I was only reading about these characters in different magazines. I had the shock of my life when I encountered "one " recently. I was waiting in Bhosle Nagar Bus stop waiting for the Bus.
Suddenly one "gentleman" , aged fiftyish offered me lift on his Scooter. It was quite hot out there at 12.00 Noon. I accepted the " offer" of "lift" and sat on the Pillion. He introduced himself as a Class I officer in Agricultural Department and working at Ahmed Nagar and that he is on vacation here.He started off and as we neared Military Hospital Khadki, the fellow literally started fondling my thighs and started holding my hands and also pulling me towards him,---all this while driving !!
I became very tense and started thinking how to avoid this situation.He was desperate and almost pulled me with his other hand. I really panicked and thinking about ways of escaping. Any rash movements on my part may end in a very nasty accident which may even be fatal. Fortunately, as we approached the Khadki Railway Station, there was Traffic Jam and he slowed down , all the while holding my hand and placing it " you know where"--- I took advantage of the traffic and jumped from the Scooter, the fellow started crying & begged me for my name and address. I took pity on him and gave some name and told that I stay in Mumbai etc..
I felt too embarassed and never wanted to share this "episode" with anybody.
I however informed my dear friend & guide that is my Family Doctor. He gave me the medical side of this disorder and to what desperate stage they would go etc.. He , in fact ,appreciated my timely action and insisted that I share this info. with as many people.
Moral of the Story : Please never " Offer " or " Accept " lift on a vehicle unless you are sure about the identity of the person.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Monday, March 12, 2007
Sun Glasses
When I came for joining Ordnance Factories way back in 1963, I remember my first "experience"
with Sun Glasses. Having come from an area in Andhra Pradesh, which was equivalent to a Town-- there was not much of development. Those were my first days of " Independence"--i.e. away from parental restrictions, no studies, lot of money( hard earned ! donot go by present day standards!).
I saw many people using Sun Glasses in Summer. I said to myself--why not me ? I got one from--of all places the Footpath ! Next day it was a Sunday and I was staying in Rasthapeth,I ventured out in hot Sun and suddenly sky became overcast and I went back to the Room and picked up my Umbrella ( the traditional type with a long handle--the folding type had not been introduced in the market yet ). So I started off again--with the Sun Glasses ( my proud possession)
and with an umbrella in hand. I was waiting to cross the Road. Suddenly there was a good Samaritan by my side and trying to help me cross the Road, and saying a few words of sympathy!
That was the last time I ever made an effort to go for Sun Glasses .
with Sun Glasses. Having come from an area in Andhra Pradesh, which was equivalent to a Town-- there was not much of development. Those were my first days of " Independence"--i.e. away from parental restrictions, no studies, lot of money( hard earned ! donot go by present day standards!).
I saw many people using Sun Glasses in Summer. I said to myself--why not me ? I got one from--of all places the Footpath ! Next day it was a Sunday and I was staying in Rasthapeth,I ventured out in hot Sun and suddenly sky became overcast and I went back to the Room and picked up my Umbrella ( the traditional type with a long handle--the folding type had not been introduced in the market yet ). So I started off again--with the Sun Glasses ( my proud possession)
and with an umbrella in hand. I was waiting to cross the Road. Suddenly there was a good Samaritan by my side and trying to help me cross the Road, and saying a few words of sympathy!
That was the last time I ever made an effort to go for Sun Glasses .
