Dear delegates and all dumb masses outside those gates, I am honoured at being made Vice-President of the Italian Nationals’ Congress and I know you will believe me (I myself don’t) when I say it came as a surprise. And since no charge of ‘vice’ has stuck on me so far I am de facto President. Still, I thank INC President Signoraji for fulfilling the family formalities.
Idle breaking
It was a long break that must have been quite back-breaking too to many. Not just work, but sitting idle endlessly before TV or gadget screens or criss-crossing bumpy, potholed streets to visit relatives or seeing recent releases could also strain your spines. So as workday dawned on Thursday and meandered wearily into Friday en route to another weekend of marriages and movies, it was not surprising to see more reluctant faces than refreshed ones at the office. While holidays are an alluring, addicting habit, too much ‘rest’ can be tiring too!
Trouble from the tube
The retired senior army official must have been at least 70 years. He was on the telly as an experienced hand in Indo-Pak cross-border combat and an expert in military matters to discuss the murder and mutilation of two Indian jawans. Naturally, the expectation of a few pearls of wisdom and insight from him is not out of place.
This gold ‘mine’ is yours
I wanted to make an auspicious beginning and FM Chidambaram offered me just that trigger. Now, don’t get suspicious. I am not launching into any politico-bashing. Rather, his statement that he is mulling making gold dearer through higher tariffs and his advice to the people to ‘moderate their demand for it’ opens a golden opportunity for a glittering opening in the new year. Of course, costlier gold may not by itself be good news to most, but why should I care so long as my column gets a gilt edge?
