What would it be like?

I belong to a breed of professionals identified more promptly in Indian context by the name ‘Babus’. The word ‘Babu’ is profoundly used in North India particularly in Eastern UP, Bihar, Nepal and Bengal as a mark of respect towards men. I being the eldest son in the family always had the privilege to be referred as ‘Babu’. My Hindi teacher out of respect for the class topper used to call me as ‘Rakesh Babu’ during my KV days in Hyderabad, the bastion of superstar ‘Mahesh Babu’. During the British era the word ‘Babu’ was used to refer to native Indian clerks. But the so called fourth pillar of our democracy “The omnipresent Media” corrupted the word and associated it with ‘comfort’ and ‘laziness’ and now bureaucrats feel they are being compared to lazy and corrupt clerks when referred to as ‘Babus’ doing ‘Babugiri’ in the ‘Babudom’.

          I am all set to enter the next phase of my IAS training and heading towards District Kangra in H.P as Assistant Commissioner (U/T). I have not yet signed a single Government file. But whenever and wherever I am asked the question “Kya karte hai aap?” (How do you make a living?), I can instantly anticipate the reaction coming my way when I respond to inform them that I am an IAS probationer. Pat comes their next “Sarkar mein bahut corruption hai” (Government is very corrupt).  And that would unwind a whole new thread of discussion on political pressure on IAS officers, “Neta logo ka bahut pressure rahta hoga?” If the questioner is a well to do person belonging to Uttar Pradesh and earning more than what is required to make a living, he will without fail over jealously taunt and will talk about the humiliations an IAS officer faces at the hands of mighty politicians on daily basis. As if they are mythological ‘Sanjay’ or some evolved ‘Human CCTVs’ taking stock of every closed door meetings between politicians and bureaucrats. The other day one of my lawyer friend from my previous job called me. I was sad to hear that his wife passed away recently. And he is fighting a bitter case with his in-laws for the possession of his three year old kid. To make him feel better I started telling him about how my life has been given the rigors of IAS training. I tried to sound living a very hectic and torturous life to make him forget his own sorrows. But soon our discussion treaded into another very intimidating terrain for IAS Officers. He started telling me how senior IAS (Principal Secretaries) and IPS (DGP, IGs) officers are reprimanded more to an extent of harassment in the Allahabad High court and face contempt charges on regular basis. They are made to wait for hours in the court and chided even for their dressing sense forget about their official delinquency. To save the face of my race I candidly asked why judges behave that rudely. Pat came the reply, “Since they could not make it to IAS”. From the member of a legal fraternity that reply was surely comforting.

          Except for their parents (not even spouses), everybody blames IAS officers for the sorrow state of affairs in this country. Nobody will understand the pain of responsibility that a handful of IAS officers running this $2 Trillion economy face today.

How they invariably have a screwed up personal life while delivering their best to this nation. Only a Collector can understand what it feels like to be a Collector coordinating 50 odd sluggish Govt. departments and chairing endless meetings. He is literally one person running the whole show which really matters in the governance of this country at the end of the day . Given what a Collector does, I think it must be the most challenging job for any manager in the world, yet he is expected to carry a magic wand.

I still remember my interview with a Hindi Daily upon successfully clearing the Civil Services exam. This was a telephonic interview and the interviewer sounded a middle aged journalist. He was hell bent upon extracting how I will solve the innumerable problems this country faces today. He almost investigated me for my stand on corruption and lust for power .He was trying to outsmart me for no reason. Finally when he told me that he had appeared for UPSC interviews twice, I came to understand his psyche. And finally the article carried my photograph and my views on how to crack civil services. I was amazed as to why I was asked such absurd questions which had no relevance and particularly when the reporter knew that they won’t be published anyway.

          Why every representative section of the society carry such prejudices and hatred for the steel frame? To my understanding the abhorrence for the job may be a remnant of the anguish prevailing during the British times, or the very nature of the powerful positions this profession brings along or propaganda of many who could not make it to this elite service or it could be as simple as “Indian Bureaucracy has failed to deliver”. The time has come to explore the reasons of failures, prejudices and hatred and embark on a journey to correct the mistakes of past and to give India a better responsible, commendable, clean and admirable Bureaucracy. The time has come knocking at my door steps. I will see the Indian bureaucracy at work while being a part of it now. It would be exciting to see how the elephant works. It would be even exciting to contribute than being a mere fence sitter in mostly a hostile yet challenging environment. District Training would be a great opportunity to explore and to dirty my hands with nuances of administration. It would sound little philosophical but I am all geared up to add more meaning and a few more shades to my journey.The journey begins now and totally eager to find out “What would it be like?”