Sunday, March 11, 2007
PAY SQUARE
I would like to bring to the notice of People the advantages (?) of utilising the services of Agencies who make tall claims of taking care of People's problems, as these poor creatures (mostly IT sector )either dont have time or not knowledgeable about the Government procedures.Take for example a simple thing of changing the Sur Name (Post marriage) on The PAN Card. Income Tax people say that it takes just 15 Days to issue the name change ( Provided all documents--marriage certificate, Residence proof etc) are submitted along with the original PAN card . This is exactly done by my daughter-in-law on one of those unfortunate days 24.11.2005 .(please note its 2005 and not 2006 !!!) to Pay Square( the so called Pay Roll People ). We gave the the Gestation period and enquired on 14 th Feb .about the status. They told there is Father's mismatch (Thank God only in Name !!! )and that we should go to UTI office in Pune and that we would get the PAN in 7 Days !! Anyway Paysquare was kind enough to collect all relevant documents and resubmit to UTI. Now this process of resubmitting the documentary proof of ancestral history has been done two more times. At the end of it all, Pay Square ( PayRoll people !!! ) say that its just their job is only to courier the things to UTI and that we have to follow it up. If we have the time in the first place, we would noy have gone to these chaps for Service. If they cannot facilitate the whole process why should they take up these jobs ? Another thing is that they have different characters to do these jobs !! Nobody is sure what the other does !!!
Finally I have taken up the case and after about 5 visits to local UTI office, innumerable phone calls to Mumbai ( local UTI says they are helpless !!! ) and a visit to Income Tax Office near Sadhu Vaswani Statue and a final confirmation from UTI Mumbai that the revised Card has been couriered.Again the PAN card has gone into a spin and it was in Space for three more days as UTI has given to the wrong couriers!!! The story has a happy ending. We got the revised PAN card on 7 - 10--2006.
Who is going to pay my expenses incurred for my visits to UTI & Income Tax office and various phone bills ?
I am writing all this so that no one will be lured by tall claims made by these Agencies. UTI office is open on Saturdays also and anybody can walk in and do the job personally and avoid all this anxiety and mental torture.
Thank God we got the card before the First Anniversary( No credit for PAY SQUARE (THE PAY ROLL PEOPLE !!!! )
Finally I have taken up the case and after about 5 visits to local UTI office, innumerable phone calls to Mumbai ( local UTI says they are helpless !!! ) and a visit to Income Tax Office near Sadhu Vaswani Statue and a final confirmation from UTI Mumbai that the revised Card has been couriered.Again the PAN card has gone into a spin and it was in Space for three more days as UTI has given to the wrong couriers!!! The story has a happy ending. We got the revised PAN card on 7 - 10--2006.
Who is going to pay my expenses incurred for my visits to UTI & Income Tax office and various phone bills ?
I am writing all this so that no one will be lured by tall claims made by these Agencies. UTI office is open on Saturdays also and anybody can walk in and do the job personally and avoid all this anxiety and mental torture.
Thank God we got the card before the First Anniversary( No credit for PAY SQUARE (THE PAY ROLL PEOPLE !!!! )
Friday, March 02, 2007
Passport
This is the story of how I got my Passport . Generally there should not be much to write on this subject for ordinary mortals. But the Passport Office made mine a unique case.
After retirement in 2005 I thought of applying for a Passport. ( I do not have any intention of using it , as I am scared of Travel by Air & Sea. ). Its only for the heck of it !! Every Tom, Dick & Harry is applying & flaunting it. So why not I ? So I located one agent like character in my area.
I thought why not I get one for my wife. The agent came to our place with a bunch of Forms.Filling up my Form was fine. As far as my wife is concerned he wanted me to prove that we are married. Now after 34 years of our blessed married life somebody wants a documentary proof.( In our days there was no Registration Process). My son was always taunting that he was born out of wedlock as we did not have documentary proof . So the Agent chap said that an affidavit will be enough. ( I still do not understand the legal validity of these affidavits-- you commit a crime, and swear before some body and the deed becomes holy !!). Anyway, the Agent brought some Stamp Paper ( hopefully not the Telgi type ) and got it notarised and made it into an authenticated Document . So finally after 34 years our marriage had been blessed and recognised by the Law of the land !! Hope my son is now satisfied about the legality & legitamacy of his pedigree !!!
