A Saint among us

 

Something did not seem right from the morning of 27^th September 2021. There was no specific reason for a heaviness in the heart. The mind was not at rest.  It rather was hazy. For no specific reason, nothing registered in the mind.  Then I saw the mobile blinking. P A Parameswaran was calling.  As soon as I attended, he said Muruganandam sir had been calling me and could not reach me.  Then he informed that Sivajayakumar sir had been found dead in his house on Sunday morning.  It was only to inform this that Muruganandam sir had been trying to contact me.  My heart lost a beat.  I again asked him, ‘found dead’? ‘Yes’., he said.  I cut off the call and contacted Muruganandam sir for further information.  Only then I found that my phone had been on silent mode and I had missed his earlier call.  Muruganandam sir informed that Sivajayakumar sir had been found dead in a house at Trichy (till then I thought it was at vadavalli in Coimbatore) where he had shifted to, some six or seven months back (which was again news to both of us) and that his associates were trying to locate his family to get the formalities like post-mortem completed to perform his last rites. He was trying to contact his family at Pondicherry.  I also then called some persons at Pondicherry and at last we could get in touch with his family, whom he had left around 20 years ago, walking away from his past, after he had come to Coimbatore.

Little did we know that in walking away from his past, after leaving the department, he had erased all our phone numbers also from his mobile phone and had not revealed anything about his past, including the department, etc, to his new-found disciples at Trichy.  That was the reason why it took them one whole day to reach out to us, through whatsapp messages in certain groups.  And when so many from the department had turned up, his new colleagues were astonished that their ‘Ayya’ had been such a big officer.

They would have been in a greater awe, if only they had been told that he was selected for the IPS, but had got entangled in some case at the time when he was to join the service and he himself argued his case in the High Court and came out himself, but lost the opportunity to enter Civil Services. But he had taken it all as God’s will.

The entire day I felt feverish.  Only by evening, when I learnt that his son was proceeding to Trichy with his mother (Sivajayakumar sir’s wife) did I feel relieved.  Then the feverishness also gradually came down.  Till then I had thought that my physical condition was due to some climatic variation.  But when Karthikeyan, whom I had requested to attend the cremation, on my behalf at Trichy due to my inability due to feverishness, reported to me that evening, that he could not attend, because of getting a fever himself that day, I felt something strange.  It was not a mere co-incidence.  The state of mind induced even before becoming aware of the news, the subsequent physical illness and the illness contacted by Karthikeyan who was asked to execute what I myself could not physically, all put together, I felt that there was some message.

He always used to speak in a mystical language, with a laugh typical of him.

I remembered about the book he had sent to me in the year 2000 from Pondicherry through Shri. Ananthakalyanakrishnan who had gone there for some pirpose.  

 

At that time we did not know each other.  When I took out that book from my shelf, I found, that strangely, he had even on that date, signed it as ‘To Manimohan, with regards’.

It was only later that he had come to Coimbatore on transfer and we came to know each other in person.

He had in a way stated his life philosophy in the preface of the above book:

 

He used to discuss a lot on spiritual matters.  He had a great knowledge in Physics and Mathematics. Apart from that he used to speak a lot about Vasthu, Seven Chakras, etc, which all very well flew above my head.  He even sent me a lengthy essay on his thesis on 'pie'.  That was after he had left on Voluntary Retirement from the department.

Once when I was speaking about Vallalar, I said I had a book which spoke about the immense knowledge of Atomic Physics contained in the verses of Vallalar.  That moment he wanted to come to my house.  He came there and requested whether he could take that book.  I was glad that there was someone who could understand the subject.  Though I had bought it due to interest, I had not been able to grasp the subject.

He was the person who gave me a copy of ‘Living with the Himalayan Masters’, when I spoke to him about ‘Walking with a Himalayan Master’.  After I completed the book given by him and when I returned it to him I said, it was simply great and I could not put it down.  The other one is only ‘walking’, this one is ‘living’, he said with that typical laugh.

He opened many vistas into areas of mysticism which of course he would not accept without scrutiny.  Scrutiny, he would do, using mathematical theories.  He once was in search of Madhava of Kerala (Iringalakuda).   It was much later that I came to know that Madhava was a great mathematician.  I often wondered how he got so much information.  Those were days when internet had not yet become so widespread.

One of the inspirational seeds, in his book is ‘The right to live is being interfered with by the liberty to put an end to life by the primitives obsessed with the absolute in the relative world. Beads of Abacus seeks to teach arithmetics of life’.  His linking the spiritual path to mathematical basics is evident.  All are symbols.

