Transformation of Self during Service

I have been in service for more that three decades. During this span of experience I have had the opportunity to work with more than two dozen direct bosses and thousands of colleagues, co-workers, govt officials and public in general. The general perception about people in service of government or public sectors is quite disturbing and seemingly unpalatable. But somehow, with my personal experience I find that strangely enough, the reality is not much different from the perceptions......................................

Transformation of Self during Service

My school logo had the theme "Service before self".

I never knew that this will be the play of an elf,

That I will be putting 'my service' before 'myself'.

Or the spirit within me will be put on the shelf.

After my studies I had to feed my family & my self,

I applied for jobs and got an appointment with some help,

They said it is government job and I am in public service,

I had to sign some files and keep my tea clear of flies.

To serve me there were some 'Babus’,

To help me serve the 'Babujis',

Both of them have common qualities,

They come to the office at their ease,

They work only till they please,

Their dresses have impeccable crease,

Their looks are capable of giving you a freeze,

Every work can be got done at a small fees,

You don't dole out and your job gets a cease,

I started learning the trade and its tricks,

To use the carrots and the sticks,

To look for the cuts and the kicks,

To discern between throwaways and the picks,

The occasional camaraderies and regular pricks,

Trips during holidays and the sicks,

Mornings with dogs and evenings with chicks,

Keeping press happy and evading the clicks,

Honesty to spouse even with occasional flicks,

The bureaucratic twists and political gimmicks,

Melting like wax and burning like wicks,

Throwing stones in reply of bricks,

Have started making moves that are so slick,

Dozing in the meetings with ears on ticks,

The times when to be a slug and when quick.

How to swagger like a sloth, how to chirp like a chick,

Calculated and manipulative as I have been never,

Don’t know whether I can return to my real self ever,

I aimed at being brave, but have become braver,

This “Service be for Self” has made me clever.

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