Institutional training for
promoted O.F.S. Officers was also conducted prior to the joining of the fresh
recruits. Besides, many officers who were directly inducted to the field
because of vacancies had to undergo training later. We had conducted training
for them too. One needs to be creative to infuse vibrancy in any walk of life
as nobody loves stereotypes. We precisely tried to do that in the training
curriculum.
The ministerial officers are
required to successfully complete the Accounts Training of the Academy to
become eligible for promotion. Once it so happened that a ministerial officer
of the Forest department, on the verge of retirement came for the training. On
a routine check of Attendance register I found him bunking off many classes. On
inquiry I knew it was a classic case of alcoholic abuse. His son, who was
working on a paltry sum at a private organisation, was in search of a decent
job in our city after engineering. In spite of counselling the trainee continued
to remain obstinate and was found in an inebriated state all the time. I
summoned the trainee and became extremely ruthless to bring him back to his
senses. After he left my chamber, I was horrified to discover that his son was
standing outside the chamber with a dejected look hearing every word I shouted.
I invited him in and told him that I had no option other than rebuking. He was
apologetic and told me that for over a year he and his mother were trying to
regulate his life style but nothing seemed to work. I felt very sad for the
young man and promised to help in my small way.
On another occasion I heard that
a lady trainee was sobbing uncontrollably in the lobby. I was worried and sent
words asking her to meet me immediately. The lady was disconsolate and I
offered a glass of cold water to calm her down. From her narration, it was apparent
that a fellow trainee was harassing her because she had been a little indiscreet
in showing her preference which was taken advantage to. I asked her if she
continued to have any soft feeling for the person she was referring to. She was
very categorical in her denial but was scared of the scandalous stories doing
the rounds. ‘Look, you are a brave woman. Come what may, take every problem
headlong. Leave the rest to me, I promise I would solve it’, that was my advice
to her. Nothing untoward happened after
that.
A person, because of his exemplary works and
sacrificial deeds earned enough merit points (Punya) after his death for
reserving a seat in the direct flight to heaven. When he reached heaven he was
amused to find persons in utter gaiety only to discover later that people
living in paradise had no experience of melancholy as they never know pain,
sorrow, gloom, distress or the like
because they are not only immortal but are also immune to ageing. He lived
many, many years in the company of the gods enjoying the merriment of the
paradise. Every account is depleted by the debits and likewise his merit points
gradually got exhausted and finally a day approached when he had to depart from
heaven. Surprisingly he noticed no one felt sad nor a tear shed for his
impending departure. He was shocked, “what a place to live in!” he rummaged,
“no parting tears, no sad face and strangely enough no one seems to be missing
him, oh! It is horrible. How different it was there in earth! People will miss
you even at the slightest absence. Here no one bothers!” Now he became
conscious that it was heaven and there was no unhappiness, no distress and no pain.
He promised then and there- whatever merit points he might earn in future, he
would never return to heaven even though invited.
I heard the episode the other day
when my uncle, who is an outstanding scholar, was reciting this beautiful poem
of Rabindranath. The poem is simply stunning. It is an exquisite masterpiece of
the great writer depicting the human emotions with such dexterity that it
leaves everyone spell bound.
Unlike the people of the
paradise, we human beings are extremely sensitive to our surroundings. It is no
wonder if I genuinely missed my colleagues who are transferred and feel the
vacuity quite for some time although as the Director of the Academy I had to
hide my emotions to play the role of an administrator. Similarly I miss the
known faces of different batches, outwardly showing stoic indifference. It is
true that I wear an external facade that shows my appearance as stern and
non-compromising. It does not necessarily mean that I am immune to emotions or
I lost compassion for genuine problems but rather my viewing was much more
incisive and objective.