But in whichever subject he dealt with, he did it with great agility and expertise,in-depth.  There was nothing he would do half-heartedly.

Once when I casually mentioned about my intention to get a second-hand car, he took it so seriously (even I had been only half serious) that he did not rest till a second-hand car had been identified and the keys handed over to me by him.  The commitment with which he dealt with anything undertaken was amazing.

And he had a special affection for everyone he came into contact with.  For those who did not quite understand him, he would pass by, with just a smile.

The concept of his compassion is revealed in another seed in his book: “We borrow billions to buy coffins for the living.  With all the riches, the world is reluctant to cure the disease of starvation. Ironically, we also focus our lens at the outer solar system while humanity on our earth itself is an endangered species.”

Rajendiran sir (former Commissioner of Cbe) along with his wife, Chandrashekar sir (Former AC, Cbe), Mohan sir (my previous AD) and many others who had worked with him in the department, from different parts of Tamil Nadu were gracious to attend his cremation at Trichy. 

Shri. George Arokiaraj, along with his colleagues (their sangh), who had been associated with Sivajayakumar sir till his end, who had searched for his family and got in touch with us, were gracious to do all that was required for his final rites. In fact they had informed us on Monday morning itself that they had been told by Sivajayakumar sir, where his final rites where to be conducted and they got it done accordingly, on the shores of the Cauvery.

After everything was done to his mortal remains, it dawned on me that he did not want me to go there.  His message was that he was eternal.  Physical limitations did not now apply.

His verses in the book sent to me by him speak out his mind.

Nails in my cross rusting

Bones in my coffin marrowless

Emptiness envelops me

Beyond the infinite

I exist original

In open spaces.

He will remain in the minds of very many, whose lives he has touched with his graciousness, during his, 'this journey', in search of the 'ONE' whom he refers to in his dedication of his book:

 

OUR SUDHIR SIR

 

          When we heard that our Sudhir sir was in the hospital and was on ventilator yesterday, we could not really believe it.  For us, he was symbol of fitness.  Not only physical fitness but also mental agility.

           He always reminded me of Kapil Dev, that symbol of fitness we all know so well.  And his bright enthusiastic and energetic laugh always was infectious. 

 He was a through sports person.  Not only on the sports field, but in all other walks of life as well.

There were many occasions where we had debates.  They were of high voltage not only due to the sheer speed of his deliveries, but also due to the volume of information he had at his command and the range of subjects he could cover. Yet, if I could win an argument, he very graciously would immediately concede the point, often with a smile of having played a good match – and never carried a grudge over that.  I would often feel that he was a sports person who enjoyed the sport as much as a spectator at the same time and relished every bit of the game.

 It was quite an experience to raise points with him for discussions or debates.  In the meetings I would sponsor even up to 20 points per session.  He would complete them in a jiffy. And after the session, without batting an eye lid, he would be off for the next meeting or even to another office where he would be holding additional charge, his pace and speed intact.

 During those discussions, I learnt a lot.  And at a torrential pace.  The other person who taught us from the other end was a googly bowler, while Sudhir sir was sheer pace, with all its varieties.

 It was he who agreed upon written transfer norms for the Commissionerate, something unheard of in this part of the state till then.  He was the person instrumental in building an entirely new block where the present Guest Houses and the Office of the Principal Commissioner are situated.  He encouraged all sports activities and recreational club activities.  He participated in them himself with great zeal.

 It was his efforts by taking up with Ramanan sir which helped Tamil nadu get 12 posts which were under alloted in the first phase of Upgradation, allotted in the second phase.

 He had the knack of getting things done by talking to the Under Secretary concerned, without bothering about hierarchy.  It is sheer magic, which very few other officers have been seen to follow.  

 It was a great honour for all of us in Coimbatore when he was awarded the Presidential award during his tenure here.  We hoped that he will become the Chairman, but we were not lucky.  (Incidentally the present Chairman reminds me a lot of Sudhir sir in many ways) The photos given above were taken during the felicitation we conducted to Unnikrishnan sir (our former AIF President on his promotion and to Sudhir sir on being awarded the President award)

 As an administrator he had the guts to stand by his staff.   There was an occasion when a Chairman visited Coimbatore.  KCS and myself met him in the Commissioner’s cabin. Sudhir sir was present.  It was just after the first phase of upgradation had been released and we were eager to know when the next phase will be issued.  We could extract a commitment from that hard nut that it will be done in some month, ‘’as is stuck’ – a comment which would become very famous throughout India as the Chairman’s assurance at Coimbatore.  During the meeting, which lasted for about 45 minutes, whenever we cornered the Chairman and he turned towards the Commissioner for help, in quite earnest Sudhir sir would say, ‘they are correct sir’ or ‘yes it is so’.

