WRITTEN IN STONE

As recounted to me by my late father, a 1950 batch officer of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA &AS)

- Anirban Mukhopadhaya Retd. IAS officer

he young AAG, (Assistant Accountant General), straightened his tie and looked down to check on the seamless crease of his navy blue trousers. He was about to enter the office of the AG, (Accountant General), for the first review of his field training programme. He felt a sense of justified dread as the AG was a well-known eccentric who was given to bouts of erratic behavior, both when conducting audit as well as personnel reviews. Squaring his shoulders and composing himself to face the onslaught of any possible criticism, he strode into his present boss’ chambers for the first time.

The AG looked up briefly over his spectacles and waved the young man to a chair before the ornate mahogany desk that emphasised the exalted status of its current owner. Without any introductory pleasantries, the AG’s questions began and continued staccato as the young trainee struggled to hold his own. At last he leaned back and seemed satisfied.