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History

Fiction

Mr Padgaonkar was having his usual Scotch whisky on rocks when his mobile phone rang its calling tune of Rang de Basanti.  A call that cannot be ignored.  Not by the editor of the leading national newspaper.  A call from the PMO. 

“Cut it out,” ordered the speaker.

“I will,” said Mr Padgaonkar with the obedience of a defiant school student in front of his most favourite teacher.

The Prime Minister’s Office had taken note of a news item on the newspaper’s website announcing the rewriting of the country’s history by changing the heads of ICHR and NCERT.  The office didn’t want it to be news; it was a clandestine affair which was meant for today’s students and their teachers.

“All the advertisements...”

“... will be cancelled.  I know.  Cut out that shit,” asserted the editor.  “I know the business.”  He has been running the business for more years than the Prime Minister had run politics even in his own state as Chief Minister.  “The news won’t appear in tomorrow’s paper.”

“Carry the photo of Deepika showing her cleavage...,” ordered the PMO’s office.

Editor gulped down his whisky.  “What?”

PMO’s office gave him the details of where Deepika was partying "tonight" with a dress that revealed her cleavage. 

“Thank you,” Editor poured himself another drink with the Basanti flavour before calling up his trusted journalist with the latest camera.

“This is called creating history,” mused Mr Padgaonkar whose father had bought the best newspaper of the country when it became independent.  
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Comments

  1. ManiparnaNovember 23, 2014 at 1:16 AM

    Satire at its best...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anand MaraladNovember 23, 2014 at 11:23 AM

    All political leaders think they can re-write history (Hitler burnt many libraries) but history has proven them wrong.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalNovember 23, 2014 at 3:31 PM

      True, Anand, nobody can go very far with manipulations.

      Delete
  3. Anita SabatNovember 23, 2014 at 12:29 PM

    Obvious names :)
    Reminds me of the Hindi Movie- Page-3.
    This is newspaper headlines!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalNovember 23, 2014 at 3:32 PM

      One national newspaper had a news item in its web version the other day which failed to appear in the print edition. That's why this post.

      Delete
  4. Vinay NagarajuNovember 23, 2014 at 1:59 PM

    He he he :D :D .. News and media indeed :D :D

    ReplyDelete
  5. Tomichan MatheikalNovember 23, 2014 at 3:32 PM

    Thanks, Ashwini.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nima DasNovember 23, 2014 at 5:25 PM

    Heeeheee heee !! Good one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalNovember 24, 2014 at 7:14 PM

      There's more fun coming our way, Nima. The media, the govt and the trader - they are uniting to give us a lot more fun.

      Delete
  7. MeenalSonalNovember 24, 2014 at 12:06 PM

    Power cannot change history, just the momentum in outspread of news.
    Great style of expression in post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalNovember 24, 2014 at 7:15 PM

      Thanks for the good words. But I'm becoming more apprehensive with what our govt is doing ... welcome to my latest post.

      Delete
  8. Sunshine-struckNovember 24, 2014 at 4:53 PM

    Sad but true current state of affairs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalNovember 24, 2014 at 7:16 PM

      It's becoming impossible to distinguish news from ads in most newspapers!

      Delete

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