The agent submitted the Applications on 14 th June 2006 and informed that Police Verification would be done in a week and that Passports will be received in a maximum period of 21 Days . Even the Government does not give this kind of Guarantee !! Promptly one Police did visit our place and noted down the details. After a week I started visiting the Website of Indian Passport
to check the status-- it was written "Police Verification not received" --I thought that it may take some time ( as we know the police are busy protecting the precious lives of our politicians !!) and visited the website after another fortnight. There is some improvement-- " your application is under process "---so far good. After 3 months I visited the Passport office,the fellow told me that police had confirmed my honesty for only 11 months ( that unfortunately is the date on which my Ration Card address was modified to the present Address ). They wanted my old address along with two more photos , I promptly submitted. In fact this particular form with the old address was submitted along with the original one also, which was not taken into consideration. Then after waiting for 3 more months I visited the Passport officer and after waiting in Que for 4 Hours, the Officer ( incidentally this chap was PRO when my ordeal started
and even he got his promotion in these three months ) ,very sweetly says that my verification for the previous address was not received and wanted me to verify from the Police Commissioner's office. I very faithfully visited them.The concerned chap just brushes you out and vents his feelings about the Passport office and their lethargy etc... but blesses me with some 4 Digit Number under which my verification was forwarded. I trek back to Passport Office(hereinafter known as P.O ). Again stand for 4 Hours and meet the P.O , show him proudly my Number. He says " we are not challenging this but it refers only to 11 months ". He sweetly asked me to submit the Forms along with 2 photos all over again. Mind you this was the Fourth time I repeated this exercise and exhausted all my photos.( As one of my friends said --my photos are available in plenty with P.O and police-- which I hope they would not use them for some unsavoury purpose !! ) .To ensure proper receipt I was given the "Honourable Job of Courier" and went back to Police again. That was the Fourth Visit there. I was looking like a criminal, as the receptionist and the other police started greeting me !!!(they must be wondering whether I was a "seasoned criminal" or new entrant ). Meanwhile I started writing letters to the Editor in various Newspapers, visited Kiran Bedi's site ( just a day before she wrote an article in Asian Age glorifying the Police & P.O s.I shot of letters to her, Chief Passport officer,New Delhi , Public Grievance Cell New Delhi & even the President of India who all have kindly acknowledged my sad story and assured that the letters have been forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs. Out of frustration I made a final visit to the Passport Office in february 2007 and the PRO (totally different character) who appeared to be very cooperative and courteous had gone through my case and expressed shock & surprise at this undue delay and even expressed regret. By the way we got our Passports exactly after 2 5 2 Days.
Government says we can get Passports online in 10 Days. What a Joke !!
My advice:
1. Never go through an Agent--you can yourself submit.
2. Never apply for a Passport unless you complete atleast 12-13 months at the present address.
After retirement in 2005 I thought of applying for a Passport. ( I do not have any intention of using it , as I am scared of Travel by Air & Sea. ). Its only for the heck of it !! Every Tom, Dick & Harry is applying & flaunting it. So why not I ? So I located one agent like character in my area.
I thought why not I get one for my wife. The agent came to our place with a bunch of Forms.Filling up my Form was fine. As far as my wife is concerned he wanted me to prove that we are married. Now after 34 years of our blessed married life somebody wants a documentary proof.( In our days there was no Registration Process). My son was always taunting that he was born out of wedlock as we did not have documentary proof . So the Agent chap said that an affidavit will be enough. ( I still do not understand the legal validity of these affidavits-- you commit a crime, and swear before some body and the deed becomes holy !!). Anyway, the Agent brought some Stamp Paper ( hopefully not the Telgi type ) and got it notarised and made it into an authenticated Document . So finally after 34 years our marriage had been blessed and recognised by the Law of the land !! Hope my son is now satisfied about the legality & legitamacy of his pedigree !!!
