VICTORIA TERMINUS (CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI TERMINUS)

            
 Among the best and also one of the VERY early ones to be built is the Victoria Terminus in Bombay, at Boribunder.  It derives its name from Queen Victoria because the station building was formally opened on Jubilee Day in 1887.  Before 1852 when its first pier was constructed, Boribunder in Bombay was just a landing place for country boats.  The first station at Boribunder was a ‘miserable wooden structure’; most of the upper class passengers boarded trains from Byculla which had a pretentious platform and an attractively built shed.  Originally VT was intended to accommodate only the offices and the main station.  Since 1887, additional buildings at adjoining sites have been erected.  The annexed building was used as a hospital during 1914-18 World War and is now used for offices.  The new station building was opened in 1929 to deal with the main line traffic.  The additions were so designed as to harmonial with the architectural magnificence of the 1887 building and to create an impressive composite effect.  The old and the new stations together comprise one of the largest and busiest terminals anywhere in the World.

            The site on which VT is located is of great historical importance being associated with the very origin of Bombay as a city.  Recent researches into old records show that Bombay derived its name originally from the Goddess Mumba Devi, or Maha Amba.  The earliest temple dedicated to her is believed to have stood at the very place where VT was erected in 1887.  The original shrine was demolished by Mubarak Shah better known as Qutab-ud-Din and was re-erected on 1317.  It was again demolished in 1760 by the Portuguese.  The tank adjoining the shrine continued to be preserved till 1805.   A public gibbet or gallows was constructed by the Portuguese at the site of the tank, from whence the site and the tank derive the name Gibbet Pond.

            Designed by the famous architect, F.W. Stevens in 1887 VT is gothic-Saracenic in style with a series of well proportioned and delicately ornamented arches, giving it the look of a grand cathedral.  This effect is further heightened by a central dome set off by a number of smaller domes and conical towers reminiscent of Westminster Abbey. The lancet windows in the dome and towers are of ornate stained glass and like the rest of the building are made out of solid cut stone masonry, superimposed by delicate artistic work, designed in plaster.  The apex of the dome is crowned by a colossal figure in stone symbolizing ‘progress’.  This figure is 16 feet 6 inches in height.  On the principal gables are displayed sculptural panels representing ‘Engineering Agriculture, Commerce, Science and trade.  The arches and windows are Venetian by style and overlook a 1500 feet façade. The double columns which support the arches of the verandahs and the colonnades are of marble.  Italian granite has been freely used for interior decoration.  The old station was eight platforms while the new Main Line stations which is separated from the old station by a wide road consists of 18 passenger platforms and one platform for parcel traffic.  Both stations have waiting halls, Station  Master Office, booking offices and book stalls.  In addition, the new station building contains a reservation and enquiry office, retiring rooms, restaurants and cloak and check rooms.  Part of the buildings are also occupied by the administrative offices of Central Railway.

Employees:

            ‘The problems affecting railway labour in India’, wrote the Royal Commission on Labour in 1931 ‘are as varied as they are numerous’.  There are several factors peculiar to each Railway which have an important bearing on the conditions of labour pertaining to that particular line.  Among these are the lengths of the railway the territories through which it passes, the climate, ethnological and other features peculiar to these territories, and industrial progress made by the people living therein the scope such progress affords for the satisfactory recruitment of railway labour and the other avenues of employment open to labour.

            It cannot be said of the Railway companies that the wages offered by them will substantially higher than those available to workers in other trade and industries or that the condition of work very much better.  During the first 50 years according to Labour Commission, it was more or less a case of bargaining for the most favourable terms on both sides.  The only notable amenity during this period was the institution in 1880 of a P.F.

            It was not till World War -I that the railways began to give serious thought to the general welfare of low paid employees.  During the war  there was a substantial increase in wages and allowances became necessary and even cheap grain shops were opened to mitigate the effects of rising prices and the mounting index of living.  After World War-I the labour situation became acute.   Prices continued to rise.  There was general demand not only for making permanent the increases which had been sanctioned under duress of emergency, but also for further substantial enhancement of wages and salaries.  The impact of war had also made labour conscious of its rights.  For the first time railway workers started Unions and began to assert themselves collectively for a better deal.

            Before World War – I strikes were rare and unusual and were mostly confined to particular localities or to a small number of workers.  During the years immediately following World War - I, labour Unions began to grow and multiply and became powerful instruments for collective bargaining.  In 1924, the All India Railway man’s Federation had on its affiliated list more than a dozen railway Unions comprising a membership of over 2,00,000.  During this period strikes became common, indicating a general state of distress and dissatisfaction on the part of the railway workers.

            Progressive improvements in the conditions of labour and the amenities granted to them were made.  Hours of work were fixed by statute and payment, O.T. was made compulsory.  The right of workers to form Trade Unions and to resort to collective bargaining was recognized.  Membership of P.F. was extended to more categories of workers.  The benefits of sick leave were made available to inferior staff.  Conditions in workshops underwent considerable improvement.  A large number of Co-operative Societies were started to encourage thrift among labourers.  More funds were made available for improving housing conditions and the general standard of life in workers’ colonies.

            Since 1947, conditions of railway workers have further improved.  The Govt. of India then appointed an Adjudicator, Justice Rajadhyaksha and the Central Pay Commission presided over by Justice Varadachari, the former to consider the hours of work, periodic rest, etc., of railway workers and the latter to go into the whole question of emoluments of Government employees.

