A few samples of bureaucratic wit of the days of British Raj.
The first is an entry made by an executive engineer in the visitors' book of a circuit house.
'The verandah of the Circuit House badly needs railings. During my momentary absence, a cow ate up some estimates which I had left lying on a table in the verandah.' Below this note was the commissioner's observation: 'I find it hard to believe that even a cow could swallow PWD estimates.'
In another circuit house book another executive engineer had noted: 'The washbasin should be immediately replaced. I could not wash my face properly for want of proper facilities.' Against this entry is a marginal note in the commissioner's beautiful hand: 'SDO will replace the washbasin at once. The executive engineer had to wash his face in tears during his last visit to this station.'
The prize remark is against a complaint that the latrine was too far away from the bungalow. 'He should have started earlier,1 wrote the wit.
All these are attributed to one Mr.Bentink.
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