In the bureaucracies of Bangladesh and Pakistan, the Raj lives on
Recruits are taught Victorian table manners
A CLINK OF the spoon against the side of the teacup: one point deducted. One too many slices of carrot on the fork: another two points lost. When Sarim was training to become a civil servant in Pakistan, he was graded on his table manners. Everyone in his class was so cautious during the test that they would barely eat, he chuckles.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Manners maketh district commissioners”
From the June 20th 2020 edition
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