Referendums, please! writes Priyanka Chaturvedi

Last week has been full of big-ticket exits. Starting with India, the RBI governor called it quits after his first term ends in September. This was followed by breathless amount of debates and discussions as to what was coming up next. The next was to be bigger in impact, and of course more of a talking point in the days and perhaps, years to come. Yes, the Brexit.

The people of United Kingdom have voted and how! It has sent the entire world into a tailspin. This was followed by an equally unfortunate exit of England football team in the Euro Cup as they lost to an unheralded Iceland. Also, Shastri exiting to make way for Anil Kumble as head coach for Indian cricket team. See? No one can complain. I do follow sports…however fleetingly!

Social media and all active users are now spoilt for choice on topic for outrage. So many topics to talk on and so little time! Leaving the serious consequences of Brexit aside, it was interesting to read the reactions to it. While UK comes to terms with the referendum result, both, the party in power and opposition in mayhem, as are the Brits right now.

Some have started a signature campaign for another referendum. On the day of the result the second most Googled topic in Britain, as per some news reports, was what the EU is. Some citizens who voted to leave the EU were busy scratching their head to say that when they voted ‘leave’ they thought it was a vote for immigrants to leave Britain and not for Britain to leave the EU! Confused? Well join the world club where as of now confusion reigns supreme.

In India everyone right now is commenting on the consequences and impact of Brexit. We have temporarily forgotten the challenges our own country faces so that we can talk on what’s happening in Britain and the changing world order. Some have gone as far as suggesting that we should have Brexit style referendums in India too. So to add to the confusion I have drawn up a list, on a lighter note, of what we Indians can have a referendum on:

l Did rasgullas originate in West Bengal or Odisha? That debate hasn’t been settled yet!

l Is Delhi better than Mumbai? Forever the outrage topic, it needs to be settled now!

l Sachin Tendulkar or Virat Kohli? No FIR please, I am just suggesting!

l Vada Pav or Pav Bhaji which is the Mumbai snack? Or wait, let’s also vote for Malabar Hill or Bandra!

l Alphonso vs the rest of the mango varieties (sorry am biased towards the king of mangoes)

l T20, one day or test cricket? Since referendums are incomplete without cricket!

l China or Pakistan? You know the context!

l To universally declare Monday as the most hated day of the week.

The last one, of course, was random, though am sure most will agree. Of course, Brexit is serious but who says one can’t have a light-hearted banter over the unexpected turn of events. The rollercoaster ride has just begun, have you fastened your seatbelt, though?