Harka Bahadur: The Most Innocent
The Chairman has not arrived yet! He might be busy somewhere in more important meetings but he will be here at the right time for sure.
Harka Bahadur does not understand anything. Were he able to do so he would have become the Director, General Manager or General Secretary himself. He smiles at his own imagination.
‘O’ ! Harka Bahadur, Harka…”
“Yes sir,” Hiding all his emotions within himself Harka Bahadur peeps inside. “Look out carefully. The Chairman could pop up at any time,” the General Manager says.
Harka Bahadur doesn’t understand it at all. “Of course, the sound of any vehicle can be heard at once from within the meeting room. Wouldn’t that be enough to know that he has arrived?” he mutters silently.
“He has not come yet…Sir.” He could have said so straight away without looking out of the window but he is always driven by the desire to be obedient.
Harka Bahadur is unable to understand anything. The only thing he understands is that his utter simplicity and innocence has made him a disciple of the General Manager. As long as Harka Bahadur is there no official secrecy would leak out; his manager has no qualms about it. The sun may rise in the west but whatever happens in the broad room doesn’t come out of his mouth. Whatever he hears here he seals it up within his innermost heart very tightly. Sometimes if he is deeply worried he may tell his wife and there it ends.
“Ghrarrra…Gharrra.” He hears the sound of the motorcar and becomes much alert. He peeps out of the window and rushes inside to inform about the arrival of the Chairman.
The General Manager and the board members get to their heels at once. The General Manager hurries out to welcome the Chairman, his whole body tilting at ninety degrees.
“Good afternoon, Sir.” The room resounds with the chorous of greetings and the Chairman responds by taking his seat in a benevolent mood.
Harka Bahadur knows that the general meeting is now going to begin soon. He also knows that the meeting is a mere formality for there will be no substantial discussion about his topic. Some of the members want to say something but they don’t get any chance to do so. The General Manager reads out a paper in a single breath. A few members also raise their voice for and against his proposal but the majority of them blindly support the Chairman and wait for him to announce his decision.
Harka Bahadur understands this much. “But what is the prupose of holding the meeting when the absolute right of decision-making and implementation is vested only on the Chairman! This is what he has never been able to understand. The majority of the board members look different individually but they are all yes-men,” he says to himself.
“Harka Bahadur…”The General Manager’s stern voice penetrates Harka Bahadur’s ears and his introspection ends abruptly. “Yes Sir.” Harka Bahadur is ordered to send in the lunch package, although he is not supposed to do so. There are other persons assigned for this. His only duty is to order caterers who are already on the move.
“Attention please. This is a time to seriously follow the economic policy of the government,” the board members are heard talking among themselves.
In the meantime a board members says, “Sir, our meeting allowance is very low. It should have been at least five hundred rupees per meeting. The present amount was sanctioned two years ago. Since then the price of everything has risen tremendously and touched the sky.”
“Moreover, we have to be here for so long and rack our brains to take complicated decisions,” another member adds.
Harka Bahadur is all ears. Meanwhile yet another member says, “Let us not bother about it at all. Our kind-hearted Chairman is himself aware of our problems. I am sure he will definitely consider it. Am I not right, Sir? It would be better if this very meeting decides and regulates it making it effective from the last fiscal year.”
“It’s Ok. I agree with your views,” says the Chairman, “your decision is always my decision. You can pass this resolution without any hesitation.”
“We have something else to decide, Sir,” one of the members, however, dare to say. You can pass this resolution without any hesitation.”
“We have something else to decide, Sir, “one of the members, however, dares to say. It is about the clothing allowance for the peons.”
Harka Bahadur feels very happy. The proposal had been put up at the Board meetings more than once but postponed on one pretext or another. Harka Bahadur runs his fingers over his worn-out clothes he has been wearing for some years.
He thinks he already has the new clothes.
“Sir, at present we do not have ample budget for this,” explained the General Manager, “moreover, as discussed earlier we have to think over the government’s circular directing us to strictly follow its fiscal regulations. We can however consider it next year.
The Manager’s remark deals a severe blow to Harka Bahadur.
“What do the other members say about it?” the Chairman ultimately asks.
Most of the members toe the line of the General’s Manager. “The General Manager is very right, Sir.” The nation is on the verge of economic collapse and the financial position of our institution is also very bleak,” they argue. The Chairman puts his signature in the minute book and leaves the room then and there. With it all the hopes and aspirations of Harka Bahadur is dashed altogether. He is cold all over at once. There is enough money to increase the members’ meeting allowance but none for the clothing allowance for a few poor peons. Will the next year ever come? Harka Bahadur feels miserable. He fails to understand it.
Harka Bahadur tries hard to understand the situation but he fails again. He is totally confused. He has many questions in his mind but he has no answer. He finds himself all alone in the Board Room. He is least aware that the meeting is already over and the Chairman is already home bound.
“Oh, Harka Bahadur are you asleep? The General Manager calls. Harka Bahadur trembles like a leaf. “No, Sir,” he replies and wipes the sweat from his brows. “I got it, I got it,” he utters repeatedly to himself
(Translated by Ram Bahadur Pahadi)
The Rising Nepal (Friday Supplement Feb.20, 2009)
