Reporter's diary:Bureaucrat sees lighter side of serious job profile

Most of us think that senior bureaucrats, police officers and others are unlike us, and are not very concerned about their looks. Our babus too live up to these expectations and rarely open up on such matters.

Recently, this scribe got to see the lighter side of a straight-talking bureaucrat from the Education Department and it turned out to be an eye-opener.

This official is known for speaking to the point and journalists have seen him perpetually serious.

Therefore, it was a pleasant surprise to see a different side to him, when he touched upon some personal pointers, in a lighter vein.

At a recent event held at a reputed college, he took the audience captive. Addressing a group of teachers, he said while there are so many advantages of working with youngsters, one of them is that the child in you always stays alive.

He then added, saying, his wife looks much younger than him as she worked closely with students. “People often tell me that I am looking older by the day and my wife looks much younger as she ages. When I walk in a mall, I am sure people envy me, thinking, who is this man walking with a gorgeous woman. The reason is simple. I have to interact with adults, authorities and working professionals throughout the day. On the other hand, she closely works with youngsters and it clearly reflects on her appearance.” He went on talking about it for a few minutes and the audience loved it. They were in splits and the scribes appreciated his sense of humour. Part time stand-up comedy maybe a good second career choice for this bureaucrat.