            Prior to appointment of the Pay Commission, there were hundreds of scales of pay for employees on Indian Railways.  The scales of pay for identical or similar jobs also varied widely in various parts of the country.  The commission standardized the scales, and reduced the number to less than 30, rating each according to qualifications, degree of skill required and nature and value of work.  It recommended a compensatory and house rent allowance at specified stations.  As a result of increases in wages and salaries recommended by the Pay Commission and later the Joint Advisory Committee for Railways the Railway pay bill for employees registered a steep rise 1946 - 51 without much increase in number of employees.  Hours of work for staff classed as continuous workers were reduced from 60 to 54 and for intermittent workers from 84 to 75 per week and OT allowance increased FROM 1 ¼ times to 1 ½ times the normal rate of pay.  An important change in respect of superior staff during this period, however, has been overall Indianisation of the upper cadres of service.

SUPERIOR STAFF:  The manner in which the superior staff was divided in terms of European and Indian personnel in earlier years is appropriately summed up in the following words of the Acworth Committee (1920-21).

            “At the date of the last report they were employed on the railways of India about 7, 10,000 persons.  Of these, roughly 7, 00,000 were Indians and only 7000 Europeans a proportion of just one percent.  But the 7000 were like a thin film of oil on the top of a glass of water, resting upon but hardly mixing with the 7, 00,000 below.  None of the highest posts are occupied by Indians, very few even of the higher.  The position of a Distt. Engineer, Distt. Traffic Supdtt or of an Asstt. Auditor is, with one or two exceptions, the highest which Indians have hitherto attained.  The detailed figure show that on the principal railway of the country out of 1749 posts classed as superior, 182 or rather more than ten percent are filled by Indians.  Of the 182 Indians, 158 occupy posts and Asstt Distt Officer in the various Departments.  24 have reached the higher grade of Distt. Officer.  That they have not been advanced to higher posts, that even in the subordinate posts of the official staff there are not more of them, has been a standing subject of complaint before us”.

             As a result of the recommendations of the Acworth Committee and in response to strong public opinion expressed in the legislature, greater training facilities were progressively made available to Indians and an increasingly greater number of Indians were admitted to higher posts.  An Indian was taken as Member of the Railway Board and more were admitted in later years.  A few Indians rose to positions of Dy. Commercial Managers, Commercial Managers, Dy. Agents and Agents.  A few others rose to higher posts in the technical and engineering departments.  Even then, up to the time of India’s independence most of the higher posts remained a European preserve.  The Europeans, besides enjoyed salaries, gratuities allowances, bonuses, leave facilities, home leave allowances and several other amenities which according to British opinion were just adequate to attract suitable candidates from Britain but according to Indian politicians represented a heavy drain on the resources of Indian Railways.

RACIAL PREFRENCES:  In the lower services also certain amount of preference was shown for Europeans and Anglo-Indians.  They were paid better salaries and were allowed better amenities and privileges than Indians for the same work.  Europeans and Anglo Indians lived in segregated colonies in railway towns.  They were provided with superior type of quarters.  Special arrangements were made for the education of their children.  Separate institution and clubs were reserved for their entertainment and relaxation and even separate provision was made for medical service.  All these distinctions disappared after 1946.  Merit alone determined a person’s fitness for a particular job.  As and when Europeans retired, suitable Indians were found to fill their places.  While this has involved no change in basic salaries in the upper cadres, considerable economies have resulted from the discontinuance of special allowance and discriminatory facilities which had to be provided to European employees.

NEW ZONES:   The first of the zones was formed on 14^th August, 1951 by the re-grouping of the railway system in South India and the inauguration at Madras of the Southern Railway.  Proceeding clockwise on the map of India, the re-grouping of the next two zones resulting in formation of the Central & Western Railways was completed on 5^th November, 1951.  Central Railway was formed by the amalgamation of the G.I.P, the Nizam’s State, the Scindia and the Dholpur Railway.  Western Railway was Constituted by merging into the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway (BB &CI), the Saurashtra, the Rajasthan and Jaipur Railways.

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FREEMASONS

              

            
 Freemasonry in India was established as far back as 1728, when the Grand Lodge of England authorized George Pomfret  Esq. “to open  a new Lodge in Bengal” Since then, Freemasonry has flourished.  In 1836, Bro. Dr. James Burnes was appointed the first Provincial Grand master of Western India and its dependencies by the Grand Lodge of Scotland.  The first two Lodges warranted by Chevalier Burnes were Lodge Rising Star of Western India No.413 (now 342) Bombay Lodge St. Andrw’s in the East No.414 (now 343) Poona, both of which were warranted on 6^th Nov 1844.

          The late Bro. Noshir M. Irani during his term as District Grand Master of Western India (Scottish Constitution) (1979-1985) started a Masonic bulletin which was very well received.  With his sudden demise the bulletin came to an abrupt end.  During his term as Distt. Grand Master of Western India (1988-1991) the late Bro. S.P. Dadachanji also initiated a Masonic Education program encouraging lectures on Masonic matters.  His demise was a serious set back to the program.

          With the first issue of ‘The Indian Mason’, the District was once again embarking on a program of spreading Masonic knowledge under the editorship of Bro. Larry Grant.  This revival will attempt to fill a long felt need of every Mason from an Entered Apprentice to a past ‘Z’.

          The First Indian Freemason was Rt. Wor. Bro. Manockjee Cursetjee, he was born 14^th March, 1808 and  died on 6^th Dec 1887 P.M. 342 Scottish Constitution (1857-1859)

          A Great deal can be said about the ‘Trust in God and Be Not Daunted” spirit of a worth and worshipful Indian brother who, more than 125 years ago, displayed courage, zeal to have the portals of the sacred, citadel of Freemasonry thrown open to Indians.  In his name and to perpetuate his memory Lodge “Manakjee Coursetjee” under the Grand Lodge of India is consecrated this day, 3^rd June, 1968 in Bombay after a lapse of 125 years.

