“Secure your job first,” the head of the Dept. of Gastroenterology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital New Delhi said. At the time, several years ago, I was pursuing D.N.B Gastroenterology in that hospital. I had been served final notification by state health services and was directed to respond within 15 days. One month’s leave without pay was requested from the hospital, in order to allow me to follow my case in Kashmir.
I reported back to them within the stipulated time period in the hope that the leave without pay would be sanctioned and that I would be able to join my course again.
It was the month of September, which is a lovely time in Kashmir as it is neither too cold nor too hot. I joined the long queue of people waiting outside the secretariat gate. The weather was little windy as I waited, and light breezes were playing with the leaves of tall poplar trees guarding the secretariat wall, producing wonderful sounds, as if someone was whispering very sweetly. Those soothing sounds were intermittently interrupted by the shouts of the security guards at the gate. They seemed to be more loyal than their respective kings. They would hardly respect their own vocal cards while shouting at the people approaching them with slips to enter the premises, trying to bypass our queue. Even so, some people with slips could be seen sneaking their way in. I continued to watch the scene while standing in that long queue for I had no other choice. Finally, after having endured a security frisking thrice, I entered secretariat by way of their beautiful lawns.
Once inside, I met two other friends. They also had come to follow their respective cases.
“Doc! how do you expect me to process your joining and then your relieving simultaneously?” the sectional officer asked.
“Sir, I want to secure my job. Allow me to continue my education by giving me leave “without pay”, I had already applied for this before joining the course” I humbly requested him.
“I can process only one case at a time” and while speaking to me, he threw the file on the table and shouted, “look what this qualified doctor wants me do! “ Through the slit between his thick glasses and the orbit, he looked at me and said,”I will post you somewhere or else leave your services and join back in New Delhi”. I listened quietly to his unwelcome threats without arguing for fear that the anger in his mind would flow through his pen.
However, I had an unshakable firmness in my mind and I continued to pursue my case. I met all the people involved, and left virtually no stone unturned. With the passage of time I had learnt that on Fridays employees prepare for their prayers at least 90 minutes before, and you are lucky if they resume their duties 60 minutes later, hence I preferred not to visit the secretariat on Fridays. This gave me 4 days a week to devote to the success of my cause.
Not many days later, one of my friends helped me to get a gate pass. Life became altogether different. Now I would enter at 10 am like the employees of the secretariat and soon my face became familiar.
“Which department have you joined in the secretariat? the manager of the cafeteria one day said. “I am following my case on regular basis and I am not an employee in the secretariat”. I replied with a stolen smile.
“Come after 10 days, I have submitted your file for orders “ said another officer in the bureaucratic chain. Time was going by quickly, and I had managed, with a great deal of difficulty, to extend my unpaid leave from New Delhi for another month.
Keeping in view Darbar Move1”, it was very difficult to wait for 10 days before returning to the secretariat, hence I did so only 3 days later. While walking towards the health department, I saw the same officer of whom I was so scared. Believe me, the adrenaline leached out from my body glands and I could feel the racing of my heart. I immediately entered the nearby washroom in order to avoid any eye contact with him. However, a few minutes later I composed myself, and I put all my stress behind me. I washed my face, gathered courage and reminded myself that I am not asking for any undue favor from them, why should I be scared. I shrugged my shoulders, took a deep breath, and peeped quietly through the wooden door till I was sure that the officer must have entered his office and I safely walked out.
I could see my yellow colored file which had to be placed few yards on the desk of the next officer, an arm’s length away from me. I humbly requested the record keeper to put up my file.
“Don’t you see how much busy I am?” he said, “but please go, I will do it myself. And how come you are you here before the visiting hours,” he asked.
I left his office, and was happy to see my friend in the corridor. We would often chat when we met between our respective follow ups. While having a warm hand shake with him, he showed his order over to me and said,”Ibrahim! My good wishes are with you; my job has been done “. My face fell, and the firmness of our handshake slowly lessened. It was clear to me that things were beyond my reach. The ecstasy of the gate pass had evaporated. I was now sure that even if I started to follow my file right from 7 am in the morning every single day, it would never generate enough momentum for my file to get anywhere. Something else counted more than my perseverance.
A week later there was turmoil in the valley, and all government offices remained closed for days on end. When the offices re-opened I headed towards the secretariat again, of course with heavy legs and a heavy heart. I saw a number of trucks on the secretariat lawn. Every office was busy packing up files, preparing for the “Darbar move”. I had no courage to
ask anyone about my file, as everyone was speaking about their own.
“Come to Jammu after November 15th” one of the officers said, and I left the secretariat.
Days later my hopes further dashed when I learnt about the official reshuffle of the cabinet in a news announcement at 7.30pm aired from Radio Kashmir Srinagar. A new commissioner had been recruited for the health and medical education departments.
Early in the morning I boarded a sumo in Lal chowk Srinagar and after a daylong travel on Srinagar-Jammu high2 way I reached Jammu3 in early evening hours. The weather was lovely and I quickly took out my long jacket and extra sweater. After a thorough search in the market, I finally succeeded in booking a pocket-friendly hotel room. The day long Sumo travel on the wavy Srinagar -Jammu road had left me very tired and I was soon in the lap of deep sleep. A few hours later I got up and left the hotel for a walk at around 9 p.m. To my surprise I met lot of Kashmiris, mostly employees, on the Residency Road. It felt as if I was walking on the Residency Road in Srinagar instead, except for chilly cold.
