Challenging Bad Practices Mistaken for Rules

Very often we encounter the irresponsible and irrational manner in which some government functionaries  behave and interpret rules without any understanding and application of any reason. What surprises one is how most often people allow themselves to be at the receiving end and prefer to suffer, instead of protesting and asserting themselves for their legitimate rights. For a change here is an interesting real life incidence, where in an empowered woman,  simply turned the tables against one such typical government official, with the power of her logic, courage and self esteem –

A tough colleague of mine had a registered parcel from a friend which the post man wasn’t able to deliver at her door because she wasn’t at home to receive it at that time. Insured as it was he declined to give it to her servant who opened the door. The post man however informed the servant that she should collect the parcel at the Post office in 2-3 days lest the parcel will be returned back.

My colleague who was generally very occupied and worked for long hours, found it inconvenient to leave the office early just for collecting a parcel but barely managed to reach the Post Office ten minutes before it was scheduled to close. As half the staff had already left for home, the rest - the top brass and lower cadres were on the verge of winding up. Though the arrival of a lady attracted the attention of one and all, it also caused a little discomfiture at the thought of having to attend to her, at that hour. Some one asked “what do you want madam? My colleague informed them about the parcel that wasn’t delivered at her home and that the postman had expected to collect it in person at the Post Office. 

Promptly the person on the other side said that the PO was closed ---  “aap kal aayiye” (Pl. come tomorrow.)

Lady: “what time do you close?

PO staff:  5 PM.

She said – “There are ten more minutes to go, on your clock”

PO staff:  Yes, but we have closed our books

Lady: How can you close before time?

PO staff: “Yahan eise hee hota hai. Ye ghar jaane ka samay hai”

(This is the practice here. It’s time to go home)

Lady: Par ye to galat hai. (But this is wrong).  You can leave after 5 pm but not before that – you can’t deny me service till 5 pm. I have come from rather far away.

Looking at the altercation the Post man entered the scene and tried to pacify the lady: Maddamm humne sare records bund kar diye hain.. aap kal aayiye aap ka kaam kal ho jaayega…(Madam we have closed all our books of records… you may please come tomorrow and your work will be attended to)

PO staff:  Aap ke post man ne parcel ko doosre din deliver karne se inkaar kar diya to mein bhi doosre din nahin aa saktee… aap mera kaam aaj aur abhi karenge … Mein jaane vaalee nahin hoon. (When your postman refused to deliver the parcel on the second day, I refuge to come on another day for collecting it too. You will do my work today and now. I am not leaving this place)

The Post Master was rather agitated, disturbed, angry, but helpless and realized that there was no way he could get across to her without attending to her.

Reluctantly he went in to his room, asked his attendants to bring the concerned parcel and while opening his books he said  –  Theek hai Maddamm  aap to jabardasti kar rahee hain – chaliya hum aap ka kaam karte hein….Aap hamein apna identity dikhaiye aur apna parcel le jaayiye” (O.K. Madam, you are forcing your self upon us… but that’s alright, we will do your work … please show me your identity card and take your parcel”

Lady: I have no identity card with me now (14 years ago carrying IDs was not as common as it is these days… and she had a driver to drive her car .. so she had no driving license either)

PM: We can’t give the parcel without an ID!

Lady: Your post man did not tell my servant that I had to bring an ID to collect the parcel – he only said – come to PO to collect it yourself within 2-3 days.

PM:  Aap kaun hain  hamei to maloom nahin  hai. Hum bina ID dekhe hee,  kisee ko kaise de sakte hain

Lady: When I am standing here in person – what more evidence do you want?  Ask my driver my name and that will prove my identity.

PM: I neither know your identity nor your drivers’. I am sorry.

Lady: Now it is you who is harassing me… and wasting my time. The best I can show you is my visiting card and you can call my office to verify my identity… or my house for that matter.

PM: Eh naheen chalega. Is mein to aap ka photo hee naheen hai.

Lady: So what else do you want for an ID?

PM: aap ration card kee photo copy dikhayiye jisme aap ke ghar ka pataa ho aur aap ka naam bhi.

Lady: Aur jiske paas ration card naheen ho to kya unki identity naheen hotee? Desh bhar mein kitne duplicate ration card bante hain aap ko pataa nahin hai kya… Kal mein duplicate ration card banwakar aap se kisee kaa bhee parcel lekar jaasaktee hoon. Aur aap yahee karte honge. Vaise bhi, ration card kisee ki pehchaan ka aur ghar ke pate ka koi maanya saadhan nahin ho sakta…. Aur agar aap ne adhik vilamb kiya to mei asahayog, jimmevaari na nibhane, aur mujhe eise shaam ke sadhe paach baje ke baad pareshaan karne ke liye aapp ke khilaaf shikaayat kar doongee… (What about those who do not have a ration card? don’t they have an identity? Don’t you know how many duplicate ration cards are made in this country? Tomorrow I can get a duplicate ration card and claim any body’s parcel from this office. And may be that is what you do! In any case, ration card can not be considered an authentic proof of residence or an identity of a person. And if you delay any further I will complain against you, for non-cooperation and failing to discharge your duties and harassing me at this hour of half past 5 in the evening). 

PM: Maddam aap to ulte hee hum par baras rahee hain. Haamree naukri khatre mein pad jayegee. Aap hain kaun ye to batayiye?  (You are attacking us on the contrary! My job will be in danger. Please tell us who you are?)

Lady: Mein aap kee hee tarah ek insaan hoon. Aur mera naam “@#&%*!”hai. Mera ghar ka pata “$@#&*$” aur mere office ka pata “*&&%$#$@!”  hai. Aap aur kya  jaan na chahte hain?. (I am a human being like any one of you. And my name is “@#&%*!” > My house address is “$@#&*$”   And my office address is “*&&%$#$@!”  What else would you like to know?

PM:  Aap yahaa sign kariye aur lejayiye apna parcel. Ab to upar vaalaa hee bachayega. (Please sign here and take your parcel. Only God will save me now)

Lady: Agar aap apna kam theek naheen Karenge to upar vaalaa bhee naheen bachayega, Vaise aap bekaar kee chinta chodiye. Ye parcel mera hee hai.  Aap ko koi khatra nahee hai. (If you did not discharge your duties properly, even God can not save you. In any case, you don’t have to worry much. This parcel belongs to me, and  so there is no risk involved.)

Wo(w)man!