Shimla memories

Shimla is replete with sentimental memories for Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Apparently, the Himachal Capital was one of the family146...

Shimla is replete with sentimental memories for Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Apparently, the Himachal Capital was one of the family8217;s favourite holiday spots. Sonia has not been back to stay since Rajiv Gandhi passed away so she snatched some moments from the Vichar Manthan Shivir last week to take a trip down memory lane in the picturesque hill resort.

One stop was The Retreat, now used as the President8217;s summer getaway. She, Rajiv and the children had spent a few days there when he was Prime Minister. Another memory she revived was to halt at a roadside stall just outside the town to eat bhutta. She stopped both on her way in and way out and picked up plums and apricots to take back home as well.

She also took time off to sightsee at the historic Wildflower Hall. The former residence of the British Commander in North India was mysteriously burnt to cinders some years ago. It8217;s now been leased out to a private hotel chain which has lavished crores of rupees on it in an attempt to restore it to its former glory. Each bedroom is said to have cost Rs 1 crore in fittings and furnishings. Tourists may or may not be flocking to it but Wildflower Hall is now listed among the top 15 international resorts.

These private moments apart, Sonia seemed to thrive in the Shimla air. Correspondents covering the Shivir found her relaxed, confident and keen to interact. She shocked them by turning up for a cup of tea at the hotel next to the venue of the meet at past midnight one day. Journalists were milling around waiting for crumbs of information from the late night session when Sonia walked in. She offered them tea and cookies and stayed to chat for a bit.

From Washington to RS?

Another Foreign Service officer is all set to follow erstwhile colleague Natwar Singh into the Rajya Sabha. Former Foreign Secretary and currently Indian Ambassador to the United States Lalit Mansingh8217;s name has been floated for membership of the House of Elders. Mansingh finishes his tenure in Washington next February and four RS seats will be up for grabs from his home state of Orissa in March. Although elections are some months away, he8217;s become the object of keen competition between the BJP and NDA partner BJD, both of which feel that this soft-spoken diplomat who hails from a prominent zamindar family will be an asset for a State sadly lacking in articulate parliamentarians. BJP MP Bikram Deo and BJD MP Jay Panda are believed to be Mansingh8217;s chief lobbyists. The Congress has not jumped into the fray so far.

Steering clear of Maya

So, who8217;s afraid of Mayawati? The Congress is, it seems. Invitees to the Shimla manthan shivir were surprised to find the entire Uttar Pradesh contingent of the Congress Legislature Party present. The 16 MLAs from this politically vital state were the only State Assembly members to be called to the high-level meet as a group. The buzz in Congress circles is that the UP leadership is so scared that Chief Minister Mayawati will snap up more Congress MLAs she8217;s already succeeded in breaking away six of them that it prevailed upon the High Command to include them in the gathering of the privileged at Shimla. It would make them feel special and keep them from straying, it was argued.

Bidding a fond farewell

There8217;s more to United Kingdom High Commissioner Rob Young and wife Catherine than a zeal to promote Indo-British ties. Both are excellent amateur actors and not the least bit shy of displaying their theatrical talents. The couple enlivened a farewell dinner they hosted for Press Counsellor Gerry McCrudden at their residence this week with a series of comedy skits which had their guests in splits of laughter. McCrudden is himself a skilled actor and he performed along with the Youngs on the impromptu stage set up in the dining room. Theatre is his passion and he is said to have inspired his boss to take time off from the intricacies of diplomacy to indulge their shared talent. The Youngs will be saying goodbye soon and with McCrudden also gone, life in the High Commission will lose its sparkle.