Bas karo Lalooji

Recently we had Laloo Prasad Yadav give a lecture on the Indian Railways in IIM Ahmedabad. But as it turned out, he was there only for eye candy (An oxymoron, if there ever was one!) The answers and explanations were given by his subordinates - the actual people responsible for handling the changes. Now there are news reports of Laloo Prasad being invited to Wharton and Harvard, probably to do the same thing. I do not oppose the Indian Railways being discussed & studied at these B-schools. What I wonder is why does the railway minister need to go along too? I don't think his contribution is required much there. If all he is going to do is to quip a few sound bites, I think it would be better for him to concentrate on doing that to his political rivals here in India. Udhar kya woh Bush Presidentwa ko paath padhayenge?

Further it seems to me that Laloo's role in the Indian Railways turnaround is a bit overhyped. If we go by the facts, it seems that Laloo is just enjoying the fruits of the hard work put in by railways officials in the last five years. It is just Laloo's fortune that he happened to be the Railway Minister when the turnaround showed some results. And I do not blame him. I'm sure his rival Nitish Kumar would have done the same thing. That's what politicians all around the world do - Promise. Not act. Claim. I don't think Laloo's the kind to miss out on such an opportunity. I just hope he doesn't take the whole family and a dozen of his favourite cattle along with him as well. But then again, he could teach them Americans a few things about milking cows efficiently.