A Year in the Chamber...

So, when I look back exactly 1 year back in the mirror of past, I grin as to what you think, what others guess and what the reality has to offer...

It was 7-8 April last year, someone from the batch was shouting as I stood in front of swanky new mess building, that posting orders have been uploaded on IRS website. I was not pretty sure as to what lied ahead for me but as my 4 choices were “not-so popular” ones so I was pretty sure that I would be landing in any 1 of those options.

However, the eagerness of 1^st posting has its own curiosity so I logged on to IRS website and downloaded the file. God knows as to why the said list was not Roll no./ Civil List wise which is otherwise sacrosanct. Suddenly my eyes glanced through that someone got posted in West Bengal and Sikkim. To my memory, none in our batch has given the same as preference. Scrolling through the row to figure out the name of our batchmate I was amazed to see Anurag Daria’s name. However I again rechecked and to my sadness yes, it was Daria who got WB. Having a considerate heart for him, being my buddy or more than that for entire 16 months. I moved on to search my name, then suddenly West Bengal and Sikkim appeared against my name too. I was shocked in disbelief and checked multiple time. However fact was that I have been posted in West Bengal & Sikkim Region.

Then till final departure followed long walks along with Daria and multiple hourly discussions as to what we should do. Among multiple options one thing was pretty sure and clear that we have made decision that we will respect “destiny’s choice” and will join at earliest with no jugaad for change of posting.

Kolkata has always been my mind, for reasons entirely different. Not for its food, nor for its freedom neither for its frugalness. Spirituality of the city which few can feel, the positive vibes, the energy in the air attracted me in my previous 3 visits to the land. Discussion with seniors who were once in Kolkata helped us to feel better. I realized in those last 6 days that the mind gets conditioned by what we think is right or wrong about any particular place or person and then our happiness depends on their accomplishments, however frivolous they may be.

The batch was in “vidai bela” mood, everyone weeping, crying, celebrating in their own “micro-batches” and to borrow Orwell’s famous line, "all batchmates are equal but few are more equal than others.'' Same was true for mighty 67th. Moolchand was in full bloom with spring arriving late for him.

...Flight from Nagpur landed at night and soon we were in the city which was our “Karmbhoomi”. We were prepared to join on 15^th, but info. Came that as it was “Poila Baisakh” i.e. Bengali New Year so offices are closed. In the meanwhile Deval, Vivek, Vamsi has joined the gang of “Bhadra lok”. Those few days till we took charges, the evening walks after dinner, the “meetha pan”, those rosogullas, and BC amongst us. One thing which was very particular was that unlike experiences of our other stationed batchmates, seniors were quite receptive and happy to help. But, soon, our honeymoon ended and were handed our independent charges.

...From the day the Civil services result is declared and by the time we join field, only one thing happens commonly in all services i.e. our parochialism increases, literally as well as in broader sense. When UPSC declares CSE, till the time of allocation of services we more or less consider ourselves as part of grander scheme of “civil service”. Then services are allotted so the scheme is narrowed down to particular services. Now a days “foundation course” is also conducted in fractured manner with pooling different permutation and combinations of services in 3-4 academies. Then the concept of “Induction training” which is for professional competency has needless to say also promoted the “us vs. they” feeling in all services which was evident and came to fore when 7^th Pay commission’s report tentatively proposed “pay-parity” for all services.

In all these years as a government servant, I personally feel that whatever may be the reason, may be the colonial legacy, may be elitism or others, generally citizens and public sees burueacracy from the angle of “us and they”, so in this scenario how can we afford to cope up fractured views within bureaucracy is a thought to ponder upon. From a candidate in result of over 1000+ achievers to an officer holding independent charge is quite a wise and learning journey. After a formal “hand-over” and “take-over”, 1^st thing I did was to take a selfie with myself sitting in larger than the required high-neck chair and Ashoka Emblem in background. It may sound stupid but a nation obsessed with “Ashok ki Laat”, it was of prime importance to send selfie to your family and friends who have toiled and struggled with you in your journey to reach where you desire.

Been allotted area which has its historical significance but alas, as of now it has no specific economic activity. The jurisdiction stretch spread for more than 120 Kms with several islands and offcourse Sunderbans and holy Sagar islands. Having visited them many a times just for sake to get ground reality, all I discovered was lush green lands, paddy fields, “Pan” cultivation, ditches and “fish-growing” pukurs (Bengali term for ponds) in every hamlet and village and thousands of business owners who are not paying taxes, either they don’t have PAN or are least bothered. In my field interaction, funniest though it may appear, is an issue to deliberate for policy makers that small business owners, professionals are not even aware that they have to any taxes also. Many have applied or got PAN only for the sake that banks have asked them to do so.

Over the year, I realized that the income tax department is robbed off by its own giving. The clauses of secrecy, the very-calculative nature or in better manner to say being averse to risk- taking and not advertising their achievements in institutionalized manner has taken a toll on its image. We must realize that in tax administration if we lose cases in Judicial forums due to interpretation of statues, or on technical grounds that does not mean that it is flaw of the “Act” or the person or the department, there are instances in which Apex court has quashed legislation itself ab-initio. Does that mean the Ministry or Department drafting it is at flawed? In a developing economy where there are entrenched lobbies extracting favourable policies over the years and where multinationals are eager to get a pie without paying a penny, serious efforts for a fair taxing will raise an eyebrow and to borrow the quote that “in this world only two things are sure: death and taxes”; the chain if it has to be broken will require consistent, clean and considerate hands.

…more gyan to follow soon…