Her name is Pratibha but does she have enough pratibha to handle such a key post? This question occurred
to me when I first heard her name on the idiot box a couple of weeks ago. Then I remembered that she was contesting for the president of India not the US. I mean, as the president of India one doesn't have many things to worry about. But still, it requires some competency on the part of the candidate to fulfill the duties expected of him/her.

I believe Abdul Kalam is easily the best president in the recent decades. He had a great resume and importantly had a great vision for India. He encouraged children to dream big and achieve great things. He was a teacher, scientist and above all a great human being. The title 'first citizen of India' must have been happier during his five year term.

But the new President (or shall we call Rastrapatni - that may be degrading - or rashtrapramukh) doesn't seem to have a great pedigree or some great history to justify her election. Agreed, she has some lawyer training and has been in politics for a long time. But there are some serious allegations against her and her brother. Even before elections, she was in news for all the wrong reasons, pretty silly and disgusting. I don't want to discuss them here as I may break my monitor.

I am not against a woman being the president but against a wrong woman. Our president is involved in a bank scam, shielding her brother in a murder case, sugar scam, etc. I hate politics and most of our politicians. I was ecstatic when Kalam sent back the office of profit bill. Of course, he couldn't continue his battle against these filthy politicians for long. But he showed that political parties cannot take the president for granted.

But with Kalam gone, politicians and Congress party ( read Sonia Gandi) has got Pratibha Patil alias a rubber stamp.

What a shame, while Kalam has an enviable flashback, India's new first citizen has got a pitiable and horrifying one.