retirement woes

retirement woes

retirement is an event which normally comes once in a life time. was a bit lucky. it came twice with an interval of eight years. but when it comes, it is not a sudden arrival, at least for most of us. and yet every time it comes, it surprises many. already here? i am not yet ready. children not settled yet. house not complete yet. but the most important fact is that one is not mentally ready for it i am in good health, capable of doing hard work, and better still, hard (sorry mature) thinking. can there be an extension to enable government (or the organization) to run efficiently. no? oh well, can there be reemployment in this or some other office, will the government (or the organization) be willing to use my expertise (in delaying decisions, blaming others for failures, claiming credit for whatever runs successfully). think of it. think hard. and come to favourable conclusion. shall  i think of a plausible excuse to get extension. one of my friends requested it for six months arguing that he has to have heart operation and it can be successful (both physically and financially) if one is in service. (note – he got it and he lived for ten years after retirement). hope lies eternally in one’s heart (even if due for surgery) in fact, we used to gauge the successful career of a person by noting whether he got a reemployment or not. one of us was more successful in that he got a job not only for himself but also for his wife. we envy him.

this was, more or less, (barring physical heart problem), the case with a friend, i visited,  just to enquire what is new. i was not aware that he had reached superannuation age fifteen days back.  he should not have been there if things had gone as per schedule. as it is, he was still in his office. when a person is to retire , he knows the date sufficiently in advance, in fact, even on the date of joining. enough notice is there and one starts winding up early. but one thing intervenes. are you ready to leave when the day comes? some people have mental reservations hoping that somehow the date of departure will be postponed. they cannot imagine what they would be doing once they are out so they like to be in.

but this story is not going to be complete unless i tell you some details about his institute  and work. it is a training institute. runs training courses of various duration from five days to ten months. a member of staff is appointed as director of a particular course and he draws up the programme, finds out who will be the expert speakers and get their consent. conduct the programme and report on its outcome.

a training programme was to be conducted by a sister organisation. due to internal dissentions, (and the need for a well run hostel with lodging and food) this was handed over to where my friend was working but the contact with the trainees was still with and through the original organization. the programme was to be conducted in february and was of two weeks duration. my friend was named as the course director for the programme.

just as it happened, the trainees could not be released by their offices and so the programme had to be postponed. this is what created complications and raised hopes.

now the story begins.

29^th may was to be the last working day for my friend, he being due for superannuation by the end of the month. (i met him in june). my friend had requested for extension of service. it had happened for others in the organization. there were precedents. this was done sufficiently in advance but, unfortunately, there was no orders agreeing to it. still there is an alternative. if services are not continued, you can always be reappointed. it means loss of allowances but the basic pay continues and the work also. but 29^th may came up and no response. wind up and go. so re-appointment was out for the time being but then it can be done anytime later and for specified or unspecified period.

he was there in june when i entered the room, still hoping, still confident.

what about the training programme referred to above, the troubles were sorted out and in middle of may, this was finalised except for the dates though the topics to be taken up were final. for every programme, there is a second in command. the normal course of action would have been to hand over the nitty gritty of programme to second in command and concentrate on leaving on the due date. but hope is eternal. maybe this training programme will help to survive after the date of departure. after all the prestige of organization is to be considered. but days pass and no word from the top. real emergency. the books and documents to be taken away after superannuation have not been sorted out. it was kept in abeyance hoping that good news will come. if only the final verdict was there, it could be started . one would say silence on two occasions - extension and reappointment – is sufficient hint to start winding up. but the hope lingers, maybe for just this programme.

i am always ready to sympathise with a friend if his wishes are not been fulfilled. but going beyond that is not my cup of tea. what surprised me was the query whether i have leverage with the higher ups to get  favourable response. failing me, does my friend have such leeway. would direct approach to the higher up help. these questions continue.  

after all is said, in my view, retirement is not a disaster. it is beginning of new life. so why procrastinate. but that may not be the universal way of thinking. so there we are. with best wishes for the friend.

next time, i visit the institution, i will look for his name plate on the door. if it is still there, i will go in to congratulate him. if the name plate is missing, well, then …..

but there is always a mobile, and, of course, mibility.