By: Abid Gowhar
“Genius is the gold in the mine; talent is the Miner who works and brings it out”
.... Lady Blessington.
But, he is both genius and talented and such is the immense power of being Dr. Haseeb Ahmad Drabu, a Kashmiri young man, born in Rajpora village of district Pulwama, who’s worked as Editor “Business Standard” in Mumbai, was the member of 10th Planning Commission, serves as the economic advisor to the government of Jammu and Kashmir, an eminent economist, Chairman & CEO J&K Bank Ltd. and more…..
Unprofessional and Ad hoc work culture is the difference that makes efforts ineffective, hard work unproductive and blessings unexploited. This is what believes the legendary young man with extraordinary qualifications and abilities.
“We the Kashmiris, should get out of the subsidy concept, accept generation transaction, learn to work with sincerity, avoid Kaam Chalao type of working, try to be thoughtful and innovative and know to respect our living culture” spoke out Dr. Drabu in an exclusive interview with Mr.Bashir Arif Director Commercial Broadcasting Service, Radio Kashmir Srinagar in a programme titled “ Shakhsiyat”.
Speaking in fluent Kashmiri about his journey from failure in Chemistry to become a highly appreciated and eminent Economist of the country, Dr. Drabu said “I joined Amar Singh college in 1979 in medical stream. But I got compartment in Chemistry which induced me to take Arts subjects and in that period certain subjects were available in the college in Arts stream, so I opted for Economics, Geography and Political Science besides literature. I got distinctive marks in political Science and Economics and then had a dream to become a teacher in Political Economy.
I got Masters in Economics from Kashmir University with first position and gold medal. When I went for M. Phil, my teachers M.L.Misri and Qazi sahib find something shining in me and told me to go outside State for further studies. Getting encouragement from my teachers, I managed to get admission in JNU Delhi for five-year fellowship programme in ICSC, an advanced study center. I submitted my M. Phil thesis on the subject “Public investment in micro economic policy”, which was appreciated all around and I was directly awarded Ph. D.
In 1991, I joined Planning Commission, where I had to share higher responsibilities on younger shoulders. There occurred an abrupt transaction in my career. My first boss in Planning Commission was Dr. Vydenathan followed by Dr. Krishnamurti , Dr. Rangarajan, Dr. Bimal Jalan and Dr. Reddy all of them great and enlightened men to work with, which all became RBI Governors”.
He is also fond of listening Kashmiri music. Ghulam Hassan Sofi and Vijay Kumar Malla, his favorite singers besides like Qawalis of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan as revealed to Mr. Bashir Arif.
About importance of cultural preservation, Drabu seems more concerned about its deterioration. “We are not culturally aware nor do we know how to respect it. I feel we are culturally bankrupt” He said on radio microphone.
About manpower abilities in the State, he commented that time has come to accept a generation transaction. “We should share our responsibilities with youngsters, who are more talented, enthusiastic and energetic to carry forward any mission successfully. My advice to the seniors is that; let younger generation come forward to turn the heavy tables around. Once we keep faith on them, they become more responsible and persistent of doing new things. I am surprised, why we are not acceptable to changes and innovations” he revealed.
Drabu is of the opinion that efficient professionals are leaving the valley because they do not find suitable work environment here.
He believes that everybody has to be a socially responsible and every institution has to be socially responsible institution. “An organization working in any culture has to take care of the cultural heritage to become socially acceptable to the people. Our State is culturally so rich that we can create new economic resources out of it” he further added
About J&K Bank, the 43-year-old chairman said, “We have taken several steps to make J&K Bank a socially responsible institution. I’m bringing out a programme called CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). We’ve been doing it on an adhoc manner but soon it will be institutionalized”.
The Bank chairman said that natural resources of the state haven’t been fully tapped and there is a vast potential to exploit the unexposed resources.
Commenting on other crises in the State like electricity, Drabu said that we’ve lot of potential to generate hydro electricity. Being member of Board of Directors of Power Development Corporation I have put some ideas to make the state self-sufficient in electricity and am optimistic that if the project is implemented, the power crisis in the state will end within two years period.
Dr.Drabu being gripped with so many high profile affairs at a very young age, his immense ideas and versatility of thoughts could change the destiny of mishaps prevailing in the poorness of many areas in the J&K State. ######
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