Word of the week: Sabbatical

Meaning — period of paid leave granted to a university teacher for study or travel, traditionally one year for every seven years worked or with the meaning of going into hibernation.

Trust Rahul Gandhi to be a pioneer. So far, people took breaks from work. But Rahul is taking a sabbatical from a sabbatical. True, things are not what they seem. Rahul’s leave maybe a strategy, as the pundits surmise. It’s probably a way of telling the Congress old guard that baba is unhappy with them. Or it’s a way of finally admitting that baba really isn’t interested in politics. Or it is a temporary absence before baba takes charge. But what is beyond doubt is that baba wasn’t all that busy that he’d merit a babatical.

Anyhow, Rahul should enjoy his moment — this is the most people have talked about him in recent times.