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47 . ON PLEASING GOD AND MAN
A colleague of ours was much devoted in an effort to please God . But simultaneously he was much devoted to please man. Ever so often before or during a meeting , he entered my office ,borrowed my prayer mat and busied himself in his devotions to the Almighty . We have no concern with that . That is between man and His Maker.
However , he was given to please man , an art which I honestly lacked . In one year , my boss observed that I was ‘ honest , straightforward and upright’ in my Annual Confidential Report . This observation was discussed among a group and the consensus that that would adversely affect my career . And that what happened in the long run . I remained in the same grade from 1982 till my retirement in 2005.
On one occasion, after having a brush with my boss , a dear friend from School days , Mr. Arshad Nasar , advised me to invite him to dinner . We invited him and his wife one evening . We also invited a very fine gentleman , Dr. Ikram Mohyuddin and his Dutch wife , a splendid pair. However ,the dinner was a fiasco . The boss went in to discuss the mode of dresses the female of the species in Europe wear .
The next morning , the boss was remorseless when I remonstrated for his behaviour the previous night . On the contrary , he lodged a complaint that he had an acute diarrhea .
Thus ended my venture of inviting bosses to meals .
I intercede with one of my friends who was the SSP in Rawalpindi for a police official to be posted to his hometown near
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Rawalpindi . I was asked to do so by my dear friend , Muhammad Faheem. I forget doing this favour till my PA , Rafiq, announced a visitor . He was the same man carrying a box of sweatments for me . I told that I do not entertain such gifts . But he was so insistent that I told him that in that case the box may be given to my staff . He again appeared some months later carrying the same gift announcing that he had a newly born son. A very dear friend , Tariq Ikram . was sitting with me .I gave the man the same reply . When he departed , I asked Tariq what was the purpose of his coming and carrying gfts for me . Tariq relied in the negative . I said ‘ Future Investment’.
Well , on the eve of the meeting of the Selection Board in which his name may be considered, this colleague of ours went to meet his secretary at his home carrying with him a basket of sweatments (mithai) for him . However , much to his misfortune , the Secretary was not game : he had many such encounters in his career . He gave my colleague a thorough drubbing and left him licking his wounds.
Eventually , he was promoted.
Mahfooz ur Rahman
Islamabad
November 11, 2012
47 . ON PLEASING GOD AND MAN
A colleague of ours was much devoted in an effort to please God . But simultaneously he was much devoted to please man. Ever so often before or during a meeting , he entered my office ,borrowed my prayer mat and busied himself in his devotions to the Almighty . We have no concern with that . That is between man and His Maker.
However , he was given to please man , an art which I honestly lacked . In one year , my boss observed that I was ‘ honest , straightforward and upright’ in my Annual Confidential Report . This observation was discussed among a group and the consensus that that would adversely affect my career . And that what happened in the long run . I remained in the same grade from 1982 till my retirement in 2005.
On one occasion, after having a brush with my boss , a dear friend from School days , Mr. Arshad Nasar , advised me to invite him to dinner . We invited him and his wife one evening . We also invited a very fine gentleman , Dr. Ikram Mohyuddin and his Dutch wife , a splendid pair. However ,the dinner was a fiasco . The boss went in to discuss the mode of dresses the female of the species in Europe wear .
The next morning , the boss was remorseless when I remonstrated for his behaviour the previous night . On the contrary , he lodged a complaint that he had an acute diarrhea .
Thus ended my venture of inviting bosses to meals .
I intercede with one of my friends who was the SSP in Rawalpindi for a police official to be posted to his hometown near
157
Rawalpindi . I was asked to do so by my dear friend , Muhammad Faheem. I forget doing this favour till my PA , Rafiq, announced a visitor . He was the same man carrying a box of sweatments for me . I told that I do not entertain such gifts . But he was so insistent that I told him that in that case the box may be given to my staff . He again appeared some months later carrying the same gift announcing that he had a newly born son. A very dear friend , Tariq Ikram . was sitting with me .I gave the man the same reply . When he departed , I asked Tariq what was the purpose of his coming and carrying gfts for me . Tariq relied in the negative . I said ‘ Future Investment’.
Well , on the eve of the meeting of the Selection Board in which his name may be considered, this colleague of ours went to meet his secretary at his home carrying with him a basket of sweatments (mithai) for him . However , much to his misfortune , the Secretary was not game : he had many such encounters in his career . He gave my colleague a thorough drubbing and left him licking his wounds.
Eventually , he was promoted.
Mahfooz ur Rahman
Islamabad
November 11, 2012
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