We have to finalise the topic for this week’s column. Any concepts? The winter session of Parliament remains to be greater than a fortnight away, so the piece we deliberate on pre-legislative session of payments shouldn’t be fully topical. Maintain for now. Do one on Indo-Canada ties? Any concern on public coverage which is able to make for an interesting 800 phrases? How about: 5 causes which is able to affect the polls in Jharkhand and Maharashtra? Political. Topical. Insightful (no matter which means!).
Management. Alt. Delete.
This one is all coronary heart. No stats. No deep dive information. No BC (Earlier than ChampionPM) on the state of the economic system when put next with AD (After Demigod). No political sensible one-liners. Go away all that apart.
This week’s column is about Dr Sandip Chatterjee (63) and Ratul Sood (58), two individuals from Kolkata I knew. This week’s column is about Rohit Bal (63) and Bibek Debroy (69), two individuals from Delhi who I had by no means met, however had solely examine. All 4 are gone. This isn’t a quadripartite obituary. Nor a dirge to 4 completed gents who dwelt in an city jungle, aka an Indian metropolis. Their latest deaths — all of them had been about the identical age as me — have made me suppose a bit of extra about life. And residing. As John Lennon put it: “Life is what occurs to you, whilst you’re busy making different plans!”
Rising up, soccer was by far my favorite outside sport that I performed. You’ll by no means guess what my favorite indoor “sport” was. Contract bridge! My dad inspired my two youthful brothers (Andy and Barry) and me to be taught bridge in our early teenagers. There was a part in my 20s and 30s after I was taking part in bridge 3 times per week. I by no means performed past the native membership degree, however liked the game. Alas. Between taking pictures multi-cam quiz exhibits in Mumbai tv studios and the final 20 years in politics, the fascinating card recreation had turn out to be a reminiscence.
Final week that modified.
After greater than 25 years, my previous bridge mates organised a three-hour session on the DI, a membership in Kolkata we name our second dwelling. There was Joe (94), Elias (84), Nikki (79) and a 63-year-old. Put up the sport, they assured me that I hadn’t misplaced my contact. What a day. With boyish enthusiasm, I shared a photograph of the session with my two siblings. Right here, verbatim, is what one in all them replied on WhatsApp.
“This afternoon was enormous for 3 causes.
(i) That you just made the time to dig deep — and DO what you actually needed to do, even when it’s every so often!
(ii) These gents are nonetheless match and mentally alert at 94, 84, and 79 — and DOING what they wish to do!
(iii) You might be nonetheless good at it — signifies that your thoughts can “unclutter” itself when it’s good to.”
What else do I’ve to share on this topic about residing life to the complete? Certainly we have to put in a few extra paragraphs. Or possibly punch in an anecdote or two. In spite of everything, the understanding with this newspaper is that the column I write must be “about 800 phrases.” The phrase rely now says 550 phrases.
So what now? Write one other 200 phrases to achieve the goal, the purpose, the vacation spot. Or simply benefit from the journey.
I’ll select the latter. Thanks
The author is MP and chief, All India Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Get together (Rajya Sabha). Analysis credit score: (the author’s mother and father) the (late) Joyce and Neil O’Brien
