Secrets of working with seniors

Everyone has a story to tell, even if it is something too painful to share publicly. The process of writing a memoir can be overwhelming at times, but can also help old wounds heal and refresh old memories. There are countless ways one can publish a narrative. A few examples are self-publishing with the help of a digital printer or by publishing your work in electronic format as an e-book or sending it to the newspaper for publication as hard copy.

When I am enjoying the evenings of my life, sometimes I feel that occasional lapses in memory are normal in aging adults and understanding the distinction between normal symptoms and warning signs of Alzheimer’s is critical. Most research on memory and aging has focused on how old adults perform less well at a particular memory task. Older adults show preferential looking towards happy faces. Thank God! I am hale and hearty in my 70s.

Whenever I finish reading a newspaper and sit over a chair for a nap, my mind takes me to the old office days, sometimes to the tourist places I visited memorable parties with friends and 107-day tour to the US and Canada. There are certain incidents in life which you cannot forget and remain with you till such time you are ready for your last journey. When I am writing this my mind goes back to the days of my posting at Chandigarh where I remained for about eleven years between the 70s and 80s. I had started my service career from my home town and it was my first out-station posting. Though there were certain colleagues known to me during my off and on visits to my headquarters yet it was looking different this time perhaps I have to now stay for a longer period.

Two incidents I cannot forget during my long posting. One I was attached with an officer who used to reject every junior for one or the other reason. Even, the personnel officer, who was Christian, deputed as his personal staff was rejected. On my joining, D Justine, asked me, “Mr Monga, I have to try your worth by attaching with a very strict officer.” I said confidently, “No problem, sir, rather it will be my pleasure.” To my surprise rather, the Joint Secretary, with whom I was attached, asked me to send a note for my permanent posting with him. On arrival of the letter on his table, Justine called me and straightway asked, “Monga, how have you managed?” My reply was, “Sir, the posted officials don’t do the work as per his liking and I did it and he liked me.” This is the secret of working with the senior officers.

Another incident was an embarrassing one for me and if exposed, for my family too as it happened immediately after my marriage. I had been shifted from my home town. With the change of head of the department, I too was shifted to Inputs Branch and to my good or back luck, a beautiful lady officer, SJ, senior to me, was having a seat in front of open small cabins in the hall. On the very third day in the branch, she said to me though in a normal tone, “You see towards me too much”. I was stunned for a moment to hear the words. I really used to look towards her as she appeared charming despite being a little fatty. But my spontaneous reply was, “How did you come to know about my staring at you?” She kept her mum to put a counter-question.

Frankly speaking, I was saved and my quick counter-question perhaps required no more clarification. It might be the secret of working with the seniors.