Lage Raho Lalu Bhai

India's irrepresible Minsiter for Railways and former Chief Minister of the province of Bihar, known for his rustic humour and lifestyle (there were more cows in his bunglow in Patna (Capital of Bihar) than cars; honoured the formidable "manager making factory" - the Indian Institute of Management at Ahmedabad by speaking on the turnaround story of Indian Railways. There are quite a few of these "manager making" factories in India (I think 5 in all).
It is still doubtful if Mr Prasad was honoured at the opportuity or IIM (A) was honoured to have him as a Speaker. I think it was a bit of both.
This incident can be looked from various angles. Some of these are below:
1. The academic level of IIMs has come down so dramatically that Indian Railways (a paragon of failure) will soon become a case study. I think Mr Prasad should send all his senior officers to Mr Pathak who runs the cleanest public toilets in India (Sulabh Sauchalaya). For Indian Railways at time when most of the stations look, feel and smell like badly kept toilets, Mr Pathak is the right man for Mr Prasad to talk to. I think they come from the same state.

2. Railways have shown a good turn around. But none of that is because of Mr Prasad's efforts. This has been done by the previuos minister and some good officers (IRCTC is a good example of what a few officers can achieve). So why is he taking the credit? His only credit is to introduce Khullars (earthen cups) in the railways (which did not work).

3. The third take is Mr Prasad is "sanskritising" himself. That looks like a good explanation to me. Patna was different Delhi is different. And Mr Prasad knows how important it is to behave like romans in rome! In the company of such urbane and sophisticated colleagues such as Messers Sibal, Nath, Chidambaram, Patel, and others, Mr Prasad is speaking and acting Roman.

My take: Lalu was propagating the biggest management mantra at IIM (A): "Boss always takes the credit"[we will wait for Mr Prasad to talk about railway safety perhaps]