Random Surfing: Candid chat with Sangma

transparency appears to be the word most in vogue in the present day world of english-speaking people in this country. the fact that this is so, is in itself a pointer to the sad state of affairs in society which sees almost everybody in public life either telling lies or seeking to hide things. so the cry has gone up that this will not do, the world must be able to see through men and their affairs.the loudest voice here is that of the very people who are suspected of hiding things or not telling the whole turth and hence the call for tranparency is itself being greeted with a wry smile. yet it is refreshing to note that there still are those - and in the world of politics, of all places - who can be totally candid about themselves. purno sangma is one such person. the former meghalaya chief minister, former union minister and former lok sabha speaker and current nationalist congres party leader, revealed himself wholly as he told alpha bangla last week: "i enjoy throwing huge parties and drinking. it also helps as once when i was away and my wife was short of cash, she could pay my child's school fees by selling the empty bottles in the house; "i don't like telling lies but at election time, like other politicians i also have to come out with assurances which i know cannot be fulfilled; "ten years ago, if i faced a situation in which i was to be banished to a remote island, i perhaps would not have chosen my wife as my companion. today, of course who else can i take with me." in this nation of hypocrites there aren't many people who would have had the guts to be so frank. in the chat show, sangma also gave his solemn word that once he reaches the age of 65 he will call it a day as "that's the age when all politicians should retire". one will have to wait and see if the man from garo hills keeps his word. meanwhile, let's have more such programmes. talking of enjoyable programmes, mention needs to be made of the akash bangla piece on mohun bagan's hostorice victory over east yorkshire regiment on july 29, 1911. a simulated radio commentary helped to bring to viewers the excitement that had gripped the entire city that day. newspaper clippings from that period were effectively used. said moslem bharat, "hindus in their temples and muslims in their mosques are praying for a mohun bagan victory" and describing the celebration after the game, reuters said, "words fail to descrbe the scene on the ground". the victory was noted even by the manchester guardian and singapore free press. the thrilling journey down memory lane was only spoilt by the constant awareness of the situation at present, of how an institution is being dragged down. more on akash bangla. some time ago the column had adversely commented on some of the sets of trishna, the serial which is running. whether because of that, or otherwise, things have changed for the better and the watering hole as presented now looks the proper place for the moneyed to frequent.