Introduction of the Poem:
In this monologue from Ezekiel's Collected Poems (1989), a railway clerk expresses his discontent and unhappiness at the kind of life he has to lead and the difficulties and problems he faces. Even though he carries out the orders of his superiors, he is criticized when anything goes wrong. It is a realistic poem which is full of humour and pathos. Although it deals with the day - to - day problems and grievances of an ordinary railway clerk, the chief source of humour in this poem arises out of Ezekiel's use of English exactly in the manner in which an Indian railway clerk would use it:
I never neglect my responsibility,
I discharge it properly,
I do my duty,
But who appreciates?
Nobody, I tell you.
In the use of Indian English, The Railway Clerk bears comparison with Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S.
Summary of the Poem:
The railway clerk's leave application has been rejected twice during the current year. He is overburdened with work, yet he is not paid any overtime. Besides, his wife is always demanding more money to meet the household expenses and he doesn't know where to get this additional money from. His work is such that no one offers him any bribe, though his more fortunate colleagues do get bribes. Since he is not a graduate, there are no prospects of promotion for him in this present job.
The railway clerk wishes that he were a bird instead of an overworked, disgruntled human being. He has never neglected his duties, yet no one has ever appreciated his dedication and devotion to work. What is worse, he has to work at a desk that is too small for the efficient performance of his duties. The fan overhead has been out of order for the last couple of months and it has not been repaired. His office is situated at a long distance from his residence in Borivli (Mumbai). As a result, he cannot properly look after his children who have started neglecting their studies. His mother - in - law is il! and he has to bear her medical expenses . He wonders how long the present state of affairs can go on.
Once a week when he goes to see a movie, the railway clerk feels quite happy. His friends are the only source of comfort and consolation in his life; he meets them occasionally for a chat and they discuss the problems of the country. Some of his friends think of going abroad but he cannot do so because of his circumstances.
Critical Analysis of the Poem:
“The Railway Clerk” is a satire on corruption and dishonesty rampant in India. Honest, sincere and hardworking persons are humiliated and slighted. The Railway Clerk is the speaker who expresses his feelings of deep discontentment, unhappiness and anguish over his sad predicament. Despite his honesty and dedication to work he has to face difficulties and problems at every step. He says that he sincerely carries out the orders, he is criticised when something goes amiss nobody appreciates his work:
I am never neglecting my responsibility
I am discharging it properly,
I am doing my duty,
But who is appreciating,
Nobody I am telling you.
The poor railway clerk, who is the only support of his family, finds it difficult to make both ends meet because his duties are such as none offers him bribe. His colleagues get bribe and feel no financial pinch. His wife demands more and more money to meet the household expenses, and he does not know how to earn extra money. He has no prospect for getting any promotion because he is not a graduate. He has a number of grievances at the work place. His leave application has been rejected twice during the current year. He is overburdened but he is not paid at all for working overtime.
The railway clerk gets no facilities at the work place. He has to work at a desk which is too small for his purpose. Overhead is a fan which went out of order two or three months ago and which has not yet been repaired. His office is located at a long distance from his house which is in Borivili. He has no time to look after his children properly, who have, therefore, begun to neglect their studies. He does not know how long this state of affair would go on.
The railway clerk goes to see a movie every week and then he feels quite happy. He occasionally meets his friends with whom he discusses many things including the problems of the country. Some of his friends think of foreign countries but he cannot do so because of his circumstances which occupy all his attention. His wife's mother is ill and he has no bear the expenses of her treatment.
This poem is remarkable for the skilful combination of humour, pathos and irony which are interwoven in the very texture of the poem. The main source of humour in it is the typical use of English by an Indian railway clerk. He has no sense of grammar and stylistic niceties. He uses English as he has picked up from his friends and surroundings. The misuse of present continuous tense occurs several times in this poem. He uses “foreign” for foreign country. He says, “some are thinking of the foreign.” Pathos arises from the miserable and pathetic circumstances of his life both at the workplace and at home.
“The Railway Clerk” reveals the pathetic condition of the poor, Morality is meaningless to them. They have neither scruples nor conscience. They hardly keep body and soul together even by adopting fair means or foul. The railway clerk symbolises the helplessness of the poor in India. He has to work hard. Sometime he has to do even overwork but he gets no overtime. Mark the pathos in the following lines:
Money, money, where to get money?
My job is such, no one is giving, bribe,
While other clerks are in fortunate position,
And no promotion even because I am not graduate.
This poem is a monologue in which the speaker speaks aloud to himself.