The Countdown Begins...
“Which batch are you from?” CG asked me. “1998 Sir”. “Who else is from your batch?” “Sir, there’s Manish Tripathi, Rajalakshmi, Pushkal…” “Oh! You are from Rajalakshmi and Manish’s batch? Young man you are being promoted! I could’ve issued orders before I came here. Now they would be issued either on Monday or Tuesday.”
The CGDA, Mr. Jnan Prakash was on a 4-day visit to Bhutan and this conversation took place in Punakha. I was of course surprised by the news. My previous batch was promoted only last month and now, promotion of my batch was taking place – that was pretty fast by the slumbering ways of the department. However, I wondered about the ramifications of the news. It seemed to be there on my face too.
“Why? Aren’t you happy with your promotion?” CG asked. “No Sir nothing like that. I just was not expecting it. May be I’ll take time to digest this”. I could easily register the news and digest it. What was beyond me then was my future posting. What would happen to my Bhutan tenure? Would I continue until two years would be up or would I get posted out? I learnt this soon enough. “You can’t stay here as JCDA. Soon expect your marching orders from Bhutan” CG broke my reverie. I was tempted to ask him, “Sir where would I get posted to?” but didn’t.
The process to select my replacement in Bhutan has already started (since this is a foreign posting – though with limited financial benefits). Two juniors have already called up if they should say yes for this selection. One seems highly reluctant because of limited financial gains (“only Rs.20K extra per month? So UN posting would be better you think?” he drawled over phone).
The news of being posted out soon from here has brought about a lot of mixed emotions in me. The loss of extra money that I earn is the last on the list (though it would surely make a difference to my fledgling finances). I am worried at the prospect of being posted to Delhi. Also the very thought of working under someone through the day, week and year is frightening (especially after having had independent charge ever since I began my career). As I accept the inevitability of the premature move I analyse the impact. The pluses and the minuses of the untimely promotion.
The pluses include:
- I will have ‘some work’ to do. Unlike here. I hope that the work would be meaningful too (I am sorely aware that I’ve already seen the *best* postings already – not Bhutan, but the previous ones as the financial advisor in Vizag and Mumbai).
- I’ll be back among friends and intellectually stimulating conversations (!!). But for the limited access to net, these were absent in Bhutan. The officers of GREF and Army surely didn’t make great companions but for playing cards or drinking. And, there is a limit to enjoying solitude!
- Transfer to Bangalore (a hopeless case right now) will mean that house-building activity can be monitored without any trouble to parents.
- It is possible that I might get active (mentally) again.
- Of course access to fresh newspapers, broadband internet and social networks have their own advantages too (however small they might be)!
Now, to the minuses:
- My fitness levels would surely drop (no more dreams of maintaining 6-pack abs or 8km walks everyday)
- No more invigorating treks and monastery-visits
- The dream of travelling across Bhutan and particularly to Bumthang to visit the mysterious Naked Tsechu will stay unfulfilled
- Of course a total monetary loss of around Rs.150K for the left-over months of my tenure in Bhutan (this surely would’ve been handy in house-building or to pay off Sirish’s loans)
I know there’s only a remote chance that I’d ever travel to Bhutan again. Even after knowing I’d be out of this place in a month or two from now I can’t travel anywhere in the country as I’m expecting dad and mom here end of this month. It’s possible that Kumi (my sis) and other friends too would be visiting me before I leave. So, it’d be the same package of travel each time these people trundle in and out – Paro, Punakha, Thimphu and back!
I had wished to travel to Gasa (one can travel by road only half way; the other half is covered by either walking or on mule-top) and take a dip in its hot springs. I had longed to see the blue sheep and blue poppy in Lintshi during my treks. I had dreamt of the reindeers of Bumthang and the black-necked Siberian cranes in Phubjika. My endeavour to write about the penis motifs of the Bhutanese art and architecture too is incomplete. I also had an idea of travelling across Bhutan, take pictures of the nation in its various avatars and make a coffee-table book for myself (I didn’t think I’d be able to convince a publisher to bring it out; so just a copy for myself). Worst of all, I might not get to meet His Majesty again (I wanted an autograph from him)!
I guess it’s natural to lament on all those things that you’ve missed out on or you’d miss out on when you leave a pace. I’m going through the same phase. But I know it’d be over sooner than I imagine!
And, for all those friends who were so eager to travel to Bhutan and explore its beauty but didn’t/couldn’t, ‘Bad Luck dudes’! And, I wish myself a ton of good luck! Tashi Delek!
The CGDA, Mr. Jnan Prakash was on a 4-day visit to Bhutan and this conversation took place in Punakha. I was of course surprised by the news. My previous batch was promoted only last month and now, promotion of my batch was taking place – that was pretty fast by the slumbering ways of the department. However, I wondered about the ramifications of the news. It seemed to be there on my face too.
