It is always refreshing to be able to meet up with old acquaintances from back
home however, short the meetings might be. This week came a whole lot of them, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Anand Sharma, Lalit Suri, Suresh Prabhu and Akhilesh Yadav, whom I had not met before but a reference to his father Mulayam Singh was enough to establish a rapport. Apart from these MPs, ministers P. Chidambaram and Kamal Nath were also in the city on official visits. They really help raise India's profile, and thus make the Diaspora very proud.
It is so nice to find these politicians, some new, some old hands, extremely articulate, well dressed and very impressive in their logic. The khadi bandi and topi are no longer the hallmark of nationalism for our politicians, thank god for that. They project the India of 2005, which to quote Kamal Nath is in "the departure lounge ready to take off".
No wonder such visitors from India get enthusiastic and attentive audiences wherever they go. The turnout at the Commonwealth Secretariat of corporate heads and potential investors to listen to Kamal Nath bespoke of how important India is now as investment destination for the western world. It was also gratifying to see the minister tell them confidently that they should now not think whether they should invest in India, but ponder over whether they can afford not to.
The MPs too were clearly a cut above many of their counterparts they met here during their five-day visit. The younger ones like Scindia would leave a lasting impact and help to kick-start thoughts on various issues like visas for professional, exorbitant tuition fee charge from Indian students, despite India been a member, in fact, the bulwark of Commonwealth.
This was the second visit of the Indo-British Parliamentary Forum from India, and some of the MPs on this trip were much younger than on the earlier one. I could not help telling them that three of the MPs on the first forum visit have gone on to become ministers with independent charge. But they were apparently aware of that. In fact, one of them corrected me. He pointed out two more, who went to the US, too became ministers. But Prabhu pointed out that only those who came to London got independent charge. So don't be surprised if there is a major scramble among MPs when the next Forum visit is planned for the UK.
{{/usCountry}}This was the second visit of the Indo-British Parliamentary Forum from India, and some of the MPs on this trip were much younger than on the earlier one. I could not help telling them that three of the MPs on the first forum visit have gone on to become ministers with independent charge. But they were apparently aware of that. In fact, one of them corrected me. He pointed out two more, who went to the US, too became ministers. But Prabhu pointed out that only those who came to London got independent charge. So don't be surprised if there is a major scramble among MPs when the next Forum visit is planned for the UK.
{{/usCountry}}Love test
The downgrading of marriage as an institution and the consequent problems faced by single parents and worse by children growing up without much parental guidance has, it seems, led to various "tests" being offered to couples intending to tie the knot. An English lady who lives in New York with a partner has made "novel" suggestions to fine one's Mr Darcy and suggested various Jane Austen's characters for the "test" for an ideal spouse.
But now a vicar has got into the saving marriage campaign. He has drawn up a marriage "MoT", like one needed for any car of over three-year vintage. He believes that relationships need check-ups like cars.
The MoT he has drawn up (and not by the Transport Department), he said, would help couples discover if they were compatible before they walked up the aisle. They should share their views on sex, money, past lovers, children, death and the in-laws to improve the odds of their marriage lasting.