“Who would be looking after the official responsibilities of these employees in Kashmir? I started thinking that the same things must be happening to Jammu local residents when the offices are in Srinagar. Minutes later I cursed myself as I went on thinking about the work days lost in both the regions by this “Darbar move”. Finally, I shook my head and came out of these fantasy calculations. I was very happy to meet one of my old friends a long time ago on the Residency Road. We entered a nearby restaurant and ordered coffee. It was wonderful to chat with him.
“I am leaving tomorrow; why don’t you book my room in the same hotel?
Ibrahim! you can have “Noon chai” (Kashmiri tea) daily and it is economical as well” my friend said. “Who knows how long you may have to stay in Jammu”, he further elaborated. No sooner he said this my coffee cup stopped halfway between my hand and lips. “Should I move to his hotel or not?” – the thought chased me. Honestly, I was not driven by the thought of “Noonchai” but what if I needed to stay for a long time? – this thought came to my mind again and again and continued to stay there hours after. I thanked him as he had relaxed my nerves enough to bear the saga of the secretariat the next morning but I didn’t move to his hotel immediately, although I never ruled out that option.
The next morning, I headed towards the secretariat once again. Fortunately, the magic of the gate pass worked, and I was ready to follow my case. Despite a lot of apprehension about the effects of the official reshuffle, I was not bothered about my ability to tell my story afresh to the new team. I had explained it to so many officials in the immediate past, and by now I had become unaffected by any kind of behavior on the part of the officials as well. I don’t feel it out of place to mention that most of the Bureaucrats and ministers never feel part of the division of labor. Instead they develop conceit and arrogance on those chairs, yes, the chairs which are faithful to none. I remember Kashmiri couplets of great Kashmiri saint and poet Wahab Khar who said in 18th century. “So Many Solomons (Powerful Kings) visited this earth, so did Haatim Taai (Hatim of the Tayy tribe and an Icon to Arabs). With might they strode this world but vanished finally (In Kashmiri language Kum Suleimaan Aaayee MatyoKatyaah Haatim Taai Doraah Karithh Yeti Draayee Matyo Jaayee Katyo Chhaaiy.)
“Look doc! If you join the health services again and for leave without pay, we will submit your file to the Minister. If there is approval from that office I will have no objection” the commissioner health said. All my apprehension melted as things seemed quite transparent for the first time. He sounded very commanding, he was dynamic, his words were emitting the fragrance of honesty, like an Arabian Oud. I could now see my file hopping from one desk to another, and the order was handed over to me just before the weekend. It appeared as if the sanction from the secretary had arrived like a jet and I was posted to the Sub-district hospital at Bandipora Kashmir.
Early morning, I boarded a Taxi near tourist reception center Jammu at around 6 am and started my journey to Srinagar. Now I was in a good mood and enjoyed the travel and the picturesque national high way. It was amazing to see how people live on hill tops. I was lost how they were carrying essential commodities to hill tops, remembered John Milton who said the mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of a hell, a hell of heaven. The taxi stopped at Kud and I purchased two boxes of freshly prepared sweets for home.
The sunset had started as we reached Pampore .It was amazing to view panorama of Saffron slopes in Pampore as if the sun rays were bathing the slopes with gold, indeed awesome. Early hours of evening I reached home. I happily joined the new place after few days.
Days later the postman brought a letter from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH). I hurriedly opened it to find ‘’Dear …………since you have exceeded the maximum time to report back and as per the hospital policy vide ——, your admission to the DNB Gastroenterology has been cancelled “ The letter felt heavier than its actual weight, and I closed it forever. To my sorrow, I had had to relinquish my DNB seat at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. However, I didn’t give up I started preparing for the entrance again and after two winters I was selected for DM in Gastroenterology at PGI, Chandigarh Dear reader, having presented you with this anecdote, you will agree that generalization is wrong. There are good administrators, there are helpful people, there are casual people and there are corrupt people too. We all come into contact with them. My message to you is “Have perseverance in achieving your genuine goal and never be scared of the official hurdles”. I feel strongly that we need to redraft rules and make clear directions for procedures in all official matters. Every case need not be referred to more and more higher authorities, and bureaucratic steps should be greatly reduced in order to save time. It wastes lot of working days, in a bidirectional pattern. Unnecessary rush and a huge load of files taxes the officer and uses up his or her energy unnecessarily. Once any employee gets trapped in this red tape it unfortunately translates into the suffering of the whole of society. There should be channel A (cases where higher cadres need to be consulted) and Channel B cases, which can be solved by respective heads of departments.There is no need to subject people to unnecessary torture and delay, since justice delayed is justice denied. Respective head of departments should be leaders and not bosses. They should be competent and good, for goodness without ability is lame.
Likewise, “ability” without goodness is a disaster. The rules are for guidance and comfort, not for torture. It is true that driving along any side is safe but in a country with right hand drive if you start driving on the left side, you will not only endanger yourself but others as well, hence the “rules of the road” need to be observed in the letter and the spirit.
We should identify the type of rule and see whether the rule demands letter and spirit or spirit alone. There is a thin line of difference between the two subsets of rules, but the benefit to society is enormous. Believe me, official red tape has spoiled many careers, the world over.
Finally, leadership qualities, transparency, honesty on the part of any head of an institution or department can shape the whole department or institution. This makes me think of what Napoleon summarized long back as “if 100 lions are led by a dog they all will be killed, instead, if one lion leads 100 dogs, all will fight like 100 lions”!
“An obstacle is often a stepping stone.”
– Prescott
“Live each day as if your life had just begun.”
– Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Excerpt from the Book Bumby Roads authored by Dr. Ibrahim Masoodi .Apart from his work as a physician Dr Ibrahim has keen interest in literature. He can be mailed at ibrahimmasoodi@yahoo.co.in
