American Yellow (Neck) Tie

American Yellow (Neck) Tie.

I had a small job running at the Secretariat in Gandhinagar. Seeing each other, we were also preparing for competitive exams to secure higher positions. In this context, passing the State PSC exam with top marks boosted my confidence, and I filled out the UPSC form. I remained inactive for a few months, but news of a fellow passenger getting selected sparked a surge of energy in me. I increased my focus on studies and, for the first time, selected in IRS and in second, conquered the IAS.

August 1985 arrived, and it was time to go to Mussoorie. No one at home was happy. Some didn't understand, and my parents were sad to see their son go far away. My mother even said, "Two of my joys will be gone—one, my son, and the other, his salary." My mother was the finance minister of the house. In 1984, due to the Ahmedabad textile mill crisis, the mill closed, leaving my father and elder brother unemployed. Everyone came to drop me off at the railway station. I had bought a bag for the journey. In the bag, I packed three sets of clothes, a bedsheet, a sweater, and a yellow tie given to me by an American friend. My father had bought a Raymond woolen shawl to protect me from the cold. I had confirmed a non-AC three-tier train ticket to Delhi under the government quota. I had a few hundred rupees left from my last salary in my pocket. From Delhi, I took a bus to Dehradun and then another bus to Mussoorie. After a 36-hour journey, when I reached the academy, completed the registration, and settled into my room at Narmada Hostel, I finally felt at peace.

Everything here was new and fresh. The Himalayan hills, valleys, atmosphere, the academy, and fellow trainees—all were awe-inspiring. The first assembly was held at Sardar Patel Hall, followed by training in class blocks and counselor groups. Gradually, everyone adapted to the academy's routine and the world of walks on Mall Road. Some would indulge in their own fun as soon as the weekend arrived. The taste of the mess food could be guessed by looking at the faces of those returning from it.

Here, we were being informed about what to wear and what not to wear, and when. To appear formal, I went to Sadiq Tailor and got a closed-collar suit stitched. A fellow trainee from Punjab, who was fair-skinned and plump, never wore anything other than a three-piece suit. Seeing many fellow trainees dressed up in suits and ties, one day I felt like wearing my American tie. The American tie was quite wide, and my neck was thin and short. Somehow, I managed to tie a double knot, but my neck seemed to disappear, and the yellow tie's knot stood out prominently. That day's first class was in Counselor Shri B.P. Kothiyal's room. During the class, a fellow trainee, Sujata, couldn't stop laughing at me. I kept looking at her and then at my tie. I don't know why, but I felt she was laughing at the large tie hanging on my small neck. As soon as the break came, I went to my hostel room and threw off the yellow tie. After that, throughout the foundation course, whenever I needed to wear something formal, I stuck to the closed-collar coat but never dared to look at that American tie again.

Punamchand  

February 8, 2025