Was watching the unveiling live on television. Murphy was watching too, apparently. Because when the cars had been driven on to stage. And Mr Tata had told M/s Pachauri and Narain what he thought of their concerns. And when talk gently veered towards the most important bit - whether the car would live up to its name...

...the power went off. I don't recollect feeling so listless in the recent past.

Then Murphy went to sleep. And the television roared back to life again.

"A promise is a promise..." he was saying. And that, for some bizarre reason, gave me goosebumps.

A first year, half-wit finance major will tell you that Rs 1-lac five years ago are worth much more today. Time value of money and all that jazz. Inflation has its impact, as does risk. In this case, surging raw material prices have had their share of the fun.

But, well, a promise is a promise. Rs 1-lac dealer price, plus VAT and transportation.

For everyone who said it wasn't possible, balls to you.

(And go start figuring out how to make your $3,000 cars now - it's never too late!)

It was his day yesterday. Global biggies moved their launches around so they could keep out of the way of the Nano juggernaut. For one day on the tenth of January, Ratan Tata and the Nano were to the automobile industry what Shah Rukh Khan in Diwali is to Bollywood.

Ratan Tata had transformed himself. I can not claim to be exceptionally well-read on the man. All I knew was that he is dignified, soft-spoken and somewhat shy.

All that had changed yesterday. He seemed visibly propelled by the scale of his achievement. And that seemed to have changed a little something within him. He was still sophisticated and dignified, yes, but he was also sharp and aggressive.

Sitting on this side of the TV screen, that barb at Osama Suzuki felt good; it must've felt really good from that side of the camera. No one was spared. Pachauri was mocked, and Sunita Narain was asked to take a hike in her woods.

Honestly, I could've kissed his hand for slapping the skeptics across their faces.

You, Sir, have made me proud.