The agent submitted the Applications on 14 th June 2006 and informed that Police Verification would be done in a week and that Passports will be received in a maximum period of 21 Days . Even the Government does not give this kind of Guarantee !! Promptly one Police did visit our place and noted down the details. After a week I started visiting the Website of Indian Passport
to check the status-- it was written "Police Verification not received" --I thought that it may take some time ( as we know the police are busy protecting the precious lives of our politicians !!) and visited the website after another fortnight. There is some improvement-- " your application is under process "---so far good. After 3 months I visited the Passport office,the fellow told me that police had confirmed my honesty for only 11 months ( that unfortunately is the date on which my Ration Card address was modified to the present Address ). They wanted my old address along with two more photos , I promptly submitted. In fact this particular form with the old address was submitted along with the original one also, which was not taken into consideration. Then after waiting for 3 more months I visited the Passport officer and after waiting in Que for 4 Hours, the Officer ( incidentally this chap was PRO when my ordeal started
and even he got his promotion in these three months ) ,very sweetly says that my verification for the previous address was not received and wanted me to verify from the Police Commissioner's office. I very faithfully visited them.The concerned chap just brushes you out and vents his feelings about the Passport office and their lethargy etc... but blesses me with some 4 Digit Number under which my verification was forwarded. I trek back to Passport Office(hereinafter known as P.O ). Again stand for 4 Hours and meet the P.O , show him proudly my Number. He says " we are not challenging this but it refers only to 11 months ". He sweetly asked me to submit the Forms along with 2 photos all over again. Mind you this was the Fourth time I repeated this exercise and exhausted all my photos.( As one of my friends said --my photos are available in plenty with P.O and police-- which I hope they would not use them for some unsavoury purpose !! ) .To ensure proper receipt I was given the "Honourable Job of Courier" and went back to Police again. That was the Fourth Visit there. I was looking like a criminal, as the receptionist and the other police started greeting me !!!(they must be wondering whether I was a "seasoned criminal" or new entrant ). Meanwhile I started writing letters to the Editor in various Newspapers, visited Kiran Bedi's site ( just a day before she wrote an article in Asian Age glorifying the Police & P.O s.I shot of letters to her, Chief Passport officer,New Delhi , Public Grievance Cell New Delhi & even the President of India who all have kindly acknowledged my sad story and assured that the letters have been forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs. Out of frustration I made a final visit to the Passport Office in february 2007 and the PRO (totally different character) who appeared to be very cooperative and courteous had gone through my case and expressed shock & surprise at this undue delay and even expressed regret. By the way we got our Passports exactly after 2 5 2 Days.
Government says we can get Passports online in 10 Days. What a Joke !!
My advice:
1. Never go through an Agent--you can yourself submit.
2. Never apply for a Passport unless you complete atleast 12-13 months at the present address.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Platform Ticket
Experience teaches a person a lot. I thought sharing these things with others will atleast warn them to be on guard. Those were the days of " National Emergency" imposed by Ms. Indira Gandhi, ---I am not going into the merits or otherwise of the State of Nation in those days. There was a sense of discipline in everything,--trains were on time, people were scared of taking bribes,.
We used to stay in Factory Quarters situated near Kirkee Railway Station ( it was called Kirkee in those days later changed to Khadki). I used to go to Factory with one of my friends on his Scooter at 7.30 AM daily.Also I had the habit of collecting Magazines from Railway Bookstall.There was never any problem earlier. But on that fateful day, as usual I collected the magazines and was about to come out of the Platform and I failed to notice that Madras- Bombay Express ( those cities were known by those names only ) was about to leave and quite a number of passengers got down. Suddenly there was tap on my shoulder and the menacing voice demanded to show the ticket !! I meekly told him I didnot have one. He literally pushed me to a Room like thing and pulled my hand and almost snapped the handcuffs shut. Did you ever see hand cuffs ? They can be used for a pair of hands whether of a single human being or two different characters !!! There were 7 chaps already caught without ticket, and one part of
a handcuff was idle and they wanted to take all these captives to Pune Railway Station Court.
I was supposed to be that unfortunate 8 th batsman !!! Just before he snapped the handcuff shut, I started pleading innocence and tried to prove that I did not travel from Madras.