          In 1841, Rt. Worshipful Bro. Dr. James Burners, K.H. the then Provincial Grand Master of Western India (Scottish Constitution) and Bro. P.W. Le Geyt, the then Dep. Prov. Grand Master of West India (Scottish Constitution) agreed to the suggestion of Manockjee Cusetjee Esq. that he should join Freemasonry.  Manockjee Cursetjee made an application to Lodge ‘Perseverance’ No.546 then under the English Constitution, but his application was objected to solely because he happened to be an Indian.  He left for England when the Duke of Sussex, an uncle of Queen Victoria was Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England.   

          The Duke was favorably inclined for the admission of Indian Gentleman into Freemasonry and Manockjee Cursetjee was to be initiated under the auspices of the Duke.  Unfortunately the GM was on the continent when Manockjee was in England.  Subsequently, the ardent candidate went to Paris where he was initiated in Lodge “A La Gloire de l” Univers’ by his esteemed friend - Duc Decazesthe, Most venerable of the French Sottish Rite (1830 – 1860).

          On his return to Bombay Bro. Manockjee’s name was once more proposed this time as a Joining member of Lodge Perseverance No.338 now under   (SC) application was rejected on 3^rd May, 1843.  On 19^th Nov 1843 about 27 brethren, some of whom belonged to Lodge Perseverance petitioned the sympathetic broadminded and level headed provincial Grand Master of Western India.

          Rt. Wor. Dr. James Burnes, K.H that the signatories might be constituted by dispensation into a lodge and he as Provincial Grand Master should give it a name and himself be installed as its First Master.

          Consequently, Lodge “Rising Star of Western India” No.342 SC was duly constituted in the Town Hall in Bombay on 15^th Dec 1843 and Indians were allowed to be benefitted by Masonic Light.  On 1^st anniversary of the Lodge its native members held a private meeting and resolved to strike a medal in honor of the R.W. Provincial Grand Master Bro. Dr. James Burkes, K.H. to be presented to him at the 1^st anniversary meeting on 16^th Dec 1844.  Bro. Manckjee Cursetjee became the 1^st Secretary of Lodge ‘Rising Star of Western India’ No.342 SC and was its Master in the years 1857 to 1859 Wor. Bro. Fraser Bupuji Musa PDSGW (EC) set the ball rolling to establish a lodge bearing the revered name of Manockjee Cursetjee in memory of the Brother who may rightly be called “FATHER OF INDIAN FREEMASONRY IN WESTERN INDIA”

          In his civil life Manockjee was the 1^st Indian to be appointed in 1838 as Asstt. Collector of Customs.  In 1845 he was appointed Hon. Commissioner in the Court of Requests and in 1846 he became the Commissioner of that Court.  He was practicing pleader.  In 1850 he passed the examination of ‘Munsif’.  In 1860 on the abolition of the ‘Court of Requests’, the Gov. Presented to him a sum of Rs.6000/-.  In 1853 he became temporary judge in the court of Small Causes.  In 1873 he retired on pension.  In 1856 and 1863 he was the Sheriff of Bombay – the 1^st Indian to be appointed to that office.  In 1863 he established the Alexandra Girl’s English Institution in Bombay.  This institution is still flourishing in the city.  In 1835 he was admitted as the first Indian member of Royal Asiatic Society of England and in 1840 he was admitted as a member of that society in Bombay.  In 1845 his father Cursetjee Manockjee left a legacy of Rs.30, 000 to his youngest son Manockjee Cursetjee.  He presented a bronze statue of his father to Bombay Municpality in 1867.  This statue of ‘Khada Parsee” stands at the foot of the Byculla Bridge.

          Brethren from Bombay, Poona, Nasik, Devlali, Amritsar, Katni, Jabalpur, Indore, Mhow, Jamshedpur, Secundrabad, Calcutta, Madras, Belgaum, Vidyanagar, Kanpur, Navsari, Aden, Bahrain and East Africa submitted a petition to Most worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of India, Most Worshipful Brother Bhogilal Chimanlal Shah, J.P., that the signatories might be constituted into a Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.  On 28^th March 1968 AD warrant was issued and The Lodge ‘Manockjee Cursetjee’ is registered in the Books of The Grand Lodge of India under No.185.

ABIFF: Generally interpreted as a title of respect for veneration, from the Hebrew   “Abi” meaning “my father”.

SPRIG OF ACACIA:  In the scriptures the Acacia is known as Shitta or in the plural Shittium.  It was the wood employed in making the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, the Table of Shrewbread and the rest of the furniture of the Holy Place The wood is heavier than water and great value attaches to it from the reason that it is not attacked by the white ant or any other insect.  In Freemasonry the Acacia may be said to be emblematic of the immortality of the soul, from the fact of its being evergreen.

MASONIC ADOPTION:  It was an ancient custom among many French Lodges when a Mason’s wife was about to give birth to a child the hospitaller, if a physician or if not, a Brother of that profession visited the house and offered his services if required.  Later if the child was a boy the Lodge was convened to proceed with the ceremony of Adoption, the wardens being appointed as godfathers.  The ceremony enjoined the members of the Lodge to watch over the welfare of the child.

ALL SEEING EYE: The all Seeing Eye symbolizes God as the Guardian and Protector of his children.

ANNO LUCIS: Like the Jewish calendar, Freemasonry measure its years from the creation William Preston was written “from the commencement of the world we may trace the foundation of masonry. According to common man the Christian era began roughly 4000 years after the creation, therefore, the Masonic years is obtained by adding 4000 to the year of the Christian era and freemasons, instead of using ‘Anno Domini’ use Anno Lucis or “in the year of light”.

APPLAUSE IN LODGE: Masonic applause is to be deprecated.  If indulged in at all it should take the form of a single clap given in unison at the command of the Director of Ceremonies.

