Snapshots

Killer LogicFor those who have been reading former Foreign Secretary J. N. Dixit's articles in newspapers and magazines where he holds for...

Killer Logic
For those who have been reading former Foreign Secretary J. N. Dixit8217;s articles in newspapers and magazines where he holds forth authoritatively on every aspect of India8217;s foreign policy here8217;s a piece of news about the writer himself. In case you did not notice it already, he did not write a word on the recent hijack of IC-814. Why? By Dixit8217;s own admission, it was all very easy to sit in drawing rooms and dissect India8217;s handling of the crisis, especially the release of terrorists.

Though he did not say this, he only suggested it he did not write anything because he had no definite solution. 8220;I was happy 180 lives were saved,8221; he told a gathering at Vadodara8217;s M. S. University in response to questions critical of the release of terrorists. A young girl student stumped him by asking: 8220;Why did we not kill them?8221; Dixit8217;s succinct reply was: 8220;Beta, all I can do is hope you become the prime minister or foreign minister.8221;

Good Health, Naturally
Ninety-four year oldMulk Raj Anand, internationally acclaimed author, who lives in Khandala, generally stays in good health. Extremely alert for his age, his memory is also razor sharp. Is it the cool clime of Khandala that is the secret of his fitness? This could be one reason, of course, but we recently stumbled upon another. Mulk Raj has an impressive nursery where he nurtures 100-odd different species of Ayurvedic plants. He is pursuing this hobby along with his friend, Dr Prakash Kothari, noted sexologist. You name it and there8217;s a herb for every ailment practically. A herb that cures diabetes, one that cleanses the eyes and one that8217;s good for the common cold. The list is endless. And Mulk Raj promptly picks up leaves from his very own garden, to recuperate.

Favourite Things
CABINET Secretary Prabhat Kumar seems to be making sure that his IAS brethren corner all the plum posts in the bureaucracy, even posts of joint secretaries/financial advisers in ministries which are normally held by audit and accountofficials. Take the case of the ministry of civil aviation. Kumar made sure that the vacant post was taken over by an IAS official. Similarly in the case of FAs, the coveted posts are all going to IAS officials. Naturally, not everyone is happy.