Why we differ

Life begins with the division of cells.  So have we studied and we see in real life.

In the course of the growth of any organization comes a time when there is a necessity to branch out.

When guided by differences in principles and approaches, this becomes inevitable.

The prediction of Shri. L. N. Mishra, in one of his mails, is prophetic in that regard. It is the first photo seen above.

Though he belongs to that block that holds that having access to the corridors of power is the be all and end all of association activities, he is also alive to the requirements of the present generation.  Hence, he has foreseen the necessity for a division. He had earlier certified that his successor Shri. Ravi Malik had unhindered access to the offices in the North Block, and that he himself had such privilege even to the extent that he could contact the Member or Chairman over phone.

Against the above position, there have also been instances where Office bearers are not met by the authorities, avoided and even in a particular instance an All India Assn Office bearer had been charge-sheeted for meeting the Chairman, CBEC, as per an appointment granted by the Chairman himself for the delegation of that Association and later three increments were cut in a disciplinary proceeding for that Office bearer, only to be restored in appellate proceedings.

The membership which is alive to the necessity to be respected, expects respect not only from the authorities, but their own representatives, in the first instance.  They resent the representatives becoming leaders and then starting to ignore the rank and file on whose shoulders they stand themselves to negotiate with the authorities.

The pain of a cadre which sees its acclaimed representative refusing to take cognizance of the ground realities, could be seen from the mail of Shri. Virender Thakkur.  That letter is the second photo above.

The fundamental difference in approach, as it always happens in any growing organization is the basic expectation to preserve the collective self respect of the members of the organization. 

The members are generally torn between achievement of immediate results and having long term benefits.

The short term benefits are usually in the form of postings and transfers for the office bearers themselves or some persons in their coterie. This is the usually preferred method for the administration also, for obvious reasons.  This is a general trend in all Government departments. Both sides are happy.

But, this short term approach obviously takes away any opportunity for the Association to have any say in larger matters.  That is because whatever strength it has, has been squandered away for short term benefits for a few.

This is not a new situation.

During the late part of the 19^th Century, Aurobindo Gosh wrote a series of articles under the title, ‘NEW LAMPS FOR OLD’.  A screen shot of a portion of one such article is the third photo above.

We can very well relate our positions in this.

Now, we can infer why we differ and why a division has become inevitable.