“Why? Aren’t you happy with your promotion?” CG asked. “No Sir nothing like that. I just was not expecting it. May be I’ll take time to digest this”. I could easily register the news and digest it. What was beyond me then was my future posting. What would happen to my Bhutan tenure? Would I continue until two years would be up or would I get posted out? I learnt this soon enough. “You can’t stay here as JCDA. Soon expect your marching orders from Bhutan” CG broke my reverie. I was tempted to ask him, “Sir where would I get posted to?” but didn’t.
The process to select my replacement in Bhutan has already started (since this is a foreign posting – though with limited financial benefits). Two juniors have already called up if they should say yes for this selection. One seems highly reluctant because of limited financial gains (“only Rs.20K extra per month? So UN posting would be better you think?” he drawled over phone).
The news of being posted out soon from here has brought about a lot of mixed emotions in me. The loss of extra money that I earn is the last on the list (though it would surely make a difference to my fledgling finances). I am worried at the prospect of being posted to Delhi. Also the very thought of working under someone through the day, week and year is frightening (especially after having had independent charge ever since I began my career). As I accept the inevitability of the premature move I analyse the impact. The pluses and the minuses of the untimely promotion.
The pluses include:
- I will have ‘some work’ to do. Unlike here. I hope that the work would be meaningful too (I am sorely aware that I’ve already seen the *best* postings already – not Bhutan, but the previous ones as the financial advisor in Vizag and Mumbai).
- I’ll be back among friends and intellectually stimulating conversations (!!). But for the limited access to net, these were absent in Bhutan. The officers of GREF and Army surely didn’t make great companions but for playing cards or drinking. And, there is a limit to enjoying solitude!
- Transfer to Bangalore (a hopeless case right now) will mean that house-building activity can be monitored without any trouble to parents.
- It is possible that I might get active (mentally) again.
- Of course access to fresh newspapers, broadband internet and social networks have their own advantages too (however small they might be)!
Now, to the minuses:
- My fitness levels would surely drop (no more dreams of maintaining 6-pack abs or 8km walks everyday)
- No more invigorating treks and monastery-visits
- The dream of travelling across Bhutan and particularly to Bumthang to visit the mysterious Naked Tsechu will stay unfulfilled
- Of course a total monetary loss of around Rs.150K for the left-over months of my tenure in Bhutan (this surely would’ve been handy in house-building or to pay off Sirish’s loans)
I know there’s only a remote chance that I’d ever travel to Bhutan again. Even after knowing I’d be out of this place in a month or two from now I can’t travel anywhere in the country as I’m expecting dad and mom here end of this month. It’s possible that Kumi (my sis) and other friends too would be visiting me before I leave. So, it’d be the same package of travel each time these people trundle in and out – Paro, Punakha, Thimphu and back!
I had wished to travel to Gasa (one can travel by road only half way; the other half is covered by either walking or on mule-top) and take a dip in its hot springs. I had longed to see the blue sheep and blue poppy in Lintshi during my treks. I had dreamt of the reindeers of Bumthang and the black-necked Siberian cranes in Phubjika. My endeavour to write about the penis motifs of the Bhutanese art and architecture too is incomplete. I also had an idea of travelling across Bhutan, take pictures of the nation in its various avatars and make a coffee-table book for myself (I didn’t think I’d be able to convince a publisher to bring it out; so just a copy for myself). Worst of all, I might not get to meet His Majesty again (I wanted an autograph from him)!
I guess it’s natural to lament on all those things that you’ve missed out on or you’d miss out on when you leave a pace. I’m going through the same phase. But I know it’d be over sooner than I imagine!
And, for all those friends who were so eager to travel to Bhutan and explore its beauty but didn’t/couldn’t, ‘Bad Luck dudes’! And, I wish myself a ton of good luck! Tashi Delek!
Labels: Posting Blues, Promotion
posted by Quintessential Critic (Sudhir Narayana) @ 11:40 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
that was a real good one! But don't sign off to quickly... two months is a long time to explore more, and post even more. They say that the closer you get to your funeral, the more you want to live!
About the coffee table book, you can be assured of atleast one more copy!
Interesting, the thing about penis motifs in Buddhist art too!
Well, I had NOT posted a thing in the past two months - call it ennui, blogger's block or whatever!
If I'd not planned for my parents' trip to Bhutan, I myself would've been travelling. I of course will ensure that I get my weekly dose of treks though (shorter, easier ones for now).
Penis plays a very important religioius role as Bhutan follows Tantric Buddhism (if you already didn't know that is).
I'll seriously think of making two copies of the coffee-table book now. Thanks :-)
Nice blog sir :) Will back often!
Thank you bikerdude! Will keep visiting your blog too!!
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