Gustakhi Maaf Haryana – Pawan Kumar Bansal

Extracts from my upcoming book on politics, culture and governance of Haryana — “Murky Politics of Haryana.”

DESTINY – DEVI KA PARSHAD

After lifting of Emergency, Devilal has become Chief Minister of Haryana. Devilal has got his bete noire, former Chief Minister Bansilal, handcuffed and paraded in streets of Bhiwani, his hometown, in a cooked-up case. At that time, Devilal will publicly declare that he will put S.K. Mishra, who was Principal Secretary of Bansilal, behind bars. Vigilance probe was also ordered against him. Mishra was a close confidant of Bansilal and his name was synonymous with terror among bureaucrats. It goes to the credit of Mishra that he was the brain behind highway tourism in Haryana, which has no hill station.

Fearing arrest, Mishra has gone on long leave even without pay, but the government was not sanctioning it. Mishra was contacting pundits on how to please Devi. It was destiny that Devilal, who was hell-bent on arresting Mishra, got him appointed his Principal Secretary.

The entire story is like a Mumbai film story having a punch of miracle. Few days back, Devilal had gone to Kashmir where Chief Minister Sheikh Abdulla, who had learnt about Mishra’s developing Haryana tourism, had requested him to send Mishra on deputation to Kashmir so that his services could be used for further boosting tourism. It was a big compliment for Mishra. Devilal came back and asked, “Who is Mishri Lal?” Since there was no I.A.S. officer named Mishrilal in Haryana at that time, the issue was forgotten.

Scene now shifts to Surjkund tourist complex in Gurugram district bordering Delhi, where Devilal was resting. Devilal, who had skin disease in his leg, used to frequently visit Sohna complex where water has sulphur. Devilal had also called Chief Architect of Haryana Mr. V.N. Shah for giving suggestions for making Surjkund a world-class tourist destination. Government was not sanctioning leave and Mishra was worried. Ultimately, he mustered courage and went to have darshan of Devi (Devilal) in Surjkund.

Fearing dressing down, he requested Devilal’s P.A. to arrange his meeting in privacy and when Devi is in good spirit. Having breakfast, Devilal was discussing with Shah plans for improvement of the complex. Devilal asked his P.A., “Is anybody waiting for meeting?” Seeing Devilal happy, P.A. told that Mishra Sahib is standing in queue since one hour for your darshan. In his true Haryanvi style, Devilal first shouted, “Yo susra kyun milna chahta hai?” (Why he wants to meet?). After a pause of few minutes, he asked P.A. to send him in.

To his utter disbelief, Devilal, who was sipping lassi, asked Mishra to have breakfast. With folded hands, Mishra declined the offer but Devilal forced lassi on him. Devilal told Mishra to prepare a blueprint for improvement of the complex with the help of Shah.

Emboldened, Mishra — a shrewd I.A.S. officer, the breed which judges the body language of Chief Minister — went out and came back. After giving suggestions for half an hour, he requested again with folded hands for sanctioning of his leave, adding that he was ready to go on leave without pay.

Again, Devilal told in chaste Haryanvi, “Are Mishra, itne note kama liye. Bina tankhah chhutti jana chahta hai?” (Mishra, you have earned so much money to afford leave without pay!). Before Mishra could react, Haryanvi Chaudhary retorted, “Mishra to bade kaam ka aadmi hai. Aur aise aadmi ki mujhe bhi jarurat hai.” (Mishra, you are a man of worth, and I also need such man).

Scene now shifts to Delhi, where worried Madam Mishra was waiting for the outcome of the meeting. Those days, there were no mobiles.

Here, next few minutes for Mishra were like that in Navratri — Maa Durga had given darshan. Devilal contacted his Chief Secretary in Chandigarh and told him to appoint Mishra his Principal Secretary, adding to give some good posting to the present Principal Secretary. He asked Director Public Relations to issue a press note in this regard. When scribes got information about Mishra’s appointment, they thought that it was a joke of Holi festival. Before issuing orders and press note, both the officers checked and cross-checked the information several times from all available sources.

Actually, what had happened — Devilal got reminded of his meeting with Abdulla. Rest was history.

Destiny had played major positive and negative roles in life of some more characters of Haryana, which we will discuss in coming chapters.