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Diplomacy


A couple of weeks back, my sister gave me a call from Kerala informing about the vacancies in a certain school in Bangalore.  “The principal’s post carries a monthly salary of Rs 1.5 lakhs,” she was reading from the Malayalam newspaper in which the ad appeared. 

“What about the teacher’s posts?” I asked hoping for a proportionately good salary for teachers.

“They haven’t mentioned the teachers’ salaries though there are many vacancies.”

Nevertheless, I emailed my application for the post of English teacher.  Delhi kind of politics even in workplace has become utterly boring and I look forward to some change.  Even politics calls for variety in order to be entertaining enough.  I hoped that Bangalore might be able to provide that much needed change.

The reply came today: a call letter for the post of principal.  I was disappointed.  Looking at my sullen face, a colleague asked what the matter was.

“Why are you worried?” asked the colleague coolly after listening to my answer. “Take up the job and appoint a secretary at the salary of Rs40000 per month in order to deal with the political part of the job.  The rest is good enough money.”

“Make it Rs60000,” said another colleague who offered his own services with implicit mockery.  “Don’t make politics so cheap,” he suggested.

Now I’ll have to ask the school whether they are ready to split the responsibilities of the principal into two parts: the political and the non-political. 

Warning: Not every written discourse is to be taken seriously.  And levity is not always frivolity.
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Comments

  1. RekhaFebruary 26, 2014 at 12:54 PM

    Politics....something I guess is not my cup of tea, but I am forced to taste it now and then, thanks to the corporate world.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anita SabatFebruary 26, 2014 at 1:36 PM

    Sir, How about putting up an ad for a politically correct person to serve as your secretary?!
    Good deal! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. MridulaFebruary 26, 2014 at 2:25 PM

    And where ever you go the difference would be of degree of, degree of politics!

    ReplyDelete
  4. ManiparnaFebruary 27, 2014 at 2:52 AM

    Politics nowadays is synonymous with Poly (many) tricks !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalFebruary 27, 2014 at 7:42 AM

      Wasn't politics always that, Maniparna? Chanakya lived 2300 years ago and Machiavelli lived in the 15th century and their works suggested absolutely devious methods for political leaders...

      Delete
  5. UnknownFebruary 27, 2014 at 2:05 PM

    Politics has become more of an attitude nowadays.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalFebruary 27, 2014 at 5:08 PM

      Krishna, do you mean to say that politics has become the way of life today? I wouldn't disagree with you if that's what you mean. [And we have leaders who prove it day in and day out, alas!]

      Delete
  6. UnknownFebruary 27, 2014 at 3:29 PM

    I hate politics and I am stuck with it inside family, in office, in kids school everywhere. Just want to appoint someone like you say and let them handle the messy part.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Kokila guptaFebruary 28, 2014 at 11:08 AM

    To me it spells insecurity. An insecure person always tends/opts.causes/ dirty politics to save his/her tail/rank/position. Entangle all others in a mess and not let them see in his/her direction , saddest part...for a life time.Worst politics is dirty politics - at home. And guess what? If they stop it at home it will automatically vanish from everywhere else.Poof ! Think it was Hitler who said - give me 60 good mothers and I will give you a good nation.Define good? I dare .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalFebruary 28, 2014 at 3:40 PM

      At a philosophical level, insecurity may be the cause of political manipulations. But at the practical level of day-to-day life, I think, it is pure selfishness.
      Thanks for joining my circle.

      Delete
  8. AmitAagFebruary 28, 2014 at 12:02 PM

    Its degree may vary but you can't escape..

    ReplyDelete
  9. UnknownMarch 11, 2014 at 10:59 AM

    LOL...this reminds me of my recent job hopping. At the start of the year, I joined new job with the expectations of leading a peaceful work life. Within 15 days, I quit the new job and went back to old job because I got nothing but trauma in the new job in the name of peace!

    ReplyDelete

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