Who has not heard the word Babu? Not to be confused with the name of our neighbour or a male child in our own families who is at times affectionately called by this same pet name. Here, I am talking about a special class of people sitting in government offices and given different posts and designations. Here I will call them only senior or junior depending on their age. These past few months I am blessed to meet many of them. Some of them are not very easy to talk to; some are very outspoken and even entertaining.
Last week, I was in one of the government office buildings. I met one Senior Babu to enquire what action is taken on my letter submitted two weeks earlier. He took a cursory look at the letter I showed him and said that this letter is marked to our department but not addressed to us, so no action taken. I was lost for a moment, lost two weeks just like that, if I knew it earlier, I could have just written a line on the same letter saying “for your information and action please.” Too late to regret. I thought to myself, it is never too late. Got a letter typed at one of the kiosks and went to the counter where one Junior Babu is assigned to receive and register in a log book all inward letters and documents. He was not at his desk; he like others knows very well that CM is not going to be visiting the office again for a long time. All the same, his colleague stamped and signed “received” on my copy of the letter.
When I went find out with the Senior Babu when I should follow up on my letter, said the coming week is a very busy time for them as the Legislative Assembly will be starting its Session. It kept me wondering if he too will be participating in the budget discussions and the Regional Plan which is the hot topic this time around. It reminded me of the election time when most government offices were closed for a month. Then slowly taking his mobile out from his pocket and dropping it on the desk in front of him, said: “I am fed up with this mobile, sometimes I feel that I should toss it in the sea, even though I will be poorer by ten thousand bucks.”
I said, please do not do that, give me your office telephone number, which he did with a smile.
