CHAIRWOMEN: Sonia basks in the company of Indira Gandhi, Sarojini Naidu and Nellie

At the Women's Empowerment Convention organised by the Congress in Delhi recently the real issue was Sonia Gandhi's Italian origins. Not because participants shrieked slogans denouncing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa but because of theme of the dais. Mounted on the backdrop were the portraits of five prominent women, three of whom were foreign born-Dr Annie Besant, Nellie Sengupta, wife of J.M. Sengupta, who was Congress president in the 1930s, and Sonia Gandhi herself.

The convention was an Ambika Soni show. Sonia's political secretary, who has never been a minister, ensured that ordinary party workers and experts dominated the meeting. None of the former ministers either at the Centre or in the state governments, barring Margaret Alva and Renuka Choudhury, got a chance to speak. AICC General Secretary Mohsina Kidwai and Lok Sabha member Prabha Rau, both senior leaders, who sent request slips to address the gathering were turned down. Even Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who footed the bill, got the chance to make the welcome speech only at the instance of K. Natwar Singh.

Sonia, who sat through the eight-hour convention and took copious notes, proved two points. Her keen ear for ideas and yen for women's company.

Voices

"The only 'ism' people want today is tourism."

Chief Minister, Andhra Pradesh, on the relevance of communism and Marxism as an ideology

"It is when the climb is steep that a good mountaineer musters his hidden strength and determination."

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, prime minister, on India setting an annual 8 per cent growth target in the Tenth Plan

"Pakistan has failed all tests. Musharraf has not even passed the test of sober language."

Kanwal Sibal, foreign secretary, on the Pakistani president

"If there is no good-looking boy and girl in the film, the audience starts getting restless."

Adoor Gopalakrishnan, film director

"India's treasure is intellectual talent. The only thing it lacks is a market. It's a challenge for India."

Jeffrey Immelt, CEO, General Electric Co

"How can you retire from thinking?"

Dev Anand, actor, when asked if he ever felt like retiring

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Tamil Nadu ordinance on conversions

"We congratulate Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. The Centre and other states should also enact similar laws."

M.G. Vaidya, RSS spokesperson

Change of faith is a not a criminal act but a human right. This is unconstitutional.

Syed Shahabuddin, President, All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat