There was something very likeable in the manner in which Nitin Gadkari suddenly burst into song at the BJP conclave in Indore last week. Till then, most people in India had no clue as to who he was and what he looked like. But the song (zindagii kaisii hai pahelii haai/ kabhii yeh hasaaye/ kabhii yeh rulaaye (life is a riddle/ sometimes it makes us laugh/ sometimes cry) appears to have done the trick for him. He comes through as a disarmingly simple small town boy with few pretensions. He chose one of my favourite songs by Manna De and the entire media in Indore instantly warmed up to the man.