$ 2.3 billion for Chapati and Idli Maker

Our much awaited aircraft carrier, originally slated to cost 2.3 billion US dollars or Rs 2641 crores, but now estimated to eventually cost 12,000 crores (as a patriotic tax payer, my contribution may be a fraction of a few paise too), is going to be inducted into our Navy (these figures are from the Indian print media).

I wish our armed forces well; but haven't they been given a raw deal, or should I say, a well cooked deal. The photo from the Indian Express (click to enlarge), dated 16 Nov 2013, says that the formidable floating mass of steel comes installed with state of the art roti maker, idli maker, well-stocked bar, complete with comfortable seating and piano in order to strike terror in the hearts of the Pakistanis.

Moreover, the Chinese are quaking in their boots on learning that this armada of one will require one lakh eggs, 20,000 litres of millk and 16 tonnes of rice to fuel it for a month. So every Indian mother's dream of feeding her offspring अण्डा और  दूध will come true. In addition to following Naponeon's dictum that 'an army marches on its stomach', our Navy swills its way across the oceans with cirrhosed livers, rowing along to Beethoven's 5th or the martial सारे जहां से अच्छा हिन्दोस्तान हमारा ......

Our Raksha Mantri will launch the gargantuan white elephant today somewhere in the Arctic regions, by smashing a bottle of toddy - I hope the rusty hull does not get dented!

मेरा भारत महान !