It was an experience during my holidays.

It was a cold night of 13th October 1999. The scene begins at Karnataka State Transport Bus Stand in Mysore. The waiting shed was full of travellers. A bus from Bangalore came in and stopped at the Inter State Bus Terminal. Some waiting passengers rushed to the only entrance door of the bus and it created difficulty for the in coming passengers to alight.

When the hue and cry was little settled down, a handicap alighted from the bus. He was holding a cotton bag on his shoulder. His walking stick was not enough to bear his weight. At one time his walking stick struck on a pebble and he lost balance of his body. He was about to fall down, but got a support on me as I was returning to the bus stand after having a tea from a footpath vendor.

I felt pity to the old man. He walked with my support to the waiting shed and seated. He opened his cotton bag and brought out a small bottle. He unscrewed its cap and poured a bowl in his mouth. Smell of raw rum emitted. He tightened the bottle and inserted it in the bag. He smacked his lips.

He begged my pardon. Seeing his physical condition I did not feel bad to him. When he tried to sit comfortably, his walking stick slipped and fell on the floor. I bent down and took it and gave to him. He emotionally said the difficulty of being a handicap.

With his walking stick he pulled a plastic card from the floor and he took it in his card. Then I realized it was my card. “Oh! So, you are a journalist! Aren’t you?” Looking at the card on both sides, he asked. I smiled. He introduced him to me. He was Kutty, T.V. George Kutty (not real name) from Pathanamthitta district in Kerala State.

He and I were waiting for buses to Kozhikode and Kannur respectively. We talked. There was no strangers’ mute silence after finishing a topic. We talked on a variety of subjects. In a very short time we became acquaintances.

When a young man passed in front of us, he called him by name. The passer by came near to him and shook his hand. He shook my hand too when the old man introduced me to him. At that time, the old man murmured in to my ear that the young man was Mr. Kumar, a nephew of the Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna.

The old man talked to Kumar in Kannada for some time and later in a mixture of English, Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi languages. The talk was largely on politics. He said to me that he was a Congress supporter right from the beginning. During their talks in Kannada very often he looked at me, translating their conversation to Malayalam for my comments. Without involving in the talks, I said “correct” in some cases. When his waiting friends repeatedly called Kumar, he left.

Kutty said that Kumar was a Gowda. He compared the Gowda caste of Karnataka with Ezhava of Kerala. He had all praise for Kumar and his Chief Minister uncle. The conversation of politics was not subdued. He criticized the Union Government. But did not hesitate to praise certain leaders. Vajpayee, George Fernandes, Ram Vilas Paswan and few others got his praise. We talked regional, national and international issues and politics.
He climbed down from his wild talk and asked about me. He said the names of few prominent people from my community and praised them. He said he was pleased to meet me.

George Kutty, a thin and clean shaved smart looking at his 50s, narrated his story. He was a B.Sc. LME holder. He began his career in Indian Telephone Industries, Bangalore. He was an Engineer there. But, unfortunately, he met with an accident there during duty hours. An overhead travelling crane broke and fell on him. He was rushed to hospital. He was in different hospitals for months. The doctors could save his life, but he turned a handicap. He lost one of his kneecaps and his one leg became dead. It was a hanging flesh for him.

He took out a photocopy of discharge certificate that he got from the ITI, in which it was mentioned that he was discharged from ITI on medical ground. It was also mentioned in it that he can nominate any one to ITI and based on the nominee’s qualification and experience, the ITI would provide suitable employment. He showed some ITI forms and documents.

He said that he was a chronic bachelor and had no kith and kin. He lost his father when he was very young. A few years ago he lost his mother also. Remembering his mother he wept for a while. ‘Being alone in this world is very tragic’, he said like a philosopher.

He said he had his own house at his native place. Some times he spent at a distant relative at Kozhikode. But, most of his time is spent on travel. He frequently travelled to ITI, Bangalore. He was in constant touch with higher authorities seeking a re-berth in ITI. But, he lost that hope. Before the end of the year he had to nominate someone otherwise he would lose his nomination power. Moreover, the Chairman, a retired high-ranking Airforce Official’s deputation was to expire on 31st December 1999.

He was returning from Bangalore where went to meet one of his acquaintances who helped him greatly when he was hospitalized. He could not forget that acquaintance, who was with him at the hospitals. At last he decided to nominate the acquaintance’s son to ITI. But, when he reached to Bangalore, he came to know that the acquaintance and family had shifted from there. No one knew his new address. He was given to understand that the acquaintance’s son went to Saudi Arabia.

He said that I could impress him. He was pleased because being a stranger I did not hesitate to extend a hand of support when he was about to fall down. If I were interested he would nominate me for employment in ITI.

Many people, including his former colleagues were after him for getting their people nominated. They were even ready to pay him thousands of rupees. The church priest advised him marry a poor girl and give her the job so that she would look after him and he would not be alone any more.

But, he was against all types of bribes and corruption. He promised me that he would get a job of a sub editor for its house magazine published every month in different languages.

Yes, his only demand was to meet the initial expenses and after getting salary each month, as a gesture of help, for his personal expenses including medicines, to transfer . Rs.1,000 per month to his bank account for five years when his one year old rubber plantation would start yield. He would not have even asked for this help but the compensation he got from ITI was spent and to pull on he had no alternative. As he was a lame traveller and like an orphan he was scared of his death. In case of that unfortunate happening, I would not need to transfer the funds. The church was given power to take over his plantation and immovable properties. He did not find any honest person who accepted and adhered to these terms.