ORIGIN OF APRON: Apron of the speculative Mason is descended from that of his Operative predecessor.  The apron of ancient operative Masons consisted of skins of considerable size roughly stripped from the carcass of an animal.  With the passing of time the skins were trimmed into shape and reduced in size and later the ornamentations were added.

ARTS & SCIENCES: As named in the Masonic Lectures they are Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic, Arithmetic, Geometry, Music and Astronomy.

CABLE TOW: The length of a Master Mason cable tow or the distance within which attendance at his Lodge is said to be obligatory is generally stated to be 3 miles.  In some of the old charges, it varied from five to fifty miles.

SYMBOLS OF GOD

          The use of symbols greatly helps us to understand the Limitless Bounty of the infinite Almighty of God.

A circle represents God, whose centre is everywhere and the circumference is nowhere.  Eternity or immortality is presented by the Egyptians as a serpent eating its own

 

          Tail.  According to the Chinese, the circle was bounded North and South by two serpents and was emblematical of the universe protected and supported equally by the power and wisdom of the creator.

                   Wearing of the finger ring the bracelet the anklet and the necklace was originally regarded a means of protection from evil.

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A circle acquires even more importance when it includes a central point.  In the centre is the blazing star, an emblem of divine protection, the radiations from which in direct lines verge to energy part of the circle and end in it.

                            

          The point, the Supreme Being Infinite yet Unknowable, the All-Pervading, yet Unknown and the circle, the circuit of the Sun or as Eternity.  As every point of the circumference of a centre is equally near and equally distant from its circle, so every creature is equally near and equally distant from God who looks after us and loves us equally.  The centre is inexhaustible and will remain the same even though millions of circle or circles to eternity are drawn from the same central point.

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HUMOUR--- SHE KNOWS EVERYTHING

                                                                       

            It is not only Neetu Singh who proclaims ‘I know everything’.  I know one more lady who goes around repeating her threat that she knows everything.  She reminds me and my kids almost on hourly basis that she knows everything.  You are right … she is my beloved wife.  The fault dear Brothers ! is not in our stars but in ourselves that we are married.  She is one person, who has made me realize like no other Guru of morning TV channels that humans especially husband-type-humans are born imperfect and die imperfect, however, hard they may strive to achieve perfection.  She effortlessly goes in and out of the role of a sleuth putting best of  Mossad men have downcast eyes.  She can make a thriller out of, as mundane an event, as my business lunch out.  “I will not need lunch box today” is enough to wake up the dormant Sherlock Holmes in her. Why?  Where..? Who…? And I can visualize the third degree interrogation.  Finally, hysterical and, at times, not so hysterical reaction follows… should have told last evening … last night… today morning and so on.  Next time if I am found repeating this ‘goof up’ the cruelest penalty awaits me.  She is such a ferocious watcher and commentator of TV serials that she can get selected as the critic of TV shows without having to apply for it.  At times, I am convinced; she would have been as fabulous a TV serial maker as home maker.

            She goes to bed… rather comes to bed only after all the serials of the day have been aired and the repeat telecast for the other hemisphere begins.  She has this peculiar habit of putting her bag of saris/dresses, she considers precious/chosen one, in my cupboard.  I just fail to understand why she does so but she has bullied her way in grabbing tenancy rights in my almirah.  Often, I feel, it is poor me who is a tenant and she is the one who is the Lord of the cupboard. 

            There is one more aspect I want to share:  I am fully convinced that she indeed knows everything in advance through some ‘divine intervention’.  She comes to know when I would be visiting the wash room.  She is already bang there like a land mafia. This is what I call, not illegal but ill time occupation.  I am baffled and fail to understand how she can read my err… mind …every time? I am convinced she is not doing so to tease me.  It is much deeper than that.  The cynics may call it made for each other or whatever. 

            If she were the judge of a ‘worst dressed husband’ pageant, she would handover the crown to me, even if she has to fight for this with rest of the panel.   She hates my wearing cotton track suit.  She insists I wore the branded stretch Lon track suit gifted to me by my mother-in-law.  Also the logo of the brand should be visible and not be covered by some “stupid” oversized tee shirt… yes all this! Notwithstanding the humidity of Mumbai. 

            My wife has a serious grudge against the ceiling fan manufacturers.  Why all the fan regulators have 6 as the maximum notch.  She likes her air-conditioner at ‘High’ and ceiling fan at optimum 6.  She feels the world has progressed so much but these ‘pankhawalas’ are stuck at 6 since the times Philip Diehl invented the fan. It should have speed variations going up to 10 if not 16.  So till then! she is just about tolerating all fans in our house running at measly 6.

            I have enough material to write a fat book on my not so fat dear wife of almost 30 years standing. She is a gourmet’s delight. She loves and enjoys cooking. More often than not we are the handy guinea pigs available for all her culinary experiments. We are happy about it and look forward to her newer inventions. She can easily give run for money to best of the chefs in the city. She is intricately meticulous and definitely has great eye for details. I usually forget but she remembers not only what she wore but what I wore when we last visited Khannas, Sharmas or Vermas. She keeps relations warm with all my relatives both near and distant ones. Left to me, I would have long turned indifferent towards them. So I would give her 100 out of 100 on this count. She is an excellent mind reader of people we come across. Her assessment of people has seldom gone wrong. I am amazed how without studying psychology in her curriculum, she knows so much of human behavior. Similarly, she is a strategic diplomat, capable of skillfully cold shouldering people whose company she abhors. So what, its thirty years since I said ‘I do’ but she hasn’t stopped surprising me.   I also know that you would relish and find mirror image of yours (or better half’s) in the book-to-be but bigger question begging answer is who will save me when she is affront… So dear readers!  Love your wife and if you can’t, at least pretend, for therein and therein alone lies the much elusive peaceful dwelling and ultimately peaceful deliverance from this mortal world.  Amen!

