Book on public discipline released

It was a star struck event, sorry, bureaucrat-struck event at the Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA) on Wednesday evening. The function was that of a book release of IAS officer Rajiv Kumar Gupta titled Public Discipline: From thought to action by Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Despite the event starting about an hour past the scheduled time, the humor was dealt with immediately by the CM as he apologised for his public indiscipline for the release function of a book that essentially deals with public discipline. "No matter what excuse I make, the fact remains that I was late," he said as he started his speech.

He said the book was an attempt to bring consciousness in people about how their collective insensitivity towards the society and the planet is harming the environment beyond repair. “This book is about inspiring people. It is a simple narrative taken from real life which can be implemented easily,” he said.

Sounding a tad exhausted to begin with, the CM imparted much wisdom about the absence of public hygiene and discipline in India which was harming our environment. “The biggest difference between us and the western world is the absence of our social hygiene and public discipline. Other countries go ahead because of societal discipline. We have very strong rules about how to handle our things, utensils etc, but the moment we are out, we spit on the road. The earth that we call Mother India, we go and spit on it! What kind on patriotism is this?” he said.

Modi added several such quips in his about 20-minute speech before the crowd patiently dispersed in a disciplined manner for dinner.