035. Tea for two (a blog contest entry)

30 January 2012

PREFACE

This post of mine is one on-the-fly, as I am taking part in a time-bound, fun-filled contest initiated by my friend, blogger, writer and author, Preeti Shenoy.

Preeti Shenoy, a mother of two, blogs through http://www.justamotheroftwo.blogspot.com . She is the author of best sellers, 34 Bubblegums and Candies and Life is What you Make it. Preeti's third book titled,  Tea for two and a piece of cake will be 'hitting' the bookstores very soon. I request you to kindly join me in wishing her all the very best and I am looking forward to witnessing the evolution of another Indian author adorned with world-wide accolades. 

To many, Preeti's writings have been an element of motivation.  On the same lines, she has now initiated a contest (that would be on till 28th February 2012) wherein, the participants will be asked to answer the  creative prompts (vide their respective blog pages) that Preeti puts up in her blog page, every Tuesday.

Sounds good!

But, again, I am little late in seeing her blog post and answer her last week's creative prompt - "If I could invite anybody for 'tea for two' today it would undoubtedly be .................................."

Better late than never!

Hence, here it goes as follows .......

Tea for two

If I could invite anybody for 'tea for two' it would undoubtedly be ...........

Let me think!

Because, there are many people in my invitee wish-list.  The list comprises my parents, my siblings, my wife, my children, my in-laws, my Uncles/Aunts & their children,   my close friends, my superiors, my colleagues,  my role models ........ and many who had influenced me / are influencing me throughout my life.

Choosing one person out of the above listing and inviting him/her for a cup of tea will definitely be a Herculean task.  Moreover, instead of inviting one person to share two cups of tea with me, I would rather prefer inviting two persons for tea and myself  be contented with a piece of cake!

Having given an opportunity, I would invite my Daddy and Valliachan (Malayalam word -  meaning, either father's-elder brother OR mother's-elder sister's-husband ; my relationship is the latter).  Eventhough my bonding with them does not call for a formal 'invitation', I would be inviting them as a matter of pseudo-formality.



Significance of Valliachan (Achan, to me)  in my life

(for non-Keralite readers : Achan, meaning father)

(Below quoted from my initial blog post : About me, knowing my immediate family)

By the time I stopped my post-birth crying and started to open my little eyes (that were getting developed!) to see this beautiful world, my Mummy had left to the other unknown world!  I was told much-much later that she had brain tumour and I was operated prematurely and brought to this world by medical science, knowing the destiny of the life that carried me for nearly eight months! Thus, Daddy was left with four children, the eldest daughter aged only 15 then!  (Being a father of two children now, I very painfully realize the mindframe my Daddy would have experienced and hade been in, during those tensed days.  Daddy, as I write this blog at a place geographically far away, I bow down at your feet to offer my Pranams, hugs, kisses and respects !

Those days, Daddy was serving as an Asst. Commandant in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) outside Kerala and hence due to his travel and other schedules, it was difficult or next to impossible to look after a premature-born-infant on his own !

Within a few hours, and without any kind of hesitation, Valliamma (mother's elder sister - but I address her as Amma, meaning mother) and her loving husband, Achan took the vital decision to take up the utmost responsibility of looking after this prematured, ugly-looking, toad-like object (as my siblings now tease me!) as a Guardian. I honour and respect Achan and Amma till my last breath for their selfless commitment towards my well being and sustained happiness.

Importance of Daddy in my life

Under the circumstances, my Daddy knowingly avoided a tragedy of having a "step mother" for his children and hence dedicated his life ONLY for his children.  Daddy, I have no words to explain your magnitude. Thank you very much for being such a wonderful father!  I am disappointed  because, I can never be a father having good qualities of yours, to my children.

Daddy, for me, in simple terms, is : 

1. A very positive, practical & pleasing GENTLEMAN
2. A loving father, father-in-law, grandfather, friend, brother, uncle, husband, friend & neighbour
3. A social and a helpful personality
4. A compassionate, selfless friend for fellow citizens
5. A punctual, disciplined soldier
6. A never say NO human being
7. Always there for you even before you seek his help.
8. Always there to receive you at Airport/Railway Station when you come back home.
9. A God-loving, pious devotee
10. A responsible and a systematic officer
11. A person who loved, nurtured and cared relationships
12. A UNIQUE & CARING human being who TAUGHT me and my siblings how to live and let others live (unfortunately, I have not passed all his tests and am still learning).

Till this day, and forever, Daddy and Achan have been my mentors and role models.  The love and affection they show to me is something immeasurable!

(A picture of three of us, taken in May 2005)

Thank You

Thank you, Preeti Shenoy for this blogging opportunity wherein I am 'forced' to write something in front of a timer !  By virtue of this, I could also dedicate some time in remembering and honoring two great human beings deeply attached to me and helped in shaping my persona.

