(more than 350 words)
Maananeeya Pradhan Mantri Mahodhay Man Mohan Singh Ji,
(Pratilipi: Shrimathi Sonia Gandhi, Congress Party aur Desh ka katha-dhartha) (Please put in a word)
(Pratilipi: Honourable Rahul Gandhiji, Bharat ka bhavishya) (Please recommend my name)
Namashkaar! Saadar Pranaam!
I hope you had a nice and successful trip to China. How was the weather in Beijing?
I understand that you are in the process of selecting candidates for awarding Bhaarat Ratna. The country has already honoured 40 persons with this Ratna; the dishonourable exception being that of Mohan Das Karamchand Gandhi (the person whom we remember on 2 October and whose samadhi we visit that day).
Please consider my name as well; I have impressive credentials.
· Many times since the year 1960, I have travelled in long distance Indian trains, especially in the unreserved third class (even after it was renamed as second class). That was long before Lalu Prasad Yadav became the railway minister.
· I was a suburban train commuter with a second class pass for three years in Mumbai when it was known as Bombay.
· I have successfully crossed many roads at all hours in Bangalore, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai.
· I have undertaken many journies by Deccan Airlines (before it shook hands with Kingfischer Airlines); I have walked several kilometers to get into the aircraft; I have lived without sipping a drop of water in the plane.
· I have lived in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh for about 14 years under various political regimes.
· For about eight years, I used the services of Delhi Transport Undertaker (sorry, Undertaking), well before it became DTC , to go to school and college..
· Hundreds of times I have used the services of a meterless three-wheeled wonder known as `autos’ in Chennai, driven by the most decent, well-mannered individuals on Mother Earth!
If these expolits are not sufficient to grant me the coveted medal, please let me know; I will send you a list of my other accomplishments.
Thanks for reading me patiently (that is, if you at all read this!)
Appa Charan Sparsh Karta Huva,
Subrahmanyam Gopal
