•Hello and welcome to Walk the Talk. My guest today is the busiest man in our public life and perhaps one of the busiest in public life anywhere in the world. A man who needs his mind to be like a nine-band radio, or who maybe needs 48 hours in a day. Pranab Mukherjee, welcome to Walk the Talk.

Thank you.

•So, how many hours do you have in your day?

I wish if it could have been extended a little. Then I could have coped with things better.

•Because you do more jobs than anybody can think of.

No, I do not know. There are some busy persons. I was told Karunanidhi, even at this age, works very hard. His life is very disciplined.

•Your life is very busy and very disciplined as well.

More or less. You can say that.

•You are very punctual too, and I believe you have very low patience with anybody who is not punctual.

I try to be punctual but not always. Earlier, I was more punctual because you know the basic discipline which we have got from Indira Gandhi. She was very punctual. We used to tally our watch with her schedule. When she was engaged in her work and the Cabinet meeting was due, she would send a slip to me, saying you take the innocuous routine items, I will join you.

•There is something she once said that I was reading somewhere. She said if you say something to Pranab Mukherjee, it remains with him. Then even if you punch him in the stomach, all that comes out is smoke.

... contd.