IT happens only in India !!!

When I was in Norway as a student, I used to visit city library (Deichmanske-bibliotek). While searching a book, I saw a pictorial book on India. The first sentence of that book was.. India is most interesting country in the world.

In deed, India is most interesting country in world, which is solely run by God. I have heard a monotonous joke many times, that one soviet diplomat was non believer but after visiting India, He started believing in God’s existence.  

In this regard, I want to share my true life experiences, which really make our country UNIQUE… These examples are categorized as Ugly, Bad and Good.

Water Vs Paper !!! (Ugly)

 I landed at newly build Asia’s largest new terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi Int. Airport from Chicago. It was amazing to see newly built beaming terminal 3 , with swanky interiors, working escalators and cleanliness matching to international standards. Me as middle class Indian, always feel happy when I see newly opened AC Mall, new fly-over bridge, in our case newly opened airport terminal. I feel boost to see my country’s infrastructure is catching up (slowly) with developed countries.  JJJJ

After initial inspection of shops and restaurant, I went to washroom, just to inquire cleanliness. It was crystal clean. J There was one onsite cleaner, with latest cleaning tools. I was happy to see that everything is in order. I went to one of toilets.  It was as clean as never used and I tempted to use it. After using, I found toilet paper box empty. 1^st heartbreak L As Indian, I know how to use mini shower for the purpose thus I managed.  

I wanted to fix that problem so I summoned that cleaner and told him to refill the toilet paper box. He emotionless-ly answered me that, he does not have the key. What Key ?? I found toilet paper box with a lock !!!! So I asked him who is having Key ? He replied “ the Supervisor”. I continued “ Call your supervisor and fill the box “. Reluctant as he was, he called his supervisor. His supervisor was at Terminal 2 and will take 30 mins to arrive. 2^nd heartbreak. L L I told him that if passengers who does not know how to use mini shower for the purpose, without toilet paper they will be in mess !!! He did not had any answer to my passionate query. I was visualizing a white man, who does not know the function of mini shower,  asking for toilet papers in emergency and gets reply to wait for 30 mins.. His face.. and his anger.. !!! I reconciled my imaginations that white man will surely learn the means of Mini shower !!

I don’t know who has designed such toilet-box-locking policy. This is an example of Trust Deficit between Airport Authorities(AAI) and Passengers, where AAI, assumes that passengers who are traveling by international airline,  will steal the toilet papers and control of such valuable items should lie with Supervisor than cleaner…

After coming out of washroom, impression caused by swankiness of Terminal 3 has evaporated. I understood that just by developing external swankiness, will not make us developed country. True strength lies in designing people-centric internal policies and processes.  

In limited world,  I have travelled, Toilet-box-locking-policy,  I have seen only at Indira Gandhi International Airport. It happens only in India.

New Addresses (Bad)

Shiv Shakti Hall, front of Geeta cinema, JP road, Andheri(W). That was the address of my distant friends’ marriage reception. As he has sent hardcopy of the marriage invitation, I had to go.. (I reciprocate eMail invitations by greeting back on email only, cost-time savings from both sides). I used Google map to locate the marriage hall, but confusingly there were 3 marriage halls with same name on JP road !! Thus I decided to call the hall admin, for the directions. He replied me and his reply amazed me “ Just take JP road, turn right from Geeta Cinema and in front of Metro Piller no 100, we are located. “.. Front of Metro Pillar no 100,,, that’s new landmark !!

I am familiar with Indian address-landmarks as above Kamal Chemicals, opposite Bhavani Provision store, next to Parle Galli(street), below Chotu Pannwala, but Metro Pillars..  I have heard for first time.. I know Metro line pillars are being constructed between Andheri(W) to Ghatkoper to build Mumbai’s first Metro line. Construction is going on since ages (Don’t’ know when it will be finished and Am I lucky enough to travel in Mumbai Metro in current life ?  ) . Nice to know that Metro Pillars are already being used for civic services, before actual Metro line !!!!

Numbering Metro pillars and using it as landmark was catchy and unique about my city … It shows that how we innovative we are in using our resources in resource-scarce country.... Now metro pillars is used as landmarks .. May be we will have addresses as “Vimal Mahata, Metro Pillar No 100, Adheri-Ghatkoper Line, Mumbai 40. “ short and sweet, as addresses in developed countries..  It happens only in India.

