Hari's Corner

Papa Hari News Service

Coming up with a novel solution to the rising inflation problem, an economic expert has suggested that people stop visiting the local barber frequently and cut down the cost of getting a haircut. According to his current theory, he has advised people to visit the local barber once every three months instead of two in order to reduce their household expenses.

Professor P.K.S.R.T. Rao of the Economics department in an prominent engineering college currently pursuing his Ph.D. on "Good Grooming and its effects on Macro Economic Policy" has come up with this stunning revelation that is sure to raise the hackles of local barbers, hairdressers and salon owners.

"See, going for thees haircut ees costly, no?" he said to curious students who mobbed him in his office, "So without two month, you go for every three months of haircut, OK? So only you reduce money to spend for the haircut. Even these days haircut saloons are raising Rs. 10 more than previous months and all. So only I found. I am saving thees Rs. 60 for thees bus charge no?"

Expanding on his theory, he laid down several suggestions for economizing haircuts:

• When you get haircut, go for the "short", not thees "medium".
• Go for the cheaper barbers.
• Use less of thees hair oil - this will have the two benefit: lower growth rate of the hair and less cost of the hair oil.

When questioned whether eating less would be a better solution, the professor said, "Eat of the food is primary hyuman need, no? I am studied thees Maslow fellow's theory and all. Having less haircut is the better solution. Comb hair nicely with wet hair after bath, so you are save on thees hair oil also."

His Ph.D. guide who wished to remain anonymous stated that he would review the research data submitted by the professor in order to study the problem deeper. "It is a novel concept, and a stunningly simple solution to an increasingly worrying inflationary trend," he said. When asked about his own bald head which was shining like a polished gold plate in the sunshine, the guide smiled and indicated that he felt that he had no personal interest in the theory himself. "None of this research has any bearing on me personally, so I feel I am an impartial reviewer."

Meanwhile angry local barbers and salon owners staged a dharna outside the gates of the engineering college and burnt the professor's effigy. The police were called in and managed to disperse the protesters. No arrests were made.