Busy People

Most people pretend that they are busy when actually they are not. Not all but most...

In the good old days, only the very important dignified persons used to be busy. Things have however changed now! Going by today’s standards, “All those who claim to be busy are considered to be important people”. However, these ‘self proclaimed busy’ people don’t have any dignity. Lately there is an incredible increase in the number of ‘busy’ people. This is so, not because these people are hard working or dedicated to their tasks but because they have developed immaculate skills in displaying that they are always engrossed in some important activity. Since remaining busy has become a ‘symbol of dignity’ people liberally state that they are ‘busy’. In the process these people not only waste their own time and energy but actively contribute in wasting others’ time as well. Unfortunately, they don’t realize that at least half the energy on the earth would be saved if only they stop claiming to be busy and start offering their cooperation, instead.

The other day, I had some work in the Provident Fund (PF) office. I have a friend there who has mastered the art of remaining busy, without any work. He has a habit of advertising that he is a very busy person. To endorse this belief he always opens his diary and scribbles something in it which he himself is not able to read later on. He religiously does this before committing anything to anyone. Visiting such a busy personality without prior appointment would have been quite an injudicious act. Therefore obviously I gave him a ring before my visit to his office.And lo behold - To my delight his phone was not busy and I got connected! Trying to be as brief as possible, I came directly to the point and asked “ Will you please spare 15 minutes?.I have some work in your office.“ I had almost begged. There was long silence… but I was least perturbed as I knew he must be scrutinizing his diary. Finally, I heard him reply “No…no, not today! I am very busy…why don’t you give me ring this afternoon to check when I could be available for you“ …..I explained to my friend the urgency and importance of my work but he turned a deaf ear to all my requests. And before I could plead further, the line was abruptly disconnected.

 I did not give up so easily. Despite his denial, I drove all the way to his office which was about 8 kilometers away from mine….parked my car, discovered that the lift was not working, hence trudged up all those 66 steps of what seemed like a never-ending staircase, traced the whereabouts of my friend and wasn’t my peserverence rewarded! I finally found him discussing the “Implications of withdrawing the Indian Peace keeping Force from Sri Lanka” with another equally ‘busy’ colleague! I just about screamed at my friend…With his remarkable ‘managerial

skills’ he gauged my mood and obliged me by delegating my work to one of his subordinates who was busy listening to the commentary of a very important One Day cricket Match. I became the cause of disturbance for yet another ‘busy’ person happiness.Ffinally I got my work done much against their wishes.

In this process I lost 1700 calories of energy that day!

There is yet another funny class of ‘busy’ people . Another friend of mine who belongs to this class is quite a lovable and a harmless chap. He keeps himself busy for at least three hours -reading the news paper. Initially, I thought he is learning to read alphabets . His wife has a similar belief even today after 15 years of their marriage. Later, however I confirmed that he can read in a normal manner. How a married person can spend so much time day after day in reading a news paper is a mystery to me till date! The other harmless people in this class keep themselves busy in playing cards watching an idiot box, reading novels or listening music.

There are broadly three categories of busy people:-Two of them being the ones I just described and the third category is of people who are genuinely ‘busy’. To my delight and surprise I have experienced that this third category of ‘busy’ people is really extremely helpful by nature. Their time is really valuable but they still value that of others. One really tends to lose his patience when at every stage he finds his work getting stuck because of some people who falsely claim they are ‘busy’ …but time and again, one has observed that the real ‘busy’ people show concern . They not only give but also keep appointments. More than the fact that they have keen minds and the intellect to (look beyond the problems posed to them)/ see through the  milestones in case of the problems posed to them, they have a sincere desire to help others. It is this sincere will to help others that makes them even more busy and more popular Lately such busy people have  become a rare breed ! We all need real ‘busy’ people who help others and perhaps we need them badly.

How lively this world would be if only we had more of them amongst us !

R J Phansalkar …Nov1 1995