from an INFOSCION to a POLITICION- Nandan' s Chronicles - 3 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AT THE ONSET, LET ME CLARIFY THAT THIS IS A FICTITIOUS ACCOUNT NARRATED IN A FIRST PERSON LANGUAGE OF MR. NILEKANI'S IMAGINARY TRYSTS WITH THE GOVERNMENT SECTOR. THIS HAS NOT BEEN WRITTEN MR. NILEKANI, AS SHOULD HAVE BEEN GAUGED BY READING THE POST. THE ARTICLE HAS BEEN WRITTEN IN JEST AND HUMOUR AND WOULD REQUEST THE READERS TO ALSO TAKE THIS IN THE SIMILAR LIGHT.

Dear Chums,

After the first two installments of Nandan’s tryst with the Great Indian Political System, I would now want to share some of his jottings on how he has started getting settled down and going about his day to day tasks. The first two installments are available on www.ideasinfinitum.blogspot.com .

After the initial humdrum and the hoopla died a natural death and Nandan started getting the feel of the new job, things were not appearing to be so rosy. Each pizza comes with its own pitfall and Mr. Nilekani was very well aware of this. Let us see some of his writings which he has started circulating around…

DATE – 1st Aug 2009
VENUE – Yojna Bhavan, first floor, corner cabin (all cabins are identical so democracy at its best!!!!!!!!!!)

Finally I am settling down into my new life. Phew!!!! I had no idea it would be so elaborate and detailed. So many documents to sign, photographs, documents, family details etc.!!! No wonder, there is a lot that we need to learn from the Government. I shall point this out to Kris (Kris Gopalakrishnan- CEO Infosys) to follow some of the processes so that we, sorry they (now that I am no longer an Infoscion) can screen fake candidates!!!! There is something to learn everywhere!!!!

As for my new innings, I have started getting some very good vibes and some cold ones as well. I have made some new friends- Shashi Tharoor. I always saw him at UN events on TV, but never interacted with him. After my induction day, I spent some time talking to him. He told me that he loved my book. He also suggested that I should start writing more regularly, now that I was free from the corporate hustle bustle. I was surprised. This new job is more challenging than running a company!!!!

Other friends include Laloojee, Mani Sankar, Azhar and some from the opposition also – Arun Jaitley, Shatrughan Sinha (I took a snap with him!!!).

Amar and Mulayam Singh have given me a cold shoulder.

Probably because of my attraction and their repulsion to Computers???

I was a tad disappointed when I went to the canteen… the food was not good, the portions very tiny. The service was very good. I was given coupons for one month. I just casually asked the contractor as to the reason behind the taste and portion. He replied,” Our politicians are carnivores of the highest order. They can devour anything that comes their way- food, drink, cash, kind, cheques, contracts, plots, fodder…This is our small attempt to bring them back to shape and health. The bad taste and tiny portions ensure that they do not visit this canteen and go out for their lunch or snacks”.

I was mighty impressed!!! In Infosys, we used to spend so much time and effort to provide the best food that our employees could have and when they fell ill after eating all those pizzas, we gladly gave them sick leaves also!!!!! Another area of learning for corporate!

While I was coming out of the canteen, I overheard Mulayam Singh ask the Canteen Contractor,” Yeh pappu bhi yahan aata hai khaane ke liye?” I felt so good!!! Finally Mr. Singh had shown some friendly gesture by calling me with a pet connotation- pappu!!!! I was beaming with happiness. I do not like animosities at work place!!!!

The office contains a maze of corridors and alleys and it’s a long walk to my cabin. Around the corner, I overheard one gentleman whisper to his colleague,” He is the new pappu… the one in the white shirt and tie”
Again Pappu? ???

All my eagerness went for a swim when I was told that pappu was my batch grade!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had a different designation given to me (www.ideasinfinitum.blogspot.com for the first part of the story)!!!!

I called up my manager Manmohan. His PA answered the call,” Sir is busy right now formulating a list of all important Indians who should be exempt from frisking at airports after Dr. Kalam’s incident, do you want me to add your name to the list?”. I gave a polite No as an answer. I told him that I had a query about my designation. He replied that I could get it resolved from the HRD ministry which is responsible for designations.

I contacted the HRD ministry and I got my answer.

PAPPU – POLITICAL ASPIRANT from PRIVATE PUBLIC UNIFICATION!!!!!!!!!!!

I am getting more and more overwhelmed by the levels of details and thought being given to each and every minute aspect!!!! My designation was still the same and I fell in the band of PAPPU.

I have 3 months for my first review. I start off preparing myself for some POC exercises. I have so many ideas in my head that need to be tried out.

I text Murthy again,” I have settled down and about to assume my duties, yours PAPPU!!!!!!!!!!”

sriky