Anna Hazare (part I)– Nokkatte.

Anna Hazare (part I)– Nokkatte.
Though Anna Hazare ( somebody spelt it as Anna Hazarde) is full in media – In papers , in TV.., and his name is now synchronized with anti-corrupt, I just read a nice piece on the subject by KTR in his Wannebewodehouse and I thought of a few words on the subject.
Il etait 1987. It was in 1987. I was posted as a Field Officer at our Pappanamcode branch. Many of the eye brows were raised on hearing this, I being inexperienced and I was offered an accountant’s post in sreekaryam or karyavattom. But I was determined to learn and go up the career ladder. As they say I aimed the stars to reach the sky). The first thing I did – I took a notebook and went to Mr.Sankar a sincere field officer at our Puthenchanthai branch (who retired in MMII four or five years back). He taught me of basics of how to be a Field Officer ( But he did not teach how to face corrupt people ) I also learned from my predecessor on the routine things on the seat.
Inspections, putting up for sanction etc became a routine matter. And one day a calm mid-aged man came for a loan. I understood that it was for ‘Kozhi valarthal’. I decided based on experience in the branch and other’s experience and also on the background of the applicant, that this is not a good proposition. So I told him on his face of my decision ( even before I gave the application form). But he would come every alternate day and he became a “salyam”. Later he began complaining to my Branch Manager, who trusted me and brushed aside the complaint. But the Branch Manager was afraid of any repercussion in case the complaint is sent to his boss. So he asked me to inspect the unit and then decide.
Though I was reluctant due to constant pressure from him, I said “Nokkatte” (let me see). A day was fixed. An auto was arranged. He came along to show me the place. The unit was somewhat away from roadside. After alighting from the auto, we walked along the pathway. There was some hens in a makeshift tent. I put a lot of questions to which he half-answered. He knew that I had not changed my mind of rejecting the loan. We turned back and after a few steps, he suddenly gave me a ‘pothi’. I was shocked. “He was trying to bribe me”..Untolerable act.. I shouted at him and took another auto and came back to Office.
When I told this to my senior friend, he calmed me saying that he also had similar experiences and asked me to smilingly tell him not to do such things in this Office. After a few days, the applicant again came to me. I asked him why he attempted to do this. To this he replied that I uttered the same words people in Govt Office said… “Nokkatte” ( it means that if bribe is OK, the papers will be ready). Thereafter I stopped using the word. The loan was not sanctioned.