Working System (Good)

In Pre Internet era, where we had to stand in queue to book Railway tickets, I had booked a ticket for me (M 28) and my uncle (M 60) for Ahmedabad. Day before travel, my uncle had postponed the travel hence I need to cancel his name from the ticket.

I went to reservation counter at Dadar. Amidst mess and chaos, I submitted my cancellation form to the booking clerk. He cancelled and retuned the modified ticket. To my horror, he has cancelled my name, instead of my uncle’s !!! Before I protest, he closed the window and reservation time was over.. I was left in lurch…

After elaborate thinking, I decided to travel with same ticket and convince ticket checker (TC).  Next day I sat on my uncle’s seat and waited for TC to arrive. I was tensed. As I saw TC, butterfly started flying in my stomach.. I was rehearsing the lines; memorized for, newly born  TC Uncle.

My mind was imaging all kind of possibilities..  How if TC uncle could not be convinced!!  I imagined I am being thrown out of train couch and all passengers are staring me with disgust.. These hallucinations, fears were making my life for tensed and terrible..

Instead of being castigated in front of fellow passengers, I cornered TC uncle at door- passage. I explained my woeful experience at ticket counter and requested him to let me travel on my uncle’s ticket. After I finished my emotional appeal with mercy-seeking, almost crying facial expressions.. ( so that sympathy related emotions can be awaken in TC uncle), he professionally replied to me” Travelling on your uncle’s ticket, is considered as you are traveling without ticket. You should be fined: Double the charge of full ticket plus penalty of traveling without ticket. So it would be 3 times more than original ticket charge.” So I have paid Rs.800 for a ticket, now I have to pay Rs.2400 as penalty.

Thunderbolt hit me… I intensified my appeal with hope that he will able to read my tears.. But I failed and his professionalism was stone hard. Finally I gave up and changed my appeal into anger. I cursed railway department for harassing passengers. Bla bla.. He replied that if I have filled my forms correctly and it was mistake of booking clerk than I should complain with penalty receipt. Based on my complaint, investigation will happened and if I am correct, than money will be refunded. I did not believe him. Who in railway’s lousy administration, will conduct investigation for me !! I gave up and decided to pay the fine.

As soon I got my wallet out to pay the fine, Rs. 2400, TC uncle’s attitude changed. He whispered “ Your work can be done if you pay Rs.1000”… I understood, he was asking for the  bribe. It was tempting for me.. but I was so angry on TC Uncle that I did not want to make any deal with him, rather happy to pay Rs.2400. I declined the offer and he got disappointed… He tried to convince me that complaint will not help, and I will end up losing money. But I stood by my decision, paid the fine, got the receipt and went to my seat, angrily.

When I returned to Mumbai, I still had that receipt in my wallet. I decided to take a chance. I went to Western Railway Office at Churchgate and submitted my application, along with receipt and copy of pan card. I met a clerk, accepting the applications. He was buried under files and piles of papers.. Entire hall ( size of regular marriage hall) was filled by paper Towers.. huge paper files, stacked on each other to build towers.. It was an image of true Indian Office.. I asked the clerk, when will my application will be heard ? He replied all these paper are in waiting list, your application’s turn will come after we are done with them..”  pointing at paper towers..

I did not had any thing to say.. I left the office without single ray of hope of justice.

Next whole week, I lamented my railway sad story to my friends, office colleagues, relatives, cursing railway system and administration. Once my inner frustration vented out, I forgot the happening.

After six months or so, I have received a post. In times of courier services, it is surprising to receive a POST. It was from Railway department, informing me to collect my Rs.2400 from Dadar Reservation counter, within a month………… I was not happy.. (which I should be) , rather I was SHOCKED..    IS IT POSSIBLE ! Is it possible that my application, got heard in paper towers, without a single phone call or bribe !!! Is it possible that some gentlemen/women in railway, investigated my application, checked my cancellation form and reverted !!!! Given the paper Towers at Railway office and orthodox admin system, this looked wonder to me !!

 I happily went to Dadar and received my money. At that day I was happy Indian. Now whenever discussion on India’s lousy bureaucracy erupts, I never forgot to mention this case study…

After all It happens only in India J

Regds

vadan

If I would NOT have been Mother!!!!