 His disposal of issues, whether of technical nature or administrative ones were quick and even handed.  He was one of the greatest administrators whom I have come across in my 35 years of experience.

 In a farewell party arranged by us on his transfer, from Coimbatore,  Ashraf sir had said that he was amazed how impartial Sudhir sir was in his decision making. Sudhir sir had passed an order in a particular case.  The lower authority of a division had also followed the same and passed a similar order.  Ashraf sir had thought that since the Commissioner himself had taken this stand, the order of the lower authority was to be accepted in Review.  But Sudhir sir directed that appeal be filed against that order.  ‘Since my order has not yet attained finality, till then that stand cannot the taken as the department’s stand’, was his reasoning.

 When further discussing on this thread Shri. K.C. Sivakumar had said in the said farewell that he was amazed at his intelligence.

During his reply speech, Sudhir sir made a very remarkable statement.  ‘I can never assume or accept that intelligence is the exclusive prerogative of any individual or cadre’, he said.  The statement has no value if said by any ordinary mortal.  But when it comes from an intellectual giant like him, it is a gem of a statement.

 While we looked at his conduct in office, it would be proved that he meant indeed every word he had said. 

 He was one among the very rare breed of Direct Recruit Civil Service Officers who did not discriminate between Direct Recruits and Promotees.  In fact, most of his free time, he spent with the promotees or officers belonging to the lower cadres. 

Once (of course it was the only occasion I had been to so far) I was roaming around in the Trichur round during the Trichur Pooram.  Suddenly I heard someone call, ‘Mani’. When I turned around, it was Sudhir sir with his typical beaming smile.  He was in the company of five or six persons, two of whom I knew were Superintendents in Kochi. He asked me why I was roaming around alone.  I said I was just having a feel of the festivities.  Suddenly he asked me why I had not shaved.  I was not rather very particular about having a shave every day.  So feeling my cheeks, I said sheepishly, ‘it is a holiday after all sir’.  He gave his full lunged laugh and tapped on my shoulders with his heavy hand and a remark, ‘MADIYAN’, which means ‘lazy fellow’.  He never used to speak in Malayalam while in Office. 

 At the same time, a particular Superintendent who was considered very close to him in office had once told me, ‘we will be drinking together late into the night, but when we come to office next day morning, he is a different man.  He will never spare us nor allow us to take any advantage in office work’.

Once I met him at Bangalore and was discussing about some political interventions that had started in postings and transfers in the department.  To that he said, ‘If at the very first instance when someone approaches we ask what about that?, it will not happen’.  When he said that, his face was so ferocious, that one could imagine any one going to him for a favour out of the way.

 Similar is our memory when he had a quiz competition conducted by an Inspector to the Direct Recruit IRS Officers.  To ensure that none of them wriggled out, he was himself seated in the last row in the conference hall where the event took place as a part of the Central Excise Day celebrations.  When the officers faltered and when one set of officers mocked at the others, he was roaring with laughter sitting in the last seat.  Not many of the officers were amused. Not many could show it too, when the LION was seated overseeing the entire event.

 There was another instance when he showed how humility was to be taught to the younger generation. 

 In a meeting of the Inspectors, it was reported that a particular new DR IRS Assistant Commissioner was ill-treating the Senior and aged Superintendents in the presence of young Inspectors and that the Inspectors felt bad.  They wanted a resolution to be passed against the Officer concerned.  I felt that it was not an issue on which an Inspectors Association could pass a resolution because it was not a case of the Inspectors being ill-treated.  So I promised to bring it to the notice of the Commissioner.  Accordingly I brought it to the notice of the then Additional Commissioner with a request that the matter be brought to the knowledge of Sudhir sir so that the young AC could be advised.  I left it there.

Two days after this, there was an ACs conference on a Friday.  On Monday, my friends were telling me that the Commissioner had taken every one for a cricket match in the Nehru Stadium on Saturday.  They were narrating an event that happened there, without of course realising the import.  Sudhir sir had suddenly during the end of the ACs conference turned to this new AC (against whom there was a complaint) and asked ‘what are your plans for the evening’.  He said, he had booked his tickets to leave that night.  “Cancel them and join us for a cricket match tomorrow,’ he was told.

