Trivia
By Venkatesh Raghavan
I was gradually sipping my second cup of Irani tea in the morning hours, after watching the repeat telecast of a popular laughter show. I was seated next to Amir who seemed absorbed in what the morning papers had to say.
Amir looked up, adjusting his spectacles and queried, “What do you make out of this Navjot Singh Sidhu controversy that is raging in Punjab post the juggling that happened in the Chief Ministerial chair?” I took a bite from the chicken puff on the table and shrugged my shoulder as if to say, “I have no idea what to make of it.” Our conversation went somewhat like this.
Amir: Do you feel that Sidhu’s career with the Congress is at cross roads?
Me: News from certain quarters informed that the Congress is opting to use a night watchman till the next round of polls take place in the state.
Amir: Are you implying that the newly appointed Chief Minister is not fit for the job and will only serve to hold fort for the Congress?
Me: No Amir. If you go by the records of Indian night watchmen, Eknath Solkar scored a century against the touring West Indies at the Wankhede stadium. Syed Kirmani too scored a century against the touring Australian side captained by Kim Hughes. In that context, the expression night watchman should be taken as a compliment.
Amir: Can you tell me what will be the future of Punjab Congress and also about the political fortunes of Sidhu?
Me: I feel Sidhu would have been happier if Sachin Tendulkar was at the other end to support his battle against the Congress High Command. Unfortunately Sachin got locked up in the Rajya Sabha.
Amir: Your statement defies all logic. What’s it got to do with Sachin’s presence in Punjab politics?
Me: Sachin was instrumental in encouraging Sidhu to play his strokes against the fiery Pakistani pace attack on their home soil. What Sidhu is facing right now seems something akin to that.
Amir: Your logic still looks weird. Are you suggesting that the Congress High Command comprises Pakistanis?
Me: That’s not at all the case Amir. I am just comparing their fire power. Just like the Pak pacers can unsettle any new entrant to the crease, the Congress High Command possesses similar attack skills.
Amir: You have not answered my question on what’s in store for the state Congress and Sidhu in the future.
Me: That task would have been easier had they belonged to the BJP. For, they have a battery of astrologers and God men to help them assess their prospects.
Amir: Going by track records, you can’t trust their prediction skills. Do you recall Sri Sri’s contention that the US greenbacks would climb down to Rs. 40 per dollar?
Me: It’s just like Caesar laughing and saying, “Well the ides of March have arrived.” For the ides had yet not departed. Similarly Sri Sri did not mention any time frame. Modi’s stay at the hot seat is still on. In short, you can give it time till it turns out to be true. But why bother? Just keep watching the great laughter show!
