Applicants for a job asked to appear before an interview board were told that the candidate who gave the briefest reply would be selected. First came a young man from Lucknow. Being a well-bred Lukhnavi, he knocked gently on the door and asked, “Sir, have I Your Honour’s permission to come in?”

“Rejected!” replied the Chairman of the Selection Board.

The second was an equally well-bred Tamilian: “May I enter, Sir?” he asked.

“Rejected!” bawled the Chairman of the Board.

The third was a Punjabi. He pushed open the door and asked, “Vadaan?” (Enter?)

“Selected!” replied the Chairman.