There is a joke that went around during the Emergency Period.
The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her late son Sanjay Gandhi (who was the real power behind the throne) were flying over rural India afflicted by floods. They could see thousands of upturned faces of poor villagers.
"They would be very grateful to us if we were to throw 100 sacks of rice from this plane" , said Indira Gandhi.
"You are wrong. They would be more grateful if we were to shower them with Rs 100 notes. Money is more important to them than Rice", her son Sanjay Gandhi chirped.
To settle the issue, they turned to the pilot, who happened to be none other than Rajiv Gandhi, who calmly replied, "They will be eternally grateful if I were to throw both of you out from this Aircraft now"
Now why am I reminded of this story when read this in todays papers?
"History will be created in Pune on Wednesday morning as Pr
atibha Patil, 74, President of India, takes flight in a Sukhoi 30 MKI supersonic flight"
Wishful thinking!!!! What if, just if, she were to be thrown out at 7,5oofeet, at Mach 0.9, without the aid of a parachute!!!!
