home work all right by boning up on Press Information Bureau handouts.

“In March next”,Mr.Tamta Prasad said,“India is to host a summit of Women Heads of Government.”

“Women Heads of Government!”I exclaimed,“but there are just two of them,search for them how you will-Ms.Angela Merkel of Germany and Ms.Julia Gillard of Australia.”

“No matter,”insisted Mr.Tamta Prasad pugnaciously,“hosting summits is like a pandemic infection and we can’t do without it.Moreover,Women Heads of Government need to urgently get together on a one-to-one basis for a free,frank and informal exchange of views on such pressing concerns like global terrorisms,oil price hike,economic slowdown,the war in Syria and new mouth-watering recipes for three layer chocolate cakes with caramel icing and wheat shortening.”

“How much will the Summit of Women Heads of Government cost the hard-pressed Indian taxpayer?”

“Oh,nothing much,”said Mr.Tamta Prasad,“about Rs.22 crores and mind you that includes the creation of permanent infrastructure assets like dress shops,boutiques,hair dressing salons and shopping malls.”

“With the North-South dialogue bogged down and the East-West engagement getting nowhere,New Delhi is to host a three-way North-East-South-West summit.”

“What will it discuss?”I asked.

“Oh,this and that,”Mr.Tamta Prasad said.

“Yes,of course,”I said understandingly,“this and that are pressing global concerns that need to be urgently addressed by world leaders.”

“Later next year,New Delhi is slated to host a summit of Non-Aligned Heads of Government who abjectly tow the American line,followed almost immediately by a summit of NAM leaders who obsequiously kowtow to the Russians.” “You certainly have a busy year ahead,” I said,“But just one suggestion.While at it,why shouldn’t New Delhi host a summit of all Indian Chief Ministers?”

Mr.Tamta Prasad shook his head.“No way,”he said,“such a summit will have little or no PR value.”   

S. Raghunath