My Encounter with Government Machinery
(G.M.)
😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉
There are Governments and Government machineries. Behind the Government of the day ,the GM ,which can be invisible ,silent but most powerful in any form of rulership , anywhere in the world. The backbones of G.M. are cadre of subordinates ,called clarks, supervised by officers who carry out Govt. Orders, follows by rules and regulations. In these matters, they have a lot of leeway and freedom of interpretation . They know how to follow, not to follow and circumvent the rules, they know delay techniques too. The cleverest technique is to ask for the paper not presented and come tomorrow .
Due to my misfortune, I encountered two such incidents.
When I got the admission in the MBBS in 1974 Baroda Medical College, one of the requirement of admission process was to submit "Domicile Certificate". This was to be obtained from Land Revenue Officer at particular office in person along with one of the parents. This is to prove that one is continuously staying in the state for last three years, so as to be eligible for admission. ( In pre - Neet era,before pan India admissions) Now, our ancestral history in Baroda dates back since 1895. Once upon a time we were big wealthy merchants of sweets of the city, but due to bad phase , we had downfall and almost bankrupt and could not pay due government levied income tax. We were listed as tax defaulter and our Firm's name was regularly published in news paper every year in the list of defaulters.
To survive, my father began his business under a new firm name , totally separated from the previous firm's name, So as to not to be liable to pay the previous firms' taxes. Not that we do not want to pay,but not possible to, in spite of, selling many properties and borrowing money on others.
Now the concerned clerk found out these details from the records , almost 25 years old,, that the firm connected with us in past was a tax defaulter & defaulters are not given any certificate or award or reward. I remember Rajkapoor has to clear all his dues before he could be awarded " Dada saheb Phalke "award. I got worried and my future looked bleak and I feared that I will not be able to get admission to be doctor. My hands and feet turned cold. But my father ,my hero,was a resilient man. He had fought many such battles of misfortunes in his life. once I saw him arguing in fluent English in front of charity commissioner for our land.
My father explained the whole situation and technical disconnectivity with the previous firm. The clerk got convinced and gave us the coveted domicile certificate . I got admission in the medical college to earn 'Dr' as prefix with flying colours and earned enough Gold in Gold Medals. My degree and dowry both was solved.
The Second Incident happened in the year 1999. I did my MBBS in 1974 and MS in 1983 & started my practice in 1984 in Baroda.Now at the time of admission, we have given bond in writing to Gujarat government for one year of government service post qualification. Failure of not doing so attracted Rs. 5000/- penalty. The Government was not able to strictly implement this policy though. I was given government post after my MS degree which I could not honour.
Now in 1999, I wanted to do course in Fine Arts, Faculty of Baroda in Arts history (M.A.) & Aesthetic. I filled the form and gave the entrance exam( I wrote about Picasso).
One of the requirement was 'Transfer Certificate' from previous faculty, so as to get that I went to my Baroda Medical College office to obtain the certificate. The clerk, known to me found out from my record that I owe Rs. 5000/- as bond money to Gujarat Government and unless I pay, I can not be issued any certificate.This was again 21 years after my passing MBBS .
So I paid happily. I got the certificate and attended as a student of Fine Arts at a ripe age of 44. The Rs. 5,000/- of 1978 was Rs. 500 in 1999 on economic fulcrum. Even the current dean was surprised and I was asked to see him that why I wanted the transfer certificate after such a long gap.He was pleasantly surprised about my passion and mission.
So Invisible Government Machinery is always there , it works silently and wakes up at the right moments to confront one.
Beware ,there are only two things that are certain in this uncertain world.
Death
Government machinery.
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