Candid Notes

Officers’ Choice

In a state where according to the official data there are 696 such government primary and upper primary schools where there is no drinking water connection, the Babus sitting in swanky offices of state secretariat don’t have the courage to drink normal potable water supplied by the Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan. The Reverse Osmosis (RO) machine of one of the buildings in the secretariat complex is playing truant for sometime due to which the high heeled and pampered Babus are being served bottled water at the cost of government exchequer.  Interestingly, Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan claims that the water supplied by it is perfectly safe and it is common knowledge that the department supplies best quality water to the secretariat where apart from other dignitaries, the Babus helming their department also have their offices. Toeing the line of their senior officers, the lesser mortals working in the secretariat too are not drinking the water supplied by the Jal Sansthan. Not able to get their share from the bottled water meant strictly for the Babus, they bring water bottles from their homes. The RO which wastes precious potable water would be repaired soon but the incident reflects the attitude of the bureaucrats ruling the Himalayan state.

Postal Politics

On the 99th birth anniversary of Late Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna often referred as Himalaya Putra (Son of the Himalayas), the union government in a rare honour released a special postal stamp featuring him. This gesture by the BJP government on start of birth centenary celebrations of Himalaya Putra has hit many targets with one arrow. For one it will surely gladden the hearts of late Bahuguna’s son Vijay Bahuguna and daughter Rita Bahuguna Joshi both of whom are now in saffron camp after spending years in Congress party. The move would also soothe the frayed nerves of Vijay Bahuguna presumably sulking on being denied Rajya Sabha ticket from Uttarakhand by BJP. By releasing the stamp, the BJP would be able to question the credentials of the Congress which the legendary Bahuguna served nearly throughout his political career  for not honouring the Himalaya Putra. BJP under Narendra Modi has been trying hard to appropriate the legacy of the Congress icons who worked independent of the Nehru-Gandhi family  while striving to reflect Congress as a party of hangers- on who survive by singing paeans to the dynasty.    

Another Fauji in politics    

Colonel Ajay Kothiyal is all set to hang his military boots and take a plunge into the politics of the Himalayan state. The officer known for exemplary action in Kedarnath as principal of Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) in the aftermath of the natural disaster of 2013 and training youth for armed forces had recently called a meeting of his well wishers in Dehradun. In the clandestinely held discussions attended by more than 200 friends of the officer from all parts of the state, Col Kothiyal laid bare his long held desire to jump into politics. He even asked his well wishers to suggest whether the Garhwal or Tehri parliamentary constituencies is more suited for him for an electoral debut. The serving Colonel has recently applied for voluntary retirement from army.

One of the confidantes of Colonel claimed that both the mainstream political parties are ardently wooing him but it was decided to adopt a wait and watch policy on the issue at least for time being. Considering his statements and actions in recent past the entry of Colonel into politics was a bygone conclusion. Uttarakhand with a very high population of retried and serving armed force personnel is a favourite hunting ground for retired officers and Colonel Kothiyal seems to be inspired by their success.