Pic up point

It does not happen only in India. If one can penetrate layers of security and attend a White House state dinner thrown by US President Barack Obama, nothing is impossible. A northern Virginia couple, Tareq and Michaele Salahi, not on the official guest list, not only pulled off the feat effortlessly, but also posed for pictures with dinner guests including theu00a0 prez, Vice President Joe Biden, Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty, CBS News anchor Katie Couric and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. And we think only Indians can do that!

Parties are the best places to pose for photographs with celebrities, and later use them for other purposes, like publicity and status-faking. I remember having recently attended a party where a man first introduced himself as a doctor and then requested me to help her daughter stand with Sanjay Kapoor, Rahul Roy and Nisha Kothari, for pictures. It is also somewhat of an addiction for many, but in this case, the doctor turned out genuine and well-off; capable of giving Rs 500 tips to the waiters around. Perhaps all he wanted to do was to put a smile on his teenager's face, but such hobbies, most often, can't be bought, like most dear things.

Gatecrashers become active during election campaigns, too. Netas, too, don't say a no, for reasons more than obvious. In an amusing albeit dangerous case, I once got a tip-off from my source that a troublesome character was to pose for a photograph with a senior political leader. The source, a police official, was concerned about the fact that he'd be blackmailed for the rest of his life with that one mark of high-placed association, and the unscrupulous chap would remain forever free from the bars, where he belonged.

It is a famous pastime in Delhi to make a group, wear smart formals, speak in fluent English and enter just about any event. No one will dare to ask about your identity. In fact, it is a common practice to prove your confidence. For most college-goers, it's not even a challenge anymore. Snapshots with the beau monde are a great wall-hanging for the drawing room. In most probability, every property agent in your neighbourhood has one framed.u00a0u00a0

But then, when it comes to Obama-sque celebrations, India is far better in terms of security. When I was invited to lunch with Congress president Sonia Gandhi at a leading hotel, I realised how there was no breaching security. Invitations were checked and rechecked, identities proved and re-proved. Any terrorist has access to the airport or markets, but spare our VVIPs, the government cries.

Meanwhile, the Salahis must be happy with the comments on their Facebook album. And the Obamas, that they were not bombed.