Academy days (3)

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.