There was lot of shouting and believe me I had the closest brush with the Law on that day and short of crying , I tried to prove my honesty. To my good luck and on hearing the commotion in the Room, their Boss has entered and enquired . I repeated my story and informed him that I was on my way to Factory and , shown my ID card, even shown & offered the hot contents of my Tiffin Box ( affectionately called Dubba ). He asked a simple question whether I can prove that I had not got down from that train. He was not convinced with all my explanation and finally I offered to take him to my Residence which was behind the Railway Station. Meanwhile
the police brought another character in Rags to complete the Quota of 8 persons & 4 Handcuffs !
Now that ,Day's target of rounding up ticketless travellers was achieved, the Inspector was kind enough to give me a discourse on Railways and that he was letting me off as I looked like a gentleman etc.... ( only moments earlier I was about to be packed off and paraded in the august company of 7 chaps !!) . He enlightened me about the Flying Squad on the Trains and their job is only to identify ticketless travellers & hand them over to the police and ensure to snap the handcuffs shut. These can be opened only in the court !!! In fact lot of beggars volunteer to get arrested as they are assured of a square meal in the prison !! I nearly became part of History on that day. The Inspector then advised me to purchase a platform Ticket or atleast take permission from the TT at the gate. The idea is when caught in an embarassing situation there should be atleast one soul to identify , otherwise be prepared to spend time in Lock up Room of Railway police.
Now it is 32 years and I never step out on Railway Platform without a valid ticket.
We used to stay in Factory Quarters situated near Kirkee Railway Station ( it was called Kirkee in those days later changed to Khadki). I used to go to Factory with one of my friends on his Scooter at 7.30 AM daily.Also I had the habit of collecting Magazines from Railway Bookstall.There was never any problem earlier. But on that fateful day, as usual I collected the magazines and was about to come out of the Platform and I failed to notice that Madras- Bombay Express ( those cities were known by those names only ) was about to leave and quite a number of passengers got down. Suddenly there was tap on my shoulder and the menacing voice demanded to show the ticket !! I meekly told him I didnot have one. He literally pushed me to a Room like thing and pulled my hand and almost snapped the handcuffs shut. Did you ever see hand cuffs ? They can be used for a pair of hands whether of a single human being or two different characters !!! There were 7 chaps already caught without ticket, and one part of
a handcuff was idle and they wanted to take all these captives to Pune Railway Station Court.
I was supposed to be that unfortunate 8 th batsman !!! Just before he snapped the handcuff shut, I started pleading innocence and tried to prove that I did not travel from Madras.
There was lot of shouting and believe me I had the closest brush with the Law on that day and short of crying , I tried to prove my honesty. To my good luck and on hearing the commotion in the Room, their Boss has entered and enquired . I repeated my story and informed him that I was on my way to Factory and , shown my ID card, even shown & offered the hot contents of my Tiffin Box ( affectionately called Dubba ). He asked a simple question whether I can prove that I had not got down from that train. He was not convinced with all my explanation and finally I offered to take him to my Residence which was behind the Railway Station. Meanwhile
the police brought another character in Rags to complete the Quota of 8 persons & 4 Handcuffs !
Now that ,Day's target of rounding up ticketless travellers was achieved, the Inspector was kind enough to give me a discourse on Railways and that he was letting me off as I looked like a gentleman etc.... ( only moments earlier I was about to be packed off and paraded in the august company of 7 chaps !!) . He enlightened me about the Flying Squad on the Trains and their job is only to identify ticketless travellers & hand them over to the police and ensure to snap the handcuffs shut. These can be opened only in the court !!! In fact lot of beggars volunteer to get arrested as they are assured of a square meal in the prison !! I nearly became part of History on that day. The Inspector then advised me to purchase a platform Ticket or atleast take permission from the TT at the gate. The idea is when caught in an embarassing situation there should be atleast one soul to identify , otherwise be prepared to spend time in Lock up Room of Railway police.
