Credentials

Saw this poster in Nainital district of Uttrakhand (UK)...Do take a look at the credentials

'Greetings 19' by K.J.S.Chatrath

When I was young, and it was a long, long time ago, one used to send greeting messages by telegrams. You do remember telegrams, dont you? There used to be a list of standard phrases for the greeting telegrams, each given a code or a number. For example the code for the message "A Happy New Year to You" was '4'. So instead of sending the message which consisted of 6 words one could send the same message by writing '4' as the message and specifying the category of telegram as 'Greetings'. This way one was charged only for one word, of course the words for the adressee and the sender being extra.

Coming to today- the Republic Day, the standard message was "Sincere greetings for the Republic Day. Long live the Republic" and its code was '19'.

So may I say Greetings telegram-19 to you all!

PS....Though I have used the past tense in the narrative, I understand that this facility is still available accross the post offices in the country, albeit rearely used.

Deputy Commissioner leads a 'yagna'

'Karnal Deputy Commissioner... ... leads other officers in performing a yagna for an auspicious start of the New Year on Tuesday+photo' (Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130102/haryana.htm Sending secularism for a six!

Physical castration

Do you know the difference between a raging bull and a calm ox? Physical castration.