Do the clerks & peons at government offices hate us?

There is something synonymous about boredom and government officials. By definition they are ‘public servants’ and since we- the tax payers and voters- happen to be the public, the government employees/ staff are meant to respect and attend to us when we knock on their tables. However, no one that I know of has ever been blessed with as much as a polite gesture- let alone a welcoming smile- from the said officials!!

Instead what greets us often is irritation, boredom, lethargy and sometimes even hostility. They seem to get offended especially when they sense that we- who have been made to wait for hours, have got all the papers needed and have been nice to them- are showing signs of impatience . So what if the employee is talking on phone- repeating the simple alloo sabzi recipe for the 4^th time- or abnoxiously discussing his next door neighbours issues with his next table collegue, while we restlessly wait? We are not supposed to even- squirm!

Worst effected are the ones who do not know the regional language! God save them!

It is such an uniform behaviourial tendency that one cannot escape it. Everytime I have been to say a Passport Office, RTO, Mumbai University etc I have almost felt as if somepeople have put up large banners on top of their heads that read- “I do not want to work” or “Go back! I hate you for coming here you fucking citizen of India!”.

The two reason for the above- as told to me- are - 1) Low Pay which builds that angst and hatred and 2) Monotony of work which make them bitter and irritable.

I agree with the reasons although they do make up for the money part!! My only bone of contention in some cases is that these people chose these lives. I feel their behavious is an escape route or rather a solution to the above two reason/ problems. Here’s how-

On most occasions such government employees happen to be people who are not ambitious or conscientious. They are never from very rich back grounds and have had restricted means where they grew up with one goal- to secure ‘ a permanent government job’ and now- They have got it!! But hey... life is still not over! How does then one cope with the tiresome monotony? How does one motivate oneself to get up every day in the morning and turn up for work? All of us need kicks that propel us

to do what we would have otherwise not liked to and these indespensable public servants get these kicks from that one element that is most intoxicating- “Power”.

The knowledge that someone is depending on you (thats us!). Someone who seems to have more facilities than you may have had, more ambitions than you have had and more avenues than you wish to have. To make that someone suffer when they come to you is a thrill that they get used to and embrace.

Hence, the peon loves it when he is cajoled and begged to do what he is supposed to do. The clerk loves it when he can dig his nose or clean his ear while we wait helplessly. The guy at the booking counter loves to walk off and announce lunch time even though he is not hungry. They all simply love to call us the next day even though today is as good!

Not because they hate us, simple because they love the power they have over us. A power that fuels that otherwise mundane existence!