[Warning: This is not an opinion. This is red-nosed reportage.] There was a Vegas showgirls evening air to the launch of Raghav Bahl's first book, Superpower? Frontseaters at the event in Delhi's Taj Mahal hotel included Congressman-turned-walking bazooka Mani Shankar Aiyar sitting next to human-turned-Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari sporting a crepe bandage on his right arm. Two tables away, there was Ravi Shankar Prasad, the only visible BJP presence apart from the mysterious man behind the jalebi counter. Also in the front row were author-management yogi Sri Sri Gurchuran Das and the Obi Wan Kenobi-like Kiran Karnik. There were many other worthies in the Network 18-covered durbar who had no clue that I had no idea who they were.
Considering that the book's about the amazing race between China's hare and India's tortoise (its subtitle), I was expecting a larger Chinese contingent. But it was overwhelmingly Indian tortoises and firangi turtles and only a small smattering of Chinese rabbits. Kamal Nath made a late entry — well, not late, considering the show, slated at 6.30, was waiting for him and started an hour later — and sat next to former RBI boss Bimal Jalan, while Nandan Nilekani claimed the unique identity of becoming Kamal Nath's 'left hand man' at the table and 'right hand man' on the stage for the evening.
Full report here Hindustan Times
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