                                       

           

            

भारतीय रेल का पुनरुत्थान – एक चिंतन वज़न कम करें अथवा यही आपको ले डूबेगा

पहले तो मैं चाहूँगा कि बजाय रिजरक्सन के, रिजुवेनेट शब्द का प्रयोग अधिक प्रांसगिक रहेगा कारण कि रिजरक्सन तो मृत का होता है और अभी रेलवे ज़िंदा है अतः ज़रूरत इसे रिजुवेनेट करने की है. माननीय रेलवे मंत्री महोदय ने पिछले दिनों यह कहा कि वे रेलवे को आई.सी.यू. से बाहर निकाल कर लाये हैं और वे नहीं चाहते कि भारतीय रेलवे एयर इंडिया बन जाये. सच है यदि समय रहते प्रयास नहीं होंगे तो ‘डिसइनवेस्ट्मेंट’ और रेलवे को प्राइवेट करने वाली लॉबी टकटकी लगा कर देर से इसे घूर रही है. कोई भी प्राइवेट एंटोप्रॉअनर प्रॉफिट के लिये ही फील्ड में आयेगा. उनके शब्द्कोष में प्रॉफिट डर्टी वर्ड नहीं है. जिस तरह ‘वेलफेयर’ की कोई सीमा नहीं होती उसी तरह ‘प्रॉफिट’ की कोई सीमा नहीं होती है. अधिक से अधिकतर है तो ..बेहतर से बेहतर है.


जब किसी भी संगठन में खर्चे कम करने की बात की जाती है तो उसकी गाज कर्मचारियों पर गिरती है. एक कहावत है कि आप आने वाले कल की लड़ाई बीते हुए कल की तकनीक से नहीं जीत सकते. वर्तमान में प्रति वर्ष लगभग 15,000 रेल कर्मी रिटायर हो रहे हैं. जबकि मैंन पॉवर उस रेट से नहीं आ रही है. इसलिये यह जरूरी है
कि :




1. ऑफिस की विभिन्न प्रक्रियाओं को सरल बनाया जाये.


इस एरिया में सुझाव यह हैं कि ‘एक डैथ एक नौकरी’ के नियम को पूरी तरह मान्यता देते हुए इसे प्रमुखता से प्रसिद्ध किया जाये. प्रक्रिया सरल होगी तो समय की बचत होगी, और मैंन पॉवर जल्दी उपलब्ध हो सकेगी. आप चाहें तो भले इसके लिये परीक्षा आर.आर.बी के स्तर की रखी जा सकती है और उसे कर्मचारी की सी. आर से लिंक किया जा सकता है. यह सुविधा ‘मेडीकली अनफिट फॉर ऑल कैटेगरी’ को भी दी जा सकती है. सी.आर. के केस में भी केवल दो ही कॉलम रखे जायें ‘फिट फॉर प्रोमोशन’ ‘नॉट फिट फॉर प्रोमोशन’ क्या ज़रूरत है पांच-पांच कॉलम रखने की जब अगले ने देनी बौद्ध् धर्म के मध्यम मार्ग की तर्ज़ पर सबको ‘गुड’ ही है.


2. रेल कर्मियों को मल्टी-टास्किंग में न केवल ट्रेन किया जाये बल्कि उन्हें इन क्षेत्रों में जाने के लिये ओरियंट भी किया जाये. यथा सभी ग्रुप डी को जरूरी तौर पर वैहीकल ड्राइविग की ट्रेनिंग दी जाये. ऑफिस के दूसरे गैजट्स जैसे फैक्स, फोटोस्टैट, प्रारम्भिक बिजली के यंत्रों की रख-रखाव के एरिया में ट्रेनिंग देना


3. मशीनों पर निर्भरता अधिक से अधिक होती चली जायेगी इसलिये अभी से इसकी आदत डालना शुरु कर दें. जैसे ऑफिस के बहुत से पत्र व्यवहार ई मेल, लैन, कॉन्फ्रेंसिंग, पैन ड्राइव, के माध्यम से. फोन, मोबायल, एस.एम.एस का अधिक से अधिक प्रयोग.
4. ऑफिस रिकॉर्ड जिस हालत में रखा जाता है हम किसी से छुपा नहीं है. इसलिये बेहतर होगा कि हम उपनिवेशवाद की मानसिकता से ऊपर आयें और कर्मचारियों पर विश्वास करते हुए उनको ही ये जिम्मेदारी दे दें कि वे अपना तमाम रिकॉर्ड रखें. आखिर उनसे बेहतर उसका रक्षण और अनुरक्षण कौन कर सकता है. इसी दिशा में लीव की पासबुक और टच स्क्रीन का इस्तेमाल व्यापक तौर पर किया जा सकता है.


5. यह साढ़े नौ से छह बजे की नौकरी का कंसेप्ट पुराना हो गया है..नया ज़माना फ्लेक्सी ऑवर्स का है. पी.सी. घर-घर में हैं...आप नियत काम नियत समय सीमा में पूर्ण करने की शर्त के साथ...स्टाफ पर थानेदारी वाली मानसिकता त्याग दें क्यों कि वे आपको अन्यथा और तरीकों से नज़र बचा कर कामचोरी करेंगे.


6. सभी को ट्रेनिंग कम्पलसरी होनी चाहिये और इस प्रकार सभी स्टाफ को अपने कार्य के अलावा एक अन्य कार्य क्षेत्र की ट्रेनिंग भी दी जानी चाहिये और इस दिशा में वह अपनी रुचि और प्रतिभा से ट्रेनिंग ले सकेगा.


