Clean sleight

Take a bow, Lizzie Jacob. It cannot be easy to cast a spell on Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan. But we are willing to wager she has done just that with her slick career shift. Jacob, till the other day chief secretary of the state, took the extreme step of contemplating early retirement for the Indian Administrative Service after Achuthanandan ticked her off in public for facilitating the construction of a helipad to receive Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Thereupon, instead of rushing down the well-beaten path to the Central Administrative Tribunal, Jacob enrolled herself in Gopinath Muthukad8217;s Magic Academy. And before her file could move through its designated offices of call, she was tossing coins in the air only to make them disappear.

Truly, it8217;s a kind of magic begun by Jacob, who is reportedly intent on gaining enough skills to give magic performances. This most unexpected skill diversification has inspired us to reach for our wishing hats and recommend options for so many people in public life. Think about it, her former colleagues in the civil service must envy her newly acquired skills at making things disappear. Could she help them with disposing of those files piling up on their desks, perhaps. Even her former boss, the chief minister himself, must be envious at her preparation to hit to the road. Nothing like a scientific grounding in hypnosis and sleight of hand for the electorally inclined. It would help, after all, if in a snap of the magician8217;s fingers those hundreds of people at a rally could be made to forget the tedium of the wait for the politician8217;s arrival. And as Achuthanandan8217;s own comrades in Kerala balk at the possibility of an advanced general election, wouldn8217;t they treasure the ability to conjure up doves out of thin air at UPA-Left meetings?

Stay around a while, Lizzie Jacob. We see immense potential for you in the corridors of power.