A true story

[Anil Laul]

An ODE and In Praise of an Engineer form the PWD

 

Coming from the undersigned this may seem strange as I now known to be an anti establishment man. This is a true story, about one of the most amazing Engineers I met. These are rare incidents but ones that warm the heart. Do read this to the end to appreciate the man involved and how the SYSTEM as we now know it wreaks havoc with those that don’t fall in line.

 

It was about the latter part of 89 that I first encountered a Superintending Engineer from the Slum Department of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Having done a considerable amount of work with the Slum Dept. I was at complete loggerheads with them as a considerable amount of money was jammed. Non payment and constant bickering had me at my worst. (I now need to only be told that ‘X’ is from the PWD and my blood boils and sometimes admittedly without cause). The Centre that I chaired, was promoted by the Slum Dept.  itself and HUDCO both being Govt Organisations. There was thus no ostensible reason that my Centre should pay kick backs to the Engineers of the Slum Dept who were supposed to release payment for work done for the Slum Dept.  Delivery from my Centre to the Slum Dept for projects done on a Turnkey Performance Contract basis were in time, at a far lower cost and unquestionable quality. I am told that being a Govt. to a Govt. sponsored organisation has no meaning. All must pay to the System.

 

The situation at that point was impossible and then I met this man who I shall always remember with respect. Shiv Shanker Singh the SE was a huge man and entered my room with courtesy unknown to other Engineers of the Slum Dept or for that matter most of the PWD types as I now refer to them. They are a breed apart and their arrogance precedes their entry. My reaction was the usual hostile one and to date I regret this. A cup of tea for him was all that was asked for, as was the case for others. I even grudged this politeness but then this was the least customary decency expected.

 

Very briefly he explained that he had volunteered to look into all outstanding issues with regard to my Centre and committed that he would resolve these to my satisfaction within a matter of days. This sounded very murky indeed as all Engineers were just tossing the files around without any results. The Addl. Commissioner (the highest bureaucratic head of the Dept.) who was on the Board of Management of the Centre, and considered a dynamic man could not stand up to the resistance by the Slum Dept Engineers and was in my opinion therefore a spine less man. Shiv Shanker Singh requested that I listen to him for a few minutes only.

 

He explained to me that even he was a part of the same SYSTEM as he had no choice and he did take the Speed Money or Transaction Fee or more simply the Cut or Bribe as you may call it. All he collected was then taken to his small village in UP and distributed to the poor who needed it most. Sounded unbelievable and I therefore asked him to join me for lunch. The man was truly amazing.

 

I checked on this from various sources and found this to be true. He would sit even at the Railway Station prior to his departure for his village and clear people’s dues, take the Speed Money and put it in a bag. I am told that his arrival at his village was a much celebrated affair. I even offered to pay him the Speed Money but he would have none of it. The files were cleared and payments made. I looked forward to his once in a while courtesy call and we would always share a meal if he had the time.

 

This equation became the bone of contention with the others from the Slum Dept where my courtesy never went beyond the Cup of Tea. Never did he tell me that life had become a living hell for him owing to this equation he had set up with me. One morning I got news that Mr. Shiv Shanker Singh was no more. He had committed suicide as he could not take the digs and needling from the Slum Dept Engineers any more. Word went around that I was indeed responsible for Mr Shiv Shanker Singh taking his own life.

 

To date all balance files and payments since 1991 are unpaid and the Centre eventually closed down for want of funds but Mr Shiv Shanker Singh’s memory will always live with me.
Questions intended in this:-
1. Would you have paid the Speed Money as I agreed to but he never took it?
2. Who is responsible? The System or the undersigned as alleged by the Engineers of the Slum Dept?

 

Anil Laul
 Mbl 98100 59691

[GEORGE KURUVILA]

Anil,

A very touching story. Mr. Shiv Shankar Singh himself is primarily to blame if he actually did commit suicide (or was he killed? How did he die?), and the rest of society lost out on this wonderful person. Such persons are unfortunately too few.

 

For the last one year or so I have had the good fortune of knowing and learning from Mr. J. M. Bejamin, ex chief Architect of CPWD, Delhi, who at the age of 85 had the enthusiasm and love for humanity, of someone much younger still in love with life. Unfortunately, he had a stroke a couple of months ago, but I have a file of his dedicated educational letters which may still inspire others. Hope and pray he recovers. so that even at this age he can still contribute as he always wanted to do.

 

Regards,

George K. (Mbl. 9845379943, B'lore)

(Architect / Urban Planner)

Anil Laul <anil...@vsnl.com> wrote:

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