7. आपको अपने ही कर्मचारियों पर विश्वास करना होगा..हमेशा हमेशा उन पर अविश्वास की विरासत हमें अंग्रेजों से मिली है. कारण कि वे कभी भी हिंदुस्तानियों पर विश्वास नहीं जमा पाये थे. न प्रशासन में न राजनीति में न फौज़ में. अत: मक्खी पर मक्खी न मारते हुए हमें एजूकेशन ग्रांट आदि अनेक प्रक्रियाओं का सरलीकरण करते हुए उसे वेतन के साथ लगा देना चाहिये. इसी प्रकार रेल कर्मी को यह छूट होनी चाहिये कि वे चाहें तो अपना इलाज़ प्राइवेट में करा लें और डाइरेक्ट अस्पताल को आप रिम्बर्समेंट कर दें. आज भी कहा तो यही जाता है कि रेलवे अस्पताल तो केवल यूनियन के लोगों और बड़े बड़े ऑफिसर्स के लिये ही है.


8. प्रॉफिट सेंटर का एक कंसेप्ट प्राइवेट में चलता है जिसमें हर यूनिट हर कर्मचारी एक प्रॉफिट सेंटर होता है उससे यह अपेक्षा होती है कि वह न केवल अपनी पगार कमायेगा बल्कि साल के अंत में उसका यह ऑडिट भी किया जाये कि उसने ऑर्गानाइजेशन को कमा कर कितना दिया. हमारे यहां भी रेलकर्मी को यह टारगेट दिया जा सकता है.


9. सेफ्टी पोस्ट के भूत से बचने के लिये यह ज़रूरी है कि इस पर एक रिव्यू किया जाय कि ये यार्ड स्टिक आखिर है क्या. अब इनफॉरमेशन, टेक्नॉलोजी और जनरल एजुकेशन बढ़ जाने से यह जरूरी हो गया है कि हम बजाय क्वांटिटी के क्वालिटी पर कंसंट्रेट करें. इसके लिये बहुत से टफ फैसले भी दरकार होंगे जिसके लिये आपको यूनियन से पूरी मदद लेनी होगी और उसके लिये आपको अपना एज ओल्ड आइडिया त्यागना होगा कि यूनियन टांग अडायेगी ऐसा नही है. बहुधा देखा यह गया है कि मैंनेजमेंट वाले ही ज्यादा दकियानूसी निकलते हैं . आप एक बात समझ लें कि यदि आप यूनियन को बुरा समझते हैं तो यूनियन का न रहना और भी ज्यादा बुरा होगा, दोनों के लिये ऑरगानिजेशन के लिये भी और आपके लिये भी.


10. एक नियम है जिसके अंतर्गत यदि कोई भी पद एक सीमा से अधिक खाली रहता है तो वह स्वत: ही समाप्त मान लिया जाता है. यदि उसे भरना है तो पहले उसे जीवित करना होता है जिसकी लम्बी और क्लिष्ट प्रक्रिया है. उसी तर्ज़ पर सीधी सीधी बात है कि यदि आप बिना उस पद के भरे हुए काम चला सकते है तो सदैव क्यों नहीं. एक इस नियम को सख्ती से लागू करने मात्र से आपकी मैन पॉवर काबू में आ जायेगी.


ऐसा हो सकता है कि आप ये सुझाव बहुत ‘सिम्पल’किस्म के और छोटे-छोटे लगें. एक बात है बड़े-बड़े फैसले आप लेने से बचते रहेंगे और छोटे फैसलों को छोटे कह कर टालते रहेंगे तो फैसले लेगा कौन. एक थानेदार जब किसी की मृत्यु पर गांव गया तो लगा खूब मिठाई खाने, किसी ने टोका तो उसका कहना था कि “ वाह बेटा खुशी के मौके पर तुम मुझे बुलाओ नहीं और ग़म के मौके पर मैं नहीं खाऊं तो मिठाई मैं खाऊंगा कब ? वह पल जब आपको फैसला लेना है वह अब है अन्यथा भविष्य में आप भी इल्ज़ाम से बच नहीं पायेंगे. अगर अच्छे मैंनेजमेंट के लिये हम सभी क्रेडिट लेने को टूटे पड़ते हैं तो मिसमैंनेजमेंट के लिये कोई और क्यों आयेगा..यूं लगाने को आप किसी पर भी आरोप लगा सकते हैं.होगा भी यही यूनियन कहेंगी मैंनेजमेंट की ग़लती है और मैंनेजमेंट तो बहुधा कहती ही है कि यूनियन न होती तो वे तारे तोड़ कर ला सकते थे, कृपया याद रखें कि कोई भी सदैव न तो आई.सी.यू. में रह सकता है और न ही अस्पताल में रहना चाहता है. हम सभी अस्पताल से जल्दी से जल्दी बाहर आना चाहते हैं और वो भी स्वयं के पैरों से चल कर.

QUO VADIS RAILWAY?

STORY-1 : Top brass of Ministry of Railways has directed that there should be austerity in various spheres of Railway life. Towards this end, several austerity measures have been introduced, principal being cut in Over Time Allowance and Travelling Allowance and deferring its payment where already due. Several years of ‘No hike’ tariff policy has led to severe financial crunch, in turn, necessitated an unprecedented rise in fare subject to, of course, political compulsions arising out of and in the course of courtship with government’s alliance partners.

STORY-2 : With 19 Railway Recruitment Boards enjoying siesta in hibernation, no or negligible recruitment has taken place during the past several years. That does not mean men have not been inducted in Railways. The Indian Railways has many other ‘inlets’. On Sports ground annually hundreds of sportspersons are inducted in Group ‘C’ and ‘D’. Similarly, inflow in Scout & Guide, Cultural Quota, Minister’s Quota, Bungalow Peon continues unabated. Last but not the least, compassionate ground appointments to the wards in lieu of Railwaymen dying/medically decategorised while in service.

