How do country's top political leaders, who have had a stint in the Union cabinet in the past or have enjoyed proven credentials as Lok Sabha (LS) MP, come to know that a particular day is their birthday? Normally, it is when the Prime Minister or some high profile national leaders make a telephonic call to the political leader concerned to wish him or her birthday greetings.

Thursday brought a same experience to CMNitish Kumar who was born on March 1, 1951. When asked who was the first to greet him on the occasion, Nitish, seated in his chair in his state assembly chamber, first said, "Aise mauke par sabse pehle PM ka hi call aata hai (on such occasions, normally, it is the PM who makes the first call to give birthday greetings)."

LS Speaker Meira Kumar and leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, also rang up Nitish. "Actually, I wasn't even aware that Thursday (March 1) was that special day for me, or the day when I will get birthday greetings. Like any other day, I was just going through the newspapers, when the PM's call came," Nitish said, adding: "Three or four calls came in the morning itself."

His assembly chamber was, in fact, crowded mostly with MLAs and there were also others who had come to discuss something important with him. JD(U) and BJP women MLAs stood on his right, and one of them even sang, "Badhai ho badhai, janam din tumhare" with a sangfroid that matched the occasion, and then walked out of the chamber, while a few others hung around to greet him and also touch his feet for blessings.

Earlier, in the state assembly, Speaker Uday Narayan Choudhary's announcement that Thursday was CM's birthday was greeted with the thumping of desks. While leader of Opposition Abdul Bari Siddiqui also greeted him, JD(U) member Izhar Ahmed, having greeted the CM, said he should make some birthday announcement for the benefit of the legislators! He also requested the Speaker to arrange a feast on the occasion. When Choudhary quipped, "The feast would be arranged after the session ends," sending the MLAs to peals of laughter. Nitish himself could not stop blushing

Courtsey : TOI, Patna