Circa 2005
Jobless and fighting the uncertainty of getting my CA qualification, decided to do something responsible, apply for a passport.
After, multiple enquires (sans Google) and numerous unsolicited advices, figured out the requirements and finally was ready with my application.
Early morning 7 AM - Shastri Bhavan
Was surprised to see a sea of people lined up to get an appointment. Made up my mind and stood in the ever increasing queue.
My turn came at 10 AM, an hour after the counter was opened and was told my turn to meet the officials would come at 2 PM.
2 PM.... Although damn tired, joyfully approached the officer..... the happiness was something more than getting a first day ticket for a Rajinikanth movie.
Gentleman scrutinised my application and informed "all is well". A sigh of relief as heard him utter “You will get it in 1 month after local police verification”.
Days later, an unexpected guest arrived at home, had a look at all my credentials and thus police verification was done!!
Days passed, even months.... me and my mom took turns to miss opportunities of going out in anticipation of the great Indian messenger - Post man!!!
Neighbors and relatives started enquiring on the status, as if I was flying to US immediately ferrying parcels of pickle and homemade stuff to their sons.
Skepticism started creeping in and ended up enquiring neighbors, only to discover that the postman had indeed arrived a few weeks back knocking at an apartment a few blocks away only to be turned off quickly as none with that name lived there.
Panic struck, quickly headed to nearest post office and enquires led me to post master's office....and there saw a passport cover lying ready to be returned to the issuing authority.....
Pleaded him to hand over the cover to me, but he refused since the flat number was wrongly mentioned and started doubting the veracity of my identity. After much negotiations and document proofing, convinced him to open the cover to check if the passport was indeed mine....
Thank God it was!!!
But my happiness was short lived,
Flat number, DOB and father's name was wrongly mentioned.....I couldn’t believe it had happened with a document which is considered of highest.?????
After signing a declaration, took custody of the passport and returned home. Poor mom, couldn’t bear to see her face, her reaction was much more than her earlier ones when I had failed my CA exams.
Now, all started again… 7 AM.... long queue..... Further long wait...... met the Public Relations Officer..... explained my situation..... he patiently listened and asked me to file a complaint stating the facts.
I did immediately hand over the one prepared last night and he assured me of suitable action.
I asked him “what action?”
He replied “Leave the passport here, we would look into your handwritten application and figure out where the mistakes were from”. Had no choice but to accept his answer and handed over the passport to him and returned home.....
Again, Mom and me took turns to miss opportunities of going out in anticipation of the post man!!! And one fine noon arrived the most expected guest giving a great deal of confidence that this time at least the address was right, if not others!!
Next 30 secs was nail biting as I opened the cover, something comparable to a last ball of a Cricket World Cup Final..... Mom started praying and smiled as I raised my thumb … All was finally well!!
Happy moments of this kind are usually experienced in most middle class south Indian homes when passport returns from US embassy HIB visa stamping, well mine was much earlier... not knowing if it would used for the intended purpose.
2006-2012 - 50 international flights, 10 Visa stampings, numerous immigration stamps and Passport pages exhausted...... :)
Feb 2013 – Reissue required...
Started enquiring and couldn’t believe that the system and process had changed a lot!!
Entire passport services outsourced to TCS.
15 mins for filling up online application.
Arrive at the Seva kendra 15 mins before.
No long queues....
Friendly staff, guided services, no chaos
15 mins for a token, 1 hr for verification.
In all at the end of the 3rd hour and my was job done.
Now, my father joins the team to take turns to welcome the expected guest and take delivery of my new passport.....
Everything has changed.....except the uncertainity of usage of this new passport!!
All said and done………of all the countries I have visited, there is nothing like being in India!!
Sorgame endralum adhu namma oru aa polla varuma!! Jai Hind J
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