GOGI, Not GIGO! How Wit and a Shovel Changed a Town

 

GOGI, Not GIGO!

How Wit and a Shovel Changed a Town

If you’re familiar with computers, you’d know GIGO – Garbage-In-Garbage-Out – meaning the machine is only as good as its operator. Just as a clueless driver may take the passenger not to the destination but elsewhere (no fault of the car), a computer too will spew garbage if garbage is fed into it.

But you may not have heard of GOGI – Garbage-Out-Garbage-In.

The young officer was thrilled when posted as District Collector. His first district charge! He was eager to implement the inspirational practices he had absorbed during training at Mussoorie, Guwahati, and in junior field postings.

The district town had no elected Municipal Council at the time. Till fresh elections were held, the Collector was the Municipality’s Administrator.

He convened a meeting of key municipal officials and declared: “I want our town cleaner than ever before. You have one month.”

A month later, he asked in the next meeting: “Is our town cleaner than ever before?”
“Yes, Sir!” came the chorus.

Early next morning, he set out on an inspection tour, officials in tow. Before reaching the neglected habitations, he passed a posh colony — only to spot a household dumping assorted garbage from their first-floor terrace straight onto the street. Luckily, he was in his car, not standing below that shiny façade.

(AI image by CoPilot, prompt by Blogger)

He got down. “Give me a shovel,” he said. Scooping up the choicest bits of the garbage, he rang the bell. The flustered gentleman opened the door to welcome the dignitary. The Collector didn’t waste time on pleasantries — he barged in, shovel in hand, deposited the garbage in the drawing room, and rushed out as fast as he had entered.

Smiling at the dumbfounded house-owner, he quipped: “Next time I visit, you’ll give me a cup of tea, won’t you?”

News of the Collector’s GOGI act spread like wildfire. The town got the message — and stayed cleaner than ever before. Not for weeks or months, but for the three years of his tenure.

Maybe, the residents carried that clean habit into the future too.

***

Postscript

Many readers complimented me for GOGI, assuming that I was the Collector. No, the protagonist in the anecdote is a dear batchmate.
Btw, the anecdote was recently narrated to me by another batchmate. I found the story worth sharing, wrote my first draft, and shared it on 22/06 with the protagonist.
A most conscientious officer, and a gentleman par excellence; he was not comfortable with the piece. ‘It’s illegal for the DC to dump garbage in the drawing room of a gentleman. I merely put it on his door-steps to teach him a lesson. Why should I have tea with him?’
In light of my friend’s comments, I edited the piece, removing the reference to the name of the town. Now, it was a story difficult to link to my friend or any other person. I publish the blog on 27/06.
While most other readers enjoyed the blog, and no one commented that the Collector’s action was illegal or inappropriate, my friend was still offended.
His message:
“I have received your latest blog, to my great dismay I find you have shared it though you said you would not share the hearsay story with others.”
My reply:
“But I've protected your privacy, haven't I? I removed the reference to the town. I'm very fond of you. That's why I shared the anecdote. In my humble opinion, it doesn't at all show you in a negative light. Readers have enjoyed the story even if it isn't entirely factual.
Btw, many readers have assumed that I was the Collector, and they have complimented me for the innovative response!”
Note:
Even my own batchmates are yet to figure out the identity of the protagonist. So, I think I’ve not compromised my friend’s privacy.
However, since he didn’t like my sharing the blog with others, I must say, “Sorry, Dear Friend. You did something innovative with great presence of mind. You had no animosity for the errant gentleman. I’m proud of what you did. My readers have greatly enjoyed the anecdote, and have appreciated the very civil response of a senior civil servant. Yet, I respect your discomfort and dismay. Sorry, once again.”

A senior colleague’s comment

I remember having personally conducted ‘Besharmi Hatao Abhiyan’ to remove endemic besharam (ipomaea) along with the SP, the first thing on joining as Collector ---(name of the town).  With shovels and dao (sickle) in hand, symbolically of course.  We got all the waste-clogged municipal and medical colleges drains cleaned under our direct supervision with fire brigade pipes and hoses. I still remember the enthusiastic and supportive publicity.

My reply:

Alas, netas continue to be endemic like besharam in ---(name of the town) and elsewhere now. They demand the reverence reserved for Tulsi from citizens and officers!