A MAN WHO SPENT 60 YEARS OF LIFE IN PUBLIC SERVICE IS NOT AMONG US TO GUIDE US IN FUTURE
Comrade S.K.Vyas – An unparalleled leader of five Decades!
It was in the year 1971 that I first met Comrade S.K.Vyas after one year of my recruitment in the Department of Posts. I was an office bearer in P4 NFPE Madras City North Division and wanted to organise a meeting when I came to know the visit of Comrade Vyasji in Madras. I was not even a Divisional Secretary but when I approached him for attending a meeting in Vepery Post Office, he readily agreed and attended. The simplicity and approachability of such a big leader inspired me in those days of my youth.
27 years later, I joined Comrade Vyas to work under one roof in D-7, Samru Place, Mandir Marg, New Delhi, where the NFPE headquarters was situated and Confederation Hqrs also was in the same premises. I joined there as Secretary of the Postal Federation. It was a nature given golden opportunity to live with such a towering leader under one roof. For a period of more than six years (intermittently of course) I had literally lived in the same premises and closely observed the qualities of this great leader. If I don’t admit that I have learnt many things from this leader then I am sure I am lying. At a particular point of time in the year 2004, when I was seriously ill, it was Comrade Vyasji who helped my admission in Sir Gangaram Hospital, which saved my life.
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| Com.S.K.VYAS addressing the central managing committee at New Delhi |
More than 40 years later, when I entered a Pensioners Organisation, it was again Comrade Vyas who is our leader. I have joined BCPC and NCCPA under his leadership when I became the General Convenor and later the General Secretary of AIPRPA. Thus from a small time office bearer of a branch union in 1971 to till date as an activist of a Pensioners Organisation, along with others I was always guided by this towering leader, whatever be the front we worked.
Therefore it is not possible to express in appropriate words about the demise of this legend yesterday in Jaipur.
Vyasji was admitted to hospital at Jaipur about 11 am on 1st February, one day before his 86th birthday after a massive heart attack. He underwent angio plasty immediately and all of us hoped that he is out of danger. But after a couple of days, he had another attack. His BP became unstable and thereafter intestine also got affected. On 13th February he suffered another heart attack – causing death.
Vyasji was the secretary general of all India audit & accounts association from 1969 to 1981 and thereafter it’s all India President up to 39th conference at Chennai in September 1989. Vyasji became the Secretary General of confederation when Comrade O.P.Gupta resigned after 1968 Strike. He continued as Secretary General of Confederation up to September 2006, after which he became President. He stepped down from all elected posts of Confederation in the Kolkata conference in 2013 but continued as Chief Advisor of the Confederation of CG Employees. He continue to take a leading role in the Pensioners movement in his capacity as the Secretary General of both BCPC and NCCPA.
Thus it can be seen that as a leader who entered the Government Service in the 1stCPC pay scales, played his due role in shaping the destiny of pay scales of all CG Employees from 2nd CPC to 7th CPC, has no parallel at all. His style of working even at the advanced age was amazing and inimitable. At a time when the entirety of CG Employees and Pensioners are looking forward to this leader for tasks connected with the 7th CPC, he is snatched away by the nature. This loss is irreparable, we feel orphaned.
Mortal remains of Vyasji has been taken to his ancestral house jodhpur. Cremation would be at Jodhpur today. He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters and grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Red Salute to comrade S.K.Vyas!
We dip our flag and banner in his honour!!
K.Ragavendran
General Secretary AIPRPA