 During the cricket match, this new AC who was a very hefty and slightly bulky person was made to slog out in the deep field positions and during lunch, hungry and famished, when he went ahead of others with his plate for the serving of the buffet, Sudhir sir had directed him to go and stand in the end of the queue.  'Remember you are the youngest member of the team and you shall take last’, he was told.  What a way to teach a youngster.  The others there did not know why, but on hearing it, I understood why, most probably.

 At the same time, there was another great administrative etiquette I learnt from him.

 Once, a Unit office bearer of our Association had sent a communication directly to him, instead of taking up the matter through me.  Sudhir sir called me in and asked why the particular gentleman was directly writing to him breaking the hierarchy of protocol, when we were dealing with each other.  I tried to be protective saying he is a young person, new to the department.  To that Sudhir sir said, ‘no Mani, when I deal with you, it is not based on your age that I deal.  It is based on the position you hold’.

 There was a great lesson.

 That was the reason that even if I argued with him, he never took it otherwise and rather often enjoyed it.  Once when I sought his permission to look into some file, he remarked in half jest, half turning to the ADC , ‘as if he is yet to see some files in this office’.

That he was rather enjoying these conversations or arguments became evident from a remark made by him when after his retirement he had come to Coimbatore.  Upon knowing that he was in the Guest House, I went to meet him.  Sir I am Manimohan, I said because it was slightly dark inside.  'Come on Mani, you require no introduction', he said in that full throated voice and energetic laugh. Then while we were discussing so many things, suddenly he asked me, who as the then Revenue Secretary.  Those days I had not been in active Association activities and hence I was not updated.  I said I was not aware.  Like a small child he rolled with laugh and said, ‘See I caught you there’.  I was lost for words.  Only then it dawned on me that all our earlier discussions he had been taking only with this spirit- as a sport.  But to even imagine that he found in me an equivalent player was rather beyond my imagination and I till date fail to comprehend how a person of his intellectual caliber could have so grossly over estimated me.

There was another episode when he showed how an administrator should act and with what swiftness.

Once, on the eve of a Pongal, one colleague called me from Erode and said that an FIR had been filed against him and some other colleagues who had raided a factory and seized goods.  The owner of the factory having some political connections had filed a false complaint against our people.  This had happened four or five days back but it appeared that the police were waiting for the long week end of pongal so that if arrested our people will not be able to move bail immediately. 

 When I went to the legal section of our office, I was told that there were only two alternatives.  One was to file a counter complaint for obstruction of public service or the other was to move the High Court for quashing of the FIR      .

 I immediately went and met Sudhir sir and apprised him of the situation.  He said, don’t worry I will ask the AC of the concerned division to take immediate action.  When I came out of his cabin, he was already speaking to the AC concerned.  The colleagues in the concerned division also informed me by that evening that the AC was coming there to sign a complaint which was being prepared and it will be filed immediately.

 Next day morning they informed me that the AC had spoken to the District Collector and accordingly under the assurance that nothing will be done on the FIR, he had addressed a letter to the Collector with a copy to the SP. I thought matter has ended.

After about 10 days, I came across the copy of the letter sent by the AC to the Collector.  From the narration I found it was hardly supportive of the staff and in fact it had not been properly put forth.  Further, I learnt that as long as the FIR remained alive, the police had the liberty to act on it anytime. 

So again I met Sudhir sir and apprised him of the issue.  His face reddened.  I have already instructed the AC, he said.  I said, I was aware of that and as per my information; his letter will not save our officers.  He was livid.  ‘The day after tomorrow there is an ACs conference, I will talk to him directly’, he said.  I said ok and came away.

The next day when I reached office so many people were asking for me.  Nair sir wanted you, one said.  Erode Division is calling over wireless, another said.  When I attended the wireless, the colleague at the other end asked me what I had told the Commissioner the previous day.  I told him what had happened.  He said Commissioner had called the AC over phone and fired him so much that the AC got up from his seat in fright and started sweating and shivering all over.  I said, it is perhaps because the AC did not carry out instructions from him.  No said my colleague.  Commissioner threatened to take him to High Court.  Later I found that Sudhir sir had asked him whether he was going to file FIR or whether he (Commissioner) should go to High Court.  The poor AC thought that the Commissioner was to take HIM to court.

