Skip to main content

Some skills don't die

 




In the labyrinth of bureaucratic hurdles at my mother's bank, I navigated through countless forms and indifferent officials. in the past 1 month. Age-related forgetfulness of my mother, her life certificate left unsubmitted, further complicated by recent surgery. Our quest to affirm her existence for internet and mobile banking services resembled an uphill struggle.


Amidst steep staircases and disinterested bank personnel, the contrast with the efficient UK banking system was stark. The encounters with 'saheb no.1' to 'madam no.2' were far from courteous, their demeanor suggesting a misplaced sense of obligation.


In a pivotal encounter, a condescending 'Sir' demanded my mother's physical presence for an elusive form, previously undisclosed. Frustration peaked as I confronted the disparity between government initiatives for seniors and the bank's indifferent stance, which only softened at the mention of recording the whole conversation.


A miraculous retrieval of my application form and a sudden hospitality shift painted a revealing picture. The episode underscored the deep-seated apathy within certain government job employees, posing a stark contrast to the promising advancements in our evolving India.


As the gears of progress turn, the challenge lies in altering mindsets, transcending bureaucratic indifference. The plea echoes: "सोच बदलो, तब बदलेगा इंडिया!" - Change your mindset, only then will India change. Disgruntled and disappointed, this encounter illuminated the entrenched struggles faced by citizens in the face of evolving systems....


P.S. Amidst all the arguing and confrontation, I realised that I hadn't lost my touch in the art of arguing and fighting! Turns out, that skill is still very much activated. 😄


MKP

 7/1/24

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A Winter Coat and A Whole Lot of Memories

It was one of those chilly mornings when it was colder than the day before. I had been knowingly avoiding my thick winter coat—not because I thought I was tough, but because putting it on felt like admitting winter had won. And winter comes with all those gloomy thoughts of short days, dark nights, and cold toes. But that day, I gave in. I wore the coat, zipped it up with a sigh, and headed out to work. On my way, I stuffed my hands into the coat pockets to warm them up—because, let’s be honest, gloves are always missing when you need them. That’s when my fingers hit something crinkly. A piece of paper. Curious, I pulled it out. Lo and behold, it was a ticket to the Tate Modern museum! Now, I love art. But not the "paint-a-bowl-of-fruit" kind of art—I mean the kind that makes you go, “What in the world is that?” This ticket brought back memories of my last trip to the museum, a trip I can only describe as… an experience. I remember strolling in, full of enthusiasm, and seeing...

Furry Fun

  So, picture this: we were all geared up for a rockin' Saturday night out, ready to chow down on some grub and catch up with Akshaj, who we hadn't seen in ages. But oh boy, did fate have a twisted sense of humour. Akshaj's train got stuck at Brookmans Park station because of some random incident. No biggie, we thought, we'll just meet him at Hatfield instead. But then, the train decided to play a game of "let's see how long we can keep everyone waiting" for an extra 30 minutes! We were like, "Enough is enough!" and hatched a plan to rescue Akshaj from Brookmans Park. But as soon as he stepped off the train, it suddenly zoomed off without him! Talk about bad timing! We rushed to the station, only to find the road blocked by the police. Seriously, could this night get any crazier? But thanks to Gargi's common sense , she managed to break through the barricade and track down Akshaj at a nearby pub, where his phone decided to call it quits. Afte...

There's nothing like bad weather..

 "Rain, Robins, and Relentless Cheer: I was sipping my coffee and watching the endless rain through my kitchen window. It had all gone dark and cold, with a drizzle adding to the misery. I felt like I was trapped in a scene from a particularly dreary British novel, where the only exciting thing to happen is when someone misplaces their umbrella. But then, something caught my eye—a fluffy robin hopping around in the garden. Despite the downpour and the November-like gloom ( in the middle of May), this chunky little bird was out there, pecking for worms and perching on my beautiful plants, which had somehow managed to burst into colourful blooms. I was amazed by its tenacity! Here I was, contemplating my life choices over a cup of coffee, and this robin was having the time of its life. Enter Kiran, our in-house Wikipedia, who decided to add his two cents to the mix. He said, "Did you know that in cold weather, birds can't grow a thick winter coat like many mammals do? Inste...