Our VIPs’ dils are Hindustani – but their minds have much to offer the whole world beyond. And they aren’t the only ones who think so – going by the leagues of Ivy Leagues sending invites to come lecture, clearly the world’s best minds are enamoured of our most unpredictable ones. The latest Ivy-invite flew from Harvard to Hazratganj, landing in the bicycle basket of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. But Akhilesh hasn’t pushed UP from bicycle to rocket-state. In fact, under him, law and order’s become a vicious cycle, revolving from bad to worse, his now-ex cabinet minister Raja Bhaiya – a former convict put in charge of jails – allegedly involved in the murder of a cop.
With such bumpy judgment puncturing his cycle’s wheels, why would Harvard invite Akhilesh to share his deep thoughts? Here’s the answer – Harvard wants Akhilesh to lecture on managing the Maha Kumbh. Desi critics point out the avoidable Allahabad station mishap but presumably, Harvard has other management angles to consult Akhilesh on – let’s hope these don’t include power management for he could show them how to trip a national grid, leaving many in darkness that isn’t UP-lifting.
But surprisingly, their snafus endear our leaders overseas more. Take Lalu Prasad – Harvard went ‘oooooh’ over rail minister Lalu, credited with putting new steam into our broke-back engines. Prestigious universities invited Lalu to explain how he chook-chook-ed into profit – but few quizzed him about the math or physics involved as old tracks had to bear new freight-weight. Nay-saying natives pointed out such annoying fine print even as Lalu lived it up in la-la land, bestowing words of wisdom as generously as feeding fodder to the cows. And the Ivy League remained unstoppable in its desi pursuits – another screamer, sorry, dreamer on its list was Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, invited to Harvard after slaying the giant Left. Sadly, Mamata-di couldn’t go, thus depriving those so agog valuable tips on Kolaveri Di – misplaced rage – at cartoons, critics and crimes.
Similarly, seeking Indi-insights, Wharton too played desi beats when it invited Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi across. But biting off more than it could eschew, it clumsily retracted his card, making Modi seem so gracious even Arvind Kejriwal showed Wharton a stiff dandiya of reproach. It’s not all smooth sailing across that lecture scene – another university left reeling behind a desi guest was Yale which invited Bollywood badshah Shah Rukh Khan. Call it fan-fare but Khan got detained by the authorities at entry, leaving his hosts red-faced. Yet, King Khan turned misery to gold by highlighting his peacenik picture, the box office buoyed along by his Yale wail. The lesson – every situation can be glibly flipped from pain to gain. And you don’t need to learn how from an Ivy League. Just listen to our wise desi celebs.
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