Seeing Pradip from her balcony, lightened up Jyotsna’s face. She has been waiting for him, since last two hours. Pradip was working as senior manager in well-known multi-national company and extended office hours were rule rather than exception. Jyotsna, mother of two sons, Chirag (age: 7) and Saumil (age: 5) had done MBA from Delhi University and was working for TATA Steel till birth of her first child, Chirag. Two years after Chirag’s birth, Jyotsna gave birth to their second Son Saumil.

Living in nuclear family and non-availability of credible day-care system, forced Jyotsna to take long maternal vocation from her job. In due course, motherly responsibilities have taken precedent over carrier aspirations and Jyotsna became complete housewife.

Over dinner table, Pradip explained about his new college at office, Kalpana Jadhav. Name seemed familiar to Jyotsna. She asked more about her and knew that Kaplana had done MBA from Symbiosis and had worked for TATA steel for 5 years. Jyotsna recognized her. At TATA steel, Jyostana was her senior executive. Jyotsna was amazed by Kalpna’s progress. Eight years ago Kalpana was working under her, and now she is working with her husband and drawing same package as her husband !!  She avoided talking further about Kalpana. She cleaned up the table after dinner, made cup of coffee for Pradip and ordered her children to sleep. Her mind was obsessively occupied with Kalpana’s thoughts. “If I would not have resigned, I would have definitely reached higher position than Kalpana” she assumed.

Whether she was suffering from jealousy for Kalpana’s achievement or feeling regret to give-up her carrier, was hard to understand !!!

At that night Jyotsna could not sleep. Finally she woke up and went to balcony. She saw a lady hurriedly walking towards the apartment, with typical office purse and plastic carry-bag. “Is she working ? Is she married ? what about her kids ?” asked Jyotsna to herself, surely not to get answers. She opened the closet and took out a file, containing her academic and professional papers. She looked at her resignation letter, dated 2 March 2002. She took deep breath and looked at her sleeping children and husband. Who knows about the pain, she had felt while signing this letter !! Who cares about it ? What she can do to get world notice about her sacrifice ? Would she laminate this letter and hang in on sitting room wall !!

Sacrifices.. Sacrifices.. that’ what life has always asked for !! When she was child, she had to give favourite toy to her brother since she was girl.  She could not join IIM Culcutta for pursuing MBA since her Family did not want her to stay in hostel in far-away city and her dream to study at IIM, shattered !  After marriage, she has to settle in her husband’s city and declined her promotion because with promotion, she might have to transfer to another location. And finally, after being mother, she had to abandon all her carrier aspirations, dreams and goals and dedicated herself completely to serve her family…. All other dimensions of her personality had morphed into single entity.. a house wife… Being house wife is also full time committed job, but it’s she has dreamt about !!!

Is being a woman is crime !! No wonder looking at historical data, we have few woman scientists, innovators, administrators compared to men. Apart from Rani Laxmibai and Razia Sultan, we don’t’ remember any other woman emperor !! Or any other than Sarojini Naydu or Ani Beasant, as woman freedom fighters !!  

Jyotsna felt so prisoned in her own web of motherly, wifely responsibilities. Her world is filled by husband’s favourite dishes, washing machines, ironing clothes..etc and her well-earned MBA degree had not place in it.  It was distant past with no future. A flash-like thought occurred in her mind “If nature would have chosen MAN  to be Mother then it would have been Woman’s world …. If I would not have been a mother, I would surely have been Boss of my husband..”

Regds

Vadan

Partition

Partition

This short story is about an automobile mechanic, who was victim of his own mental fears.

