When Arnab Goswami frankly spoke with Rahul Gandhi

(image courtesy: http://blogs.wsj.com/)

Some may call it the most epic twoment (twitter moment) of 2014. The reclusive Rahul Gandhi comes face to face with the conclusive Arnab Goswami. Where else, on the super prime time “The Newshour” (TN). Not surprisingly, the internet has already gone abuzz with speculations, innovations and castigations.  The news channel has bombarded the newsfeeds with the epic “first time in 10 years” opportunity to meet the “Shehzaada”, for Indian viewers. And satire sites like Faking News have crystal gazed to create howlariously imaginative content. (checkout RG’s interview with AG).

My respect for RaGa has grown multifold. Not because I am suddenly enamoured by his economic vision for the country, but because… by appearing on TN, sitting face to face with the most feared television anchor on earth (he is referred to as the Super Chief Justice Arnab Goswami, for nothing), requires guts. So Mr. Gandhi’s courage cannot be questioned by opposition parties. Exposing himself to an incisive AG, may be labelled by some as a PR disaster. While the most optimistic commentators may laud the efforts of RG’s PR agency, by pulling off a coup of sorts. Especially, if the interview can be conducted in a “controlled” environment.

It may not surprise me if Monday, 27^th Jan 2014, 9pm creates a new TRP milestone for Times Now. That’s because every Indian would want to witness history. And yes, there is sarcasm loaded in my last statement. That’s because people will tune-in to watch AG take on RG, but not necessarily for platonic or nationalistic reasons. Here are a few that I can think of…

• Congress kaaryakartas / disciples / followers / etc. – These hand-walla people are looking for some ray of hope from the Gandhi scion. If he can manage to “out-answer Mr. Goswami”, the social media and PR brigade will have a field day positioning RG as India’s most deserving PM. Needless to mention, by out-answering AG, RG would have created a new Guinness Record of sorts. Something that no man or human or animal or table or chair.. has ever done before!

• BJP social media warriors / spokespersons:  ok, now these lotus-people are on a mission. Termed operation “Pappu”, their mission involves leaving no congress stone unturned to deride RG, and convince the world that “om NaMo Shivay” is the universal mantra for 2014. They would be hoping that AG succeeds in doing what he does best – call guests home, and then starve them to metaphorical death through supersonic vibratory bodily movements, deafening sound decibels and intimidating hand gestures. And of course, their fingers would be tweeting at a million characters per second. They may lose their salaries if “PappuOnNewshour” does not trend…

• AAP brigade:  These well-meaning guys are already under too much stress, so they may be looking out for opportunities to deflect the attention from Binny Kumars, Kumar Vishwases and Somnath Bhartis of the world. So expect them to stay glued to TN for any iota of an RG faux-pas.

• The average Indian:  The real mango people of this country. Who under media, peer and social media pressure, will have little choice but to sacrifice their prime time soap, for this super prime time political soap-opera.

So you see, the whole country will be watching history in the making… Live. Which side the tide will turn, only time will tell. And the time is between 9pm to 10pm… unless RG walks out, or succumbs to AG, or just Survives!! Frankly Speaking…. The Nation does want to know the outcome…