Postings are not news in my profession. They happen and happen frequently. In fact one of the attractions this profession offers is that a person gets to go places more often than not. One gets a chance to see new areas and improve social contacts. Into four years of my service, I have been posted six times, twice a year. Lets admit some places are favorites of officers and others are not so. The deciding factor being that the attendant facilities in terms of residence, official vehicle and office staff are far better in some stations as compared to others. In some areas you get a chance to make good contacts while at the same time make an entry into the good books of powers-that-be, very important for getting good future postings and/or retaining the good ones. I always despised the idea of taking help from influential persons (read politicians) in getting postings. Simplistically, I thought I would go anywhere I was asked to. But now it all seems odd to me. The kith and kin of “powers-that-be” being awarded for relationships and those with no political affiliation are given a backseat. Until recently, one used to worry about “blue-eyed boys” from the (in) famous group who would grab all the good postings. Then we thought we belonged to less prestigious and limited group thereby disqualified for postings in good places unless off course the “king’s group” had left a station or two unfulfilled. The workout: develop good terms with “powers-that-be” so that you are not thrown to Antarctica for accommodating someone else!
This essentially means that you’ve got to curry favor with politicians so that you get good postings or you are not evicted from the good ones you already have. By rule, a person is to serve in an area for three years! I am not kidding. But who goes by the rules in these times! You have got to be a political worker besides an officer of sorts!! Am I already?