 After I explained everything over the wireless and went to meet Nair sir, the AC Preventive, he was not in his seat.  While I was coming back, he came opposite to me and with a smile, putting a hand over my shoulder asked me, ‘Mani, what did you tell Commissioner yesterday”?  He was wiping his eyes with his handkerchief.  Tears continued to roll.  I felt I had made some great blunder. “He shouted at me at the top of his voice.  I have never seen him gasp for breath like this’. Nair sir said.  Such a seasoned person as Nair sir, saying this made me seriously think that I had done some grave mistake.  Then I explained everything to him.  ‘Might be Commissioner had asked me to speak to him since I also hold charge of Legal, perhaps he thought I have not properly advised him’. Nair sir said.

Anyhow, FIR was filed the very same day and eventually after some years, the assesses who filed the false complaint were awarded a six month RI.

 The reason why Sudhir sir got wild was not merely that his instruction had not been followed.  He had in fact wanted to talk directly in the conference.  Rather he would have come to see the letter of the AC which was poorly drafted and would not defend the officers properly.  He most probably got furious regarding what would happen if it was not handled properly and in time.

Apart from all this, his primary quality, which I had noted and also stated in the farewell meeting on his transfer from Coimbatore was his humanitarian approach. 

The first instance where I requested his intervention was an incident in which our colleague was badly wounded by dacoits at Hosur on an evening.  It was on the very next day of two after he had taken charge and we had formally met for the first time. Our colleague had reportedly been admitted to the St. John’s Hospital, Bangalore.  My friends from Hosur called me up and said that his condition could not be known.  I immediately went to Sudhir sir and apprised him of the situation and requested whether something could be done.  He said Commissioner Rao is there in Bangalore and his wife is a Doctor in the same hospital and that he will try.  This was around 4.30 pm.  As I was leaving office by around 6.00 pm, I got a call in the control room which I was passing by, saying that the Collector wanted me to meet him in the Guest House.  I felt strange that he wanted to meet me in the Guest House.  Still I went.  Before I could enter, I got a glimpse of him pacing the floor of the room in his dothi. When I knocked the door, he held the door open for me and showed a sofa to sit.  His courtesy was embarrassing.  I requested him to sit first.  He made me sit and then only sat down on another sofa.

        Then he informed me that he had spoken to Shri Rao and luckily his wife was on duty then at the hospital and she had herself visited the patient in the ICU and reported back that he was safe.  It was a great gesture.  Perhaps he could have told me the next day morning.  In hind sight, I feel that he would have seen me passing near that control room from his guest house window and would have immediately called them to inform me.

This great humanitarian gesture touched me and I said about this in my speech in his farewell meeting.  For this he replied that he had learnt the value of life the hard way.  He said he had lost his daughter when she was only in her teenage.  Then when his son had to undergo a heart surgery, the doctors had told him that they were to connect him to a machine and after the surgery the heart should take over. ‘In other words, they were telling me that they were going to stop the heart of my only son and it may or it may not take over’, he said with tears welling up in his eyes.  It was a poignant moment.  The pain between the ever smiling and confident person, was sitting so deep within his heart.

I had the occasion to meet him after he left Coimbatore some more times.  Also once when he was Member Customs.

The last time I met his was when we had been to Raghavan sir’s daughter’s reception at Kochi.  I saw the silhouette of a tall and well-built figure walking slowly before me. From the frame it appeared like Sudhir sir.  But there was a slight stoop and he was slow.  In spite of the well-built figure, he was never slow.  So I overtook him and turned towards him.  Immediately even in that dim light he shouted, ah, Mani.  Then next he said, ‘Oh Coimbatore connection’?  Then I introduced my other friends to him.  He became as young and enthusiastic as ever before. ‘ I will tell Raghavan that I have brought all from Coimbatore’, he said.  I told him, ‘sir I had a slight doubt because you were a bit slow in your gait’.  ‘Oh, I have become old Mani, my eye sight has become poor’, he said with a roaring laugh.

 Sudhir sir becoming old is something unimaginable.

 But as was his nature, even in death, he has been very fast.

 A part of our self appears to have faded away. Memories will remain in many hearts touched upon by the wide area of life covered by him.

 That energetic and charming smile will ever give us confidence.

 

Pranams my friend. Pranams brother.

The whole day I have been trying to type.  But couldn’t.  Mind is fogged. I feel bereaved. As if I lost an elder brother.

KCS sir as most of us called him, is no more.

Not that his leaving is a shock.  From that dark night, in Januarly 1994 when we ran on the Coimbatore Railway Station platform to get into our coach in the Gandhidham Express, when he gasped for breath and almost fainted by the strain, I had known about his poor health condition.  He had high diabetes and a bad heart condition.  He later underwent a heart surgery too.  Yet, he never let it bother him and lived his full life – on his own terms.

