An Interview To Remember; एक यादगार साक्षात्कार; ایک یادگار انٹرویو ; Deepak Budki

   An Interview To Remember;

एक यादगार साक्षात्कार;ایک یادگار انٹرویو 

 Deepak Budki

In 1973 I resigned from my job at Kashmir Govt Arts Emporium (A unit of J&K Handicrafts S&E Corporation) and went to Delhi to look out for a job. I was 23 years old, armed with MSc (Botany) and B Ed degrees from Kashmir University. An interview call had been received from Apeejay Public School, Faridabad. As I entered the room and was seated in front of the interview board, one of the interviewers said, " You are from Kashmir University, isn't it?"

"Yes Sir", was my answer.

"Oh, that University....! It reminds me of a bad experience I had with them. Once they sent me MA (Political Science) answer books for evaluation. After 2 months I received a reminder to send the evaluation sheets and answer books as it was too late. I replied that first you send me the honorarium due to me then only shall I send the result sheets otherwise not. In fact, I learned that they always delay in paying the honorarium and one has to remind them several times before money is received. The correspondence went on for another month or so. Then they informed me that I need not send the result sheets as they have already announced the result on the basis of the average of other subjects. That was enough to shock me."

It looked like I had started on the wrong foot. A very bad picture had been painted by him on the minds of the interview board. So I had not only to prove my mettle but also to remove the negative image from their minds. I humbly replied, "Sir, have you come here to evaluate my university or me. You ask me relevant questions and I shall try to answer."

Other members agreed with me and after that, the expert on Biology asked me several questions which I answered to the best of my ability.

At the end, I asked, "Sir, how did I fare, will I be selected?"

"That we can't tell you now, there are thirteen candidates in your category, you are seventh and six are yet to be interviewed."

"Okay Sir, I shall wait outside till all of them are interviewed because I cannot afford to go to Srinagar and come back if selected that too when no TA/DA is permissible."

"Okay wait outside, we will see," The Chairman said.

After they finished with the other candidates, I again approached them and asked for the result. The Chairman said, "It is not possible to inform you right now unless the result is approved by the Competent Authority."

"But Sir, you have already decided the Competent Authority has simply to endorse it. You should be able to let me know."

"No, no, that is not permitted by the rules."

"Sir, I waited this long only to tell you that all institutions go by Rule Book. Nobody can short-circuit them. Isn't it? My Kashmir University also has laid down certain rules about evaluation and payment to evaluators, and nobody can force them to change the rules. Anyway, I am aware you won't be able to tell me the result now due to bureaucratic red tape. So be it. Anyway, I am going back."

After a few days, I received a postcard for joining the job but I declined with the following reply sent on a postcard.

"My offer was rejected on the spot. Since no TA/DA is given, I can only afford to travel on my own once. Thanks."

Incidentally those days there were no walk-in interviews

My First Interview; मेरा पहला इंटरव्यू; میرا پہلا انٹرویو ; Deepak Budki

My First Interview;मेरा पहला इंटरव्यू;

میرا پہلا انٹرویو  

Deepak Budki

I thought of relating an experience of the maiden interview I had to face in 1971. I completed my MSc (Botany) & B Ed in 1971 at the age of 21. I used to teach the children of the MD of J&K Handicrafts Corporation without any remuneration due to the insistence of my late father who was working in the organization and inching towards retirement. My father was very hardworking and honest but had faced many problems in the office during his short career. He was keen to get an extension due to liabilities at home. The MD too had a reputation of honesty and he was happy with the work of my father.

My father had joined the organization in 1961 after giving up two well-located handicraft shops, one on the Bund & another in the Central Market, on the insistence of my late mother. He was appointed as Manager initially but after some time was told that his appointment was only that of Asstt Manager. Being naive to Bureaucratic bungling, he resented and accepted just ₹200/- pm as pay till his case was settled. Even as Asstt Manager he would otherwise be entitled to ₹250+ pm. The case took more than 10 years to be decided in his favor but no arrears were paid to him. With this meager sum the widower looked after one son and three daughters.

The organization opened its gates to new blood for the first time as the MD invited applications for jobs of Managers/Asstt Managers. MD instructed my father to tell me to apply for the job. I refused straight away explaining that I want to join the Education Department and am qualified for the same. Father talked to my uncle who had a great influence on me, he painstakingly explained to me the situation of the household and convinced me to send my application.

A written examination was held in which I stood 3rd in the list. One Abdul Samad (MA Eco) was placed first and Ms Madan, daughter of the Secretary of the organization was placed second.

Then came the Oral interview in which there were three members, one was the MD himself, another was Mr Tambe, MD JK Industries, and third I didn't find out who he was. Mr Tambe, IAS had earlier worked as Commissioner, forest department for some time. So he shot out questions about plants and vegetation.

"What do you know about the vegetation of the temperate region?" I explained what the characteristics of the temperate region are compared to Tropical and Sub-Tropical regions but simultaneously told him that it is not humanly possible to give the names of all plants in the temperate regions. He realized that and therefore, shot another question, "What is an exotic?" I correctly described what exotic means. He asked me to give an example, possibly had Chinar in mind. I was nervous, couldn't remember any, but since I was working on root ecology of a plant I thought how much botany might this fellow be knowing. So I replied, "Sir, Salvia moorcroftiana." He looked at me bewildered but immediately added, "How about Chinar?" I was not aware of its origin so said confidently, "Oh Sir, Platanus orientalis". He shot another question, "Where did it come from?" I almost got frustrated but held on my nerves, "Sir there are several views about its origin. Some say it is indigenous, some say it came from China ( I thought Chinar word has China in it ), and some say it came from the Middle East." So left no options. MD felt that I was replying well so he told Mr Tambe, "Ask him more if you please." I was on the verge of breaking down. But thank God they told me it is all over, I could go.

