For the IPL matches, crowds have been pouring into Eden Gardens, whatever the fate of the Kolkata Knight Riders team led by Sourav Ganguly, not least because of master crowdpuller Shah Rukh Khan. He has led from the front, swaying to every boundary and dismissal?as an everyday ?fan?, as he prefers to call himself. Crowds, of course, have been demanding a Bollywood style performance from him. He even danced briefly during Match 2, but something or the other has kept him back since (blackouts, stage problems, et al). Eavesdropper hears he was all ready to twirl on May 8, until Subhas Chakraborty reminded him that it was Rabindranath Tagore?s birth anniversary. Someone else whispered the significance: the culture police was watching. Uh-oh.
Get creative
There?s a new way for political parties and politicians to take ?donations??insurance policies. Relatives and friends of several politicians have suddenly become insurance agents. Anyone who wishes to put in money is simply expected to buy an insurance policy.
No power trip
West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi may have ill-timed his decision to switch off lights at Kolkata?s Raj Bhavan for two hours daily?the power situation in the state has improved considerably, of late?but the Left?s no-holds-barred attack against the move was definitely over the top. Ever since Gandhi?s symbolic gesture, advice poured in from all quarters that the governor can do more to empathise with the people of the state. Some, like CPM leader Shyamal Chakraborty, said he should now walk to all non-government functions within city limits to save fuel. CPM state secretary said the post itself should be abolished??we are against harbouring white elephants in Raj Bhavans.? Yet others said he should shift to a slum or open the doors of the sprawling bungalow to the poor or give up 75% of his salary.