Thank you, my dear readers for your time.

(C) Renjith P Sarada.   January 2012.

034. 19 long years in career - revisiting memory lane

18 January 2012

School-College Transition

March, 1987.  

I am still amazed when I think of how fast I ran home after submitting the last examination paper of my  school-grade examination - Secondary School Certificate !   After a lot of struggle 'studying' (rather pretending to be doing so),  I was eagerly looking forward to a much awaited vacation - free from books, free from any kind of studying and free from any tensions or pressure.   During the school-college transition, the students were having the liberty of a vacation of three months (a month extra, considering the time window for ensuing college admissions).   If someone had asked me about my ambitions then, I would have replied - "to sleep well and not to be disturbed by waking me up so early"  

Quite excited, on that day, after the last examination, I threw away my books (under the blind assumption that I would pass the exams !!),  got my autograph book signed by teachers and close friends (btw, where is that book lying now?),  wrote  out well wishes in friends' autograph books, sprinkled ink on friends' white shirts  etc. etc. before reaching home.

I designed various plans to spend the long vacation.

But, a week in to the vacation, I literally got fed up with sleeping for long hours.  Played cricket with my neighbour Hari and my brother Padmakumar Chettan on the 'cricket pitch' in front of the house.  Stayed over at my cousin's place for a week or so, did this, did that etc.  but after while, all those became less fascinating.

Typewriting Classes

Perhaps,  on seeing that I was wasting my vacation, and that too in an unproductive manner, my parents persuaded me to get into a typewriting course.  Honestly, I was not at all interested in either going for a typing class and/or eventually taking up a career in Typewriting or Shorthand!!  Due to household pressure, I had to budge in.   Without any sort of enthusiasm and just like any other mechanical process, I woke up in the morning, attended typing classes, yawning, yawning & yawning.  In sleepy mood, many a time my fingers got stuck between the keys while typing  the initial lessons, "a s d f   ; l k j".   Gradually, I cultivated interest in what I had been practising and picked up speed in typewriting.   Many thanks to Agnes Teacher and Saseendran - my gurus in Typing class.  Sadly, the Typewriting Institute at Pattoor where I took typewriting classes  is no more, as the building which housed the Institute has been demolished in order to give way to a multistorey one.

As a blessing in disguise, I had the opportunity to assist my Daddy in his Advertising business, by typing out some business letters, invoices etc.   This had really helped me in upgrading my typing skills, thereby preparing myself for the imminent Typewriting Certificate examination conducted by Government of Kerala.   Of course, due to my additional typing work at home, I passed the Typewriting (Lower) examination  and eventually secured a Certificate at the first go itself.

Having a certificate in hand, I 'negotiated' with my Daddy and he told me to function as a 'Part Time Typist' in his business.  He gave me a salary (rather, a pocket money) of Rs. 50 (but, was only paid once in two or three months depending on my pressure tactics!!!!).   Jokes apart, thanks to Daddy and the part time assignment, I  began to excel in typewriting within a short span.

Staff Selection Commission Examination (1990)

In 1991, like any other teenager heeding to elders' advice, I also applied for Staff Selection Commission's Lower Division Clerk examination (1990 Batch)  which comprised a Written Test and a Typewriting Test (otherwise known as Skill Test).  Thankfully, I passed the Written Test and was called for Typewriting test subsequently.  Having an own typewriter at home was definitely an added advantage for me, as I could do fairly well in the Skill Test.

Awaiting Results

Since I did perform well in the skill test, and was relatively confident,  my anxiety to know the final results was out of bounds.   Furthermore, one of our family friends, Smt. Lalitha Gopinathan (mother of my friend Hari Gopinathan) motivated me by citing the example of her daughter who got employment through a similar Staff Selection Commission examination the previous year.  Lalitha Chechi was sure that I would sail through,  having done my Skill test pretty well.  On her advice, I kept on checking the weekly 'Employment News' for exam results. Thank you, Lalitha Chechi for your support those days.

That memorable moment

After a month or so, the result was published.   Impatiently, I scanned through the 10-paged result sheet which appeared in Employment News.  I will never forget that moment - when I found my Roll Number among other roll numbers listed in Army HeadQuarters' Selection List.   I was cleared for an appointment as a Lower Division Clerk in Government of India at the age of 20.  I was the first from my class or batch to get a job.   By the time the result was published, I had completed my Bachelor's Degree too.  What more a blessing should one get from the Almighty?!