RC Garage was a vehicle repairing workshop owned by two mechanics : Radhe and Chotu. They were quite knowledgeable about vehicle mechanism and very customer friendly. Hence I used to service my scooter at their garage since last 8 years. Our relationship has also grown over the years. Both of them worked in quite harmonious way and prospered in their lives under roof of RC garage.
My scooter has developed certain battery issue, hampering it’s performance. I called Radhe for the repair. He told me to visit the garage at 10 AM. My preferred time was around 4 PM. Surprisingly he was insisting on 10 AM. I could not understand the reason behind his insistence. Finally, I agreed on his timings.
I reached to his garage. He was waiting for me eagerly. I could not find Chotu around. I asked whereabouts of Chotu, which Radhe ignored to answer. I found fewer vehicles than usual in the garage. Radhe was totally engrossed in his work. This level of commitment to work can possibly be achieved when passion becomes profession. It’s always inspiring to watch such commitment.
While Radhe was working on my scooter, Chotu has arrived. I noticed that both of them have ignored each other’s presence. Chotu started working on client’s car silently. It was unusual because I have never seen both of them working so silent. The FM radio was also switched off. Chotu wanted a screwdriver, lying near to Radhe. I noticed that instead of taking help from Radhe, he went all way to another side of garage to get similar kind of screwdriver. I smelled dispute between them and as friend of both I thought to intervene to resolve the issue. I asked the reason for the dispute. Radhe kept mum but finally Chotu broke the silence.
Chotu disclosed that Radhe wants to work separately. On insistence, Radhe charged Chotu on financial cheating, which Chotu opposed vehemently. It seemed that Chotu was shocked on and argued passionately against Radhe’s decision. Since both of them did not have enough capital to buy or rent new garage, they had no option to share the same garage. Radhe insisted on separate timeslots for working and separate tool set. Hence they will have separate customers and tools to work with. I understood, the reason behind Radhe’s insistence on 10 AM was to make me his client, before Chotu arrives. Working at different timeslots on same garage means that each of them will work only for few hours and rest of day will be spent being unproductive. Separate hours of working, will also decrease their capability to handle more customers hence decreased revenue. Till now they used to share their tools and managing the business but separate toolkit will be costly to buy. Chotu’s arguments had made sense to me and I requested Radhe to sort out the issues and avoid the separation. Radhe was totally adamant. He has made his mind for separation. Finally Chotu turned emotional. He explained that he and Radhe were from same town and came to Mumbai together. They were trained under same Mechanic teacher and stayed together for initial years. They have shared the grief and happiness of life and supported each other in hard times. Chotu was not able to understand the reason for Radhe’s anger. Chotu requested, pleaded and begged Radhe to avoid separation but Radhe was not listening.

I left garage with heavy heart. That night, I was thinking about Radhe’s stubbornness. I felt that Radhe was not telling the real reason behind his decision. He was hiding some unexposed fact. Radhe’s body language was somehow not confirming his verbal expressions. Something was there in Radhe’s mind which was not coming out.
After few months when I went to service my scooter, I found that RC garage has been shut down. Neighbor told me that dispute between Radhe and Chotu grew and finally they decided to shut down the garage. My real worry was not to worry about them but find new knowledgeable mechanic for my scooter !!

I found new mechanic for my scooter and RC garage’s memory has been washed out from my mind. That day I returned home late night. I took last Borivali local train and reached my station at darkest hours of night and moments before wee hours of morning. It was raining very hard and I was in dire search of auto rickshaw. I am very afraid of whims of auto rickshaw drivers. They may give you ride or may not ! They are kings and we, as passengers are at mercy of their whims. Under heavy rain, luckily I found an auto, who was willing to give me ride. I just jumped into the auto. I was surprised to see Radhe as auto driver !!!!
I had many questions to ask. But Rain was so heavy that I was busy in saving myself from torrents of rain. Rain became nastier. Radhe could hardly see the road. I requested Radhe to wait till Rain slows down. He agreed. Coincidently we were stopped right in front of closed RC garage. Having no other option, Radhe took his auto under the shade of RC Garage. He came out of auto and touched the closed door of RC garage. Radhe seemed very depressed. I could not feel his energies, I have experienced when he worked as mechanic. He looked at few rusty tools lying on the floor. He picked one of it, judged it and threw it as useless. I could not stop asking Radhe that why RC garage was closed ? Radhe casually replied that he could not work with Chotu. Chotu was fraud. I could not feel the truth in his words. I wanted to grab him and shack him till he tell me the truth. I curbed my feelings and asked mere formal question “When did he started driving Auto and left his mastered profession ?” He replied that after shutting RC garage, he could not work as mechanic, the memories of RC haunting him. I felt that Radhe is opening up. I got closer to Radhe, put my hand on his shoulder and asked him to tell the truth. He turned around and I found small tear in corner of his eye.

