DON’T READ THIS IF YOUR HEART IS WEAK

I recall having written in an earlier blog that Indian bureaucracy is no longer India’s main problem. Someone read this sentence and immediately sent me an email along these lines.

‘Ravi have you gone mad? How can you say bureaucracy is no longer our problem ? Has it suddenly improved? Stop writing blogs if you are not in control of your senses.’
This was followed by another mail from the same person ‘Sorry I reacted without reading the entire blog. You went on to write that India’s bureaucracy is now a WORLD PROBLEM. Bravo Ravi’

A day later I came across this gem from Arun Shourie’s book.
It appears some I.A.S officers in the Steel Ministry made notings on files using red and green ink. This was in early 1999. T h e minister was taken aback — how dare these babus use these inks when the tradition did not warrant this? The matter was referred to t h e Department of Administrative Reforms [DAR] for clarification—what is the rule in this regard?

Detailed research and many meetings and months later came the reply—the matter concerned ink and hence ought to be referred to the Directorate of Printing! Many meetings later this latter dept gave its considered opinions—there are no orders/instructions/guidelines in respect of use of different inks and the matter may be referred to Dept Of Personnel and Training [DPT]of the Home Ministry. This letter giving this opinion was lying in the DAR for several weeks after which the matter was referred to DPT. A few weeks later DPT opined that the subject pertains to ‘Manual of Office Procedure’ which is regulated by DAR. Hence this dept may ‘take a view’. The DAR took this line—this matter concerns the longevity of ink hence the right dept to give its opinion may be the Director of Archives.[DA].The big official in DA said that for fountain pens blue and black inks may be used since these inks are permanent and for ball pens red, green, blue and black are permanent. DAF was not totally convinced so they referred the matter to the Ministry of Defense .The latter replied that ink colour is not a question of longevity but of seniority .This dept said that red ink is used by Chiefs of Staff, green by Principle officers, blue and black by others.
After two years the matter was finally settled!
Need I say more? This may break your heart.