Old man muses

Soon after that the doubling work was completed and I got busy in Agra yard remodelling. As the tracks on either side of Agra were to be doubled the entire yard needed change. We had a meeting with concerned departments and chalked program for carrying out remodelling which extended for about four months duration. It was first time my life that I was working from home having everyday meals at home and sleeping at home. I was enjoying the work. The staff was distributed cabinwise and work commenced in full swing.

One day there was staff payment and all the staff was assembled in my office. The staff payment day has joyful atmosphere as staff are happy to receive their rightful dues and they leave for their homes with two days holidays. It was practice then staff used to work for fortnight without any weekly off and they would take holidays after pay. Payment commenced. As per practice I would sit in the center and payclerk would sit on my left. I would call out the name of the gang. the head of the gang would come in and his gang would form line after him. then I will call the name of the indivdual and his amount due. He would put his thumb impression. the payclerk would pay him. While the payment was in progress I got phone call from my divisional engineer advising me the staff working in yard are causing detention to goods trains. I said this can't be true since all the staff were in my office since staff payment was in progress. H owever I asked one my assistant inspector to proceed and find out what was the trouble. After the payment was over I proceeded to yard found in one cabin Gopal was struggling with the adjustment of the circuit controller. My assistant inspector was firing him as to why he has taken up the job in which he knew nothing. I told him Gopal was said to be useless but I find he is trying to do something on his own which requires to be appreciated. I will give full protection to him and see no action is taken. These words worked like magic on him. There was total change in him.

After that incidence Gopal was found to be very useful. Next month in the course of work we commissioned new A cabin. That night there was failure at A cabin and mechanic kept there could not rectify. As the trains were getting detained I proceeded to that spot. While returning I found Gopal was attending to electric fault. He was very systematic in localising the fault. I felt admiration for him.

After Agra yard remodelling the yard was to be handed back to maintainance department and they demanded Gopal sharma to be transfered to them. It was amazing how a person who was thought to be useless has become so useful.