With the whole world against...

What do you do when your colleagues range against you? That too because you want to play straight? My friend Ch Hanmantha Rao provided an answer through this personal account. Prof Rao retired as Dy Director from Central Institute of Road Transport, Pune. He completed his Engineering on the support of a Government merit scholarship and joined the AP State Road Transport Corpn as an officer trainee. He worked in various positions within the corporation for over 15 years. He then joined the CIRT and worked there for over two decades. This incident happened in his first years in the Corporation. I give it in his own words.

"I had joined the Corporation, as I thought it my duty to serve the State Government, which had provided me with the scholarship, but for which I would not have completed my BE. I was posted to a Depot, which was headed by a senior Manager, who was seasoned and wise as well. He was my first mentor so to speak. I used to go to him for every issue which troubled me. I was young and impatient and could not stand the lazy, the shirkers and the shrewd ones. After a few months, I noticed that barring a handful, most of the officers there were interested in their petty ends and had no concern for the Corporation. They used to tell me not to work so hard. I mentioned this to the Depot Manager. He merely asked me, 'what do you want to do?' I said, 'of course, I want to do a good job.' 'Then go ahead, ' he said.

A few more months passed. My colleagues now started making fun of me for my sincerity. They said, 'Hanmantha, fine, you want to work hard. But who has stopped you from having fun?' What they meant was that I should accept invitations from vendors for parties. In one of my conversations, I mentioned this to the Depot Manager. Again he said,'do what you think is best for you.' I was not satisfied with this answer. I wanted to hear a categorical answer from my mentor, denouncing such hobnobbing with the vendors.

Things reached a point of intolerability one day. I was seething with anger when I stormed into my Depot Manager's cabin. He asked me to calm down. I told him,"Sir, these people have crossed all limits today. They said one has to take advantage of the Corporation, just as one goes to a prostitute to enjoy her. Sir, they went to the extent of calling the Corporation a prostitute. I cannot tolerate this. You must take action against them."

The old man asked me, 'What did you tell them?' 'I was so angry that I left them there and came here direct to tell you.' He said,'You should have told them that yes, it is a prostitute.' I was aghast. I felt for a moment, even the old man could be a part of the racket. He paused and thumping his chest strongly cried out,' Yes, for the world she may be a prostitute, but for me she is my MOTHER!' It was a moment of epiphany for me. I realised what strength of conviction was and how I had to face the world on that strength alone."

I have narrated this to many audiences and every time I am overcome with emotion at the end. I have derived tremendous strength from that unknown Depot Manager of APSRTC.