The offer aroused my interest. I told him that I would meet him later. But, he told me that if I was interested, I need to give him my bio data and fifty rupees towards the cost of postal order only. When I told him I have no bio data prepared, he asked me to write one immediately. If I were reluctant in giving fifty rupees for postal order he would manage it.

I prepared a bio data and gave to him. By that time, a bus to Kozhikode was arrived at the Bus stand and parked at the opposite side. At his request, I ran to the bus and got a seat for him. Then I took him to the seat. He asked me to meet him at Kozhikode Railway station on 15th October 1999.

I met him at Kozhikode railway station as pre planned. He took out a bunch of papers from his cotton bag. He asked me to walk to a calm and quite place, as he had to talk more. When we passed through a temple near the bus stand, he asked me that was the right place. He opened the gate and entered in to it. He folded his hands and prayed for a moment and said that although he was a Christian all Gods are one. It was considered as a good omen.

We sat. He showed my bio-data in which the remarks reportedly by ITI Personnel Manager as: Designation – Sub Editor, Scale of pay – Rs. 7500/- + DA + CCA + Incentive + PF. DA 1620/=, Unit – Palaghat. Copy of postal order was also shown. He explained the difficulties he encountered in getting these so quickly. For that he spent money in entertaining his colleagues. He lectured about the social status of a Sub editor of ITI. The gross salary would be Rs.11, 500/=

Although I am interested in the offer, I asked him to consider the case of my eldest brother as he was out of employment for the last two years. Hearing the bio data and experience of my eldest brother he said that he would get only a job of a Clerk for which a salary of Rs.4, 000/=

He then asked me to pay him at least Rs.550/=. Rs.50/= towards the cost of postal order he bought and Rs.500/= towards his expenses for travel and other incidental expenses. I gave him Rs.450/=

We met again at Kozhikode Railway station on 18.11.99. He explained all the difficulties in getting the papers moved quickly. It was possible with his former colleagues’ co-operation for which he entertained them well in addition to giving some monies to them. His friends repeatedly joked him
“Kutty, how many lakhs did you get?”

That day I gave him Rs.2, 200/=. He then insisted me to join in ITI. He said that the Personnel Manager was asking him “I think, this guy is mad. Otherwise, he would not have refused the offer of Sub-editor to him and offered the post of Clerk to his brother”.

He asked me to take up the job in ITI first and later try for my brother. My taking up the job would help him too. It would help him to get a re-entry or other favours.

In the meantime, as I made up my mind, I decided to accept the offer and disclosed it to him. He was very happy.

He asked me to be at Kozhikode on 22.11.99 with all certificates for going to Palakkad for interview. Interview would only be an informal chat. But I must wear a necktie to impress the Chairman and others.

When we met on 22.11.99 he asked me how much money I had. When I disclosed the volume, he said that was not sufficient because the Personnel Manager Suresh Iyer who helped him greatly need to be paid not less than Rs.2,500 and about equal amount might be incurred for our travel, stay etc. in Palakkad.

Giving him Rs.500 for his stay in Kozhikode I went back to home to arrange money. I returned with money and we went to Palakkad on 23rd night.

We stayed in a lodge at GB Road. The whole night while travelling in the bus and in the lodge he lectured me about ITI with newspaper cuttings and other statistics. He explained about its all five units, forthcoming joint venture in Singapore, the organization set up and trade union activities.

The formal introduction was scheduled on 24th at 10.00 a.m. with the Chairman, General Manager and Publicity Manager. Although that would not be an interview I might be asked some questions about ITI in a chat. The Chairman came from Bangalore for a meeting. He used to say Kutty that he ‘wanted to appoint the nominee of Kutty before his retirement’ Kutty said. If I could impress the Chairman with my thorough knowledge about ITI, he would give me up to 10mincrements to which he had authority. Each increment worth Rs.150!

From the lodge he asked me to complete the forms. In front of me he executed the bond in stamp paper. And rehearsal of the interview was held. He was pleased and confirmed the appointment jokingly.

On 24th we got up early morning. He asked me to pay him Rs.2, 500 for giving to the Personnel Manager, who would come to the guesthouse where the interview is scheduled with all completed files. I gave him the money and arranged an auto with the help of the hotel room boy for going him to the Personnel Manager’s residence in Kalpathy.

Before going he asked me that he would return quickly by then I must be ready for going to ITI by 9.00 a.m., wearing the neck tie and revising his lectures about ITI. I waited for Kutty impatiently.
Time passed. Kutty did not turn up. I telephoned to ITI. There was no Personnel Manager Suresh Iyer. Slowly I realized that was all a drama, a cleverly played cheating dram in the name of ITI for which I lost more than 7000 rupees and my precious two weeks time.

The next day I went to ITI only to deliver a complaint as its ex-employee did these misusing its name. But, no response in spite of repeated reminders.

The registered letter that I sent to Kutty to Pathanamthitta returned undelivered saying ‘the addressee left the station above 20 years. Present address not known.’

Kutty may be after a new prey with a new story!

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