BETWEEN US ONLY!
Majid Said al Suleimany -
THIS week I had received this bad news from a former colleague peer in the office. The ex- colleague called up to tell me that one of our former colleagues and peers had expired that morning. He was also a sick case and was diabetic too — and misfortune had struck him to have both his feet amputated due to gangrene as an advanced case of diabetic and wounds.
I had called him once before this to joke him on his bank lottery win — and he sorely told me that he would readily give his win if he could get his health back — and not be diabetic anymore. Poor man, he was very excited to hear that Indians had discovered a powder that you could put in your cup of tea — and you wouldn't need to take the diabetic medication after that. We all joked and laughed on this what other powders could do — being myself a diabetic case and using medication too!
I have always said these things. People will fondly remember all and only the good things that you have done in this world.
As a young man just graduated from the UK in Business Studies with bias in Personnel Management then (now Human Resources), after one year in the deserts of Fahud, he became one of my first Omani bosses when I came back to Muscat. From day one, the top guy (also Omani) who had put us together knew there was a collision course ahead!
He was from the ‘Old Guards’ who rose up the ladders the hard and difficult ways from learning basic English and to be able to write and read reports in English — as the official language of the company. He did this very well — credit due to him.
He told me once — First of all, I do not want to be the ceiling that stops your further growth and expansion in this place — because I think I have reached the maximum of my potential and prospects here — and they will not promote me any further (snidely he said some think that he was already over promoted!). So I do not want to be the person to stop your advancement.
So I teased and mocked him! You just do not want to be my boss — and you are finding a nice, diplomatic and delicate way of moving me out — diplomacy is telling someone to go to hell — and he is looking forward to the trip! To which he was very angry at this rebellious and difficult younger assistant and person! But I realised what was at stake — and we both had to join forces and act and feel as one — to fight in our own subtle ways the system that had put us together by our very own too! It took the coming in of new Western boss to part us to different directions and jobs — but we remained ever since good friends and partners from day one — till we left in different times from the place in retirement!
The thing that he liked about me was I used to fight those teasing him (the good man said — I have a good teasing face! — I do not know what he meant by that!).
And he used to advise me — you are young, do not get emotional and over sensitised — let them enjoy themselves — and it never bothered or upset him in the least as the butt of jokes and tease!
One day they asked him — if you were the CEO of the company for one day — and whatever decision you made that day will be honoured next day — what will it be? He answered the questioner (his boss!) — I will terminate you and your boss too — and make sure the security guards escorted you from the place in ten minutes! Though they too were laughing, but not like the way when they teased him.
One particular trait he had was this — call me whatever job title you wanted, whatever performance rating you wanted to give me (show me where to sign and he would sign without even reading the report!) — but do not touch my salary!
During his tenure, he recruited even the bosses who later used to tease him — and many are now in Directors and Senior Management positions! Regarding his contribution to Omanisation, training and development of young Omanis, the records speak for themselves — and his great asset and vision was to see Omanis as All One in the pursuits of his duties, responsibilities, accountability and transparency.
A great person — the son of the land — had come and gone! May Allah give him eternal peace, salvation in this world and the next — and a highest place in heaven — Amin (Amen)!
This article is dedicated to the great man and personality — Mohamed Saleh Ismail al Balushi.
Happy 40th Accession Celebrations! May Allah give His Majesty long life and health — Amin.
Take Care!