A pleasant news has come from Rajasthan’s Moham Lal Sukhadia University that for 15 posts of peons, three thousand unemployed job seekers have sent their applications with great hopes. In the context of the prevailing employment situation of the country the sincerity with which three thousand candidates have offered their valuable services for the glorious post of a peon is not an extraordinary matter because even if ten thousand applications had been received, the number would have been considered less. However, the pleasant aspect of this news seems to be that from among the candidates who have applied for the post of a peon, there are a few scholars who have obtained Ph.d, M.phil, M.B.A and M.Sc. degree in Computer Science from this University. For this trivail matter, the newspapers while expressing intense regret over the grave unemployment situation, have made the universities of the country, the target of reproach saying that on one hand they award the highest degrees to the students and on the other hand, keep quiet after offering them the posts of peons. They tell them to be happy wherever they are. In the notification, it has been shown that initially a peon gets Rs 4,000 as salary and later when he gets promotion, he can even get Rs 7,000 per month.
You know that throughout my life, I have raised my voice in support of the victim and against the oppressor, in support the pauper and against the rich, in support of the ruled and against the ruler: in support of the helpless and against the despot, in support of the weak against the powerful. It is a different matter that as a measure of expediency, I don’t want to raise my voice against unemployment because I won’t be able to bear this heavy burden. When the Govt itself is not able to bear this burden, how can I bear it? In fact, I am angry at the publication of this news. By publishing this news, the profession of the peon is humiliated whereas our constitution does not permit to discriminate on the basis of caste, creed, religion, colour or profession. The citizens of this country, no matter how much contemptible they might be, in view of law they are equal and their rights are credible and recognized. Gone are the days when the lower castes were humiliated. They used to be subjected to the contemptible behavior, so much so that their habitations used to be outside the towns. They always used to keep their utensils with them. In such a situation, to consider the appointment of a scholar on the post of a peon as humiliation is absolutely wrong because the peon of an organization or an office is the person on whose foundation stands the entire office building. You may say this post as the foundation stone also. I can’t tolerate anyone thinking his or her important post below dignity. Believe me I respect the peon of any office to such an extent that same degree of respect I don’t offer to any head of the office. The more educated the peon, the more affectionate, the more comforter and helpful he would prove to be. God forbid, I am not telling lies. I have seen very famous scholars occupying high and important positions whose commonsense and behavior are for less than the peons. Whereas, I have seen peons in some offices who don’t deserve to be called sun of the savants (shamsul-ulema) but their behavior and etiquette were so cultured and courteous that one who meets them would be inclined to bow down before them respectfully. As it is, I don’t find any difference between a peon and scholarship. Although, he has not obtained any higher degree of education from an educational institution, he has acquired knowledge from the book of life. The knowledge acquired directly from the book of life is more dignified and trust worthy than the knowledge acquired from books. The origin of this word chaprasi (peon) has been derived from “chap” and “ras” which literally mean “right” and “left” since the peon is generally found behind officer or on the right or left of him. Some peons subjected the visitors to the “left, right” parade. It is therefore; appropriate to call the chaprasi a chaprasi. At this, I recollect many peons who by their action, seem to be more important and powerful than their officers. If an officer is incompetent, (which is often the case) his peon becomes more powerful and dignified many peons are the confidants of their officers. They are well aware of his incompetence, all his weaknesses and his habits. They, therefore, keep their officer under their influence. I now recollect a higher official. I had to meet him in connection with some work. I went to his office. I met the peon who was more dignified than his officer. I asked him about his officer. He told me with indifference.” Sir is not in the office now”. He usually comes late. “You may come after sometime”. I looked at my watch. It was 12-30 p.m. The work was very urgent, so I thought I should wait there for a while. When he didn’t turn up till 2 p.m, I felt hungry. I thought why not I have lunch during this time in a certain hotel. When I came back to his office around 3-30 p.m., the peon told me with a slight anger “where did you go sir? I had told you that he comes a little bit late”. He then told me very carelessly. “He had come and he went away because he leaves office a little bit early also.” So to say, the total duration between his coming late and leaving earily was limited to one hour only. Above all, the peon was angry at me that during that one hour period, why was I absent. However, it was my work, so I was confounded. Guessing my worries, the peon sympathetically asked me” what was the work with my officer?” I told him my work. He told me with greater anger, he told me. “Where was the need for you to trouble my officer for such a minor work and to wait for such a long time? Had you told me about this work, I would have done it myself.” He took the necessary papers from me and went to the section of the office and came back. My work was done. Pleased with his attitude, I tried to give him some tip. He, then said, ”sir, it was not only my moral obligation but it was my official duty too. For what should I take tip from you?” After listening to peon’s reply, I was surprised and till now I am wonderstruck. After that my belief was confirmed that if a peon is a good person, he is greater than his officer. In olden days, Nawabs and rich persons used to employ various types of servants or peons. In the same manner, a Nawab had employed different peons for each work. Once, when he went for an excursion trip, he accompanied by a peon for carrying his hookah and another peon for carrying his umbrella. During his excursion, Nawab saheb accidentally fell into the tank. When he was drowning, he was appearing raising his head out of the surface of water, the peon-carrying umbrella used to put umbrella to over shadow him. The other peon used to put the tip of the hookah pipe into his mouth. Seeing this scene, a gentleman jumped into the tank and save nawab saheb from drowning. When Nawab saheb came alive out of the tank, instead of getting angry at his peons for not making an effort to save him from drowning, he expressed his happiness that both the peons are duty- conscious and honest and they have performed their duties conscientiously. Although, he didn’t even thank the stranger who saved his life. The next day, he appointed a swimmer in his palace so that he could save him from drowning, if need be. “Oh God-! What kind of people used to be there, in olden days-!” It was heard that there was no occasion of Nawab saheb’s drowning later but his estate was ceased completely which no swimmer could have saved. However, if a peon is duty-conscious and honest and added to this, if he is a good and educated person, he should not be considered as disrespectful and it is not appropriate to humiliate him. If the youngersters who posses PhD and M.phl degrees adopt the posts of a peon, it is a good gesture because with this the dignity of the post of a peon will not only be enhanced but he will be treated in the society respectfully. The grave issue of unemployment, which is spread throughout the country, remained unresolved. It is better that I keep silence in this matter. We can respect the unemployed persons but we can’t solve the unemployment problem. It is, therefore, advised for the unemployed youth not to be hopeful about me.