Dr. Suresh Kumar Mishra ‘Uratript’
Dr. Suresh Kumar Mishra, known for his wit and wisdom, is a prolific writer, renowned satirist, children’s literature author, and poet. He has undertaken the monumental task of writing, editing, and coordinating a total of 55 books for the Telangana government at the primary school, college, and university levels. His editorial endeavors also include online editions of works by Acharya Ramchandra Shukla.
As a celebrated satirist, Dr. Suresh Kumar Mishra has carved a niche for himself, with over eight million viewers, readers, and listeners tuning in to his literary musings on the demise of a teacher on the Sahitya AajTak channel. His contributions have earned him prestigious accolades such as the Telangana Hindi Academy’s Shreshtha Navyuva Rachnakaar Samman in 2021, presented by the honorable Chief Minister of Telangana, Mr. Chandrashekhar Rao. He has also been honored with the Vyangya Yatra Ravindranath Tyagi Stairway Award and the Sahitya Srijan Samman, alongside recognition from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and various other esteemed institutions.
Dr. Suresh Kumar Mishra’s journey is not merely one of literary accomplishments but also a testament to his unwavering dedication, creativity, and profound impact on society. His story inspires us to strive for excellence, to use our talents for the betterment of others, and to leave an indelible mark on the world. Today we present his satire The Grand Plans of the Great Officer.
☆ Witful Warmth# 39 ☆
☆ Satire ☆ The Grand Plans of the Great Officer… ☆ Dr. Suresh Kumar Mishra ‘Uratript’ ☆
The great officer issued a decree—”The city must be clean, beautiful, and smart!” Orders spread from top to bottom, like a sudden high-voltage current in an old wire. Officials held meetings, tea and snacks were served, and it was decided that the first battle would be against filth. Posters were plastered all over town—”Clean City, Healthy City!” The public asked, “Who’s going to pick up the garbage?” The officials smiled—”The public, of course! We need everyone’s cooperation!” A gathering was held at the neighborhood square, where an elderly gentleman suggested, “Maybe start by installing dustbins?” The officials nodded—”The budget hasn’t been approved yet, but if the public becomes aware, what could be better!” The next day, newspapers screamed—”The city embraces cleanliness, citizens rejoice!” In reality, the streets were the same, the garbage was the same, only the newspaper headlines had changed—now flying around as litter.
The trumpet of the Smart City project was sounded. The great officer declared—”Now both the city and its people will become smart!” The citizens beamed—”Wow! Our children will study in smart classrooms instead of just being glued to smartphones!” Some curious minds asked, “Sir, when will these smart classrooms be ready?” The officer replied, “First, we’ll widen the roads, install traffic lights, put up CCTV cameras… then we’ll talk about education!” The next day, trees along the roadsides were mercilessly chopped down—”Greenery out, development in!” Another newspaper headline boasted—”Winds of progress sweep through the city, people delighted!” But the dust storm of this progress was so thick that no one could see where development was actually heading.
A stampede of contractors rushed to the municipal office—”Give us a chance to serve too!” Contracts were handed out—some for installing fountains, some for replacing park benches, others for repainting old streetlight poles. The public asked, “Wasn’t a fountain installed here just last year? Why replace it?” The officials grinned—”That was an old model. Now, we have new technology!” The public argued, “But the old one didn’t have water either!” A contractor clarified, “That was because there was no water in the tank. This time, we’ll make sure there’s water too!” The public suggested, “Then why not build the water tank first?” The officials sighed, “The budget hasn’t been approved yet, but if the public becomes aware, what could be better!”
The great officer then turned his benevolent gaze toward the city’s hospitals. “Health is wealth! We will now provide facilities in government hospitals equivalent to private ones!” The next day, a massive banner appeared at the hospital entrance—”MRI, CT scans, heart surgeries—everything available here!” The sick rushed in, only to find… no doctors! The nurse shrugged, “Doctor sir is in a meeting. Come tomorrow.” The next day, doctors were present, but the machines were missing. Complaints reached the great officer, who responded wisely—”Go to a private hospital, bring us the bill, and we’ll reimburse you!” A patient hesitated, “And if we die?” The officer smiled—”Then you won’t have to worry about reimbursement!”
Digital transformation was the next grand mission—”The city will go digital!” People cheered—”Now even government offices will go paperless!” The clerks chuckled—”Oh no! The files will remain the same, but the advertisements are now digital!” The great officer announced another groundbreaking initiative—”Government offices will now have five-star facilities!” The public gasped—”Wow! Now work will be done faster!” Offices got central AC, new leather sofas, coffee machines. The public thought—”Finally! No more begging the peon for a cup of tea!” But when they visited for actual work, the response was—”The system is down, but would you like some coffee?”
Plans were laid out to renovate city parks. “Each park will have an open gym, fountains, and shiny new benches!” The next week, a grand inauguration board was placed—”City’s first open gym, now operational!” But within a day, all the gym equipment mysteriously vanished. The public asked, “Where did the gym go?” The officials responded, “Someone took it overnight!” The citizens sighed, “Why didn’t you assign a security guard?” The officer sighed too—”The budget hasn’t been approved yet, but if the public becomes aware, what could be better!”
Another master plan was launched for cleanliness—”Every ward will have dustbins, and every alley will have sanitation workers!” The next day, brand-new dustbins appeared across town. People felt relieved—”Finally, no more littering!” But within two days, the dustbins themselves disappeared. The officials explained, “Someone stole them! But don’t worry, next time, we’ll install iron ones!” The public rolled their eyes, “Then why didn’t you install iron ones in the first place?” The great officer smirked—”Development happens in phases. Everything can’t be done at once!”
Then, one fine day, the great officer was transferred. A grand farewell was arranged. Officials delivered poetic tributes—”He has taken this city to new heights!” The public stood silently, wondering—”Whose heights were actually raised? The city’s or the officer’s?” But the speech continued—”His vision has secured the city’s bright future!” The public nodded—”Yes, indeed! The future looks bright… because the present is completely dark!”
A new officer arrived. In his first meeting, he declared—”The city must be clean, beautiful, and smart!” The public smirked—”Ah, here we go again!”
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© Dr. Suresh Kumar Mishra ‘Uratript’
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≈ Blog Editor – Shri Hemant Bawankar/Editor (English) – Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi, NM ≈
