“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 ?
Kramer vs. Kramer is a 1979 American family legal drama film written and directed by Robert Benton, based on an Avery Corman novel. It tells the story of a couple’s divorce and its impact on everyone involved, including the couple’s young son. Its Indian version is the popular Bollywood Movie Akele Hum Akele Tum or is it now CBI vs CBI? – quite possible given the in house drama of the last eight months, which ironically emerged in panic in the ninth month – still not fully formed!
There was the proverbial slap on the baby’s bottom (being sent on leave) that missed the bottom, landed on their face and sent the two protagonists scurrying to India’s only saviour at the moment – The supreme Court which is now apparently undivided. The Court demonstrated its wisdom and patience in a trying family drama, setting things in perspective and giving everyone in the imbroglio – the three in the CBI, and two outside (the CVC & the PMO) a chance to save face, after which the goalkeeper was seen at his best dodging the save!
Rafale was not the cause of the divorce – he was just a scapegoat apparently – whatever the opposition may say – and they had much to say like any neighbour watching an ugly spat between spouses – there were many family issues involved (like family connections, well placed loyalties etc) but it cannot offset the result – Its flown too far across the water and will land in Delhi, defamation suits notwithstanding.
However efforts are on from all quarters to ensure the Jet flies but does not land – at least not in Lutyen’s Delhi! Dassault’s CEO Trappier granted a rare interview to one of India’s leading dailies (that seemed to ask the right questions and get the right answers – the answers it desired) and asserted that there was no match maker, or matrimonial site used for their marriage with Reliance, which they found on thier own steam in 2012 – I quote the report in the Economic times dated 26/10/ 18 “He said the company had been in discussions with the “Ambani family” since 2012, referring to an agreement it inked with the Mukesh Ambani group to discharge offsets as part of the earlier deal for 126 jets”. (Note the difference in suitors and you will appreciate the huge difference in size, assets, liabilities (especially) and capability!)
They then courted them (It is not clear when the substitution took place) assiduously thereafter (because, one assumes, that though they had no company set up yet, no employees with expertise, in fact no employees at all, they had land near Nagpur as compared to an airport in Bangalore) as they found them to be reliable, perhaps based the spelling of their name?. They did not (dare to?) look at the balance sheets of the group’s firms – Money is of no consequence when you are in love – whether arranged or organic! The real love story will emerge on Oct 29th when it is documented and submitted to Supreme Court in a sealed cover! Sadly we may never get to read it even next weekend!
But does it not seem quite strange that all the fractitious or contentious issues that the country is facing from political to economic to social to governance to institutions are attributed (by the media) to personalities related by geography? Maybe not though; maybe one can attribute them to the mathematically methodical method of governance with which the country has been run which in turn is not random but based on the Mathematical principle of BODMAS! Bracket (the castes, classes and religious groups), Of(f the tap of dissent), Divide (constitutional institutions and society), Multiply (the powers of government), Add (fire to the fuel and taxes and cesses to the wallet) and Subtract (from the value of the rupee and views of others).
But there is as yet nothing to worry – the Mathematical order of Governance is not going anywhere, if anything it will be strengthened when the statue of Unity (and Unitarian thought), the world’s tallest statue, is inaugurated on Oct 31st 2018, on the 143rd birth anniversary of India’s first strong man. It will be inaugurated by India’s second strong man possibly hoping for an even taller encore 75 years down the line!
The 182-metre (597 ft) statue is the tallest in the world and is twice the size that of Statue of Liberty in New York City, which stands at 93-metres and four times the size of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. It is built from 90,000 tonnes of cement and 25,000 tonnes of iron and the best part is you can have a grand view from the top including that of Pakistan – Not sure if advanced telescopes are placed there though. If they are, you may be able to catch a glimpse of Dawood Ibrahim in Karachi!
Here are some fast facts! Height: 182 metres – 237.35 metres above sea level; 550 panels of bronze plates which were made in China ? for the bronze cladding on the Statue; Estimated cost: 2389 Cr. ; Labour involved: 3,400 labourers, 250 engineers in 24/7 since October 1 2013 (it took 5 years to the day to complete); Fast elevators to reduce transit time for visitors.
India will now continue to stand tall in the comity of nations and if you don’t believe that, you better run for unity on Oct 31st because, incidentally and maybe ironically it is also the 34th anniversary of former PM Indira Gandhi’s (India’s only strong woman) assassination on 31st Oct. 1984. It was also the day when the worst riots in independent India’s history took place in Delhi following her assassination with no conviction till date. We really do need to celebrate our unity, so many have sacrificed so much for it. Do run for your life – it’s that important.
Some delightful news – Our PM launched a portal and an app for techies in India and abroad called “Main Nahin Hum” (I to WE) on Wednesday this week. The portal, which works on the theme “Self4Society”, will enable IT professionals and organisations to bring together their efforts towards social causes, and service to society, on one platform. A noble effort for a noble cause, which is based on the premise that our techies have a lot of time on their hands, know a lot of stuff, are very talented, earn a lot of money and most importantly are searching desperately for a way to give back to the country, specifically to their towns and villages. On the other hand, with their employment in India drying up, H1B visas dwindling, their spouses unable to work and support them in the land of opportunity, and the Gulf no longer a money spinner, they may need their own app to see what the country can offer them too and very quickly. Maybe they will launch it themselves!
Last Word
I was asked this question during a quiz at a family function and believe me I couldn’t answer – I was confused. I phoned a friend and he too couldn’t answer because he too was confused. The question was “Who is our PM?” Options given were – the PMO, the NSA, the FM, the BJP President, Arnab Goswami, or Sambit Patra. No other options were provided and I could not add my own. I argued with the Quizmaster saying it was not a legitimate question. He said it is. “They are the ones who speak on all important issues – so it must be one of them”! Was he too confused?
You too may be confused as you dive into the weekend. It’s ok; stay calm, don’t be like us, be like PM!
Have a great weekend and a great week ahead.
The author can be contacted at brian@newskarnataka.com
