Perhaps my blog may have been
successful in conveying an impression that there is much to be desired from all
those who occupy apex level positions in the railway system. Yet despite the
rot, I have come across many who would not fit the general bill of today as
they stood out as stalwarts both as officers as well as human beings. It is
indeed unfortunate that most of us do not appreciate the basic truth that the foremost prerequisite for being a good officer is to be a genuine human being and therefore generally
display tendencies and behavior suited for human beings fairly low in the
pecking order in so far as humanity is concerned.
Shailendra Kumar Budhalakoti the
only man who literally adorned the chamber of the General Manager of the
Northern Railways is one such man, the likes of whom one does not bump into
these days. His tearful farewell was also perhaps the first farewell that was
shorn of sycophantic connotations when a boss is poised to move upwards or
utter disdain when a boss is about to move into oblivion. A highly courageous
man who had the ability to stand up for his subordinates unlike many others who
lick their superiors and kick their subordinates, Budhalakoti shall always be
remembered and revered for his humanity, humility and above all guts.
Romesh Chandra Sethi who retired as
the top honcho of the diesel locomotive works at varanasi has been another
person who hardly exhibited any of those qualities that the railway brass is generally
known for. A terrific leader of men, he deeply touched the lives of each one of
us who worked with him. A man who had the courage of his convictions and could
therefore take setbacks in his stride, Sethi, a terrific speaker who can
keep even large mobs spell bound with his oratory, shall always remain family for me and many.
Ravindra, the Chairman of the
Railway Board in the late nineties is another such leader of men who shall always remain an icon of perfection for many. His humanity and humility have indeed given him a halo that is difficult to gloss over. Clarity of purpose and guts to take uncharted decisions were his
strongest qualities as the chief executive of the railway system. A legendary figure who made almost all his successors
appear like pygmies, he shall also always be remembered as perhaps the
finest example of a chief executive of the railways in recent times.
Gujral with whom I never worked
earlier has also left his impact on the railways, with his farsightedness and
the uncanny ability to take bold decisions in the interest of railway operations. Crossing 200 million tonne mark is his own personal achievement .
The four giants who left an indelible
impression on the lives of the people they interacted with and the fleet of pygmies
that one bumps into these days, that is what contrasts are all about.
Amen!
