My lecture at the CBI academy the
day before was an eye opener for me. While I always believed that the rot has
to be universally prevalent, I could never have visualized the sense of
disenchantment that prevailed amongst the lower echelons of the premier investigating
agency of the nation, a situation, contrary to my expectations. Disenchantment
leads to negativity and negativity is never good especially amongst those who
are expected to cleanse the tantra of all its ills.
And there were smiles, for
obvious reasons of course whenever a reference was made to the fact that at the
apex levels, a conduct that can be emulated is the prerequisite for giving good
results. I on my part facing a similar situation could only commiserate with them.
Anyway the experience was worth
the while – a learning experience for both, the tutor and the taught even
though exposure to dim realities only saddens the heart. Yet the enthusiasm of
the group was infectious and that gave me a feeling that all
is not lost yet.
Why there is invariably a deep divide
between the management and the men who run the show, cutting across sectors and
states is what I fail to understand even after putting in almost three and a
half decades in the service? Why cant humans treat others of their elk with
respect and dignity, something that everyone aspires for, I wonder? Why rising within
the officialdom is regarded as such – a rise even though it may be a fall, I
fail to understand?
After all in the eyes of the
almighty all human beings are equal and if at all they are to be ranked, it
would have to be on the basis of their contribution to humanity and human
values. In his eyes, I am certain, the walls separating the peon and the
officer would never exist, yet we carry on regardless and almost always,
creating classes and sub classes within the human race perhaps for self-gratification
that actually never takes place in the real sense.
And perhaps therein lie the
answers to the malaise that the nation has continued to face since it came of
its own almost sixty seven years back. Our failure to appreciate that the
ultimate objective can only be to deliver, not merely shuffling of files, passing time in official environs or gratifying the ego has me really worried these days. If
delivery indeed emerges as the objective, the existing structures and processes would
necessarily have to become the first casualty. Yet the ground reality that is far
different makes me think otherwise.
The arrival of the new government on the scene
has indeed given hopes to millions like me, yet hope has a strange way of fading
away if not timely actualized. After the honeymoon period is over, either hope
or disenchantment would remain and I sincerely wish and pray it would not be
the latter.
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