I joined the International Water Management Institute, IWMI,
in October 1996, and was assigned to its Pakistan office as its Research
Coordinator. This position reported to
the Director of IWMI Pakistan, IWMIPK, and to the Deputy Director General (DDG)
of IWMI, who was based at IWMI Head Quarters, IWMIHQ in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Professor Gaylord Skogerboe (Skog) an American, with a wardrobe
full of bright colors, tall, obese and blonde hair was the Director of
IWMIPK. For Irrigation Engineers,
Skogerboe was a familiar name, he has written a few text books, and I was
excited that I will be working with him.
But, there was a problem.
I was interviewed and appointed by IWMIHQ, and Skog was unaware of it,
until a week before I went to Pakistan. Those
at IWMI Pakistan were with an impression that I was sent to replace a Senior
Researcher (SR) who was very popular among the locals. The SR was Skog’s graduate student, and Skog too
had a lot of respect for the SR. Obviously,
the communication between Skog and IWMIHQ was not great.
There was a reason.
IWMI HQ communicated through emails, but Skog can’t type. Emails had to be printed, Skog will write his
response whenever he returned from field trips, and his secretary will then reply
on his behalf. So, any communication
between Skog and the HQ took longer, and it will become public knowledge at
IWMI PK almost instantaneously.
It took me a week to realize why I was getting a cold
shoulder from staff at IWMI, and Skog too maintained a distance, but took care
of me and helped me settled well in Lahore.
In the meantime, I too communicated matters on behalf of HQ
to Skog and vice-versa, some he liked, others he ignored. By mid-December, after two months on the job,
we both had to be at HQ in Colombo. Skog
spent time with the DG and DDG, understood why I was sent, and how I have
represented activities in Pakistan at HQ over the two-month period. One evening, he walked to me, hugged me,
lifted me in the air (I was 15 kg lighter then) and said that I had been a
bridge-builder. So, after three months
on the job Skog accepted me as his ‘Deputy’.
Our relationship improved day by day.
I noticed how masterful and foresighted Skog was compared to
his peers at IWMI. He ran the largest
program of IWMI, and it was the same size as that of the Headquarters.
Skog did not have a policy for capacity-building, but he
facilitated a few overseas MS and PhD scholarships for IWMI PK staff. He opened opportunities for at least 20
Masters students enrolled for degrees in Pakistani Universities. He made sure that every staff – National or
International – published research reports.
He wanted them to learn to write research reports, and was not worried
about how great the science in the report was. He
facilitated training of 2000 farmers in a year. He did not touch a computer, but, introduced Remote Sensing tools to IWMIPK, well before IWMIHQ. He
also taught the support staff how to maintain the gardens, office space,
toilets and office cars, and how to document their activities. He did not tolerate late-comers, and those
who do not submit draft reports on time for him to review.
Skog did not have a policy for uptake, but he developed
research with 26 National Water related agencies in Pakistan – some in
research, some in implementation and others in policy. He brought staff from line agencies on secondment to IWMIPK. His steering committee included Secretaries
of Irrigation and Agriculture from all four provinces. He met with them every six months, massaged
their egos, and informed them of IWMI’s progress. Uptake of IWMI’s products was automatic.
When travelling with him I was astounded by his drinking habit. He used 12 ounce tumblers to drink whiskey. He poured whisky, then ice, then soda, and drank. He had a few of them at a time. Half a liter will be gone in no-time, before we sat for dinner. Then he will say, its the company which makes the food into a meal. A compliment to those joining him for the meal. While drinking, we spoke extensively – actually he spoke and I listened. I am glad I did.
Skog’s lessons started with Clichés. There were many. He said that the opposite of love is not
hate, but indifference. Once I
understood what it meant, I learnt how to control anger. He said that everyone must learn to suffer
gracefully. Since then I managed my
disappointments without making myself a bitter person. He told me there’s a reason for everything,
and you will only know at a later stage.
This has become very evident to me many times over the years. He also said that all bad things come to an
end – I added, all good things also should and must come to an end, else, we
will not appreciate how good things were.
Skog was borne on the 1st of April, and he joked
about it too. He died in 2006, the day
on which he was to present IWMI’s work to an audience at Utah State University. IWMI’s mission was high on his agenda, even 8
years after he left IWMI. Had he lived,
he will be 80 this year.
I am now finishing my second stint with IWMI. Four and a half years in late 1990’s, another
two and half years now. I went to
Pakistan in late 2013 in my official capacity after 13 years, and I was told
that the time Skog and I led was IWMI PK’s golden era. In reality, I struggled to fill Skog's shoes.
When my departure after my second stint was announced within
IWMI a month ago, I received many complimentary emails from junior colleagues
describing me as a caring person and a role model. I wouldn't have been one, if I did not learn
from Skog.
Dr Prathapar, this is a beautiful tribute to Skog. I remember too standing him at the IWMI entrance door before 8am in peak winter and watching the late comers entering the office. He wouldn't say a word but no one would dare to come late the next day! I also remember the way he always encouraged us, as young researchers to write and come forward to present by telling stories from his own life. I am sure, he will always be remembered by many people due to the positive impact he left on our lives. Samia
ReplyDeleteHi Prthapar, Your blogs are so interesting to read! You write so wel and should publish a book on your experiences!
ReplyDeleteAn excellent tribute to a great mentor for both of us. I know that you did develop good liking for Skog after few hiccups, but it is a news to me about the referred perception when you joined IWMI-Pakistan. My perception was that you were sent to replace Skog & that did happen too. This was not because of you, there was a good reason as both Skog & David happened to work for CSU in the seventies. With a new twist in the story, I may have to change my views. You may be right as my MS & PhD advisors did not have too friendly working relations with David as far as the perception goes. However, I don't think that David was that kind of person, but that disliking came because some of my colleagues in Egypt in 1995 played their cards (as they were not happy over Sudan related trip) by painting me in the opponents' camp regarding new water concept of wet & dry water. I don't feel bad for taking a position on this issue as the concept did more harm than good for the irrigation world as well as IWMI. Shafique from Dubai
ReplyDeleteSkog was a legend everywhere he went, his skills to translate complex engineering concepts into practical actions was amazing. I count myself lucky to have learnt from Skog (and other irrigation legends at USU and CSU) and to work alongside someone like you Prathapar, niceness definitely go much faster than anything else in one's profession !
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