am yet to win the first prize in a slogan contest and win a free air ticket to the United States.

I think I can lay a legitimate claim to the largest number of slogan contest entered without, of course having nothing to show for it except a red face and a gunny sack full of grievances and you can imagine my pathetic plight when I tell you that I have failed miserably even to win an “early bird” prize.

“My dog loves Woof biscuits because it’s the only brand it can ask for by name.”

A razor manufacturer recently organized a contest wherein I had to complete in 10 words or less the sentence “I use Super Nick razor because…..” Quietly confident that the thing was in my (air)bag, I shot my cuffs and wrote with a flourish “I use Super Nick razor because it’s the right way to start my day.” I thought that the Shakesperean rhyme “way and day” would swing the judges’ decision in my favour and award me that first prize and a free air ticket to New York, but alas I was too sanguine for this particular contest was like that ambitious American boy who went to Washington and grew up to become a famous politician and the Vice-President of the United States of America and was never heard of again. The contest and its results were never heard of again.

The razor manufacturer, no doubt, was guilty of some (sharp) practice and had taken me (and countless other gullible souls for a deluxe ride).

If a manufacturer of dog biscuits should ever organize a contest and the first prize is an all expenses paid free air ticket to the U.S., I am all ready with, my prize winning slogan – “My dog loves Woof biscuits because it’s the only brand it can ask for by name.”

If that slogan doesn’t win me that free air ticket to the U.S. then nothing will.

I better phone for a pre-paid taxi to take me to the Bangalore International Airport to catch my flight to the U.S. America, here I come!

S. Raghunath