Ex - Sarkari Babu

From today onwards, I no longer am the ‘sarkari babu’. A title which I accepted first with reluctance, then with frustration, followed by the understanding of its importance, then with responsibility and finally with a lot of pride.

Even though I come from a family of government officers, I never ever wanted to be one. The idea of going to a same place, doing the same work, meeting the same people everyday never appealed to me. But somehow, I landed one for myself. Within a span of a year, I tried to get out of it. And trust me, I tried really hard.

But as they say, life is what happens when you are busy making other plans. And before I realized, it was around eight years of working in a government office.

They say your first job teaches you the most. I learnt too. I learnt that it is easiest to blame the government when you are on the other side of the table. 

I learnt that it is not that easy for an outsider to understand why things happen in a certain way in a government office. I learnt that being a government officer came with a lot of responsibility towards your country. I learnt that even though you are a smallest part of the government machinery, you can contribute if you want to.

I also learnt that going to a same place everyday could bring a lot of stability. I learnt that doing the same work everyday could become your forte. I learnt that meeting same people everyday could be comforting.

I don’t remember when did I change from being somebody who never wanted to be a government officer to somebody who started defending when people blamed government for everything.

Every workplace has its own pros and cons. This one had too. But as I leave today, I leave with warm friendships, lessons and learnings that will last a lifetime and times that will be etched in memory forever.

~ From an ex - Sarkari babu (Just felt like calling that myself one last time)

Musings - When you reach office early

The familiarity of the place. As you open the cabin door. Day after day. You place your belongings and even the sound of shifting your bag seems too loud. You switch on the lights. And a thought. A flickering one. Can you switch on people’s consciences here like that ever? What if you could? What a different world would that be?

The peculiar smell of this place. You have known it too well now. The smell of old papers, of rusted iron chairs and of misty intentions of people occupying them. The smell of dissatisfaction too lurking somewhere. Sombreness seems to be a vital molecule of the air around.

Click. And the mammoth printer machine buzzes for a couple of minutes as if grunting for waking it up so early. ‘Oh you guys, will you ever let me sleep? You just used me entire day yesterday. Making me work all day long.’ She grumbles.

‘It’s a government office, sweetheart. We need to have everything in black and white. Hence, we need to make you work.’ You want to say to her. Oh but wait. Do you really want everything in black and white here? You laugh inwardly at the irony.

Grey. That’s the shade here. Of people. Of papers. Of realities. Of truths. And of lies.

You notice the tea stained white cup on the table. The proof of a long day at work yesterday. Lying quiet. You touch it, only to be startled by its coldness. Just like the people it serves. It’s been years since you've been here. And yet you fail to understand the reason of getting startled by the coldness here - of the place and people both. 

The unusual quiet that haunts your ears right now. But within moments, it will all start again. The ruffling of papers, the movement of files, clicking of keys on the keyboard, incessant cries of black telephones, fanatic meeting calls, orders masked as requests dipped in honey smooth voices, idle gossip burning your ears, your mind alarmed and awake. 

And the enormity of it all. The way it gobbles you up. For the entire day. Weeks. Months. Years too. And throws out the chewed up version of you at the end of each day.

Oh, you have a Government Job??? Aish hai ..

BlogAdda's Tangy Tuesday Pick

The first thing that I hear after I tell anybody that I work as a Government Officer is this: ‘Aish hai’ (Read: You are really lucky. No work. Good pay and so many holidays.) I have lost count as to how many times have these words been spoken to me in different permutations and combinations. Each and every one of them remarking on how a government job is a dream job for them and that I am living my dream with no work and good pay. (Read bribes included) So yeah, this is a rant. Against the so-called stupid myths surrounding government officers. Here we go.

We work:

First and foremost. We work. As much as this sounds alien to you, but we, the Government officers work. I know it’s difficult for a lot of people to digest that we actually do something in return for the pay that we get, but yes, we do. We are concerned about projects getting implemented and work getting done on time. I agree it takes time to get your permission papers in place but that is not because we aren’t working, that is because we are bound by procedures. The procedures that are there to safeguard public interests.

Fixed working hours? Not always !