An additional whopping wage bill of 300 crores per year is going to be thrust upon Railways in the ensuing few months when a contingent of strong support staff (class IV) enters the already surplus rank and file of Railwaymen in the name of ‘safety’.

It is amusing to know that the mandarins of Rail Bhavan think that the ‘safety’ can be ensured by these lowest rung green horns.

व्यंग्य: त्योहार प्रधान हिंदुस्तान

 आपने बहुत बार सुना होगा कि भारत एक कृषि प्रधान ( पढ़ें कुर्सी प्रधान) देश है या गांव प्रधान (पढ़ें फार्म हाऊस प्रधान) देश है. भारत में तीन प्रमुख फसलें होती है. रबी और खरीफ. तीसरी सबसे महत्वपूर्ण फसल है रिलीफ. बाढ़ हो, सूखा हो या फिर भूकम्प हो, सभी में रिलीफ की फसल लहलहाती है. अब भारत इतना विशाल और विविधताओं वाला देश है कि रबी, खरीफ वाले भले बेरोज़गार बैठे रहें या आत्महत्याओं में व्यस्त रहें, ‘रिलीफ’ वाले बरस भर फसल काटते है.


आप गौर करें तो पायेंगे कि भारत वास्तव में एक त्योहार प्रधान देश है. भारत 33 करोड़ देवी देवताओं की पावन भूमि है. अब 33 करोड़ देवी देवताओं की पूजा अर्चना को जनसंख्या भी बहुत चाहिये. हम बहुत धार्मिक किस्म के लोग हैं. जैसे ही हमें पता चला कि इतने सारे देवी देवता हैं और पूजने वाले कम पड़ रहे हैं बस फिर क्या था हम पिल पड़े और एकदम गदर मचा दिया. यहां तक कि चैम्पियन टीम चीन को भी अपनी इज़्ज़त बचाने के ‘वांदे’ हो गये. लोग कह रहे है कि एथेंस ओलम्पिक में चीन ने बहुत सारे पदक जीते जबकि भारत बड़ी मुश्किल से अपना खाता खोल पाया. भई इस वक़्त हमारी प्राथमिकता चीन को जनसंख्या के अखाड़े में पटखनी देना है. एकदम चारों खाने चित्त करना है. उसके बाद ओलम्पिक खेलों पर ध्यान देंगे. फर्स्ट थिंग फर्स्ट. खेल जरूरी है या कि इज़्ज़त बचाना ? और इज़्ज़त बचाना कोई खेल नहीं है. ये इश्क़ नहीं आसां.


भारत की पावन उर्वरा भूमि पर त्योहारों की खूब भरमार है. हर दिन कोई न कोई त्योहार है. जैसे पीने वालों को पीने का बहाना चाहिये और बहानों की कोई कमी नहीं. आज मूड बहुत खराब है. आज मैं बहुत खुश हूं. आज बॉस से खट्पट हो गयी है. आज तो बहुत थक गये. आज जरा ज़ुकाम सा लग रहा है. आज गला खराब है. आज बदन टूट सा रहा है आदि आदि. उसी तरह श्राद्धालुओं को त्योहारों की कोई कमी नहीं.


अब आप होली को ही ले लें. यह बड़ा अच्छा त्योहार है. भांग खाइये, ठंडाई पीजिये. गरज़ कि दिन में ही पीने-पिलाने के त्योहार का नाम होली है. आप ग्रीज-पेंट लगायें. मिलावटी गुलाल लगायें और अपनी सोसायटी की सारी भाभीजीस को बे-रोक-टोक जेम्स बॉन्ड बन कर गुब्बारे और पिचकारी मारें. इसे कहते हैं ‘लाइसेंस टू किल’ होली के बाद डॉक्टरों खासकर स्किन और नेत्र विशेषज्ञों की मौज रहती है. होली के बाद इनकी होली मनती है. लोग होली पर गले मिलते हैं. जिससे जितना बड़ा काम अटका है उस से उतना प्रगाढ‌ और देर तक गले मिलना होता है. सब चिल्लाते हैं. बच्चे खुश होते हैं अपनी शरारतों से. बड़े खुश होते हैं और बच्चों की तरह किलकारियां मार कर भीगते-भिगोते हैं. दोपहर से ही रेडियो-टी.वी वाले हर साल की तरह खबर देते हैं. ‘देश भर में होली का त्योहार पूरे उल्लास और शांतिपूर्वक तरीके से मनाया गया. फलां फलां ने देशवासियों को इस अवसर पर अपनी शुभकामनायें दीं’ ये शुभकामनायें सूखी-सूखी होती हैं. सिक्योरिटी कारणों से वे या तो होली खेलते नहीं या फिर केवल अपने सिक्योरिटी गार्ड्स के साथ ही खेलते हैं. शाम को बॉस लोगों के घर जाने का रिवाज होता है ताकि दिन की भीड़ में अगर ‘नोटिस’ नही भी हुआ तो बॉस की चौपड़ी में हाज़िरी अर्थात ‘पी’ तो लग जाये. ‘पी’ फॉर पॉलिश.


दीवाली के बारे में लिखना बिजली की रंग-बिरंगी लड़ी को दिया दिखाने के समान है. यह हमारा अखिल भारतीय पॉलुशन डे है. आप बावेला ना मचायें इसलिये मशहूर ये कर दिया गया है कि इस से मक्खी- मच्छर मर जाते हैं. घर-बाहर की सफाई हो जाती है. दीवाली लाइट्स और बमों का त्योहार है. बम जो शिवकाशी में बंधुआ बाल मज़दूर बनाते हैं और हर बरस आग लगने से बड़ी संख्या में ज़िंदा जल जाते हैं. आतंकवादियों की स्पॉन्सरशिप में आजकल बरस भर बड़े बड़े बमों की मारामारी रहती है. उसके आगे दीवाली के बम ऐसे ही ‘फुस्स’ मालूम देते है जैसे कि चुनाव में निर्दलीय उम्मीदवार.


