Off the record

In this, personalities come forward to say how they made themselves and their chosen brand a success story.

8220;I remember, during my school days I used to feel miserable on account of my height, rather, the lack of it. Since I was amongst the shortest pupils in class, the teacher would always make me sit on the front bench and so I was always in the line of fire as far as the teacher8217;s questions were concerned,8221; recalled Dr Deshmukh. She added that her mother used to always tell her not to worry about her short stature, as it would one day work to heradvantage.

8220;My mother8217;s prediction has now come true, since whenever I am being honoured with awards and titles, the person doing the honours is invariably taller than me, and has to bow down while handing over the citation,8221; chuckled Dr Deshmukh.

Vote you must8230;

Instead of voting for the usual bunch of unscrupulous politicians, would you rather have army rule in our country?At least one forthcoming Bollywood flick seems to be strongly pitching for the rule of the jackboot. The film hoardings for Military Raaj thronging the city exhort the average voter to vote for army rule8217;.

8220;Jab rajneeti ho dagebaaz, janta maange military raaj When politics turns traitor, the public wants military rule,8221; screech the hoardings, which show a long-haired Mithun Chakravorty in an olive green army cap. For added effect, it further says, when democracy dies8230;8217;

This diarist is left wondering what the Election Commission, Censor Board, and last but not the least, army generals, have to sayabout this film, being released at a time when the world8217;s largest democracy goes to the polls.

Wrong number

Come elections and every newspaper and television channel worth its name, Indian or otherwise, starts wooing prospective candidates of all political shades for controversial copy. Mutually, political parties too brush up their contacts. The confusion arises when the name of an organisation resembles that of a television channel.This diarist learnt that a city businessman is having a harrowing time, as his company8217;s name is similar to that of an international television network. His lone fax machine keeps spewing out messages from sundry political parties, keeping him informed of their programmes and manifestos!

In fact, one morning, he entered his office to find it completely littered with fax messages and invites from almost every political outfit worth its name. 8220;I had installed a new fax roll of 50 metres just the day before,8221; he ruefully said.

The culprit8217;, is apparently, one ofthose free telephone inquiry services, which wrongly registered his company8217;s name in place of the news agency. The harassed businessman has finally decided to switch off his fax machine until the elections are over. 8220;Till then, I will keep in touch with my clients over the telephone and will have to send my office peon to collect important documents which I could have received on my fax,8221; he lamented.

Last word In

Nana Chudasama, former Sheriff of Mumbai, and espouser of sundry social causes, made this observation on today8217;s politicians: 8220;They first shake your hands, then your confidence.8221;