India, Oct. 13 -- It was with deep sadness that I read of the death of an aged Indian cardiologist while flying on Qatar Airways. A man who had spent his life saving hearts lost his own somewhere in the sky. The reason? A meal mix-up.

He had pre-ordered a vegetarian meal - something most airlines take seriously. But when the trolley rolled by, the airhostess smiled and said, "Sorry sir, no veg meals left." Then, with the cheerfulness of someone who didn't quite understand what she was saying, she handed him a non-vegetarian tray and added, "Don't eat the meat."

Don't eat the meat? What nonsense! That's like offering a diabetic a chocolate cake and saying, "Don't eat the sugar!"

But I've seen this before - in Germany, in Spain, in many ...