“Hey, Jatin, you played well today. Surprising because I do not see you on the course these days”, asked Pushy. The fourball of Jatin and Pushy had finished a round of golf and were sitting in the 19th hole, also known as the ‘Watering Hole.’
“ I have joined a Think Tank,” Jatin announced loudly, hoping the rest of his group would also hear him.
“So, how thick is it?” asked Pushy, looking at himself in the bar mirror without paying much attention to Jatin.
“What do you mean, how thick?” asked Jatin.
“Meaning, since it’s a water tank, how thick are the walls, how deep is the tank, and where have you joined it?”
Jatin was not happy with the response. Bit irritated, he said, “It’s a ‘Think Tank’ and not a thick tank,” in a loudervoice.
“You mean a tank that thinks? Something kind of a new AI stuff?”
Annoyed, Jatin muttered about why he had to open his mouth in the bar of all places, wrong people, and wrong timing. “Never mind”, he said and was about to leave the room when another friend got up and nudged him, “Hey, Jatin, don’t get upset; we are listening; it’s just that we are not able to reconcile why a person like you will be associated with think-tank? Now Jatin’s anger had gone a notch higher, “What do you mean, a person like me?” asked Jatin.
The third member of the Fourball Shaky said, “I mean, you are a sportsman, golfer, an outdoor man; why would you join a social group which sits inside a tank and thinks. I never knew as a man who would sit inside, that’s what I mean”.
Jatin was pacified but couldnotdeterminewhether Shaky was trying to pull his leg or was serious in his comment. “We do not sit inside all day; we do many activities. All of them are of different kinds…
Even before he could complete his statement, Shaky butted in, “Whatever it is, Jatin, it doesn’t suit your personality to sulk with oldies; you are young and energetic. Why would you join a group who have nothing else to do and sit in the gardens or at the Katta (Street corner reserved for evening gossip)? Your ‘T’ levels have indeed dropped”, and all joined him in a loud laugh, seeming to mock Jatin.
Jatin could no longer hold back his anger, so he gave it back to them.
“Fellows, it is not me but you whose brains have slid down to the ‘T’ levels. All you do is play nine holes and then sit in the 19th hole. You have no idea where the world is going or what’s happening—no wonder that everyone is mocking us veterans all the time. I am trying to break that mould and think, and you guys are making jokes about whatever I say. Haven’t you heard of the IIC or IHC in Delhi?” Jatin asked.
“Oh, of course, the IHC; remember we had that party there when we all went to Delhi for the tournament? Oh, what lovely food! It’s a Chinese restaurant, right?” said one of them.
“Yes, yes, I remember, nice ambience, lots of crowds and snooty people, remember, we almost picked up a fight there with the manager, he too asked us, ‘What do we think of him’? Looks like everyone has suddenly started to think,” Shaky laughed.
“But what does the IHC got to do with you, Jatin?” asked Pushy.
“Because IIC is a think tank, and so is IHC in some measure”, said Jatin.
“But I thought IIC and IHC are clubs that the Delhi government has made where the high and mighty of Delhi meet to gossip?” said Chou, the fourth member of the fourball team.
“You guys are dumbwits. IIC is an independent organisation that supports itself; no one funds it, which is why I am trying to explain the similarity to you. It is neither a central government asset nor a Delhi government.
Well, I am sure you have heard of the ORF?” asked Jatin.
“Oh, ORF. Yes, Rakesh is in ORF. Remember, he keeps giving these lectures where everyone talks, and no one listens,” said Pushy.
Jatin was getting mad; he realised that they were pulling his leg, and he was falling into their trap. “I think you guys are best looking around your balls in the bushes, pun intended”, he said and went to sit in a corner.
By now, the three realised that Jatin was serious about what he was saying and decided to give him a patient hearing.
“Jatin, ok, we are listening. We are sorry. I am sorry, but you know I am not the think tank kind. I always feel that you can’t think in a tank, meaning when there are so many people, you end up fighting with nobody listening to the other person. Each is busy explaining his point of view and has little patience for the other man. Don’t you agree?” asked Pushy again.
Listening to him, Jatin got a bit defensive. His aggression subsided as he agreed with Pushy’s point of view, not in full, yet in part. Thinking about his original impressions, Jatin realised Pushy was echoing his views. But now Jatin couldn’t admit it, so he decided to take the bull by the horns.
“Any society thrives through debates and discussions; you remove them, and society will lose its soul. They will be alive but not living”, said Jatin, surprised at his wise words.
The other three were looking at him in astonishment. “What has happened to you, mate? You’ve started speaking like a philosopher. You were a decent bloke playing good golf, and now you’re a poor soul offering a weak philosophy. What is it about think tanks that seem to invade human minds? Last month, I heard a neighbour awakening at odd hours in the afternoon and travelling long distances. He stood there for so long that I wondered if he was alright. I asked him if he was heading somewhere, and he replied that he was going to a Round Table at the other end of the city.”
I got curious and quizzed him further: “Why do you have to go to the other end of the city to find a round table? You can find one here, across our street. He got annoyed with me. Later, I realised he was part of some think tank,” said Chou, making his lengthy statement.
“I think Jatin resembles that guy”, said Shaky, laughing.
“Jatin, don’t waste your time in a think tank; instead, join the golf league, which is happening soon.It’s in the papers if you care to read it. After all, what will you derive?Some gyan two afternoons in a month, and you won’t get a decent cup of tea either. Play Golf league, and you will get goodies, nice lunches, and dinner, ” said Chou.
“I think you guys need to visit the swankiest place in the city. Come for the inauguration this 26th. You will be shocked to see a collection of the best brains in the city, who own half the city’s wealth. Not to mention, all your previous bosses will be there to greet you, and if you are lucky you might see your photo in the newspaper the next day declared Jatin, mocking them.
“And What is this place?” asked the three in unison.
That’s PIC for you. Where you churn your mind and discuss ideas, where wealth is not a goodie bag or lunch but a thought that would inspire many young minds and maybe one odd old ones like yours, where You can walk in anytime, but you can never leave,” said Jatin, half-serious, half-smiling”.
Major General Nitin Gadkari ( Retd)
Director, Pune International Centre
