Eyecatchers

India Today
September 7, 1998

Club Class

What's the height of exclusivity? A club with 13 members, and names like Kapil Dev, Richard Hadlee and Courtney Walsh. The only bowlers to have crossed the 300 Test wicket mark met in London last week at a dinner honouring them, and raised funds for Walsh's charity fund along the way. Memories flowed like wine as Kapil led the photo line-up; and at midnight, a letter from Don Bradman was read out congratulating Walsh on his 375. "It was the best night of my life," said Walsh. Are we surprised?

Gundia Bai Salaam Justice

Wearing shoes in front of upper castes is out in her village. So is sitting on a charpoy. In fact, Gundia Bai, a Dalit sarpanch from Madhya Pradesh, was beaten up and her house burnt when she tried to unfurl the tricolour on Independence Day '97. CM Digvijay Singh heard the story, and invited her to the district headquarters on ID-'98 to unfurl the flag and take the salute. "I'm glad justice was done," says the 27-year-old. But it didn't come easy, did it?

A Dash of Publicity

J B Patnaik It was a 100 m sprint for a dash of publicity. On Rajiv Gandhi's birthday last fortnight, the Orissa Congress did what Rajivji loved to do -- organised a race. Chief Minister J.B. Patnaik even led from the front, in dhoti, T-shirt-over-kurta and all. Either the 73-year-old always had aspirations of being a sprinter. Or perhaps his party workers in true sycophantic style wished to please him. Because Patnaik simply raced ahead of the pack. "To be up and running is what matters," he gurgled. Of course, how he runs the state is another matter.

Relatively Speaking

He's 24, a singer and also Daler Mehndi's brother. But, says Mika, "I want to make it on my own." Good point. Families don't always help.

Raju Kher, TV actor. Looks like brother Anupam Kher, and tries to act like him. Still trying. It doesn't work.

Nitin Bali, singer. Clings to wife Ruby Bhatia in public. He shouldn't. He sings well, she ruined his video.

Naved Jaaferi with Javed Jaaferi

Naved Jaaferi, TV anchor. His show Boogie Woogie's USP was brother Jaaved's presence. Risen above that now.

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