MB#26: 𝙃𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙀𝙖𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙃𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝘼𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙊𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙀𝙖𝙩.
- www.suryanarayana.com
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
[MemoirBlogthon #26] On a train journey to Vijayawada, my brother-in-law engaged in a lengthy conversation with a co-passenger, an engineer who spent three hours complaining about his superior's uncompromising honesty and strict anti-corruption stance. This story recounts the hilarious and shocking moment of realization when the engineer discovered he had been complaining about my father—the Superintending Engineer—to his son-in-law, providing the ultimate, unexpected third-party validation of my father's unwavering professional integrity.
The Core Narrative: An Unexpected Complaint
In 1980, my brother-in-law, Sri Sarma, was traveling from Hyderabad to Vijayawada on the Golconda Express. He sat down in his window seat, and soon after, a middle-aged man named Sri Ajay joined him. They started talking about everything from national politics to music, which is what people usually do on trains.
As the journey progressed, Sri Ajay began to air his professional grievances, revealing that he was an engineer heading to a meeting in Vijayawada with his circle office boss. He lamented the difference between his job and Sri Sarma’s (a bank officer), particularly when it came to utilizing benefits like medical bills.
Sri Ajay's anguish centered on his superior, the Superintending Engineer of the Roads and Buildings Department's Mechanical Circle in Vijayawada:
"My superior... has been a very sincere officer. and that is why he adheres to the rules. We, the subordinate engineers, are experiencing difficulties due to this strict vigilance implemented in the name of saving the government's financial resources. My boss is such a person; he won't eat, and he also won't allow others to eat in the name of honesty. I am fed up with this type of officer."Realizing that the conversation was about someone he knew well, Sri Sarma subtly encouraged the complaints to elicit more of the subordinate's perspective on the "strict vigilance."
The Unintended Reveal
As they neared Vijayawada, Sri Ajay generously offered Sri Sarma a ride in the government vehicle that was coming to pick him up, inviting him to stay at the department's travelers' bungalow.
That's when Sri Sarma dropped the bombshell. He politely declined, stating, "I am going to the residential quarters of government officers near PWD ground. My father-in-law's house. He is S. S. Sastry, the Superintending Engineer in the Roads and Buildings department's mechanical division."
The crucial contrast—the unexpected shock—was instantaneous. The stranger had just spent three hours complaining about my father's stringent honesty to his own son-in-law.
Sri Ajay was visibly embarrassed and apologetic: "Sorry sir, I have so far talked ill about your father-in-law. Kindly don't reveal our train conversation with him." He quickly offered a carry bag of fruits and thanked Sri Sarma for the "enriching conversation."
### The Legacy of Integrity
The deeper ethical 'why' here is two-fold: First, it's a valuable lesson in etiquette—we should never comment on others without knowing who is listening. Second, and most importantly, it offers powerful third-party validation of my father's unwavering integrity.
Sri Sarma had always held his father-in-law in high regard for his straightforward nature and honesty. The fact that a disgruntled subordinate’s most vivid complaint was that "he won't eat, and he also won't allow others to eat" confirmed his reputation as a sincere officer who strictly went by the rule, saving the government exchequer.
This story, which Sri Sarma kept to himself for a long time, reinforces my father's reputation as a man whose high ethical standards were visible and universally acknowledged, even if they occasionally frustrated those working under him.
MB#26 Quiz
MB26: Question: The co-passenger on the train, who complained for three hours, was employed as what type of professional?
A. A contractor.
B. An accountant.
C. An engineer.
D. A journalist.
MB#26 Quote
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