Pradeep Biswal
It is my privilege to receive some commendations and outstanding CCRs consecutively for years together during my service career. Of course, at the initial years, I was communicated with an adverse entry one by one IAS officer who became one of my admirers at the later stage. Similarly, once a Secretary gave me’ Very Good ‘ for a few months simply because the officer below him whom he didn’t like gave me a super outstanding CCR (Confidential Character Roll).
Another Secretary did the same thing for a few months as I didn’t oblige him in giving favorable notes as per his sweet will. These are aberrations in the system and I have no regrets. However, I consider myself to be fortunate to garner the blessings of some people in my life which I consider as more precious than all these commendations and outstanding CCRs.
I joined as Sub Treasury Officer in Salipur under Cuttack district on 14th May, 1990 and got relieved on 1st August, 1090. My duration of stay there was hardly two and half months. It was a bigger Sub Treasury with more than 30 DDOs and around 1200 pensioners. My first priority after joining was to get the office corruption free and offer the best of services to the employees and pensioners.
At the outset, I threatened the staff members to take drastic action whenever anybody is found taking bribes. Secondly, I called a meeting of the DDOs and Pensioners Association to listen to their grievances and suggestions to address their concerns and improve the service delivery. This was a novel experiment and got appreciated by many including the Director of Treasuries. I sent the minutes of the meeting to all quarters and asked my staff to follow the instructions.
Salipur being a small place it was a matter of public discussion and one day before the meeting the President of the Primary Teachers Association met me and requested to invite them for the meeting. I politely explained that it may not be proper and they can give their grievances in writing or ask their DDO to place it in the meeting.
After the successful conduct of the meeting my image soared in the locality and I was invited for different meetings as a speaker. Few days thereafter the gentleman once again came to me and asked for the address of my father, telling me that he was interested in communicating with him for inculcating the sense of honesty and modesty in me that I found rare those days. I was amused and readily obliged. In fact, he wrote a lengthy letter to my father praising me and my actions. My father was very happy to receive such a letter and promptly thanked him for this in his reply.
In the meantime, I got transferred to Bhubaneswar by the then Minister who was a long standing friend of my father and on the request of my father for a posting in the Capital. This news was shocking for those who were my admirers. Some of them came to take my consent to try to cancel the transfer order. But on my request, they discarded the idea. The gentleman was one among them and with the reply he received from my father he was eager to meet him in near future.
The day my reliever arrived I was preparing to hand over the charge to him. He was a gentleman fairly senior to me and was on the verge of promotion. Suddenly, I heard a lady crying loudly on the veranda. I called the office peon to enquire about it. He came back to report that the lady was crying on getting the news of my transfer. She was a Muslim widow and military family pensioner. She was crossing three rivers to come to the treasury. I used to ask her about her health and silly other things and ask my staff to disburse her pension on priority so that she could go back in time.
Myself and my successor went outside to find the lady in tears. I tried to console her and assured her that she would continue to get a good servicemen’s future. But her reply baffled me. She confided that no one could match me and even officers had taken money from her hands in the past. Finally, she got herself composed and hugged me like her son and blessed me by putting her hand on my head. She wished that I would prosper to reach the top one day and so also my children would do well in life. Really how fortunate I was ? And how prophetic were her words that day! Her two drops of tears were much more valuable than any official commendation by my higher ups.
Another surprise was waiting for me a few months thereafter. Mr. Tripathi , the leader of the Primary School Teachers Association had his son posted in Jajpur Road in a government office. One morning, he arrived in his office without intimation and when his son enquired about his sudden visit he told him that he had come for a pilgrimage. Then he asked him whether he wanted to visit the Tarini temple in Ghatagaon or Biraja temple in Jajpur Town but he told him that he was there to meet a living God and mentioned the name of my father. His son knew my father well – as a reputed person of the locality – and he took him to my father.
My father was quite happy to meet him and he insisted on meeting my mother too. He stayed back at the request of my father, took lunch in our residence and my younger brother dropped him at his son’s residence in the evening. My parents had every reason to feel proud of their eldest child and for me it was equally a priceless experience in life. It made my commitment to the core principles of public service more stronger in the future course of my career and I followed it religiously.
