Delhi Confidential: Protocol vs Tradition

At the naming ceremony of a merchant vessel, Albert Maersk, in Mumbai recently, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal sprang a surprise. During the felicitation of ministers at the event, Sonowal insisted that MoS Raksha Khadse, who had been appointed the godmother of the vessel, be felicitated before him. Khadse was reluctant, as it was against the ministerial protocol. But Sonowal insisted that as per maritime convention, which says every ship has a ‘godmother’ who stays the ‘godmother’ till the life of the ship, Khadse should be felicitated first. On Sonowal’s repeated request, Khadse agreed and the protocol was broken to uphold a maritime convention.

Rail On Reel

Participating in the debate on Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha invoked cinematic references to make a point about the Indian Railways. He cited the examples of Pakeezah (1972), which he said used trains as a metaphor at various points in the film, Gaman (1978), which depicted the pain of migrants, and Coolie (1982), whose message, he said, everyone was aware of. He went on to add that railways figured in many highs and lows of his life.