hidden image

Bob’s Banter by Robert Clements Chief Guest Boris…!

Robert Clements Robert Clements
07 Dec 2020

Many world leaders and people across the globe are wondering why dear Boris from Merry England’s been chosen India’s Republic Day chief guest. A tabloid in London interviewed him, and found he was blown over by the invitation, “It’s not every day one gets an invitation to visit our colonies!” said Boris, sweeping back his unruly hair, “I guess Lizzy’s too old to check on her subjects so they’re inviting me!”

“Sir, India is not one of our colonies anymore, and not been for the past seventy years or more!” said the reporter.
“Oh Blimey! I must strike that out of my speech!” said Boris as he searched his pocket for the paper he’d written his speech on, to deliver on the ramparts of the Red Fort, “Could it be because of my hair?”
“Your hair sir?” asked the reporter a bit surprised.
“Yeah, it’s rather windy in Delhi in January, and maybe they chose someone who wasn’t bothered about which way the wind tossed it!” chuckled Boris.
“That could be a valid reason Mr Prime Minister!” said the reporter respectfully, as he wrote down the PMs comments dutifully, “But I’m sure there must be more a reason than just your hair!”
“You think so?” asked the English PM hesitantly?
“I don’t know sir, I’m only asking? Though we were all wondering whether it has to do with the vaccine?”
“Vaccine?” asked Boris.
“Yes sir, didn’t you announce to the world today, you are the first country to start vaccinating everybody?” asked the reporter.
“Yes!” said Boris squaring his shoulders, “We are going to show the world, that Britain leads the way again!”
“That Mr Prime Minister, could be the reason them Indians are calling you sir!”
“Ah they want to give me an award? They give a lot of awards I heard, and my trophy shelf desperately needs one!”
“No sir!”
“No? You don’t think they want to give me some award or other?”
“No sir!”
“So dammit, what could be the reason?” asked Boris as he saw visions of the award on his mantelpiece fading away, “Why else would they call me as their chief guest, there in front of all the cameras with all the world to see me!”
“Exactly sir!”
“Exactly what?”
“There in front of the cameras with all the world to see! They want to examine you sir, to see how the vaccine has worked on you! Whether you’ve grown a tail, lost your hair, hands trembling, voice quivering! You’re their vaccine guinea pig for the whole country to watch sir! After that they’ll decide which vaccine to order!”
That night as Boris felt his hair for the tenth time, his live-in partner Carrie asked, “What you doing Boris, you’re acting as if you’re hair is fallin’ off?”
Boris looked at her with haunted eyes..!

bobsbanter@gmail.com

Recent Posts

The 2026 West Bengal elections exposed how democratic institutions can be weakened without a formal suspension of democracy. Through voter deletions, administrative filtering, heavy enforcement deploy
apicture Oliver D'Souza
11 May 2026
The proposed School Management Committees mark an unprecedented Union encroachment into school governance, threatening state powers and minority rights. The guidelines lack constitutional backing, und
apicture Joseph Maliakan
11 May 2026
I first heard your name when my friend, an IAS officer, now retired, served under you in the Petroleum Ministry. Recently, I had occasion to write an editorial on the reforms that you introduced in th
apicture A. J. Philip
11 May 2026
The Assembly election results underline a stark warning for India's opposition: disunity is strengthening the BJP's expanding dominance and weakening democratic pluralism. Critics argue that fragmente
apicture Jacob Peenikaparambil
11 May 2026
The 2026 Assembly elections showed that Christian voters remain influential in areas where communities are concentrated and institutionally organised, especially in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Vijay's rise
apicture John Dayal
11 May 2026
When flames tore through the fragile shanties along the Narkeldanga canal one humid evening in February 2025, families lost everything in minutes. Bamboo poles, tin sheets, plastic and tarpaulin roofs
apicture CM Paul
11 May 2026
To split human beings into Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra, Untouchable: To place some at the summit of heaven And bury untouchables below the floor of hell Is not just a mistake of history;
apicture Dr Suryaraju Mattimalla
11 May 2026
Francis Fukuyama, quoting Hobbes, says, people usually fight over necessities, but often enough they contend over trifles. That is to say, many quarrels arise over non-issues. They are expressions
apicture Thomas Menamparampil
11 May 2026
Many of us grew up hearing a sentence repeated by parents, teachers, coaches and even old uncles sitting with cups of tea after a cricket match. "Learn to lose gracefully." We were told that being a g
apicture Robert Clements
11 May 2026
The defection of seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs simultaneously crossed the anti-defection law's two-thirds merger threshold, exposing how constitutional safeguards themselves can be used to legitimise mass
apicture Jacob Peenikaparambil
04 May 2026