His interests were varied.  From getting into hair splitting arguments on Constitutional law, on Excise law and procedure, on Association matters, Music, Literature, Art  and love for life in all its varied forms.

He was also a good player of harmonium, occasionally sang and was greatly interested in drama.

Ever since I knew about his diabetic problem, whenever we used to travel, I used to be a bit apprehensive about feasting on snacks.  He found fault with me for that indirectly by telling me that CSN was liberal.

Our trips to Baroda and Delhi for Federation meetings and also to places like Hosur, Erode, Salem, etc within the then Coimbatore Commissionerate were always enjoyable.  He would be going on narrating incidents from his own life of from the literature he had read.  He was an avid reader of English and Tamil literature. 

He was an ardent devotee of Lord Ayappa and named his house as Sabari Niwas.

Later, after his retirement, he took to learning Sanksrit and wrote and spoke a lot on Sidhantha and Vedanta 

Though he maintained his base at Pollachi, his heart beat for all.  He was a very loving person - liked to be in interaction with everyone.

Having been recruited at Mumbai, then shifted to Madurai and then settled down at Pollachi, he had friends in all places.  Not due to his working in these places alone, but due to his friendliness towards all.

He loved his family and dotted his children so much that it would move any one.

The Pollachi Divisional Office was his second home.  When we go there, it is as if we have gone to his own house. That is how he used to take care of any one visiting there.

Though we had contested against each other for the post of General Secretary of the Coimbatore Inspectors’ Association in April 1993, I was accommodated as the Joint Secretary and later when I came to Coimbatore on transfer, gradually KCS left the entire work of the GS to me.  Eventually, in April or May 1994 he made me the GS in the General Body and he continued as the President.  We both continued together till 1997. Then when I moved on as President, he was in the Advisory Committee.

Those years from 1994 to 1997 were the period of consolidation of the Association.  It was during that time that it became vibrant. He represented the traditional side of the cadre.  There was in the committee a more radical group of ‘young turks’ who felt that the proceedings were rather at a slow pace. I had to balance between the two.  And he understood my predicament too well.

It was during this period that in January 1995 we sat on a two day continuous fast for CR and it was this movement which enabled the Upgradation of 1996-97.  It was a turning point in the history of our Association at Coimbatore and propelled the unit as a formidable force at the All India Level.

It was during this period that we could get the historic ‘Transfer Norms’ issued in writing by the administration.

During discussions with the authorities, I would be on the front foot and he would silently hold the fort.  He once said, my drafts did not require any sharpening – something he would have loved to do, with his penchant for the language.  When he started typing, chewing the betel leaves and nuts, those who have seen him type, would be amazed.  It was non-stop.

His wit was brilliant. Once when we were meeting with the Chairman, CBEC in Coimbatore, among various things, the topic of Bonus came up. The Chairman said we were not entitled for Productivity Linked Bonus.  KCS nonchalantly asked, ‘does Chairman feel that we are an unproductive department?’.   

In 1998 when I was the President and when I was about to embark upon an indefinite fast, he was near me.  We had been asked to vacate the premises, but we held on to the ground stating that we could clear out only if our leaves have been granted or if our demands had been met.  There was a stale mate as the emissaries of the Commissioner standing before us and trying to persuade us did not know what else to say.  At that moment, AKK and PAP brought a photo wrapped in a newspaper.  It was the portrait of Gandhiji, which still adores our Association room.  It was kept on a chair and garlanded. Immediately KCS raised a slogan of ‘Mahatma Gandhi Ki Jai’, twice and in the same tone he continued with ‘Inquilab Zindabad’.  The blending was just amazing.  Then he began singing the bhajan ‘Raghupathi Raghava Raja Ram’.  The Officials had to just leave.  All this was so extempore that anyone else would have thought that all this was rehearsed earlier.  Actually he had not even known that I had asked PAP to get the photo of Gandhiji (as suggested by Dinesh).

He always saw the humorous side of events and people.  His oft repeated remark about the attitude of people in Association work was that once a persons used to pester on the corridors asking what happened to 2000 (pay scale), thereafter he used to ask from a distance what happened to 2 (showing two with fingers alone) then he used to just ask what has happened alone.  He enjoyed narrating the gradual change, every time he narrated it.

The last time we met was when he had come to Souri’s house to bid him the last farewell.  He appeared weak.  But had himself driven all the way from Pollachi, all alone.  That was his commitment to those with whom he had been associated with. 