God is kind enough to bestow on me his blessings in innumerable ways and take me forward amidst all hurdles and challenges with bright success. The journey continues.
The Story is the Ninth in a series of articles.
(Mr. Pradeep Biswal is a bilingual poet writing both in Odia and English. His poems are widely anthologized. He is also an editor and translator of repute. A retired IAS Officer, Mr. Biswal presently holds the position of Member, Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority and stays with his family at Bhubaneswar. Views are Personal)
Long live for far better heights of joy and fulfilment .. getting rewarded is not a miracle , it’s a deserving blessing from above through His men below .. regards
Truly amazing Pradip Biswal. You are setting examples by sheer gut. Normally things go unnoticed when officers join and leave a post. But setting the standards high not only speaks for yourself but act as a catalyst for others who follow or join you. Proud of you Sir….
Very inspiring for next generation. Continue with the same spirit and earn laurels.
Excellent writing Sir.You have been inspiration for the rising generation.
Proud of you. No doubt u was a brilliant student and efficient Administrator with humane attitude. U r a creative genius which constructed a very very special personality of urs. People expected a lots from u and u had delivered it in the frame work of good governance. Ur endeavour and spirit for people welfare is still alive. Now, after superannuation. U r leading some important assignment given by the Govt. , bcz of ur deliverance. Above all U have a very very charismatic and lovely personality, which is not only community friendly but also admin-Politico friendly. Wishing you very very best.?
Hats off ! Pranam Sir . Being a dynamic Officer par excellence your never say die spirit and perseverance inspired a many . You are truly superb .
Really Proud of you Bhai.??
You made us feel so blessed to have u arond.Salute your honesty, kindness and above all your heart.
The heart touching title is apt for this article.??
Very impressive glimpses of memory.Honest and helpful persons always live in the heart of others.
Very much heart touching and impressive. Sir, We are proud of you
Honesty and helping attitude has rewards always, though many rewards may not be material one.
An apostle of philanthropy, professional excellence and an inherited progeny of a reformative socio-political leader has stood straight with all his honesty and modesty throughout his career contributing a lot to different stakeholders at different times. The state in general and Vyasanagar Autonomous College in particular have been very much proud of getting his selfless service and commitment for a corruption free society even today. I am greatly obliged to such an iconic personality for guiding me to walk on the path of righteousness and find a recognition in today’s time.
You are a model for us. Our area and the whole District of Jajpur is proud of you. Vyasanagar Autonomous College, Jajpur Road is also proud of you and your able guidance .This article particularly very lucid, heart touching, informative, inspiring, and superb.
An officer like you having all the superlative qualities justifes Human Values in real sense. Really proud of you…??
An apostle of philanthropy, professional excellence and an inherited progeny of a reformative socio-political leader has stood straight with all his honesty and modesty throughout his career contributing a lot to different stakeholders at different times. The state in general and Vyasanagar Autonomous College in particular have been very much proud of getting his selfless service and commitment for a corruption free society even today. I am greatly obliged to such an iconic personality for guiding me to walk on the path of righteousness and find a recognition in today’s time.Your writing is very impressive.
Honesty and sincerity always pays. In a set up where most people are corrupted it is really the best thing to remain untouched for which one earns people’s love, admiration and respect. Very likely parents are credited for inculcating such noble virtues in their children. Really enjoyable article. I wonder why there is no mention of prospective aspirant fathers in line with suitable marital negotiations for their worthy daughters!
Excellent sir?, Really u r our inspiration and a best mentor, we hv to learn lot of things from u, Thank u for being with us!
The ground reality will inspire others for corruption free services to general public.
It gives us pleasure by knowing your glorious past . Helping the needy persons
the writer is getting the pleasure.so far as my knowledge is concerned to help others is the family culture of the writer Sj Pradeep Biswal .
Most Congratulations to the writer .??
Amazing sir. You are an inspiration to all of us.??
A jewel among officers.
Respected Babu Bhai,
You are really genius inspiration for your younger brothers like me as well as a source of inspiration for young officers of our state. May God bless you to remain as a mentor for us for prolonged years ahead.
So inspiring service experience Sir. Hats off to you.