CANDID NOTES

Former’s pranks, present’s puzzle

Making it clear that he has not yet lost his acidic sense of humour and the ability of stealing the show wherever he is despite the severe drubbing he and his party received at the last hustings, the former chief minister Harish Rawat left the Chief  Minister baffled on the day of Holi. Offered Gujjia, he split it into two parts. He kept a minuscule part for himself and gave back the rest to the mystified CM. He explained that the sweet had been divided in tune to the mandate their respective parties received at the election. Not content with that, he put a string of questions around the abashed neck of the CM. The questions which were strung around the special garland he brought with the CM for the special occasion were the same his party is pestering the state government with.    One present there quipped, “The battle-hardened politician, now aging though, can hardly be written off as long as he retains his uncanny ability of turning the table on his opponents through his humour-driven, apparently innocent and excellently innovative pranks.”

Family affair

Showering his love and care, a very senior education services officer presently helming the department in Garhwal division appointed his wife, a primary school teacher, in the flying squad headed by him for the ongoing board examination. The officer is now defending his action, terming it as his prerogative. It is another matter that only the secondary school teachers and not primary ones, as happened in this case, are appointed in the flying squads of the Board examination because they understand the subject and things in a better way. In the past too this particular officer had repeatedly shown how much he cares for the nuptial promises as he managed to get his wife posted in a school of her choice in Dehradun. The flying squad gaffe however has not gone down well with teachers. One of them quipped, “ The overindulgent lady was not amused at prospects of her husband roaming around for about a month in different schools in seven districts and ordered the pliable husband to get her into the squad headed by him so that she can take care of him.’’

Hollow threats

The State Education Minister and the senior officers of the department regularly harp about the actions they have taken to rein in the private schools and try to project themselves as saviour of the people harassed by the whims and fancies of the school owners. All the tough talks and threats of action notwithstanding, the fact remains that they lack the spine to put their words into action. Consistent dragging of feet in bringing in the ‘Private educational institutes- admission, fee regulation and complaint redressal bill’ is one of an example of this double speak. Any person associated with some of the famed schools of Doon valley would vouch that how pliable and yielding these officers and Netas become when they retort to unthinkable depths  to get their wards or children of their near and dear ones admitted before start of every academic session. Showing the recommendation letters written by virtual who’s who of the state like prized trophies, principal of one of a sought- after school said, “We are flooded by such requests but how much we can accommodate? It is really frustrating at times.’’