Johnson Chettan

Ilyas. K. P. A

When we reached that remote yet remarkably beautiful hilltop called Phek, on our border with Myanmar, we hadn't expected anyone from Kerala to be there. But to our pleasant surprise, there were. Not one, or two, but many of them. Johnson chettan turned out to be our closest acquaintance, almost an elder brother to me and a very cherished, caring, uncle for our kids.

He was personal secretary to the District Superintendent of Police, a position he had been holding for long, as he has been among the most trusted and reliable personnel around. There will not be a day he will come late to office; there will not be a paper unattended to. In his calm and quiet way, he will work, diligently, throughout the day, ensuring everything is smooth in the office. Time management, office management, man management, EQ, everything comes so naturally to him.

It takes four days by train and almost three days even if you fly to reach the place, travelling from Kerala. And Johnson chettan has been there for many decades by then.How come, we would wonder. He has lived there when Whatsapp was not there, when emails were not there, when STD calls were not there. "How?", It's all God's grace he would say, shyly hiding a sweet smile on his face. For men who see always the brighter side of the world, the world actually becomes bright I would think.

I was the Assistant Superintendent of Police of the district, taking up my first independent charge after the training. The people are new, the terrain is new, the culture is new, the organisational sub culture is new, everything is new except my wife and three kids who had graciously accompanied me. I had to start working, get admission for kids in the school, had to arrange the quarters, get basic furnitures for the quarters, get the know how on how to live in a weather where the temperature can dip to 2 degree Celsius. It was mostly his guidance in almost all these things that helped me have a good time during that crucial posting. God sends you guides everywhere if only you take care to look around!

And for the kids, he was that loving elder in the family who would come with an occasional sweets, listen to all their sundry talks and give them time during weekends. Occasionally we would go to his place. When you realise he is a one man army there, managing all his affairs all alone yet manages the office also so well, you can only wonder and be in awe to the great discipline people muster through sheer hard work and integrity through the ages.

When we left after a year, he was there, with all the love, all the kindness, gently telling us it was not always easy saying goodbye to people whom one deeply cherishes. One cannot give back the affection he poured on us, the quiet confidence he instilled on us and the light he showed us in that overpowering, sweet smile. But we can pray to Lord Almighty to give him blessings in thick and abundant measure, always.