दीवाली दरअसल हमारे देश की जी.बी.एम है. जनरल बॉडी मीटिंग ? नहीं नहीं ! गैम्बलिंग, ब्राइब और मदिरा. यह रिश्वत लेने देने का ऑफिशियल त्योहार है. लोग जुआ और शराब पूरी श्रद्धा के साथ ‘बापरते’ हैं. मना करो तो मानते तो वैसे भी नहीं. उल्टा लड़ने को आते हैं. “ क्या मतलब है ? और दिन चंगा त्योहार के दिन नंगा” जिन लोगों ने बरस भर एक केला भी नहीं खाया-खिलाया होता वो भी ड्राई फ्रूट्स के डिब्बे उठाये उठाये फिरते हैं. वो अलग बात है कि डिब्बे दिखने में ही बड़े होते है और उनमें चतुराई से सज़ाये छंटाक छंटाक भर ड्राई फ्रूट से ज्यादा नहीं होते. बाज़ार सज़ जाते है. दीवाली ‘सेल’ के बोर्ड लग जाते हैं. लोग टूट कर पड़ते हैं और ऐसे खुश होते हैं जैसे उल्टे ये ही दुकानदार को ठग आये हों. फायर ब्रिगेड वालों की इन दिनों वैसे ही मांग होती है जैसे फायर फिल्म के बाद बोल्ड बट पूअर हीरोईनों की हो चली है. पूअर इसलिये कि फिल्म का बजट चाहे कितने ही करोड़ का क्यों न हो, उसको तन ढांपने को कपड़े नही देने हैं बैरी प्रोडयूसर ने. बेचारी को या तो चीथड़े पहनने पड़ते हैं या फिर हीरो की टाई में से ही अपने लिये कपड़े निकालने पड़ते हैं.


ईद मुख्यत: दो तरह की होती है. एक में सेमरी (सेवेय्यां) खाने को मिलती है दूसरे में बकरी या बकरा. हर साल ईद के मौके पर दो फोटो अखबार में जरूर छपते हैं. एक में दो बच्चे गले मिलते हुए दिखाये जाते हैं. दूसरे में हिन्दू-मुस्लिम गले मिलते दिखाये जाते हैं. ‘जाने कहाँ गये वो लोग ?’ (फोटो खिंचा कर) नेताओं के बयान बदस्तूर वैसे ही आते है. तमाम हिंदुस्तानियों को मुबारकबाद और रेडियो टी.वी. की घिसी-पिटी खबर कि ये त्योहार बड़ी धूमधाम से पूरे देश में मनाया गया. ईद पर नये कपड़े पहनने का रिवाज़ है. टी. वी. पर बहू-बेगम, ताज महल या ऐसी ही कोई फिल्म दिखाई जाती है. कोई विदेशी अगर भारतीय फिल्में देखे तो सोचेगा कि भारत एक हैपी- गो- लकी देश है. जहां हर वक़्त प्यार-इश्क़-मुहब्बत की बहार रहती है. घर घर में प्रेम का रिवाज़ सा है. प्यार-मुहब्बत के तराने हमेशा लोगों के होठों पर रहते हैं और वो जब तब यानि कि बात बात में गाने लगते है. दरअसल उन्हें नहीं मालूम यहां ‘भगवान’ भी गरीबी और गुमनामी में मरता है.


क्रिसमस का जैसा जोर-शोर हमारे यहां होता है सम्भवत: इंग्लेंड और यूरोप में भी न होता होगा. दरअसल हम हर वो त्योहार मनाना चाहते हैं जिसमें पीन-खाना हो. थोड़ी मस्ती हो. क्रिसमस और नये साल से जो बधाई पत्रों का सिलसिला चला है वो अब जीवन के हर इलाके में पहुंच गया है. हर बात या कहना चाहिए बात बात के लिये ग्रीटिंग कार्ड ‘बाज़ारवाद’ ने आप तक पहुंचा दिये हैं. बाज़ारवाद ने हमारे घर-त्योहार, सम्बंधों सभी में घुसपैठ कर ली है. हम न्यू ईयर ऐसे मनाते हैं कि अमेरिका वाले भी शरमा जायें. वास्तव में क्रिसमस से पीने-पिलाने, मौज़-बहार का जो सिलसिला शुरु होता है तो वह नव वर्ष तक चलता है. हमारे यहां साल के पूर्वार्ध में आपने जो कमाया-बचाया होता है, त्योहारों, उकसावों और बाज़ार के चलते साल के सेकंड हाफ में उसे फूंकना होता है. उसके बाद फिर वही प्रॉविडेंट फंड में से उधारी, क्रेडिट कार्ड और लोन मेला. कबीर जानते थे ये होगा:-


‘कबीरा खड़ा बाज़ार में लिये मुराडा हाथ
जो घर जारै आपना, चले हमारे साथ'


हम लोग सदियों से ये त्योहार मना रहे है. हर बरस हज़ारों लाखों रावण जलाये जाते हैं. मगर रावण हैं कि जितने जलते नहीं उस से अधिक पैदा हो रहे है और उनकी तादाद बढ़ती ही जा रही है. दीवाली हो ईद, क्रिसमस या होली हो, सबका पैगाम अगर प्यार-मुहब्बत है तो एक बात बताइये इतनी नफरत क्यों है चारों ओर ?.