Bengaluru: Ashok Lakshmanrao Babar of Gulganjikoppa in Dharwad has a unique distinction and a hitherto unheard feat of completing thirty-five years of service without availing any type of leave, even for a single day! He joined to duties on 15th June 1983 and served for 35 years, one month and 16 days.
Joined and retired as an Attender: Ashok Lakshmanrao Babar joined the Saraswatpur branch of the Vijaya Bank at Saraswatpur residential locality as a sub-staff. Thanks to his uninterrupted and prompt service, he was offered an elevation in his duties, but he refused to comply and continued in the same position until his retirement!
Several professions: To start with, Ashok Lakshmanrao Babar was involved with multiple professions and initially started working as a daily wage worker at the Deputy Director of Public Instruction(DDPI) office in Dharwad. In the mornings, he worked as a newspaper hawker and supplied milk to the households. Having a skillset of drawing and painting, he also took up any assignments of writing name boards.
On the dot to duty: Apart from not taking a single leave during his entire service period of 35 years, he was literally punctual to his duties. He used to turn up at the office exactly at 09.45 AM on all working days, to the surprise of his colleagues, customers and the general public. This happened to be his daily routine, irrespective of rain, festival, strike, bandh or any other unforeseen eventuality!
No leave even for marriage and parents' death: Although it may look unbelievable, strange and cruel, it happens to be a fact that he never applied for any sort of leave, even during his indisposition, marriage and when his parents passed away. And on the way to the office, if his scooter developed a breakdown, he would lock and leave it there to rush to the office. He got hurt in minor accidents a few times, suffered from Herpes and acute pain in the eyes, but all of them were no reason for him to apply for leave!
Marriage and house warming ceremony on holidays: Ashok Lakshmanrao Babar got married on a Sunday and did his house warming ceremony on a government holiday. Not that he wasn't down with any ailments, nor did he undergo hardships, but such conditions never deterred him from relaxing his determination.
Father, an inspiration: He proudly proclaims that his father, Lakshmanrao, was an inspiration and a role model for him to take up the challenge of doing the entire service without taking any leave. "I am equally grateful to my wife and children for cooperating with me in all my endeavours in ensuring that I could fulfil my self-declared goal", informs Ashok Lakshmanrao Babar.
Service of brothers and parents: His unhindered service to the bank for such a prolonged period of time doesn't mean he never faced any odds all along his challenging career. Along with dedicated service to the bank, Ashok Lakshmanrao Babar was equally committed to all his domestic responsibilities. He took care of his aged parents and two physically challenged brothers with utmost care and equal devotion.
Don't take leave, said father: Lakshmanrao Babar, Ashok's father, had told him not to take leave even when he passed away, and the obedient son sincerely did so even after learning of his demise during the afternoon. It was only after completing the day's duties that he reached home and attended to the responsibilities of the funeral. His father had also worked in the DDPI office continuously for four years without taking a leave for one day!
Aim, not to take leave at all: Ashok Lakshmanrao Babar says that he had resolved not to take any leave for whatever reason before joining the job. He also used to meticulously plan the functions at home and any other domestic commitments during bank holidays.
A record of records: Perhaps, there is no parallel in the history of the world so far of any employee doing service without taking any leave, and Ashok Lakshmanrao Babar has set a unique and unprecedented record of sorts. He continues to be felicitated by several associations and organisations, apart from creating a record number of milestones. He has been enrolled in the India Book of Records, Asian Book of Records, and Golden Books of Records, just to name a few, while entry to the Guinness Book of World Records is awaited.
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