Another so-called perk that we Government officers ‘enjoy’ is that we have fixed number of work hours everyday. We do. But so does every other organization. And just like every other organization, there are days when we sit way past our official leaving time just to finish our work. Here’s a Ripley’s Believe it or Not for you: We have worked even on Sundays and public holidays. In offices and even from our homes. And you know what, we do not get paid extra for this extra time we put in. We do not get eligible for out-of-line promotions because in government, everyone is equal. You work or you do not work, everyone is eligible for promotion or pay according to rules. And yet that does not take away the dedication some of us have towards our jobs. 

Unlimited leaves - A big No

Picture this. A distant relative was celebrating her son’s birthday in a grand way and I was invited. I agreed but told them that I shall have to see if leaves are available. And then came the very expected remark. ‘Oh come on, Jyotsna. You are in government. You can take as many leaves as you want. We know you can manage’ I was told, followed by wink. And I could do nothing but stare in sheer surprise at the ignorance.

Here’s my reply. No. No, we cannot take any number of holidays at our will. Because just like our private counterparts, we too have bosses. As I said above, we also have work. We have procedures to be followed and plus we have limited number of leaves that are granted to us every year like any other organization. So our quota of leaves doesn’t get replenished all by itself any time of the year and hence even Government officers need to plan their leaves.   

We have rules:

Rules. We have them. We follow them. We dread them. Just like any private organization. We are known to be notorious for doing whatever we want on files. I beg to differ. The answer is again a big no. We have audit systems in place. We do have checks and balances. Yes, we do have job security. But that is not a gate pass for us in going around and doing things however we want. As I said, we have rules and regulations and policies in place that we are supposed to follow.     

We are changing:

Get over your image of old sarkari offices that you have in mind where babus are not to be found on their table and if found are just whiling away time looking for lunch and other breaks. Or the women are busy weaving sweaters or pealing pea pods for dinner. Sorry but that is the thing of the past. We are changing. We don’t go around running our personal errands in office time.

I am not saying we, as Government organizations have attained perfection. No, we have not. We still have a long way to go. Just like our country. But we have improved and are improving day by day. Just like this country. I am not saying every government officer you meet is an epitome of dedication towards their work. No, they aren’t. But not all of them are lazy buffoons who got lucky by getting a government job and all they have to do in office is while away time. We, in government have our share of ‘hard’ working and ‘hardly’ working officers. Just like any other private organization.

Some of us in Government are trying to make things work in every little way possible. I do not know how far have we succeeded or how long will we take to succeed. But next time, please do not belittle some of us or our work by saying ‘Aish hai’.  

Last day of the month

I really like the last day of the month. Apart from the obvious fact that the next day gives the much needed oxygen to my dying bank account, I also like this day because every month, we witness emotions. In their rawest form. Let me tell you how.

 

Every last day of the month, a function is held by my organization for the retiring employees without fail. Entire organization gathers in the auditorium without fail to bid farewell to the retiring employee, irrespective of the class or cadre they belong to. It is a formal function where details such as credentials of the employee, his service time with the organization, what places he was posted and in which departments he worked etc. are read out while handing out the customary mementos to them.

But what makes this day special to me is the reaction of the retiring employee. Being a government organization, these people have worked with the organization for atleast a couple of decades to say the least. Decades. In the same organization. With the same people.

While they are on service, some are sincere, others frivolous, some boring, others chatty, strict or lenient, some brood in quietude, others whine in open.

But on their last day, they are nothing but emotional. Some cry openly, others hide their tears in their silence. Those few minutes on stage tear down all the facades they have been holding all through their service life. And what you witness is emotions in their rawest form. The way most of them break down when an auditorium full of employees from every cadre applauds their years of service. Most of them, unable to speak anything, being too full of emotions, with lumps in throats when asked to describe their journey.  

Decades. In the same organization. With the same people. Colleagues who turned into friends and formed strong bonds like family. Arguments with some, jokes around others. Experiences. Good, bad and others. Moments – embarrassing and proud ones. I think all these would be flashing in front of their eyes. And I guess those small moments flow down from their eyes. Without hesitation. With gratitude.

That moment. To witness that moment from this side of the stage is anything but a humbling experience. 

