Editor’s Note: This was written exactly a year and a day ago – a year Manmohan Singh, incidentally the prime minister of India, mostly kept to himself. On the eve of his much-discussed press conference scheduled for January 3, we revisit the piece primarily for one reason: Singh, incidentally still the prime minister of India, still keeps to himself, with his grouse and frowns unknown to the world at large.

Dear Diary,

I think this was a terrible year. Diggy told me there was a lot of rage in the media that I spoke too little too late after this Delhi gangrape incident. So this is why I am speaking with you.

Too late? That was way before the fortnight since the incident, theek hai? And what do they mean by too little? That was more than two minutes, even if you count out the theek hai.

But let me not digress. Madam G says this is the last day of the year, and all good, honest souls should dare to bare, the souls I mean. Since I love to keep to myself despite my love for unleashing animal spirits, and since my soul is as honest as can be, I am baring it before you. Please bear with me.

Why are they making so much noise about my silence? Don’t they realise I am such a refreshing change from their average politician, who talks at the drop of a hat, or even if the hat stays put on the head and refuses to budge? Why should I talk? I mean, this last time I tried to address the nation I even checked with them. Theek hai? But rather than telling me “sab theek hai”, they all got further enraged.

You know, dear diary, how I hate blood pressure shooting up. I can unleash animal spirits in the economy but I can’t fiddle around with BP (perhaps because it rhymes with BJP?); that’s too much, way too much I tell you. In fact, unleashing animal spirit is much easier, especially with Chidu looking after finance now. He has to open his mouth; either he or Diggy and his team or spokespersons.

But BP is different; I could be charged with active collusion then: each time I open my mouth in public, people would say ‘theek nahin hai, boss’, and then accuse me of causing their BP to go up as well. I think this is pressure politics.

Who can say I haven’t uttered some quotable quotes this year?

Besides the one about animal spirits back in June, I also spoke that line of beauty in line of duty (in August, was it?): “Hazaaron Jawabon Se Acchi Hai Meri Khamoshi, Na Jaane Kitne Sawaalon Ki Aabru Rakhe.” (My silence is better than a thousand questions, at least it keeps the dignity of the questions.) That’s way better poetry than shrieking about “zinda laash” (the living dead).

Wasn’t my address to the nation in September after the increase in diesel prices and cut in LPG subsidy hard-hitting? “We have much to do to protect the interests of our nation, and we must do it now. At times, we need to say "No" to the easy option and say "Yes" to the more difficult one. This happens to be one such occasion. The time has come for hard decisions. For this I need your trust, your understanding, and your cooperation.”

It’s almost like a cowboy speech, especially the part about time having come for hard decisions! Oh, I still get goose bumps when I hear it sometimes on the audio tape I have next to my bed. Critics say that is only to reassure myself that I do once in a while exercise my vocal cords but that is being malicious.

But that is enough for one day, dear diary. Let me end here by paying my highest respects to Madam G, Beta G, Beti G, Damaad G, sorry Damaad V, though I'm more than a bit miffed with him for making me look so ridiculous soon after I delivered my most definitive quotable quote of the year---"money does not grow on trees". I hope all of them have a wonderful new year. I know they will not party, as Madam G has put a conscientious curb on any party other than the Congress party. Then again, since they are THE Congress party, maybe they will allow themselves a little jig in private. As for me, I believe the dignity of a thousand parties is maintained if one bad dancer stays off the dance floor. 

Got to go, Dear Diary. One more promising year of silence is upon me!
 
Signed,
MMS