And we all fall down…

While I do not wish to comment on the above news item that reported that Tukaram’s famous poem about hitting the wicked on their heads with a stick was removed from the pagdi (headgear) of the PM’s costume for his inauguration of the temple, what I want to do instead is speak of the advertisement in the image below.

Both news items are from the Loksatta of 14 June 2022, the day of the function. However, for this commercial with that picture to air, the following had to happen:

1. Someone must have measured the PM for his costume in advance and then, got it stitched to size.
2. Prior to that, the costume design and the poem on it were sent for approval to the PMO, and it was studied by them and perhaps the Public Relations department of the PMO as well as the private PR agency on BJP’s payroll.
3. Then, the costume (including the props, like the musical instruments, the garland, etc.) was brought to New Delhi, or wherever the PM was at that time before 14 June 2022.
4. The PM changed into it. Then, he had a photo-shoot and modelling session in a special room with white background and professional lights and a camera. A camera person was involved, as must have been make-up, lights, art, design, and of course, public relations.
5. The photos were shown to the PM and his public relations staff for approval and then released to the ad agency who then designed this ad, which was sent for approval, discussed, modified, edited, finalised, and then sent to the Loksatta offices for printing. All this before the printing deadline of perhaps midnight of the 13 and 14 June 2022.
6. The costume and props were moved to Dehu in the meanwhile.
7. When the PM arrived for the program, this costume and props were once again worn by him as he conducted the inauguration.
8. The PMO, NSG, Government of Maharashtra, and various offices of the BJP in New Delhi and Pune coordinated the entire exercise.
9. Presenting, ladies & gentlemen, the man who seeks to replace Nehru in India’s and the world’s mind space and psyche.

Meanwhile, in other news, literally on the same page, the BSE Sensex has a record fall, wiping away Rs.70,00,00,00,00,000 of investor wealth, the Indian Rupee falls to a historical low of Rs.78.29 to a US$, and the IPL becomes the second richest sports league in the world by earning Rs.4,30,00,00,00,000 as broadcast fees.

If you think about it, you’ll realise that it isn’t just the Rupee that has fallen over the past 8 years.