BY THE TIME this edition of Democratic World hits the stands or lands on your thresholds, notifications for the 2013 Assembly Polls will have probably been issued across Delhi and Mizoram. As of November 16th, candidates will have filed nominations, while “scrutiny” would be over by November 18th. By November 20th, 2013, we shall know our final list of nominees. This is a crucial period for us all. Adding to the political energy reverberating around the NCR, is the buzz of Diwali—one of the most widely-celebrated festivals of India. I must say, lives are truly busy now. My country’s people are truly wonderful; they are capable of treating a pooja and the polls with equal veneration.
Rightly so, if one is good for the spiritual journey of the individual, the other is good for the country's soul. I know that you are watching the political space closely. I wish you all the luck and may you enjoy a fair and transparent poll in December.
Talking about fairness and transparency, we spoke to one its champions who was manning one of the most crucial official posts of them all, till May 2013—keeping a tab on government expenses. It has not been the easiest job, but Vinod Rai managed it with such grace and dignity that he became quite a legend. We kid you not, go take a look at his Facebook fan-2013page. Not very many ex Comptroller and Auditor Generals of India (CAG) can claim to have won “fans”. However, our personality of the month is humble enough to brush aside all accolades. He believes that the office of the CAG has always done “solid work”. The jeep scandal, Bofors, Coffingate and the Centaur Hotel Scam, all exposed thanks to the close attention paid by its officers. Read our interview of Vinod Rai on Page 12.
We also serve our usual fare; since it is getting chillier, we decided to dip the temperature further, and take you to the Nilgiris. Tushar Kanwar, our gizmo guru, takes us through fun sites which help you to keep fit. Yes, exercise and social media, do mix after all, it seems! Do have a great Diwali, folks. Have fun and stay safe. Firecrackers are good, but keeping the air clean for our next generation is better, is it not?