There was a time when Indian Standard Time was spoken of derisively – it meant behind time. Our punctuality or lack of it, was notorious. Since then, the Man from Madras Musings is glad to note, we have as a nation improved substantially. Meetings usually begin on time, though as to end time we still seem far from being able to conduct discussions in a crisp business-like fashion and bring them to a close. But if there is one sector that still needs to go a long way when it comes to punctuality, it is the Government. Indian Government Time is quite different from IST.
Indian Government Time is not IST
This came home to MMM rather forcibly the other day when he, and a few others had to attend a Government meeting. The time was fixed and MMM and a couple of other attendees had rather a tight schedule needing a punctual kick off and an equally clear end point for the event. And so, 15 minutes prior to the start, MMM was at the venue. It had been a mad rush, but MMM had made it he was glad to note. Only, on reaching the venue, he found there was only one other attendee – also a person with a tight schedule. Nothing much happened for the next fifteen minutes, which is when as per the original understanding others ought to have filed in and the meeting begun.
After half an hour or so, the minions in charge of the computer, and the online meeting links for those waiting in distant towns and cities, came in. There was a stage wait for the computer and the projector to fire up and more importantly, speak to each other. And then there was a search for the online link – minion looked at minion and some even looked accusingly at MMM as though he was hiding it. Finally, this too was located and after a good deal of “Can you see us,” and “Can you hear us” all was well.
Indian Government Time is IST + 45 mins
It only then dawned on MMM that the central chair in the meeting room, replete with white Turkish towel (why do all bureaucrats drape their chairs with a towel?) shrouding it, was still unoccupied. The grand panjandrum had not made his/her appearance a full 45 minutes after the meeting was supposed to have begun. Fortunately for MMM, there was a sub-panjandrum who decided to take charge. The meeting he said could begin.
As if on cue, cups of tea/coffee (very good it was) and snacks made their appearance. MMM assumed that those who were watching online ate cake. It was extraordinarily like one of those public banquets of a royal past where the proletariat was allowed to watch. The browsing and sluicing over, discussions began and soon reached a stage where MMM had to leave. His next meeting was of a corporate variety where no delays would be tolerated. Just as he was making his exit, he collided at the door with a rather solid body charging in. It was the grand panjandrum himself. He noticed MMM leaving and beamed – he said he understood MMM having to leave but he said he would get an executive summary from the others present.
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This article appeared in Madras Musings in the issue dated October 1, 2024 and can be read here