Gunter Grass lands in P Lal's black books for having allowed his mind to wander during a Writer's Workshop session (Lal is the founder of WW, a thriving independent concern that aims to encourage writers who would not be published by the mainstream): "So he listened to the poems we read out and discussed and, as he puts it, 'nibbled pine nuts (he means peanuts) and did not know which of the lady poets he would like to f**k if the opportunity presented itself'." Lal concludes indignantly, "So this is what goes on in the mind of a potential Nobel Laureate at a literary meet that does not suit him." Alas, the Babu's low intellectual stature reveals itself. He has a tendency to "nibble pine nuts" himself at literary meets, though not being a Nobel Laureate, lady poets have been a trifle beyond his reach.