AAReviewReview

ByByPraveen RanjanPraveen Ranjan

About the authorAbout the author

T.S.R Subramanian,IAS,1961 BatchT.S.R Subramanian,IAS,1961 Batch Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh in the period immediately after Babri Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh in the period immediately after Babri

MasjidMasjid Rose to the post of Cabinet secretary and worked under three prime Rose to the post of Cabinet secretary and worked under three prime

ministers.ministers. In the course of his journeys through the In the course of his journeys through the "babudom""babudom" and and "netaland""netaland"

(phrases he uses tellingly in their fullest pejorative import), he had eventful (phrases he uses tellingly in their fullest pejorative import), he had eventful stopovers such as district magistrate, secretary to the then Chief Minister N. stopovers such as district magistrate, secretary to the then Chief Minister N. D. Tiwari, staff officer to former Governor, Channa Reddy, secretary in D. Tiwari, staff officer to former Governor, Channa Reddy, secretary in Union Textiles Ministry, and chief secretary to U.P. Government. Union Textiles Ministry, and chief secretary to U.P. Government.

About the bookAbout the book The book is a memoir-cum-personal reflection on the The book is a memoir-cum-personal reflection on the

state of governance in India.state of governance in India. Book is anecdotal ,combining wit with irony.Book is anecdotal ,combining wit with irony. Incisively pieces together the gradual decay in the public Incisively pieces together the gradual decay in the public

administration in the post-British India.administration in the post-British India. From out of acutely focused snapshots of persons and From out of acutely focused snapshots of persons and

events which he had mentally recorded during all his events which he had mentally recorded during all his stopovers, Subramanian assembles a meaningful stopovers, Subramanian assembles a meaningful collage of the evolution of governance in independent collage of the evolution of governance in independent India, the central theme of which emerges as, "Might and India, the central theme of which emerges as, "Might and self-interest (and not "right" and "public interest") will self-interest (and not "right" and "public interest") will prevail.prevail.

The Journey…..The Journey…..

Moradabad-first assignment(1962)Moradabad-first assignment(1962) Ranikhet-Sub-Divisional Magistrate(1963)Ranikhet-Sub-Divisional Magistrate(1963) Ghazipur-Collector(1965)Ghazipur-Collector(1965) Madras-Leather Export Promotion Council(1968)Madras-Leather Export Promotion Council(1968) Kanpur-various assignments in Industry (1971)Kanpur-various assignments in Industry (1971) Lucknow-Secretariate(1976)Lucknow-Secretariate(1976) New Delhi-JS in Ministry of Commerce(1979)New Delhi-JS in Ministry of Commerce(1979) Geneva-International Trade Centre(1984)Geneva-International Trade Centre(1984) Lucknow-Public Sector Undertaking(1990)Lucknow-Public Sector Undertaking(1990) Lucknow-Agriculture Production Commissioner(1990)Lucknow-Agriculture Production Commissioner(1990)

Journey contd…Journey contd… New Delhi-New Delhi-

Secretary,Ministry Of Secretary,Ministry Of Textile(1992,1994-1996)Textile(1992,1994-1996)

Lucknow-Chief Lucknow-Chief Secretary,Govt. Of Uttar Secretary,Govt. Of Uttar Pradesh(1992)Pradesh(1992)

Cabinet Secretary-Govt. Cabinet Secretary-Govt. of India(1996)of India(1996)

THE DUST jacket illustrating the plight of the poor Indian THE DUST jacket illustrating the plight of the poor Indian citizen says it all: a public tap gone to rust because of citizen says it all: a public tap gone to rust because of having been constricted with a 4-lever lock! And who are having been constricted with a 4-lever lock! And who are the villains who locked it and have thrown the key the villains who locked it and have thrown the key irretrievably away? The "netas" (politicians) and "babus" irretrievably away? The "netas" (politicians) and "babus" (bureaucrats) who, together, held defining sway over the (bureaucrats) who, together, held defining sway over the destinies of India, more particularly those who wielded destinies of India, more particularly those who wielded power in the later decades.power in the later decades.

Moradabd..Ranikhet…Ghazipur……Moradabd..Ranikhet…Ghazipur……

Apprehensive start -No contact with the government Apprehensive start -No contact with the government appartus whatsoever.appartus whatsoever.

Had never seen a real life TehsildarHad never seen a real life Tehsildar Work as cinema magistrateWork as cinema magistrate One of the batchmates of the author was asked to One of the batchmates of the author was asked to

explain how administrative bottlenecks occur in his civil explain how administrative bottlenecks occur in his civil services interview. He replied with a telling one liner, services interview. He replied with a telling one liner, ”My experience with bottles indicates that the ”My experience with bottles indicates that the bottlenecks are always at the top”.TSR says it took him bottlenecks are always at the top”.TSR says it took him nearly 40 years to understand the validity of this simple nearly 40 years to understand the validity of this simple statements.statements.

