At Shashi Tharoor's book release

July 13, 2012: I returned to Kolkata yesterday after an overnight trip to Delhi. On Wednesday, I attended a Swarnika event Committee Meeting at Hotel Aman and from there I went to Hotel Taj Palace for the launch of PAX INDICA – India and the World of the 21^st Century, a book by Shashi Tharoor which was released by Shri M Hamid Ansari, Honourable Vice President of India.

Karan Singh, Jaswant Singh, Salman Khurshid, C Raja Mohan and Siddharth Varadarajan had a discussion on the book. The programme was organized by Penguin Books India and Taj Palace, New Delhi.

Hotel Taj Palace was more than full to its capacity and a number of guests had to stand through the event due to lack of sitting space. There is no doubt that the huge turnout was due to the personal equation and charm of Shashi Tharoor.

I took some time out between Aman and Taj Palace programme to drop in at the Hotel Maurya Golf bar, it was a cocktail reception hosted by the hotel.

I remember ITC Hotel used to do this every Wednesday for their selective guests and reps from the hotel sales and marketing team used to be present. Years ago, I would attend these Wednesday drinks being a frequent guest at ITC Windsor. At that time, Suresh Kumar was head of that property. It is good that ITC Hotels have started this again for these Wednesday evenings were the right place for the hotel management and their regular guests to get to know each other.

I am not very sure, but not only ITC Maurya but also other hotels are doing so.

Yesterday had a luncheon meeting with Ina Puri and then dropped into Greater Kailash to meet an old friend before heading for the airport.

ess bee