He lighted a cigarette, exposing his inner dilemma.
“ My wife is very beautiful. All my friends were jealous of my fortune, including Chotu. That day I have invited Chotu for dinner.. At time of dining, Chotu crossed the limit. When my wife was serving him Roti, he suddenly touched her wrist intently twice... I could not bear that visual of his fingers touching my wife’s wrist.. I could not sleep at that night and till now that bloody visual keeps recurring in my mind. That day I have decided to sever all my relations with Chotu..”

The lid has broken and worms are coming out of bottle. I knew that Radhe haven’t spoken about this incident with Chotu or his wife and merely assuming things, based in his perception. I replied Radhe that touching wrist is very minor gesture. May be Chotu did not mean anything and it can be merely just a small incident !! May be Radhe was victim of his own suspicion, wrong perception and mental complex about his wife. Radhe was not accepting any of my arguments. He was adamant that Chotu had devil in his mind and if not stopped he could have stolen his beautiful wife.
Rain was stopped and we headed towards my home. Sometimes we can be blinded by our mental beliefs that we tend to forget the practical approach. Deep emotions became driving force and our actions are guided by emotions rather than reasonability. Pakistan’s founder Mr.Jinnah was having ambition of becoming India’s first Prime minister. As he saw that Jawarharlal Nehru was having greater chance, he fulfilled his lifelong ambition by creating new country based on religion. On the surface, Mr.Jinnah formed new country, Pakistan for Muslims community. The real reason might be his inherent desire to RULE. If Mr.Jinnah would have been first PM of India, may be Pakistan would not have formed. Same argument about desire to rule is applicable to Ambani family and Thakckery family’s division. Ambition is an emotion and so does Fear. In our case, Radhe’s inherent fear of losing beautiful wife was reason for his spat with Chotu. His fear has not just ruined his carrier and mental peace. But as we could not stop formation of Pakistan, separation of Ambani family or Rise of MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman sena), I could not stop RC garage’s partition.
Engrossed in these thoughts, I left Radhe’s auto. I was standing on lonely, wet road , watching Radhe’s auto crossing the potholes, splashing the dirty water and finally disappeared in the darkness.

I felt the silence,,, after the storm. I didn’t like that and wanted to save myself from it. I rushed to my home.


Regds
Vadan
© Vadan Mehta., all rights reserved.

Anna’s Rangrangella PrajaTantra(Colorful Democracy)

Anna’s Rangrangella PrajaTantra(Colorful Democracy)

Anna’s fever has charged up Indian people and politics.
Government is taken aback by unprecedented support and youth involvement in the Lokpal agitation. Which intellectual has predicted about Rise of Anna before 5 April 2011!. Lokpal bill had never been issue of interest of our senior journalists or political experts in past. Thanks to Anna that every-one is now jumping in and shouting for or against Lokpal, describing their visionary wisdom !!
My purpose is not to write about Lokpal and its’ implications, but want to write a story, about how individuals are dealing with Lokpal-mania. I have chosen few characters, and their thinking about the agitation.

1) Shantilal, the school principal (Time: 4 PM)

Shantilal was a school principal of a Municipal school at Khambat, a small town of India. He has reached to post of principal due to his old relationship with local politicians. In complex maze of corruption everyone is connected, by selfish motives. Shantilal used to share govt financial aid, to modernize the school and bribe money for appointing teachers with local politicians and in turn gained promotions and other associated benefits.
Today he was thinking " Friday is Pateti(Parsi new year) and Monday is Janmastami, if he put leave for Wednesday and Thursday, than he will get entire week to relax " This was not possible as he has rejected teacher’s leave request on these days. After all he was Principal and has to exercise his authority sometimes. As he was engrossed in thoughts meanwhile watching television, got brilliant idea ! He urgently convened school staff meeting and announced “since entire country is supporting Anna Hazare, we also need to do our bit. Thus I am declaring to keep the school closed for 2 days as mark of our support to Anna's anti-corruption campaign. School will reopen on 23 Aug." Listening to this, most of staff got happy and few got confused but choose to be silent and decided to follow the majority. Khambat school got mini vacation, children were happy and so their teachers. While leaving school happy children were shouting as fun, "Anna tun age badho, hum tumhare sath hei kyunki hum ko chutti hei".
Shantilal smiled to them.

