Interview; انٹرویو ;Urdu Short Story; اردو افسانہ

 Interview; انٹرویو 

Urdu Short Story; اردو افسانہ 

My interview with GNK Urdu Channel; जी एन के उर्दू चैनल के साथ एक साक्षात्कार ; جی این کے اردو چینل کے ساتھ ایک انٹرویو ; Interviewed by Khan Rizwan & Ghulam Nabi Kumar

 My interview with GNK Urdu Channel

जी एन के उर्दू चैनल के साथ एक साक्षात्कार 

جی این کے اردو چینل کے ساتھ ایک انٹرویو 

Interviewed by Khan Rizwan & Ghulam Nabi Kumar 

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

Interview: Deepak Budki, Urdu writerانٹرویو : دیپک بدکی ،اردو رائیٹر for News18 نیوز18 اردو کے لئےon 12 June 2016بتاریخ ١٢ جوں ٢٠١٦