MB#50: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙤𝙖𝙙 𝙍𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙇𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙈𝙮 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡.

[MemoirBlogthon #50] A heartfelt request from a celebrated educationist presented my father with a tricky ethical problem involving government property. His brilliant solution—turning a community favor into a mandatory vehicle trial—taught me a masterclass in professional accountability and service.

MB#50: The Engineer Who Sent a Road Roller Next Door

My father, Sri Susarla Subrahmanya Sastry, was the Executive Engineer at the Andhra Pradesh Roads and Buildings Department’s Mechanical Workshop in Vijayawada. Our school, Children’s Montessori, sat right next door, a happy, bustling place run by the late Smt. Dr. V. Koteswaramma garu, a celebrated educationist and Padma Shri awardee.

One morning, the phone rang in my father’s office. It was the school secretary, asking to be connected to "Sri SS Sastry garu" because the headmistress wanted to speak to him personally. The headmistress came on the line with a polite, time-sensitive request.

"Sir," she explained, "you have been generous to our school before, and now we face a problem. We are preparing for the Children’s Day celebration on November 14th, and we need to level the school grounds for mass drills and cultural events. Private road roller contractors charge heavily and must come from faraway places. Since your road rollers are literally next door, could you possibly spare one for about three hours? We are happy to pay for fuel and the driver's time."

My father paused for only a moment. "Respected Smt. Dr. V. Koteswaramma garu," he replied, his voice calm and reassuring. "I will ensure your request is fulfilled within two days. Please leave it to us. No payment is necessary. Consider it our complimentary service."

True to his word, two days later, a massive road roller rumbled over from the workshop and onto the school premises. It arrived with a driver, a cleaner, and an assistant engineer. They spent six hours carefully rolling the entire ground, smoothing out the pits and gravel, and preparing a perfect stage for the children. I watched this scene multiple times over the years—my father quietly orchestrating favors for community good.

Years later, after I had left school and joined college, the memory of these quiet favors lingered. I finally asked my father the question that had always been on my mind: "How did you manage to lend government equipment for a private favor without facing any official complaint? Isn't that risky for a public servant?"

His reply was not just a lesson in bureaucracy; it was a profound lesson in ethical management.

"I am fully aware of the complication, son," he explained. "The assistant engineer in charge was instructed to send a specific road roller—one that had just completed its overhaul. The vehicle was directed to go to the school ground next door to test its functioning by undertaking leveling work for a day."

He continued, "This was a necessary trial run to ensure the overhaul was successful. It helped the driver, the mechanic, and the assistant engineer identify any deficiencies for correction before the machine went back into service. It was a required government test, happening to take place where it did the most public good."

I realized then that his integrity wasn't just about saying 'no' to corruption; it was about his accountability to find ethical, legally sound ways to say 'yes' to community service.

MB#50: Quote

MB50: Question: The father’s brilliant solution involved turning a community favor into what kind of required professional activity?

Change Image

• A. An official demonstration.
• B. A mandatory road roller trial.
• C. A public works survey.
• D. An emergency repair.

MB#50: Quiz

"The time is always right to do what is right." – Martin Luther King Jr.