In India, we take our music seriously. Sometimes, singing can land you in trouble. Just ask the cabin crew members of Jet Airways who were suspended because they allowed playback singer Sonu Nigam to put up an in-flight concert on passengers' request. Then, there are occasions when not singing can be injurious to your career.
According to a report in the Hindustan Times, a woman railway clerk in Raipur was issued a show-cause notice by railway officials for refusing to sing a duet with the general manager (GM) of the Bilaspur zone of Indian Railways.
Anjali Tiwari was asked to sing an old Bollywood number at the general manager's farewell that was held in the Railway Officers' Colony on 16 January. Reports say that she was asked to sing because she had been "appointed under cultural quota".
However, Tiwari refused to sing along with the GM, Satyendra Kumar.
The show-cause notice served to Tiwari by the divisional railway manager reads:
"Tiwari failed to obey the instructions of DRM, Raipur, in connection with preparation of a few duet songs to be sung with general manager during a get-together function the next day. "
It goes on to say: "During the said program on 16.01.17, when General Manager/South East Central Railway (SECR) expressed his desire to sing one particular song, you flatly refused to sing the duet song saying (that you have) not come with preparation to sing the song."
Tiwari was asked to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against her as she "committed gross misconduct" and "failed to maintain absolute devotion" to her duty.
The notice has now reportedly been taken back.
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