But today, when I heard the news, it was more awful that we could not even have a last glimpse.  He had passed away in Bangalore after an illness. 

I feel bereaved myself. What else to say.

Pranams, my friend, my brother.  Pranams.

You live in our memories.

 -Manimohan

 

 

 

Removing the blinkers

 

“So long as the millions live in hunger and ignorance, I hold every man a traitor who, having been educated at their expense, pays not the least heed to them.”

— Swami Vivekananda

The above quote is a very often repeated one, by anyone who knows the socio political views of Swami Vivekananda.

It is from this point perhaps that Gandhi ji emphases the concept of Daridra Narayana and holds that any development could be accepted as a development only if it touches the lower most one in the ladder.

More than a century after this basic principle and expectation has been laid down as a measuring rod for any development, we have been eluding ourselves with statistics which show overall growth, the per capita growth, comparative growth of GDP year on year, compared with world index or that of other countries, etc. Much of the changes in the livelihood of the poorest of the poor has most often happened due to mass production and inventions which automatically reached them. Otherwise, as a system, there was very little that happened. There have been few cases of reforms, by some Governments, here and there, during certain brief periods, in India immediately after Independence.

But gradually, over a period of time, the political activities have been taken over by market forces from the shadows first and then in the open later.

I remember when I was in college, (80s) there was a veteran Sarvodaya leader who told me that there was hardly any difference between different political parties. That was a time, I used to think that with political change, a social change could be engineered and that the political change was possible through organizing opinions. He said, the political parties only appeared different from the outside. Inside, they were all the same. He used a simile of two shop keepers, one with a flat hat and another with a long hat. Both of them sold the same product but with two different prices. People purchased from one of them, either because it was cheaper than the other or they thought that the costlier one was of better quality. At the end of the day, both of them used to share the profit. This example could be seen on the roadside platforms also, where one will be selling tomatoes or onions at a lesser price and the neighboring one at a higher price and when one’s pile gets reduced, it gets replenished from the other one.

It was very difficult for me then to understand this concept or more rather to accept it. That was a period when stalwarts were still there in the Janata Party. Some real Communists were also there in the horizon. Of course, with the leaving of Kamaraj and his friends from the Congress, there was no expectation from the Congress to have any great ideals.

But with passing years and with changes seen in the political horizon, one thing becomes clear. Whatever may be the intention of some political leaders or their parties (whether actual or only professed might be again subject of dispute), ultimately, they get manipulated by larger power centers or big business interests. Because, votes of the common man are required only to ascend to a position. Thereafter, to run the Government, they require the support of the moneyed class. This has started having a preceding effect itself. The moneyed class start supporting a particular group which they feel will cater to their needs. So they start investing in them even before elections. If the results of the elections do not tally with their desires, then they try other methods to get around.

Dhirubhai Ambani is said to have told Ramnath Goenka that he (Ambani) goes around with a golden shoe on one leg and a silver shoe on the other and that everyone has a price. A shocked Goenka is said to have asked whether it meant that he (Goenka) also had a price. To that it is said that Ambanis said yes and that infuriated the old News Paper baron which provoked him to take on Ambani openly.

One industrialist told me three decades ago, (around the same time Ambani would have been talking to Goenka) that 99% of the Government officials could be bought for one of the three Ws. For the remaining 1%, he said, their boss could be bought.

Now these, are applicable to politicians and parties as well.

Unlike in the European countries, politics in our country is not a part-time work where one can have some profession and allot some time for public activities. For those in public service there is hardly any privacy. The expenses of an ordinary panchayat member is so huge that when he is on a 24X7 activity, he cannot attend to any private job or business (except of course money lending, real estate, etc). The remuneration given to him as sitting fees for the meetings will be paltry. How then do we expect someone to come for public service at our expense? Hence it will be only naïve to expect that politicians will work honestly with the paltry remuneration.

When at the lowest level in a polity it is so, how can people coming to serve larger constituencies with more people, larger areas and more responsibilities be expected to survive?

The expenses to reach out to the constituency in an election is itself huge. It will be a mindboggling amount. No fresh entrants can therefore dream about that.

This issue had in fact been a matter of public debate in the initial days of the Independent India. People like Rajaji had said that the elections should be publicly funded.

But over a period of time when parties got entrenched and got their own source of income, obviously through the licence-permit-quota raj, this demand faded away. It was taken for granted that the parties are self-sufficient and therefore they will contest and win elections with their ‘own’ monies.

It is at this stage that the business community gets an entry point. The remaining tale of the deal and understanding need not be explained.

