Collection of Short Stories, Mini Stories, Novels & Autobiography written by Deepak Budki.

 

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

Mera Nataki Safar; میرا ناٹکی سفر (تبصرہ ); Author: Dr Charan Das Sidhu; Rerviewed by Deepak Budki

Mera Nataki Safar: میرا ناٹکی سفر 

 Book Review:تبصرہ 

Author: Dr Charan Das Sidhu

 Rerviewed by Deepak Budki

Deepak Budki's Profile: (English); Urdu Short Story Writer & Critic

Deepak Budki's Profile: (English) 

Urdu Short Story Writer & Critic 

Deepak Budki is a retired Indian Postal Service Officer (Retired in 2010 as Member Planning, Postal Services Board, New Delhi). He served in Army Postal Service Corps for 9 years on deputation attaining the rank of Lt Col. With basic education as M Sc (Botany) and B Ed, he graduated from National Defence College, New Delhi, India (ndc) as also became an Associate of Insurance Institute of India, Mumbai during his service career. His interests are Literature, Art and Painting, Cartooning, and Gardening besides Cricket. 

Being a renowned Urdu short-story writer, Budki's short stories numbering more than 150 besides 60 critical essays and 250 book reviews have been published in reputed magazines and newspapers all over the Urdu world. Many of the short stories stand translated into other languages like Hindi, English, Marathi, Telugu, Gojri and Kashmiri. He started writing short stories in 1970 when his first short story 'Salma' was published in Daily Hamdard, Srinagar, Kashmir. One of his short stories 'Reyzey' was televised by Door Darshan Srinagar in 1974. After joining Indian Postal service he gave up writing for almost 20 long years but 1996 saw the rebirth of the writer. Ever since his pen has been very active.

Deepak Budki has to his credit 8 collections of  Short Stories in Urdu viz  Adhoore Chehre, Chinar Ke Panje, Zebra Crossing par Khara Aadmi,  Reza Reza  Hayat, Ruh Ka Karab, Muthi Bhar Rait (Afsanche), Ab Main Wahan Nahi Rehta, Jadon Ki Talaash and Yeh Kaisa Rishta(Afsanche) ادھورے چہرے ، چنار کی پنجے ، زیبرا کراسنگ پر کھڑا آدمی ، ریزہ ریزہ حیات، روح کا کرب، مٹھی بھر ریت ، اب میں وہاں نہیں رہتا ، جڑوں کی تلاش،اور  یہ کیسا رشتہ  besides 8 Collections of Critical Essays and Book Reviews viz  Asri Tehreerein, Asri Shaoor, Asri Taqaze, Asri Tanazur, Asri Naqoosh, Adbi Mubahise, Jammu wa Kashmir Ka Asri Adab and Asri Zaviye  عصری تحریریں ، عصری شعور ، عصری تقاضے ، عصری تناظر ، عصری نقوش ، ادبی مباحثے ، جموں و کشمیر کا عصری ادب اور عصری زاوئیے. In addition, he has written two well-researched books Urdu Ke Ghair Muslim Afsana Nigar and Krishan Chander-Meri Nazar Mein ( اردو کے غیر مسلم افسانہ نگار اور کڑشن چندر -میری نظر میں ) and an Autobiography titled Lauhe Hayat (لوح حیات ). Two of his books, Adhoore Chehre and Chinar Ke Panje (अधूरे चेहरे, चिनार के पंजे ) have also been published in Hindi. As many as four Urdu magazines, Shair Monthly Mumbai, Intesaab Quarterly Sironj, Asbaque quarterly Pune and Almi Meeras, Pune brought out special supplements (Goshas) on the author while Intesaab Sironj issued a special number. The author's short stories received rave reviews from leading luminaries such as Qateel Shifai, Warris Alvi, Balraj Komal, Qamar Rais, Anwar Sadeed, Harcharan Chawla,Sultana Mehar etc. The deftness and the artistry with which Budki weaves his short stories has been much appreciated. His stories paint the agony of humanity and make the reader sit back and ponder over where humanity has gone wrong. In a rare compliment, Prof Qamar Rais writes;

The short stories create a unique and individualistic impression which is not seen in other contemporary writers. Whether it is Amma', 'Mange ka Ujala' or 'Chinar Ke Panje', every story has something to think and ponder about."

In 2006 Deepak Budki sprang up a surprise by coming out with a book on Critical Essays and Book Reviews titled 'Asri Tehreerein'. The book makes a critical study of works of Manak Tala, Gulzar, Dr. Brij Premi and Veerinder Patwari besides more than fifty reviews on books of contemporary writers. About his critical essays famous prose writer, Kaiser Tamkeen of Britain describes "Budki's work on Manak Tala to be as good as a dissertation which could have earned him a PhD degree". The book was followed by seven more books of Critical Essays and Book Reviews.

Recently the author came out with two well-researched books Urdu Ke Ghair Muslim Afsana Nigar which briefly encompasses the contribution of Non-Muslim short-story writers in Urdu and Krishan Chander-Meri Nazar mein. Besides this the author has also published his autobiography, Lauhe Hayat.

Four students  successfully submitted dissertations on Budki's works for their M Phil  degree while one student successfully submitted her thesis for her PhD degree as under:

1. Deepak Budki ki Afsana Nigari by Javed Iqbal Shah submitted for M Phil degree to Jammu University 
2. Deepak Budki ke Afsanon mein Niswani Kirdar by Mohammed Amin Najar submitted for M Phil degree to School of Humanities, University of Hyderabad, Telangana. 
3. Deepak Budki Ki Afsana Nigari-Ruh Ka Karb aur Reza Reza Hayat Ke Hawale Se by Reyaz Ahmed Najar submitted for M Phil degree to School of Humanities, University of Hyderabad, Telangana.
4. Deepak Budki ki Afsana Nigari Ka Fikri wa Funi Jayza by Amaria Rauf submitted for M Phil degree to Faculty of Islamic Studies and Oriental Learning, Government College Women University, Faislabad, Pakistan.
5. Deepak Budki ke Takhleequi Afkar ka Tanqueedi mutala'a by Dr. Shaikh Sufia Bano Akhtar Hussain submitted for PhD Degree to M S University, Vadodra, Gujarat.  

Deepak Budki was awarded the 'Bhartiya Gaurav Award' by the International Friendship Society in 2009 which was handed over to him by Shri B N Singh, erstwhile Governor of Assam and Tamil Nadu. In 2019 he was awarded Dr Manzar Kazmi Award by Choudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut. 

He was also honored by Andhra Urdu Academy, Hyderabad, Sadhbavna Manch, Sironj, Bhopal and J&K Urdu Academy, Srinagar.