Speaking in Madras at a meeting to bid farewell to Mr. K.R. Ramanujam, retiring General Manager of Southern Railway, Chief Minister Mr. C. Rajagopalachari, joined in the tributes paid to the official. Referring to Ramanujam’s remarks about fall in efficiency, Mr. Rajagopalachari said, “I don’t think there has been any such thing down, judging from my personal experience. May be I have always been an object of much kindness and consideration from all concerned in the Railways. Mr. Ramanujam has no doubt done his duty on warning the staff against letting efficiency come down. Those in the administration know things better than I do, but I must point out that everybody has a grievance these days. Those below who have their grievance, and those above have grievance of their own. These latter think that everybody has gone down in efficiency. This is the grievance of higher officials in any department. The amount of work done has grown far beyond the imagination of those who first organised the Railway administration. The expectations of the people have also increased. Everybody wants everything done in a perfect way; when anything goes wrong they blame others. Everyone, for instance, who finds a little delay in the issue of tickets by reason of the crowds, or who find a rush at the booking windows, at once complain. Though the work had increased now enormously yet they found that when the increase of staff reached a certain point, efficiency goes down. The old proverb of too many cooks spoiling the broth applies to the Railways also. So I wish to ask the new General Manager, Mr. T.A. Joseph, not to worry too much. People expect very much more than they did in the old days. I know the service has improved in quantity and quality, but the most important point is that people expect much more by way of comfort. The troubles in efficiency are internal. No man knew how much work he should do and how much another should do. There is also a certain feeling that one need not work as hard as he could; and, since all men were equal, one should not work more than others. There is a trade-union spirit that if any man worked more than others, he is a betrayer. These are all modern conditions for which the Railways alone is not responsible but the whole world. We think we have progressed, but really we have progressed in discontent, in grievance, in troubles. I congratulate you on having so much goodwill towards an officer going out. Such goodwill is a very good sign. If I am kind to people they become kind to me. It is as much in your hands to make your officers kind, as it is for the officers. When you behave well towards the officers, they are compelled to be kind and good to you. So the secret of success is in your hands.