Once the parties have got strongly established, no further new entrant will be allowed by the cartelization among the established parties.

Thus the script becomes decided between the already set players.

Now, within this permutation and combination, the drama of ideals, manifestos, etc have to move on.

People going into the polling booths have hardly any choice. They have to choose from what is available. Of late we have an option to go in for NOTA. Otherwise people abstain or vote for someone they do not really think will win at all.

From this multi-cornered contests which are actually tuned to specific corners, the first past the post method ensures that someone not necessarily getting even 51% of the total votes cast also can win.

The next phase is when all these candidates go into one basked called a party to elect their chief.

Once they get identified as a party itself, their identity goes for a toss. The party takes over from that moment. This became firmer after introduction of the anti-defection law. Now, what is to be the law that should be passed, is not determined by these representatives who have been elected by the people, but by the party to which they belong.

In other words, they are sponsored by the party which is going to determine the fate of the people and the electorate votes only for a party and not for the representatives as such. Technically then the relevance of the individual representative loses relevance after the election, once a government is formed. The representative remains in the scene only to be approached by people with their grievances and to speak on either the floor of the house or to participate in meetings of councils or committees, etc.

When policies are centrally decided by a party, the speaking on the floor of a house also is only for public consumption. It is not going to alter any set decision because cross voting will be dealt with by the anti-defection law.

It is in these circumstances that we still believe that we can, with one vote for a post, once in five years, determine what is to be done for us.

The players who continue with this show are part of a full time business. Therefore it increasingly appears that what even choice is made, ultimately, the final decision is taken elsewhere by some other forces which are not directly visible.

Nothing else will explain why a particular party getting into office opposing another one vehemently, including on economic policies, will continue with the same economic policies, even with much more vigor and speed.

The other shrill cries to garner support and vote, in the name of the adversary being corrupt, in-competent, against the interest of the people, against certain communities or religions, etc are increasingly found to be only convenient positioning in such a manner that the ‘real agenda’ of economic decisions in the interest of the business community being carried out by one or the other.

There is a feeling cultivated among un-suspecting minds that the interest of business houses is itself in the interest of the general wellbeing of the people. This is not necessarily true because, the concept of the laissez faire being able to make self-corrections is as much as a utopia as the state withering away on its own. Cartelization is the essence in business and no business man can be expect to deliver to the people a product or service at a cheaper cost than that is made by the state itself.

The running of the state with capacity to produce goods and services that are most essential for all citizens has to be then paramount for any democratically elected government.

But in the decades that have passed by, we have seen that activities performed by the Government have been given away to private players, with one excuse or the other.

The simple question that begs answer is why should a private player bother to offer any service to the people, which their own government is not able to give?

Corruption and in-competence have been an oft repeated charge against the Government machinery for severing its functions. But refusal to correct the system and instead handing it over to business interests directly is throwing the baby with the bath water.

The state constituted by our own volition has an obligation to provide the basic amenities for every life – which is the right to life. They are – education, health and basic needs of food and shelter. As long as these could not be provided to each citizen, then we have failed in our mission.

And we know that these are a far cry.

The vocal minority belonging to us, the middle class, can hardly be expected to portray grievances other than its own immediate concerns.

To this is added the new trend where even out of concern or empathy for the less fortunate someone raises a voice, our own people will shout it down as ‘vested interests’, anti- something’, ‘andolan jeevi’, ‘parasites’, etc. Only those who are affected are supposed to state their objection. When the affected state it or protest, they will always be in a minority when compared to the others.

In this, therefore the people have also only the option to choose among the lesser evil.

When this picture of good and evil are themselves only deceptive and painted according to someone else’s agenda and advantage, we continue to waste our energies by keeping on shuffling and ‘expecting’.

All these WWF like fights will only ultimately wear us out. Once this realization has dawned, we have to get to basics.

What are the parameters based on which the performance of each player is to be assessed. Not definitely what they promise. Not their propaganda. What is that has reached to the lowest of the low could be the only parameter. What they are able to deliver through the state machinery for the sustenance of life and protection of life and liberty could be the standard.

For that again, our resources cannot depend upon their own propaganda or reports of certain media alone which again is only a partner in the whole game.

We have to strive to have our own assessments, through our own sources. From reading between the lines of the reports from various media sources. We have to search for the needle of truth from the hay stack.

Very difficult indeed.

But we have to strive.

At least the understanding that this is the only yardstick will be able to clear our view about the happenings and to take sides ‘in this game’, consciously.