My answer to a persistent question.

Some people ask me are you with Narendra Modi? Why?

Me. Yes, of course. I'm with Modi and I will stand by him.

Do I think Modi is perfect?

Me. No.

Do I believe Modi doesn't make any mistake?

Me. No.

Do I believe Modi government has fulfilled all that we want?

Me. No.

Do I feel he will make India like Europe or the US in his lifetime?

Me. No.

But I stand by his side like a rock. Why?

* Because I do believe he is doing whatever he can in a very honest, dedicated and committed way.

* Because I do believe he is giving his best to improve the country in all areas.

* Because I have seen that  massive corruption at cabinet ministerial level has disappeared.

* Because I have seen that India has not witnessed any terror attack on civilians under his rule.

* Because I have seen him taking unpopular steps but we have not borrowed a single dollar from the World Bank and our forex reserves has taken a giant leap up and external borrowings have reduced to a minimum.

* Because the armed forces can now rely on someone to take a stand for them and allow them to do their duty and not tie their hands to their backs and get them killed by terrorists and Maoists.

* Because I have seen him working hard to make sure India becomes a member of MTCR, Waassenar group, Australia group and achieving diplomatic successes which we couldn't think of in the last many decades.

* Because he has pushed forward many reforms which are not going down well with the people today but will unleash a new India when the results of those reforms - structural, economic, infrastructural will be visible in the next 8-10 years.

* He is a hardworking person. He has no family or anyone after him. He has his shortcomings. Which man doesn't? Anyone of you who keep abusing him, are you a fraction of him in dedication, focus, integrity, hard work and getting things done!

* He is cleaner than all the opposition leaders in circulation today. He is not corrupt. He is a visionary. He has solutions to many problems (if not all).

* He may not make India like Europe or the US in his lifetime however hard he tries. But at least he is governing much better than previous regimes. Check macro and micro-economic parameters. Compare infrastructure growth. Compare core areas. Compare GDP growth. Compare wholesale and consumer inflation. Every single parameter is much healthier than before.

* Yes there are problems. Governing a country as heterogenous and vast as India, which has been reeling under problems since centuries is never a joke.

* The opposition is baying for Modi's blood (not in the literal sense), they grill him now and then. Have they suggested any single solution to the problem? Have they ever suggested what steps will they take to solve the problems? What is their vision? What is their method?

* Negative politics bordering the line of activism is good but it is never right for the country when the alternative is absent.

That's why I will stand with Narendra Modi like a rock. 

Adieu Sally Jane Burby

Sally Jane Burby, my classmate and friend, Maj Allan Burby's wife passed into the mist of time this morning. 'Alboy' had told me as to how fragile and helpless she was yesterday while being buttoned up to the ventilator. She was gasping for breath and it was a pathetic sight, he had added.

Lekha and I had befriended Sally during our trip to Pune in 2012 - if my memory serves me right - and found her to be a person full of life, with a fantastic sense of humour and had the ability to laugh easily. Our interaction, then, ended at the RSI, that afternoon, with the promise of meeting more often. 

She felt genuinely sad to see Lekha's physical shortcomings because of the SLE and it was indeed ironical that she was finally overwhelmed by the same ailment! By the time the diagnosis had confirmed the illness, her liver had taken a substantial beating which contributed to her untimely end.

Just prior to being hospitalised at the new Command Hospital, she had successfully fought Covid-19 at the MHCTC and had got back home. We thought that all was well but it was not to be!

RIP Sally! My tears and prayers to an outgoing and friendly person, who spread happiness all around. May Allan and the children have the strength to tide over their irreplaceable loss.

Tailpiece.

Got up earlier than 6, opened up the house and put on the music. The chores and today, too, had breakfast before bath.

Got the sad news that Sally Jane Burby (wife of my friend, Allan Burby) passed into the mist of time this morning. It hurt!

Had a long chat with Ajith this afternoon.