Now it is 32 years and I never step out on Railway Platform without a valid ticket.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Keeping things close to chest
It was in the year 1970--there was only one train from Hyderabad to reach Pune.There used to be 2 Tier Sleeper cum sitting Coach. The ticket holder has invariably go to the upper berth for sleeping and the lower berths are given for sitting. I was travelling from Hyderabad and to keep my possessions (like I card, Ticket, Purse with whatever money you have, which was always meagre !!) safe, I used to keep them in a plastic cover and place the same in between shirt & Banian with the shirt tightly tucked in. It was - I realised later-- a false sense of security !!!.
I was blissfully sleeping and the lower area of the Berth was fully packed .One hardly had any place for a foothold. Still, I had to get down and go to the loo . Forgetting totally that all my "valuables" are there , I pulled up my shirt and the plastic cover has jumped and gone through
the moving train you know from where.... By the time I realised the gravity of the situation, the train has travelled some kilometers . .I lost my entity in a flash. I was left with my suitcase and the dress I was wearing. Tension started building and I was scared of any Person in Black Coat& White Pant assuming that it must be the Ticket Collector & I will be pulled out from the train any time for travelling without ticket. It appeared the train was taking ages to reach Pune.
After reaching Pune it was another adventure to come out of Railway Station from Platform No 6, avoiding all Black Coats...
Moral of the story... Never keep things too close to your chest...
I was blissfully sleeping and the lower area of the Berth was fully packed .One hardly had any place for a foothold. Still, I had to get down and go to the loo . Forgetting totally that all my "valuables" are there , I pulled up my shirt and the plastic cover has jumped and gone through
the moving train you know from where.... By the time I realised the gravity of the situation, the train has travelled some kilometers . .I lost my entity in a flash. I was left with my suitcase and the dress I was wearing. Tension started building and I was scared of any Person in Black Coat& White Pant assuming that it must be the Ticket Collector & I will be pulled out from the train any time for travelling without ticket. It appeared the train was taking ages to reach Pune.
After reaching Pune it was another adventure to come out of Railway Station from Platform No 6, avoiding all Black Coats...
Moral of the story... Never keep things too close to your chest...
Medical Examination
I thought I will write something about Medical Examination, one has to undergo on various occasions during one's career.
The first one I had to face was in 1963 at the time of joining Service in Ordnance Factories.In those days getting a job was not that difficult. I got mine when I was just 18. I came from a very typical area in Andhra Pradesh--Konaseema. Our area was surrounded by Godavari on three sides and Bay of Bengal on the fourth side (literally an Island). We had to cross the river by Boats( I was always scared of this ). I had my School & College Education in my native place only,--hardly going out into the " Wild Wicked World". So when I when I set " Sail" to join my First ( in fact the only , Job I was ever found fit !!) you can imagine my "emotional & intellectual " levels !!
When I reported with my papers at High Explosives Factory, I was told that my appointment was subject to my Medical Fitness, and they asked me to present myself to Medical Officer.
After waiting for quite some time the Doctor called me in.He was such a huge personality all of 6 feet plus and I looked like a midget.
The drama started.... he asked me to take off my clothes, I obeyed and took off my pant& shirt.No he was not happy and asked me to stand stark naked, now the pulse rate has gone mad.I was just wondering why the Doctor was interested in my hidden "assets " for a job in the Factory !!He was checking with Stethascope in one hand and pulse with the other.
Heart beat & pulse rate had gone haywire. He promptly sentenced me " Medically unfit "
Then it stuck me ---how can I go back to my town and show my face ?. I started crying and the Doctor got very embarassed--- this is the first time he came across a funny character like me !!
I told him my predicament and told him that it was the first time I ever Stripped in Public and that was the reason for the Supersonic Performance of my Pulse & Heart. He was good enough to appreciate & gave me a sedative & checked me during my Semi Conscious state and found me " Fit ". In fact he was not there when I regained conscousness-- I was told by his assistant that "Doctor Saab found you fit and signed the certificate ". I never met him again !!
