FEAR OF MISSING SOMEONE (FOMS)!!

We all have heard the word FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) as it’s very much popular and in use. But have you heard FOMS (Fear Of Missing Someone), which is perhaps not known by many of us, but is equally painful like FOMO.

Since last many days, why is it feeling like that I’m going to miss something very precious? Why some sort of sense of voidness is creeping in my mind? Is it due to Fear of Missing Someone (FOMS), who consciously or unconsciously have become very close to me? I think, I’m not the only one, who is undergoing through such emotions but most of the employees of SECL might be feeling the same.

There’s a peculiar kind of silence settles in when we miss someone. It’s not just the absence of their voice or the echo of their laughter; it’s the hollowness that fills the spaces they used to occupy. Missing someone we love deeply isn’t just a mental experience; it’s physical too. It’s the tightness in our chest, when a memory resurfaces unexpectedly. It’s the lump in our throat, when anything reminds us of them. The fear of missing someone often stems from intensity of love. The fear isn’t just about missing the person; it’s about losing the connection, the shared moments, and many more memorable things, which becomes only a reminiscence. But missing someone is a testament to the depth of our love and the impact they’ve had on our life. It’s a reminder that their presence mattered; that they’ve left an indomitable mark on our heart. And it feels like that the ache will never fade.

Yes, this time, it’s perhaps the Fear of missing the Mission Man of SECL, The Man of Vision, Wisdom & impeccable human touch, our respected CMD, Dr. P.S. Mishra Sir, who has just not transformed the performance but the very culture of SECL.

It’s true that superannuation is natural and everyone who joins service will have to retire. But there are only a few who leave such an imprint on our mind that we get afraid of separating from such a personality. And we’ll all agree that Mishra Sir is definitely one of them.

Whenever I see our respected CMD, SECL, Dr. P.S. Mishra Sir,

A quote rushes automatically in my mind, which is:

डिग्रीया तो शिक्षा के खर्चों की रसीदें है,

 ज्ञान वो है जो किरदार में झलकता है .....!!!!!

I’m fortunate enough to have opportunity to watching him since when I had joined this coal Industry as Management trainee and thereafter am associated with him during this last three years. At that time when I had joined this industry as MT, I had found him very different – Smart, Knowledgeable, courteous, empathetic and very much caring and these qualities have just been amplified manifold as he climbed the stairs of hierarchy up to the apex level of CMD, SECL.

While working under him, I had both good as well as not so good moments, which I would never like to remember. I being too much reactive since my childhood, I had so any moments of differences & disputes with him on different issues. I still think that there are so many things on which he needs to work, especially in respect of DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) and changing of pre-conceived notions & believes. I’m telling this I really respect him from the core of my heart and therefore wish that he doesn’t have any kind of shortcoming in his towering personality. Like others, I can also tell only the good things about him but I will not do it because I want to see him as perfect role model beyond any dispute, not only for me but for the 3 Cs i.e. Company, Community & the Country at large.  

It’s beyond doubt that we all learnt a lot from him as he is near to the perfection. In fact, he has become the role model for many of us – both as a professional leader as well as a near-perfect human being. And it’s needless to say that he is a near role model for me too. I’m deliberately using the word ‘near role model’ because I have so far not found anyone, whom I can call with conviction as the perfect role model, except the Missile man of India Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, whom I consider the perfect blend of intelligence and genuine empathy. It’s because no human being is perfect in this world and everyone has got some deficiencies/biasness, etc. But I would be the happiest person, when he will become my perfect role model.

I’m telling this because I have never remained as a ‘YES MAN’ and reacted openly whenever anything goes against my conscience. In fact, the famous quote of Basim Barweli Sahab, which reads as: ‘’वसूलों पे जब आंच आये तो टकराना जरुरी है, और जिन्दा हो अगर तो जिन्दा नज़र आना जरुरी है’’ compel me to stand by the truth, no matter what price I have to pay for this. However, I also humbly acknowledge that despite having so many differences on so many occasions, he never used his position to harm me, rather he used to often tell me to become receptive instead of reactive. This is his greatness, otherwise, he can ruin my career in seconds.

Many a times, I also used to ask why the professional relations are so slippery that we hardly remember anyone as soon as one gets superannuated or gets transferred to some other place. But it’s really giving me immense pleasure that this is not the universal truth. There are people like Dr. P.S. Mishra Sahab and respected Poonam Mishra Bhabhi in our industry who considers every employee as their family member and want from inside to keep long lasting relationship with everyone. They are the persons who consider the organization as extended family. Their definition of a family is not confined just to our parents, spouse, and our children but much beyond that. They are the ones who not only believes in giving back to society but act accordingly. Whenever we work with our colleagues/seniors/juniors, it’s but natural that we share countless conversations about our life beyond work — their well-being & how-about, their family, aspirations, and even fears. We many a times face a challenging time in our life, during which we get guidance, support, and empathy from them, when it is needed the most. On an average weekday, we spend more time with our colleagues than with our families. If it’s so, then how can anyone keep such a parochial narrow definition of family confined to parents, spouse & children. But It’s really very much satisfying when we see people like Mishra Sahab & Mishra Bhabhi who consider the employees as extended family.

Whenever, I see respected Poonam Bhabhi, I really get touched & overwhelmed. The way she speaks, cares for other and treats the team members is really unmatched. I’m fortunate enough to have the opportunity to listen her speech and read some posts and every time I have listened her or read her post, I’ve literally cried under the specks. Her speech or post is so simple but full of emotions, which directly touches the people heart. This perhaps CMD Sir also know it very well and that why he never likes to speak after the CMD Bhabhi because he understands that his speech may be very scholarly and informative but that can’t compete with the simple but so emotive speech of her better half. It’s perhaps it’s not the degree but how one treat people matter much more than anything else. That’s why someone has very rightly said that:   

लाख ज़माने भर की डिग्री हो तुम्हारे पास लेकीन, किसी की तकलीफ़ ही ना पढ़ पाओ तो अनपढ़ हो तुम..!!

Dr. Mishra Sir has given a lot to SECL and the whole mining industry at large, which will be remembered for long. It’s also a fact that whosoever has worked with him / under him will not forget him forever. It’s also for sure that everyone of use will miss him a lot. The care, love & affection which he and respected Poonam Bhabhi have showered on us will remain in our heart forever and we’ll also feel the pain of missing them. But it’s called the life. We have to move forward in every circumstance. we can’t help ourselves to avert such situation but definitely can assure them that they will remain in our heart forever and we all will be just a distance apart by a message. As soon as they will call us, we’ll be there with them:

कुछ नहीं मिलता है मलाल करके, 

जिसे हम दिल दे बैठते हैं,चले जाते है वो हमें बेहाल करके ।

आपसे बिछरने का दुःख तो बहुत है,

पर वादा है आपसे हमारा,आपकी सारी यादों को रखूंगा सम्हाल करके ।

कितनी मोहब्बत है हमें आपसे,

ये तो हम नहीं जानते,पर आजमाना हो तो कभी देख लेना हमें पुकार करके ।

हमारी अल्फाज को बस यूँ ही अफसाना मत समझना सर,

हम जो भी करते है, वो करते है कलेजा निकाल करके ।

Thank you very much Sir & Ma’am for giving such guidance, support, love & affection. We all wish you a very healthy, happy and ecstatic post-retirement life and hope that the family bonding which you people have made with us will continue ahead for ever.

Sincerely yours

Sanjeev