnage during the 26/11 attack, return to the scene of his parents’ death at the hands of terrorists 10 years later. The tragic and horrifying incident will live in him as long he lives just as it will in our lives. It creates a connection between our two countries that can never be set aside. A connection born of blood. “It’s a very special day. Thank God that Moshe could come again. Mumbai is a lot safer now,” Moshe’s grandfather Rabbi Holztberg Nachman was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. ‘A lot safer now’ is a significant assertion. Has something changed other than the government?
Have a good weekend!