2) Mr.Nair (Retired Govt clerk, X-Freedom struggler, Time: 4 PM)

Mr.Nair has participated in freedom movement in his teen age. He has still remembered the news of freedom; he had spread in his Mohalla. He remembered that few old people were critical of Gandhiji and believed that India can never get freedom from mighty British empire. But she did got freedom and Nair distributed sweets to them as well. Years have been passed and Nair retired as govt clerk at city revenue dept. He has witnessed the rotting of system, rise and growth of corruption age, withering moral values and systemic collapse of Gandhian ideology and ever-growing rise of dishonesty. Nair's dream of Gandhi's India shattered every day in his office and finally he gave up. He accepted that Gadhiji’s ideas of non-violence and simplicity has no takers in economy driven world. He accepted corruption as fate and sent his son to US to live in more honest society. He was alive just to breath, without any purpose. Today was different. After watching Anna's agitation, Youth participation in Gandhian way, Candle light marches, and Fluttering tri color flag have triggered gush of energy into his old fragile body. He remembered his teen age freedom struggle. His old, fatigued heart started beating again. Day before he was hopelessly waiting for death, now he wants to live more. He saw a tiny ray of hope, penetrating hard solid rocks. Will this tiny ray melt the century old rocks and vanish the underneath darkness ? Nobody knows, but this is the time for hope and Mr.Nair felt that hope. Blood in his feeble veins has been charged. He held his wooden stick firmly and strained his weak legs. He pulled himself, implying all his physical energy and finally stood up. With help of wooden stick, he slowly started walking towards cupboard. He opened the cupboard. His old eyes were scanning through pile of clothes. Finally he found, what he was searching., An old Gandhi Topi, not used for years. He looked at him as precious jewel, as an achievement of his generation. His shaking hands moved and he put it on his head and looked himself in the mirror. The room was empty and entire Nation was watching him.

3) Sushil Kumar (Business Man, Time: 4 PM)

Sushil Kumar is involved in textile business. Because of nature of his work, he had to deal with various central and state govt beaucrates. Internally Sushil was honest man but to run his business, his business ethics has permitted him to take support of bribe. Initially Sushil was hesitating in asking for bribe but now he has habituated about the rates and modes of payment. Sushil has been very generous in giving bribes and this habit was product of belief that govt is supreme authority which can shut down hia business anytime. Because of his inherent fear he used to pay bribe for all legal work also. Paying bribe was the only right, he knew as citizen. Today watching anti-corruption agitation, he was confused. He could not understand the logic behind Lokpal bill. He could not understand the reason behind youth anger. He was so much wrapped by corrupt practices that they no longer remained corrupt, rather became only legitimate way of working for him. He can’t imagine another system of governance than current. He concluded his thought process by accepting that may be he has to make provision for one more stakeholder in future, a Lokpal official.

4)Lakhpat ( A rural farmer, Time: 4 PM)

Lakhpat was a farmer of Rampa towm. Rampa was an rural town, where electricity has not reached. It was an interior of interior kind of town, where modernity has not touched yet. Most of the villagers are farmers, using medieval methods of farming. Since there was no electricity, Town did not had a TV set hence no Anna fever. Town people used to hear benefits of electricity from other towns and yearning to have same for their town. Today Lakhpat heard about Anna Hazare from his powered-town friend. He explained same to his wife " You know there is an Old Man is fasting at big town to bring new kanoon(Law) called Lokpal. Under Lokpal every town will get electricity. ". Lakhpat has interpreted Lokpal bill that was meeting his requirement. The fact is that Central govt had plan to connect Rampa 10 years ago but all the financial aid has gulp down by corrupt supply chain and electricity has never reached to Rampa. Will Lokpal bill fulfill Lakhpat's dream to get electricity ? I dont know !! In fact, nobody knows..

This country aspires to be nicer than it is now. Youth dreams to live in better India. Iron is hot and this is the time for Govt to cleanse the system. This country needs enema to flush out the dirt and this is the time to it. Darkest fear is national disheartening if this movement fails to reach its positive conclusion.

Regds
vadan