Kuch Khaas Nahi….
Diwali came and went, like any other journalist, I don’t wait for any Diwali greetings, messages, gifts, coming home from any Ministers or Bureaucrats. Since this year I have even stopped going to the annual CM Diwali lunch ritual as I feel it is not Diwlai gupshup anymore but the same old lame political questions asked by jorunos and ‘safe’ answers given by the CM. This is an informal Diwali meet which every CM has to organise for the media followed by lunch and GIFTS, but it turns out to be a routine mundane presser. Very few understand, few leave it. I remember in the whole lot only “Mr Funny Man” Uday Tanpathak cracks few jokes which makes the CM smile, but don’t we know Fadnavis smiles at jokes cracked by Kaustubh Dhavse or Nidhi Kamdar too…
For the politicians and bureaucrats all across the state, there is nothing new that they don’t do round the year. For them, every day is a Diwali. They purchase homes, expensive watches, and go on foreign holidays round the year now. And gone are the days when we had ‘Dildaar’ officers. For the past 15 years of my experience while knowing few officers up close and personal I would say now the list of ‘good and excellent officers’ will soon fade away in the next 5 to 10 years and we will be left with a category you decide mentioned below…
Ajoy Mehta, Dr Nitin Kareer, R A Rajeev, Anand Kulkarni, (all retired now)….in the current lot there are likes of Bhushan Gagrani, Milind and Manisha Mhaiskar, Dr P Anbalgan, Velarasu, Iqbal Singh Chahal, Vijay Singhal, Mahendra Kalyankar, Vikram Kumar, Saurav Rao, Pravin Pardeshi, Sanjeev Jaiswal, B Venugopal Reddy, Ashwin Mudgal, Vinita Ved Singhal, Idzes Kundan, Rubal Agrawal, are a cut above many people. See as told in my previous blog, a lot of these have many things going against them, but that’s OK. Today if Mahatma Gandhi was alive, even he would have been under the scanner for something or the other. An officer should behave like the ones I mentioned above…Royal, welcoming for the 1st timers too and even if work does not happen, the person will leave his/her cabin with a smile and they make sure the person comes to them again.
Then there is another category who will only sweet talk you. Knock yourself against the wall, help them when they are in trouble, the only thing they make you and everyone else is a Ch***ya…They will not help you when you go to them…They do the same with the CM also not at the length of what they do others , with the opposition also and also to us journalists. Only sweet talk…rest nothing. They are only interested in filling their drawers and they think no one knows about us…Hahah…they forget, sometimes our worlds have become one now…some of them are great singers, some of them use their charm to attract and please their bosses, some of them seem to be always depressed (just to show us), some of them are always travelling in foreign countries, while some of them show that they are on CM’s side and team, but believe me even CM does not entertain them beyond 2 minutes.
Then some categories in IAS are very deceptive. Here I would like to name. They appear to be Khadoos, but are very genuine people, not like the one Chief Secretary we had…Only appeared khadoos, uptight but was damm corrupt and bogus and backstabber to the CM…Anyways, IAS Deepak Kapoor is the same as what Nisheeth Mishra is in IPS. Both are die hard followers of their bosses, sincere, do what is right and are pure of heart. You put them under any pressure or let any Parekh, Pagaraiya or any tom dick and harry dalaal call them and say we have CM’s message to clear the file, they won’t budge until CM actually calls them. I am proud to know these two. We need such officers too. Not like those typical casteist self proclaimed ‘non corrupt’ who don’t take money but believe in going on holidays on someone else’s money at their own resorts and hotels or keep retired IAS officers as collection and laision partners…These lots are the typical ones…And believe me there is no Marathi/Non Marathi officer here…We have misers in IAS all across caste category…I know a very senior IAS officer who goes to lunch or dinner with his family and friends (minimum table should be of 8), he insists a call be made to the FDA department or the area DCP, to fetch the bill…
Someone mentioned to me when I wrote a blog on the IPS last week, vikrant, you forgot to mention Brijesh Singh…And I was like, IPS…he is IAS na…lol…I think he is one of the finest officers the CM’s have had, today be it DGIPR he is heading, or IT or Cyber he headed, he is a gem of a person. I will mention an incident that touched my heart recently. One of my favourite DGIPR officers, Archana Gadekar Shambharkar passed away just before Diwali. When she was diagnosed with cancer 2 years ago, her last unfulfilled wish was to be Deputy Director of DGIPR…Brijesh on learning this immediately sent her to the vacant Navi Mumbai post as the Deputy Director (on special permission) and kept it vacant till she breathed last…I mean with cancer million times she did not report to office, but Brijesh Singh kept the post only for her..Now he will formally fill it…Thanks Brijesh bhai, very few like you…DGIPR once had a budget of Rs 15 crores annually, which is now Rs 500 crore…But again on that note, Kishore Gangurde here and Hemraj Bagul at Delhi…bus itna hi hint doonga, Brijesh bhai…
But again, be it of any category, I always tell officers whosoever I meet or I know, don’t wish me Diwali don’t call me your boutique openings, or don’t invite me for your birthday and wedding or Diwali parties, but when you are in trouble, they know it…I shall be the first one to go for their help..Have done it in the past and will continue to do so…
A very Happy Diwali and A Very Happy New Year!
Vikrant Meena Hemant Joshi.
