The latest issue of Outlook has for some bizarre reason featured me in its cover story on 25 smartest Indians. There is absolutely no reason for my being there actually. The comment—“I am a Brahmin, I am South Indian, I am good-looking, I am brilliant”—attributed to me gives the impression I have spoken to Outlook. I have never ever met any Outlook correspondent for this story, but I do recall giving an interview in 1998 in which I had said that I don’t fancy my chances too much in Indian politics because of my upper caste background and because I am perhaps overeducated and qualified. This was 15 years ago. I don’t ever recall having said anything about my looks, though. Can a 15-year-old quote made in a totally different context be used or misused like this?
