OBC- Occupational Behavioural Character

People are greatly affected by their occupations. The work which occupies 8 hours of their day officially [and almost 24 hours unofficially] is bound to affect their behaviour, thinking, actions [voluntary and involuntary] what they talk about, their likes-dislikes, even the diseases from which they suffer are also greatly influenced by their occupation [the occupational diseases]. In a nut shell from anything to almost everything which is part of one’s life is affected by his/her profession.

The above notion is true for everyone. By closely observing someone a lot can be said about their profession. Sometimes this ‘Occupational Behavioural Character’ [OBC] is so pronounced, that the need of close observation is lost and even a laloo can tell what work the person is engaged in? For example just by looking only, majority can easily spot a person engaged even in misdemeanour work, and if he is a felon than almost everyone can. In this post let us talk about few OBC’s [occupational behavioural character, better to mention it again as the minority commission can create lot of problems over the blatant use of OBC, but that some other time] and how these OBC’s can vary from place to place.

My recent Gangotri trip was very educative and the place variation in the OBC’s came to my notice there only. When in Delhi I had some preconceived notions about the Delhi police. One of the most unhelpful and corrupt soul on this planet is that of a policeman. If by any chance you need to interact with one, then the experience is bound to be bad. Their only program seems to be harassing people in some or the other way. They are not concerned about your problems and are least bothered to help you, in case you need it. Am sure there is no need to elaborate it in details as we all know this. There is nothing new in it and we are all accustomed to it. The only way to move Delhi Police [with you, for you] is through money. This is their OBC!!!

This kind of OBC is not by choice or by chance. But because of their occupation, that is why it is OBC. The majority of a cop’s time is spent with goons, crooks, criminals and they need to talk tough with them [rude behaviour]. Plus the remunerations are not very encouraging compared to the demanding job [reluctance to work]. Moreover whatever is the case, at the end of the day they are provided with certain power by the law [and we all know power corrupts. Am not defending their case, but just trying to figure out the roots of their OBC].

Enough said about Delhi police. Now coming to the cops we encountered on our way to Gangotri and their. Well the first one was at Uttarkashi, an SI [Sub inspector] from whom by chance we enquired about few things [it was a drastic step indeed, as others were not proving to be of any help]. Unlike his counterparts in Delhi, neither he was rude nor reluctant to help. Another cop to cross our path was at Gangotri Temple, and like the earlier one he was all game to help us. This came as a surprise, but this was their OBC!!!
These guys were from ITBP i.e. Indo-Tibet Border Police. Majority of their time is spent among tourists most of whom are on a pilgrimage [generally people tend to be polite with those on pilgrimage].

I have a few more examples, like the rude shopkeepers [not like those soft spoken caring for the customer types in Delhi], arrogant cab drivers [same as the Delhi ones] and others. But my point is not in discussing their behaviour or OBC for that matter. But about how humans are influenced by the nature of their work, with whom they are interacting etc. Initially People in same profession can be drastically different due to their family background, upbringing, morals etc. But few years down the line everything else is overshadowed by their OBC’s. But then what are these OBC’s? Nothing but people’s interaction with people at workplace. They are formed by humans and they are the ones forming humans.

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