Completing the full circle. Back to Bangalore after so many years. Traveled 36 hours with waiting reservation. Last time I traveled ticket-less for such long distance was in year 2006 when I decided to visit my home for Diwali at the last moment. so now back to square one.
Anyway coming to more interesting things. I finished reading M.K.Kaw's insiders account of how bureaucracy functions compiled in book "Bureaucrazy gets Crazier". Kaw's book is compilation of his writings on Bureaucratic experience which were published for over 40 years. In one line, it will make you laugh at the fullest capacity of your lungs and explode all the myths about civil services. The book literally lampoons bureaucracy for its so-called nameless faceless and self less "service" of the nation. It is a must read for some one entering into bureaucracy, to set his expectations right and give him fair picture of power play which takes place in high echelon of power corridor. However, It could be demotivating for idealist blokes who take bureaucracy as a holy job demanding high level of renunciation and spirituality.
The book ludicrously typifies various Babu's personality characteristics like a Yes-Man or No-man or Yes-but-no man or yes-man proper. Kaw has drawn full experience of his bureaucratic service in describing bureaucratic habits of saying No or making excuses like "sahab ghusal mein hai or Sahab park gaye hai or sahab pooja kar rahe hai". The family history of bureaucracy gives extra punch to your service to the nation and person knows in his womb when to take deputation or study leave or which ministry to work for or what foreign posting to aspire for. And your patrons like Nana, Papa and Sasur ji all together ensures that right transition takes place at right muhurt and no evil forces obstruct your steep rise.
The book explains politician - bureaucracy relationship with incisive insight. How a difficult political leader is managed by bureaucrats by laying supine in front of them or how a tame leadership is taken for a ride by bureaucracy. Sometimes the politician-bureaucrats travel the journey of career graph together. The relationship graduates from BDO-MLA to DM-MP to Secretary-Minister to Principle Secretary-Chief Minister. As elsewhere, sycophancy pays heavily. Bureaucrats should learn the art of laughing at the same joke n number of times with full capacity of your lungs which can risk bursting your stomach. Laughing on seniors joke or politician tell-tale stories pays in career rise. However Laughing comes with own risk. When politicians fortunes take down slide, the bureaucrats aspiration may also go for toss, unless he changes his side conveniently.
The book displays authors full command over English language and can act as a dictionary of difficult English words for naive readers. Moreover, some difficult jargon demands above-average grey matter to grasp his dark humor and sarcasm. Kaw has taken examples from his own life and from his conversation with colleagues, seniors, sub-ordinates and others in power circles. Thus, book presents most authentic insider's view of bureaucracy and caricaturise bureaucrats in unabashed manner. The description of bureaucrats wives and their influence on Husband's work, the importance of wives kitty parties in Bureaucrats fortune turnaround and necessity to listen to peons, clerks, drivers and other office staff to gather information about other IAS officers is described beautifully in the book.
To sum up, It gives a authentic gossiper's account of how bureaucracy functions from inside. Author has made fun of bureaucracy but conveyed many serious advises in most engaging manner. It is a must read for those who have recently wedded civil services or for those who aspire to wed with civil services career. But it is also a fun read all other species as well.