In the Boardroom

Excitement high

Gathering of the bigwigs

Discussion papers hang

With Blackberrys in their hands

Tension in the air palpable

Everybody in their nerves

Decisions are awaited

On issues that are long going to be served

Discussions begin

Gazes stern

Reasons demanded

Explanations provided turn by turn

Tea mugs poured in

Spreadsheets in discussion

Myriad proposals on the table

Pros and cons presented in every possible fusion

Papers ruffled with clammy palms

Some rejects but acceptances are high

With each passing agenda

The employees breathe a relieved sigh

Instructions doled out for the upcoming meet

Pens and diaries, how fiercely each other they greet

And then as the ends are drawn

Relief on faces finally starts to dawn

Chai and Sarkari Babus !!

BlogAdda's Spicy Saturday Picks

I have been working as a Government officer (prefer calling myself a sarkari babu) with the State Government of Gujarat since last four and half years. Along with myriad and interesting experiences, I have found one thing to have a special connection with every Government official across ranks and designations. And that is the humble chai (tea). This humble drink holds a very special place in everyday

Image Courtesy: A sarkari babu friend / colleague

lives of us sarkari babus. In the times of cappuccinos and cafe lattes, green teas and iced teas, the normal chai has not lost its sheen in government offices. Across occasions, instances, moods, celebrations and complaints, the chai remains constant. Let me tell you how.

The productivity of any sarkari babu is directly proportional to the frequency, quality and hotness of the cuppas of chai they are served. Give them more, better and hotter cups - and see the productivity zoom northwards. An office day in the life of a sarkari babu starts with call to the peon to serve chai. (Yes, the peons serve them. Who needs vending machines?) Unless the chai reaches tables of every sarkari babu, the day cannot begin. It is like their kick to kick start the journey of serving fellow Indians in some way or the other. (What, don’t look at me like that, after all we are also known as sarkari naukars.) Mind you, this procedure gets repeated at around 4 pm. And no chai is equal to no mood to work, whether morning or evening.

If a sarkari babu colleague (of equal or higher rank) visits your table/cabin, the first thing that gets done is ringing a bell to the peon to serve tea. If you don’t call for the chai, you either don’t respect them enough to be served tea, you are a miser or you are not on really good terms with them. But wait, even if you are not on good terms with the visiting colleague, you still serve the cuppa. All the office politics and differential views go out of the window when it comes to serving the chai.

This humble chai is also an important instrument of showing and receiving gratitude. You help somebody in their work, support them in finishing an urgent assignment, go out of your call of duty to do anything for anybody even if it is just giving some advice to resolve an issue; you straight away get obligated for being served tea by the one you’ve helped. Instead of saying welcome for the thank you that you receive for being helpful, you say ‘Chai pila dena’ (Serve me tea). Yes, it is that simple in our sarkari world.

Chai comes in picture even in times of distress. You are not happy with a fellow colleague or you want to bitch about them, the first words that any sarkari babu would utter are these, ‘aajtak ek chai bi nai pilai hai muje’ (He has not served me a single cup of tea till date). Yes, the chai is that important in our lives. It also goes the other way round. You are casually talking about somebody’s goodness; the chai makes a visit even here. ‘Oh he is a very good person. Jab bhi jao to chai pilaate hain.’ (He serves tea everytime you go to meet him). Getting the importance of chai in our lives? Wait, let me tell you further.

You may arrange a get-together in the daftar (office) celebrating your promotion or retirement, your child’s first rank or your wife’s birthday; you may serve the best of the snacks available, but if you don’t top it up with a chai for everyone, the party isn’t over. People would wait for the chai to be served. And mind you, if you make them leave without their chai, your party is doomed.

If chai comes in picture at the times of bitching, imagine its importance in terms of friendship. You are frustrated and you visit your sarkari babu friend. The first thing that the sarkari babu would do to soothe your nerves is to serve you a hot cup of chai.

Even the rant of a sarkari babu about heavy work load is not free from the chai. ‘Aaj to itna kaam hai ke chai peene ka bhi time nai mila’ (I am so burdened with work that I have not even had my tea today) If you hear a sarkari babu saying this line, immediately understand that they have been battling with some serious workload. Because, it is only in extreme conditions that a sarkari babu would sacrifice his daily dose of chai.   

A chai is always welcome for a sarkari babu at any time of the day. You have visited a colleague who served you tea. You go to somebody else’s cabin immediately and they serve you tea too. You never refuse. Never.

Whether it’s a board meeting or a client meeting, the chai is served, always. And if you don’t, it’s considered rude. Very rude. Questions are straightaway raised about the financial position of the organization if you don’t serve it. Period.