That was my first " Exposure " !! My eye sight is not exactly anything to boast about !! In subsequent Annual Medical Examination held during next 9 years, they were only cursory--just check whether the Heart is beating and declare fit. So I never had either the need nor occasion to check my eyes.I was always finding it difficult to read the " Censor Certificate" and even the PMT bus Numbers. I was married by that time, so I was pretending that I missed out or something and my poor wife out of Pathi Bhakti was accepting it !!
The Medical Officer in 1973 was a tough guy, I was told by my colleagues that Eye Test also will be done. Now my game will be up !! But I didnot give up !! I went to the Medical Room and mugged up all the alphabets on the Visual Checking Display Board !! So when the Doctor asked me to read I started reeling off all letters. He was very pleased and almost signed the certificate.
Just for confirmation he closed one of my eyes and asked me to read the Fourth Line. I was caught with literally my pants down . I then admitted that "leave alone 4 th line , I cannot read even the first line with my eyes wide open ". He gave me two options, one is to leave the Job voluntarily or get my glasses fitted in a week. I preferred the second option obviously !
When Dr. Masters has checked , he was wondering how a visually impaired person was appointed! My Prescription read -5.5 for both eyes.
The First day I got my glasses it was a great day and everything on the Road was coming at me including the PMT buses !! When I went out in the evening with my wife I was casually mentioning about the lights on the Hill etc.. Wife coolly said that they were there for ages !! I thought it was safe to keep my mouth shut and went for the movie "Ankur"at West End. I made it a point to read everything loud( It was the first time ever I could enjoy a movie) and wife had to tell me " Shut Up".
The first one I had to face was in 1963 at the time of joining Service in Ordnance Factories.In those days getting a job was not that difficult. I got mine when I was just 18. I came from a very typical area in Andhra Pradesh--Konaseema. Our area was surrounded by Godavari on three sides and Bay of Bengal on the fourth side (literally an Island). We had to cross the river by Boats( I was always scared of this ). I had my School & College Education in my native place only,--hardly going out into the " Wild Wicked World". So when I when I set " Sail" to join my First ( in fact the only , Job I was ever found fit !!) you can imagine my "emotional & intellectual " levels !!
When I reported with my papers at High Explosives Factory, I was told that my appointment was subject to my Medical Fitness, and they asked me to present myself to Medical Officer.
After waiting for quite some time the Doctor called me in.He was such a huge personality all of 6 feet plus and I looked like a midget.
The drama started.... he asked me to take off my clothes, I obeyed and took off my pant& shirt.No he was not happy and asked me to stand stark naked, now the pulse rate has gone mad.I was just wondering why the Doctor was interested in my hidden "assets " for a job in the Factory !!He was checking with Stethascope in one hand and pulse with the other.
Heart beat & pulse rate had gone haywire. He promptly sentenced me " Medically unfit "
Then it stuck me ---how can I go back to my town and show my face ?. I started crying and the Doctor got very embarassed--- this is the first time he came across a funny character like me !!
I told him my predicament and told him that it was the first time I ever Stripped in Public and that was the reason for the Supersonic Performance of my Pulse & Heart. He was good enough to appreciate & gave me a sedative & checked me during my Semi Conscious state and found me " Fit ". In fact he was not there when I regained conscousness-- I was told by his assistant that "Doctor Saab found you fit and signed the certificate ". I never met him again !!
That was my first " Exposure " !! My eye sight is not exactly anything to boast about !! In subsequent Annual Medical Examination held during next 9 years, they were only cursory--just check whether the Heart is beating and declare fit. So I never had either the need nor occasion to check my eyes.I was always finding it difficult to read the " Censor Certificate" and even the PMT bus Numbers. I was married by that time, so I was pretending that I missed out or something and my poor wife out of Pathi Bhakti was accepting it !!
