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Reflections:
Experiences of a Bureaucrat’s Wife by Gita Vittal.
Gita rightly asserts that though a bureaucrat life is full of files, a file is not life and life is not a file. She points out that the primary function of a bureaucrat’s wife is to ensure that her husband does not commit the fatal mistake of mistaking life and file to be the same. Many a bureaucrat’s wife can identify with numerous situations described in the book. Three or four people dropping in for dinner with sahib from office, on many an occasion, is something one has been through. Sahibs conveniently forget to inform their wives in time, of the impending crisis, and the lady of the house has to, within a short notice, make the meal sumptuous and presentable at the same time. Also, on a more serious note, the trials, the tribulations, and the dilemmas, faced by an upright officer in service often affect him to such an extent that his wife is the only one who can share his agony. Gita delves into such agonies with the benefit of her own experiences. She has managed to highlight the joys, the privileges, the challenges and the frustrations of a bureaucrat and his family as they shift from one location to another during the course of his career. Delhi proved to be an altogether different challenge for the young officer from the Gujarat cadre, and his wife, who realised to their shock the immense differences between a district collector’s world and that of an under secretary in the Capital. Gita then goes on to describe Vittal’s experiences in the course of his assignments as Director of Geology and Mining, Director Industries and Home Secretary of the State of Gujarat. According to her, the magic letters ‘IAS’ do not carry the same brand equity in Gujarat as in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orrisa, Uttar Pradesh or Bihar. In Gujarat, the business community is more dominant. Gita also explains how she adapted from a South Indian girl with a certain way of life and eating habits, to growing fond of sweet "dal or curry or sabzi". She also describes the dilemma which Vittal and she faced due to government rules when they had to buy an item like a stereo. For an honest officer such a purchase was a project by itself. The life obviously has its moments of glory, however. She explains that officers are often treated like maharajas and unless they are down-to-earth by temperament they could easily lose touch with reality. She recalls with pride yet amusement at being referred to as ‘Mrs. CVC’ or by similar titles. One episode where she is asked whether she is "that Vittal’s wife" is well brought out. For her husband to be referred to as "that Vittal" from amongst thousands of Vittals in the country makes her feel that life has been worthwhile. She then answers the all important question: Is a bureaucrat’s wife a mere housewife? Gita, as a part-time journalist and social activist, had what she calls ‘micro-careers’ she realises that she has been a home-maker for most of her time and she has no regrets. She dwells on how bureaucrats’ children often grow up without much intervention from the bureaucrat himself. She profiles illustrious personalities whom she met over the years with her husband, such as H M Patel, Sharda Mukherjee, Margaret Alva and Radha Burnier, Sarla Gopalan and Dewang Mehta. Although disjointed and repetitive at times, the book is a frank and straight-from-the-heart look at the life of a senior officer’s wife. The Vittals are an example for all bureaucrats, budding and otherwise, and their wives too, on how a straightforward approach, hard work and tenacity can help to win most of life’s battles.
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Gita