The result was announced after some days. A few candidates, even those who were far below me in the merit list, were appointed as Managers (The Secy's daughter declined the offer) while I was offered Asstt Managers post in the pay scale of ₹140-250. The list had its communal markings on it. Was Shocked, so I didn't want to join but again under the pressure of my uncle and father had to join my first posting as Asstt Manager, Kashmir Govt Arts Emporium, Chandigarh on 01 April 1971

My Father-A Tribute; : Deepak Budki

My Father - A Tribute;

                                                                                     -----Deepak Budki

    My father, born in 1916, played two roles during his life: that of the father and that of the mother, since he lost his wife very early in 1962. 

   Pt Radha Krishen Budki, alias Pt Nila Kanth Budki, was a thorough gentleman who rarely got angry or put on a stern, fatherly face. Despite facing many hardships in life, both physical and financial, he provided us with all the facilities we deserved. He owned two shops, SUDESH ARTS AND CRAFTS, one on the Bund with rare facing Polo ground chowk and the other in the Central Market bearing number 115, where he used to sell wood carving and papier mache. I often went to the Bund shop (after the sale was rechristened Ganemede) hoping he would take me to the nearby famous restaurant, The Ahdoos, either for lunch or for tea. 

    In 1961, he joined the Kashmir Govt Arts Emporium as Manager, but faced many official problems there, which strained his finances. Within a year, he sold both his shops and also lost his wife. He had to manage his family, comprising three daughters besides me, on a meagre consolidated salary of Rs 200/- pm due to some misunderstanding in the office. Worse still, he had a fall from his bicycle twice, breaking his hip bone, and his ankle swelled up like an elephantiasis patient due to a huge snow-laden signboard falling on his foot. All this happened during just one winter. Thanks to a local healer and bone setter, he recovered from all three accidents in about six months. He was working at the Kashmir Govt Arts Emporium (A Unit of the J&K Handicrafts Corporation) at the time and did not receive his salary. But he braved it all. 

    He was very keen that his children should be well educated. He used to say that if I had to beg, borrow, or steal for children's education, I should not hesitate to do so. It was this keenness that led him to shift me from a Government School in Nawakadal to DAV Higher Secondary School, Amira Kadal, which was 3-4 km from my home, and I used to ride my bicycle to school. The shift paid rich dividends, as the teachers there were good educators and took a keen interest in students' personality development. I obtained my M.Sc. (Bot.) and B.Ed. degrees, and so did my elder sister, who, however, pursued postgraduate studies in Zoology. Other sisters also got an adequate education.  

    After his retirement, my father worked as an LIC agent and was very successful at selling insurance. We continued to receive the hereditary agency commission long after his death. 

    He got me inducted into the same Emporium where he, too, was serving, and that, too, as Assistant Manager, at a monthly basic salary of Rs 140/-. I made many attempts to change my profession, but he was not happy with my decision to join the teaching department in Delhi, where I was selected as a PGT in 1973. He did not help me get the MD's approval so that I could hand over my charge. The reason was that he despised the teaching profession and wanted me to become a Business Executive.  

    Left with no choice, I appeared in the IAS and Allied Services Examination in 1975 and was allotted to the Indian Postal Service. I still remember the glee on his face when I went to his LIC office at Lal Chowk to announce that I had qualified in my written examination of the IAS and Allied Services. Perhaps to be doubly sure, he took me to the Press Information Bureau office and personally checked my roll no (2050). Thereafter, only the interview remained, which I cleared in due course. I qualified only for Allied Services, not for IAS/IFS, but secured the 5th position in the merit list. Since I had chosen the Indian Postal Service as my first option, I was allotted to it. Fortunately, I was also able to don the military uniform by going on deputation to the Army Postal Service for nine long years and return to my department as Lt Col.

    I always miss his cool, calm demeanour and patience, as I don't possess either. At times, I wonder how much he must have suffered, having lived alone without a partner for almost a quarter of a century.  (Pic: My father with my elder son >)

    I must confess that I could not be a worthy son to my father and could not look after him when he needed me the most. There were reasons for that, but the biggest reason was my whimsicality, stubbornness and hot-headedness. I have paid the price for that. But cannot atone for it at this stage when he is not with me.  

    My father breathed his last on 07 May 1986. At this stage, all that I can do is pray for his soul to rest in peace. Om Shanti Om.

*****

Mother-Some Recollections;मां-कुछ यादें;ماں -کچھ یادیں : Deepak Budki

Mother-Some Recollections;मां-कुछ यादें;

ماں -کچھ یادیں 

 Deepak Budki

I lost my mother (Somawati Budki alias Kamala Nehru) in March 1962 when I was just 12 years old and had to appear for my 8th standard board examination after ten days. Later my aunt, father's sister (Mandodhari Budki alias Pranashwari Chaudhri), who had been widowed in childhood, looked after us and we never felt mother-less. May both of them rest in peace.

My mother, with all her four children, was sleeping on the first floor of our ancestral house in Wazapora, Sri Ranbir Gunj, Srinagar, Kashmir. Papa had to go to the airport to bid farewell to his brother-in-law who was nominated as MP, Lok Sabha, so he had left very early in the morning. Then came the lady hawker's voice asking my mother to come down and take the Saag (Collard greens). My mother replied, "Go to others and return, by the time I will get ready". My mother got up and went to the toilet which was outside the house. On her return, she asked the servant to give her water for drinking. She drank water in the corridor (wuz) and fell down instantly saying adieu to the world. 

She was just about 40 at the time. My father, aged 46, never married again and looked after four children to the best of his ability.

May both of them rest in peace. Om Shanti.