Every time I look at my dad, I get an inspiration to make it big in life. Not for me but for my father. He never burdened us ( me and my brother ) with huge expectations but wanted us to excel in our chosen fields.
Today I would like to share the journey of my father as a bright student to a teacher to a PCS officer. An officer with ethics, values, honesty and principals. Honest to the core who never accepted anything from anyone other than honesty.
My father could not study engineering even after scoring high because the financial conditions were not favorable. My grandfather was a lawyer who never helped criminals by fighting a case for them. At times he used to earn very well, at times even meeting ends was difficult.
My father did his BA and B.Ed, started as a lecturer in Gandhi College, Urai in U.P.
After a couple of years later, he appeared for the Public Service Commission exams. ( he was given very low marks in IAS interview to accommodate some relatives of a politician ) and cleared it. He underwent a training in Kanpur for the post of Sales Tax Officer. His first training was in Kanpur itself. The first surprise came to him within 4 months of service as a businessman came to him with car keys. This was in 1966. He offered my dad a brand new car in return of a huge tax evasion case. He refused. The tough journey of truth began.
As his colleagues were getting richer, my dad had to fight for each of his decision as sr. officers too were on the take.
He went on with his struggle for truth.
This was in 1988 when he was posted in Lucknow, he was in charge of a huge business zone where honest officers were either transfer or given bad entries by superiors.
In one of the tax evasion case he received threats from some goons. One day while returning from office, he waited on a traffic signal on his scooter. A goon with a lathi appeared and hit him. He fell from scooter and somehow with the help of traffic police, managed to escape with minor injuries.
Later he was given a jeep with armed security. The person who attacked was arrested and his house was auctioned as there are some good people too on earth. The then DIG happened to be a relative of one of his colleague who helped my dad with security etc.
In Agra, I witnessed his power and post one day as one of the famous and biggest transporter came home to bribe my dad. He said “Sir, I am ready to doanythingto save my image”
Needless to say his requests were not entertained.
In Varanasi there was a terror of Cole mafia and my dad was given the same sector.
He went on with his way of working and the results came rather quicker.
One morning 3 armed goons entered the house and started talking to my dad. They threatened him of dire consequences if he did not close the case against one Cole dealer.
My father replied calmly “ Mere bacche bhuke nahi rahenge, unki padhi kaa bhi intezaam maine kar diya hai, Tum mujhe maarna chahte ho toh maar do, tumhaara kaam nahi hoga”
(My family will not starve, I have seen to it that my kids education will not suffer. Kill me if you want but I will not do your work.)
Surprisingly they left cursing my father “ Jaane kaisaa aadmi hai?”
We all were so scared but my father was calm.
Thrice he was given adverse entry in spite of perfect work and one charge sheet for something he did not do. I saw him getting up at 3 am in the morning to prepare his case for more than 3 weeks.
He came out clean. Such is the power of truth.
He had to fight for all his promotions and yet he reached to the 3rd highest rank in department.
He retired as an Additional Commissioner, Sales Tax.
It’s been 13 years after he retired, people still remember him and give his examples to others.
Every time I look at my dad, I get an inspiration to make it big in life. Not for me but for my father.
