Years ago, as I was walking down Bourbon Street in Port-Louis, I met an old friend, a school teacher. Hardly had we started talking when somebody called his name several times from the other side of the street. Surprisingly enough, he did not answer; he did not even turn to see because he knew his voice. Although his former inspector crossed the street to meet him, he just ignored him; the retired inspector had no other choice than to walk away disconcerted.

After his departure, my friend explained the reason of his rude behaviour. That man had made his life hell when he visited his class and my friend never knew the real reason behind such a rough attitude. “Now that he’s a toothless dog, he is approaching to ask me to close the chapter. How can I forget the hard and stressful time I had with that heartless individual? ”

No matter who you are - social worker, teacher or CEO, MP or minister, you have been invested with the power to serve. You are thus accountable to the public. Your duties and responsibilities are to work in the interest of those you are serving and not to enjoy the comfort and facilities that may come to you.

All this is simply a means to the fulfilment of your function. It is certainly your privilege to serve and to do it supremely well: only the lucky and the blessed get the chance to brush away the tears of the helpless, the oppressed and the poor by bringing them relief. While serving these unfortunate beings who look up to you with hope and reassurance, you are serving God. This is the real power to serve.

However, many still think that their position makes them feel important. For some time, it is nice to feel important, to be seen in the news. But it is indeed more important to be nice to those who depend on just you to make their living conditions of more decent. Until ideas of compassion, loving care and mercy for all fill your mind, you are a misfit and unworthy of your position.

There are others who wake up with nasty feelings of how to harass and bash up people working under them. Who knows the latter can be most competent and real assets to the organisation? But because they can be a problem later in the way of the promotion of their immediate supervisors, they are victimised. Taking advantage of their position, these individuals do everything to demoralise their juniors so that they ask for transfer or even change jobs.

Had they just realised they are in such positions for some time but not permanently, their approach and outlook on life would be totally different. Remember you are judged by your actions and attitudes towards others and nothing else. Your family background, connections, high academic qualifications are not of interest to others. Only your decency and politeness in the discharge of your duties will live on after you have left their office.

There is an urgent need for a new mindset with emphasis on more etiquette training in our corporate bodies. With our scarce natural resources, our county’s human resource management should not tolerate any waste. Whatever the field of activity, workers should be given enough breathing space and every opportunity of using their knowledge, skills and competence for the prosperity of our island home. Let power be then used wisely - to serve, to get the best out of all.

<B>Kaviraj SOHUR</B>