Tennyson comes to rescue

Alluding to changes at the top in RBI, staffers including Deputy Governor MD Patra (who demitted office on January 15) concluded their ‘State of the Economy’ report, which was published in the latest month bulletin, on a poetic note — drawing from Victorian-era poet Alfred Lord Tennyson’s writings (Ulysses, in Poems, 1842).

They noted that 2025 begins and the old order changes, yielding place to new: “It will build loftier mansions, as the other departs, bidding adieu. The tumult and the clangour dies. The songs of spring are muted now receding into the far distance in a morendo. The falcon’s cries get fainter as it turns again and again in widening circles away from the falconer. But winter has its music too — one last crescendo to rage against the dying of the light. This life we leave behind is like an arch through which the untravelled terrain of the future gleams to be followed like a lodestar and discovered. It shall be sought, to the utmost bounds of human thought and endeavour.”

“We may not be that strength that once moved earth and heaven, but that which we are, we are; strong in will to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

Delhi’s welfare war

In Delhi’s election battlefield, revadi (freebies), khairat (charity), prasad (a gift), and vikas (development) are the new buzzwords.

AAP defends its welfare model as essential governance, while BJP slams it as unsustainable — ironically offering its own set of sops.

Is this smart social investment or just vote-baiting?

For businesses, it’s a game-changer — state-funded services curb private sector growth, while infrastructure-driven policies open investment doors.

Delhi’s voters will decide, but one thing’s clear: Welfare isn’t going anywhere — only the branding changes.

Staring competition

With the competition on “how long you can stare at your wife” started by L&T chief becoming talk of the town, India Inc used it brilliantly to sell their wares. Zomato had an advice for all the eligible bachelors: “In case you don’t have a wife, feel free to stare at your order arriving on the app.”

While Shaadi.com had a solution: “Want a partner to stare at? Get on Shaadi”. Flower delivery app FNP nudged starers with strong words: “How long will you stare at your wife? Get her flowers”. JioFibre says Sundays are for staring at the screen (with your wife).

Basmati piracy

Indian basmati rice is facing problems from piracy. In particular, Pakistan has got hold of Indian basmati varieties such as Pusa-1121 and 1509. Aggrieved over this piracy, an agri scientist took up the issue with the authorities concerned. In particular, he shared videos emanating from Pakistan where some were renaming and selling them as Pusa 1121 Kainat and Pusa 1509 Kisan. The official wanted Indian authorities to act against the piracy. But the authorities’ response left the scientist stumped. They asked if the videos were real and whether the web addresses were right and wondered why it could not have been put up by someone else. The scientist dropped the issue then and there, utterly disgusted.