The Medical Officer in 1973 was a tough guy, I was told by my colleagues that Eye Test also will be done. Now my game will be up !! But I didnot give up !! I went to the Medical Room and mugged up all the alphabets on the Visual Checking Display Board !! So when the Doctor asked me to read I started reeling off all letters. He was very pleased and almost signed the certificate.
Just for confirmation he closed one of my eyes and asked me to read the Fourth Line. I was caught with literally my pants down . I then admitted that "leave alone 4 th line , I cannot read even the first line with my eyes wide open ". He gave me two options, one is to leave the Job voluntarily or get my glasses fitted in a week. I preferred the second option obviously !
When Dr. Masters has checked , he was wondering how a visually impaired person was appointed! My Prescription read -5.5 for both eyes.
The First day I got my glasses it was a great day and everything on the Road was coming at me including the PMT buses !! When I went out in the evening with my wife I was casually mentioning about the lights on the Hill etc.. Wife coolly said that they were there for ages !! I thought it was safe to keep my mouth shut and went for the movie "Ankur"at West End. I made it a point to read everything loud( It was the first time ever I could enjoy a movie) and wife had to tell me " Shut Up".
Maiden Quiz
On Sunday 18 th March, I teamed up with my son Harish to participate in the Quiz on "Indian Cinema". Last year also we participated but failed to qualify. I agreed to accompany Harish, not with much hope ! I dont doubt his capabilities, only I am not sure of myself !
We were the first to reach the Venue, and after waiting for quite some time, people started to trickle in. In fact we were wondering whether the Quiz will ever start !! Anyway the elimination prcess started and to my sweet shock, we qualified !!
Now this is the second time in my whole life of 63 years , to "participate" in something. The last time I ever went on stage was somewhere in 1954. My father was the Head Master of the High School ,I was studying and the Drama Team was obliged to give me a portion in the Drama that was being staged. The portion was that of a Police Inspector who fortunately did not have any dialogues to deliver !! That much for my " On stage Performance " !!!
Now coming to the present--suddenly the Girl who was anchoring , asked Team A (thats us) to introduce ourselves. I took all the courage and did the formality.
Being Team A , we were asked the First Question and started off in style-- with the audience clapping etc..
We answered almost all direct Questions and some " Passed ones", but failed to cash on the Buzzer ones. The reason , I feel is that I could not get the " feel" of the atmosphere !!
When they were flashing theQuestion on the Screen, I was taking some time to read and Harish "controlling" me not to say too loud so that the other team does not overhear, we missed a lot of Sitters.
At the end of it all, we were Runners Up. Not a bad performance for a "Debutant "
Next time I will try to improve upon this and do justice for the faith Harish had in me.
We were the first to reach the Venue, and after waiting for quite some time, people started to trickle in. In fact we were wondering whether the Quiz will ever start !! Anyway the elimination prcess started and to my sweet shock, we qualified !!
Now this is the second time in my whole life of 63 years , to "participate" in something. The last time I ever went on stage was somewhere in 1954. My father was the Head Master of the High School ,I was studying and the Drama Team was obliged to give me a portion in the Drama that was being staged. The portion was that of a Police Inspector who fortunately did not have any dialogues to deliver !! That much for my " On stage Performance " !!!
Now coming to the present--suddenly the Girl who was anchoring , asked Team A (thats us) to introduce ourselves. I took all the courage and did the formality.
Being Team A , we were asked the First Question and started off in style-- with the audience clapping etc..
We answered almost all direct Questions and some " Passed ones", but failed to cash on the Buzzer ones. The reason , I feel is that I could not get the " feel" of the atmosphere !!
When they were flashing theQuestion on the Screen, I was taking some time to read and Harish "controlling" me not to say too loud so that the other team does not overhear, we missed a lot of Sitters.
At the end of it all, we were Runners Up. Not a bad performance for a "Debutant "
Next time I will try to improve upon this and do justice for the faith Harish had in me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
