We have heard of “dinner diplomacy” between countries and with regard to China, whom America did not recognize for many years after communists came to power, we used to hear about “ping - pong diplomacy” between China and America.

The dinner diplomacy is expected to do miracle in the relationship between two countries probably because of the belief in the saying, 'the family that dines together stays together.' Though it is also said that “the family which prays together stays together”, it may not be possible where the religions of the two countries are different and as such not inclined to pray together meaningfully. But you can never say. After all in politics, pretence is also part of the art of success.

America and Mao's Communist China though did not have any diplomatic relationship, yet both were willing to have some kind of contacts for mutual economic and political advantage. Chinese are known for their excellence in the game of ping-pong (Table Tennis). Taking advantage of this, Americans declared their intention that sports should be kept out of politics and so began the ping - pong diplomacy, leading finally to the then Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger’s visit to China followed by the then President Richard Nixon. Today China has been recognized not only by the United States but also by the UN where earlier it was the government – in - exile, Kuomintang, of which Chiang Kai Shek was the head.

Be that as it may, I write this preface only to appreciate a sort of diplomatic coup achieved by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Karunanidhi in the matter of installation of Thiurvalluvar's statue in Bangalore. Or was it the coup de grace of our Chief Minister Yeddyurappa?

From what Yeddyurappa said at the public function held to unveil the statue of Thiruvalluvar in Bangalore, I should think it was a diplomatic coup by Karunanidhi and not so much by Yeddyurappa.

Speaking at the function, Yeddyurappa had said that he had been to Chennai for a medical check - up and not to meet Karunanidhi to discuss about the installation of the statue. The issue of the statue came about rather unexpectedly. It appears Yeddyurappa got the message that Karunanidhi wanted to see him in the hospital. When the messenger was told that Yeddyurappa had come only for a routine check-up and not hospitalizations and would be staying in a guest house, the same was conveyed to Karunanidhi.

The message came that Karunanidhi would travel to the guest house to greet Yeddyurappa. The Karnataka Chief Minister was so much moved by this gesture of 86 – year - old Karunanidhi that the 66 – year - old Yeddyurappa sent word that he himself would go to Karunanidhi's house and meet him. So it was.

The hospitality overwhelmed Yeddyurappa who was deeply moved and overwhelmed that he had nothing but praise and admiration for Karunanidhi as a scholar and a noble person. When Karunanidhi mentioned about his 18 – year - old dream of installing Thiruvalluvar's statue in Karnataka's capital city Bangalore, Yeddyurappa simply succumbed to Karunanidhi's charm and agreed to make his dream come true at the earliest. Indeed, if the way to a man's heart is through stomach, the way to Yeddyurappa's heart was through “dinner diplomacy”. Or was it through “breakfast diplomacy”?

Since this arrangement was reciprocal with Karunanidhi agreeing to install Kannada saint - poet Sarvajna's statue in Chennai, Yeddyurappa did not have any difficulty in taking into confidence the intellectuals, the Kannada littérateurs and the main political opposition party Congress into confidence. The JD (S), the Vatal Paksha and the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, however, could not be won over by Yeddyurappa. But then it was not difficult for him either to contain them through law enforcement authorities.

As Yeddyurappa rightly said, many issues, not only between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu but also between different States, could be resolved peacefully and amicably through discussions and negotiations as proved in the case of resolving the 18 – year - old controversy of the statues.

Vasudaiva Kutumbakam.