If I had not been enrolled to a typewriting course,  and if I had not been practising typewriting at home,  getting through a Staff Selection Examination would not have been possible!      As a mark of respect, the same typewriter which helped me indirectly in securing a Government job,  is kept and maintained in good working condition (below) :

Pending  verification formalities, I had to wait a little longer for the Appointment Memo from the Ministry.   After announcing to the world about my Government job, it was a big pain waiting for the Appointment Memo.  To make matters worse, there were some people (known & unknown,  who had nothing to do with my appointment or job)  discussing about the merits and de-merits of SSC selection.  They even crossed the limit a little further by proclaiming that the test was a farce.

 In the meantime, a desperate me was introduced to Shri Harihara Iyer in Trivandrum, whose son, Suresh was then employed at the Central Secretariat, New Delhi.   Uncle Iyer briefed me about his previous visits to Delhi, the place, facilities and the comfort zones.  He gave me a very bright picture about Suresh and his life in Delhi and also reiterated that I must take up this job opportunity without fail.   I cannot forget how tactfully he addressed my concerns about my stay in Delhi.   He was able to uplift my morale when I was in dire need of.   Coincidentally, I could get in touch with Suresh yesterday, after a long gap.

Please let me pay my respects to Uncle as he is no more with us.  He is fondly remembered today.


When the issue of  Appointment Memo from Army HQ got delayed indefinitely and my anxiety was building up manifold, a solace came through Pradeep Kumar (who was then working as a civilian staff in Army HQ).  Pradeep enquired and  confirmed  to me that there was nothing to worry and my Appointment Memo was in process.  On this subject line, I had to bother him quite often to keep me happy! Sorry, Pradeep !

Finally, after a long wait (on completion of verification formalities), I got my Appointment Memo in December 1992 with an instruction to join the service not later than January 1993.

Trip to New Delhi

The decision to stay alone and afar, leaving home, parents, friends and beloveds was a tough call.  At last, I  decided to move on and take up the God-gifted job opportunity.

Winter of 1993 was at its peak (at least for me, being a first timer). I got down at New Delhi Railway Station after a long domestic travel from South to North, for the first time in my life - a "voyage" spanning more than 54 hours. I liked train journeys, always. I liked meeting different people, seeing different places, eating different food, enjoying train coffee etc. etc.  Since that was my first long journey, Daddy accompanied me, who had been to Delhi many times, during his Services tenure.

My sister, Lekshmi Chechi (who was then in Gurdaspur, Punjab) and another relative, Wing Cdr. Mohan Chand (a.k.a. Mohan Chettan) received us at the Railway Station.  I can never forget the care and affection shown to me by Mohan Chettan,  Mallika Chechi and her  mother Lachu Aunty during my initial days in Delhi.  They offered me sufficient help and support, as I was a novice in the big Capital city.  My brother-in-law Lt. Col. Rajesh Nair (Rajesh Chettan) is blessed with such loving cousins like Malu Chechi and I need to mention the help of her brother, Col. Anand Nair who was also instrumental in shaping my career to a certain extent.  Will write more about them later.  

Daddy had one of his class mates, Shri Mahadeva Iyer staying at East of Kailash.   We visited them a day before my joining duty and it was a happy reunion for Daddy and Uncle Maachu (as he was addressed by friends).  They were good family friends and a great source of support for me throughout my stay in Delhi. 

18 January 1993

My first day in my career. 

This picture was taken before leaving for office (18/1/1993) at Mohan Chettan's &  Mallika Chechi's residence in New Delhi.  Also seen are my sister Lekshmi and niece, Priyanka.

I reported at C-II Hutments for duty.    I was given a seat at the corner of the Section from where I watched the functioning of a  Government office in close range.  There were many other fresh appointees like me awaiting posting. 

Malu Chechi who was working then in Modi Xerox introduced me to Joies, one of her colleagues.   The latter, hailing from Pala in Kerala was a very helpful person and had consented to put me up also in his accommodation in Gautam Nagar (near AIIMS).  Very soon I got used to the pattern of commuting between Gautam Nagar and Central Secretariat.   Every morning, I made it a point to have a cup of steaming Ginger Tea ('Athrak chai) and bread pakodas from a street vendor adjacent to our office.  He is also remembered today as my work day used to start with his steaming cup of Athrak chai !!

Within two days, I got posting order to a Section within the Ministry.   Though there is no contact now, I want to somehow get in touch with the then colleagues of mine - Ramarajan, Joseph, Mrs. Lakshmi Prabha, Anil Kumar, Joseph, Guptaji etc. 

From there, the journey began...  Delhi is fondly reminisced,  for it shaped the foundation of my career. 

Before winding up, let me dedicate this blog post to all my colleagues who were with me at one point or the other, during my career journey for the last 19 years.  I am glad to have many of them, just a key stroke away. 

More to write about my life, colleagues and my interesting experiences in Planning Commission, Birla Group, SunTec, Maxis, Intercol & Etisalcom -  but sometime later. 

Thanks for your blessings !

Renjith P Sarada

(C) 2012. All rights reserved.