Unique identification

Businessmen may not always be familiar with politicians and technocrats in government but propriety demands that, at the very least, they be briefed on those they invite to their events. But two top bosses of Coca Cola, Muhtar Kent, global CEO, and Atul Singh, India chief, obviously did not think it necessary to inform themselves of the names or designations of their guests at the launch of season 2 of Coke Studio. Thus, in his welcome speech Singh referred to Nandan Nilekani as the “UID minister”. But his faux pas was surpassed by Kent, who introduced the chief guest, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit, as “the first minister Sheila”. At this, the murmurs in the audience pretty much drowned out the rest of Kent’s speech.