Ahh...IT'S BEEN 5 YEARS.

             when i signed in the attendance register today and put date,it appeared that something is special about it, and mind scrolled for some b'day or anniversaries but it later turned to my special day...

    Five years ago,a village boy carrying burden of his dreams alighted at CST station, Mumbai to start his career in govt. of India, on being appointed as an Investigator and posted at Mumbai. In-spite of all opposition from family, relatives and well wishers, stood by his decision and proceeded on. After joining formalities, met with some good friends and seniors and understood what was job expectation and what our organisation does. except the fact that it was world's largest survey organisation ,nothing morale boosting was heard.

 So after 2 days of theory class , life of an Investigator began and in dynamic Mumbai life, jumping from central to western to harbour lines, watching deaths on track daily became a part of life and also an inherent fear on how to avoid this to myself. when announcement of Kurla or Dadar was heard, it sends shivers in spine with me leaning on edges with a heavy bag, and "pudhe chala" became part of my linguistics. 

 so what i learnt from Mumbai is a big question and so are the bigger answers.

when you  visited Dharavi, watch people living frugally, managing daily life in limited means and yet satisfied. though women folks may bath in open street but yes they are dignified and have self respect, people have  a bonding which is not commonly found even in a joint family. the lesson and how informal sector operates had helped me to gain an insider perspective which no amount of literature would have been provided and yes dynamism of Mumbai on wake of 26/11 when I was on the same place at 6.30 pm on that day was notable. Slums and the way of life can be best understood when you spend hours with then and talking on seemingly irrational topics. sharing food with them and playing gali cricket was one of few memorable experiences there. But hidden in between is the deprivation,lack of basic amenities ,frauds of builders on name of slum rehabilitation which strengthened my will for civil services. on different note when i surveyed areas adjoining south Mumbai, Sheetal baug and Malabar hills, you have to rethink that is this same India which you visited few days back, as here opulence is basic requirement for survival and cars of  Indian make are rarity. Here BMC has deployed whole army of conservancy and maintenance staff. where even to enter a building premises you need permission which can even put shame to a Sarkari office. while interacting with whose's who there, i found that my debating and interactive skills were improving and even it helped me to learn the way of life of Parsis and believe me they are very nice,sometimes conservative,cooperative if you are honest and frugal people. it was only due to my work that i got such an opportunity.

and while i revisit my glorious days in Mumbai, the serenity of Pane Village on Mumbai-Goa NH is worth mentioning where during my 5 days stay, Konkan was at its best with non-stop rains, innumerable waterfalls, ussal and misal pav and yes, sweet and seedhe tribals who treated me and my colleague Vineet as guests. its happy to see that they are away from mechanization and false modernity and responded well to my marathi-konkani-hindi mix which even made them sometimes laugh and which even i couldn't understand what I've spoken,but thankfully now i can understand and speak basic Marathi.

 when being transferred to Lucknow and coming to home town has been helpful as if i was not investigator, i would never been associated so closely to problems of every section,every locality of various societal customs and rituals and pattern of living, which in turn helped me to better my vision and zeal to work hard for services and turn my vision into hard building blocks.

though problems also have been many but those are there to test your strength and will-power.

when we are associated with an organisation, we become accustomed to its way of life, and 

same has been with me and on lighter note NSSO has a big role in making of a civil servant. 

I RESPECT...