The connection of the chai and sarkari babus is so deep that even favours (if you know what I mean) are termed as ‘chai paani’ ;) Ooops, should I be saying this? :0

So be it friendship, enmity, happiness, frustration, celebration, praising or bitching - a chai is available for any and every occasion in a sarkari babu’s life. Have you heard that phrase that you never let somebody who comes at your door leave without giving them alms? There is a similar phrase for sarkari offices and babus too. You neither let a sarkari babu go from your office nor are allowed to leave their cabin without exchanging the humble chai ;) It is also said that if you cut a vein of a sarkari babu, there is all the possibility that he shall bleed chai ;)  

Hail Chai and the sarkari babus ;)

This post is written as a part of April A to Z Challenge 2014 under Non-Themed category. I am doing two posts for this Challenge and Themed posts can be found here.

Meeting Mr. Narendra Modi !!

You have seen him putting a state on World Map. You have heard media go gaga about his visions for development. You have heard about how good an administrator he is. You have read about him being called a leader in truest sense. You have heard people acknowledging him as the only hope for better India.

When people from other states praise the good roads or the cleanliness they see around in your city, you feel proud for being resident of that state. When you say that you work for his government, you see respect in their eyes because you are a part of the government that has been working for the betterment of its people ever since it came to power.

But, truth be told, you are just another employee working for the state government, like thousands of others. You are barely into the system with a meagre experience of 4.5 years in your kitty. Since past approximately three years, you have been a part of the editorial team of an in-house magazine published by your organization. A work that you love to be a part of simply because there you are doing something that you think you are best at. Write. The magazine being the only arena that leaves some room for creativity as well as a chance to hone your writing skills in a proper government set-up.   

And then you get a chance. A chance to see him. A chance to meet him in person. Because he would be unveiling an edition of your magazine which carries his article as the Cover Story. You are one of the people to have been chosen to go and witness the occasion. Be a part of the same. And all this happens so soon that you hardly get time to sink in what’s happening.

Mind it, all during the way to his office, you are confused and considering if you should opt out of all this because you are just a newbie official on the block. But, before you know, you are in the grandeur of his office. Awards won by various government offices lined up in the balcony, super tight security, the magnificence of the building that could put any five star hotel to shame, well defined procedures and zilch chances of blips make you wonder. You wait for the time slot allotted to you for the unveiling. While you wait, you are still discussing the rapidity of the sequence of events which have brought you here with your colleagues and still considering if you should stay right back and not go inside the cabin. But then, as they say, life is what happens when you are busy making other plans. So while you were discussing the chances of staying back, you are called inside with your Chairman, your CEO and your colleagues.

And then you step inside one of the most beautiful cabins you have seen in your entire life of being a government official, which ofcourse is still very nascent. But, you are still sure, you wouldn’t see anything as magnificent as that one simply because it belongs to the highest authority of your state government. While you are overwhelmed at the thought of it, you see him. His aura brightening the place much more than anything ever could. After that, whatever happens, happens probably in your inebriated state coz you are just awed by his persona. The work that you had come for - the magazine launch, it happens. But, all during this, your sub-conscious has noticed every single detail. The way he stood up from his table, the words he spoke to your Chairman, how the magazine was handed to him, unveiling of the magazine, what he spoke while he was unveiling the magazine, he handing some copies of the magazine to your Chairman who in-turn gives a copy to you and the camera going click click click.

And when you are out of that space, what remains is the hangover. The hangover of seeing Mr. Narendra Modi in person. The man for who rules the state government you have been working for. The man you have only seen on television, hoardings and newspapers. You have just met him, in person. You, a newbie government official who is still learning the ropes of the trade. And there, you got a chance to meet him.

Do you consider yourself lucky? Yes you do. Are you happy? No, you are elated. Aren’t you talking like a star struck fan who has just met her favourite star? Yes, you kinda are, coz for a newbie official, meeting the highest authority of your state government is no small feat. Are you ever going to forget the incident? Nope. Never. And hence this post. So that it remains etched. The incident. This incident of a young government official getting a chance to meet the highest authority of the state government she works for. The incident of me meeting Mr. Narendra Modi. *Beams*    

And by the way, this is the link to his website about the unveiling of the magazine.