Moradabd..Ranikhet…Ghazipur……Moradabd..Ranikhet…Ghazipur……

Visit of the ICS member of the Board of Visit of the ICS member of the Board of Revenue and the inspection Carried out by him.Revenue and the inspection Carried out by him.

Made the 80 odd officers stand in a parade like Made the 80 odd officers stand in a parade like line in a single file and in reply to the problem line in a single file and in reply to the problem put forward by the first officer flared up and put forward by the first officer flared up and chided the officer.chided the officer.

The next officers in line had no problem to The next officers in line had no problem to narrate whatsoever!!narrate whatsoever!!

Moradabd..Ranikhet…Ghazipur……Moradabd..Ranikhet…Ghazipur……

Accessibilty of the chief secretary and the contrast of Accessibilty of the chief secretary and the contrast of inaccessibility of the top brass seen today.inaccessibility of the top brass seen today.

When TSR became Chief secretary he tried to meet as When TSR became Chief secretary he tried to meet as many visitors as possible and this gave him an excellent many visitors as possible and this gave him an excellent overview of the progress of the various schemes and an overview of the progress of the various schemes and an insight into tends and events in the fieldsinsight into tends and events in the fields

Instance of Babri Masjid Demolition and the contrast with Instance of Babri Masjid Demolition and the contrast with the 2002 Godhra riots.the 2002 Godhra riots.

Decisiveness,practicality and the vision-necessary Decisiveness,practicality and the vision-necessary ingredeients as an administartor.Instance of the see-saw ingredeients as an administartor.Instance of the see-saw battle in the legislative election in Ghazipur.battle in the legislative election in Ghazipur.

Madras…Kanpur…..Madras…Kanpur…..

Indian Foreign Service-morbid approach in Indian Foreign Service-morbid approach in diplomacy.diplomacy.

Poor grass root interaction between science Poor grass root interaction between science and the industry.and the industry.

Law of Administration:”Efforts put in and Law of Administration:”Efforts put in and rewards received sre inversely related”!rewards received sre inversely related”!

Madras…Kanpur…..Madras…Kanpur…..On Recruitment and promotion matter On Recruitment and promotion matter

TSR had an inflexible rule that he would TSR had an inflexible rule that he would proceed by the merits of the matter and proceed by the merits of the matter and not be guided by recommendation or not be guided by recommendation or intervention from any quarter. intervention from any quarter.

The Effect of the unworthy selection would The Effect of the unworthy selection would persist for thirty-five years and so it would persist for thirty-five years and so it would be disservice to the system to depart from be disservice to the system to depart from merit.merit.

Lucknow….New Delhi…Lucknow….New Delhi…

This section has a graphic account of the functioning of a high-This section has a graphic account of the functioning of a high-powered review committee constituted under the chief secretary powered review committee constituted under the chief secretary for the ostensible purpose of ensuring that cases of detention for the ostensible purpose of ensuring that cases of detention under MISA (the infamous precursor of POTA) were carefully under MISA (the infamous precursor of POTA) were carefully reviewed once in six months as a safeguard against their reviewed once in six months as a safeguard against their unwarranted continuance.unwarranted continuance.

The exercise consisted of flipping page after page (each The exercise consisted of flipping page after page (each containing particulars of about 100 detenus) with a rhetorical containing particulars of about 100 detenus) with a rhetorical question "any comments?" and interpreting the deafening question "any comments?" and interpreting the deafening silence of the other members as sanction for the continued silence of the other members as sanction for the continued incarceration of the unfortunate victims until a similar "careful incarceration of the unfortunate victims until a similar "careful review" six months hence, confirming that the only use of such review" six months hence, confirming that the only use of such draconian preventive detention law is its misuse draconian preventive detention law is its misuse

Lucknow….New DelhiLucknow….New Delhi

Necessary work hazards for the Necessary work hazards for the administrators-administrators-sifarissifaris for transfer and for transfer and posting through outside influence.posting through outside influence.

Issue of the PS hijacking the role of the Issue of the PS hijacking the role of the secretarysecretary

Exemplary Officers like K K Dass.Exemplary Officers like K K Dass.

Geneva…Geneva…

As Executive director in ITC he gets a ringside exposure As Executive director in ITC he gets a ringside exposure to the wily ways of the U.S. Government's manipulations to the wily ways of the U.S. Government's manipulations in order to subserve its own ends. Representing the in order to subserve its own ends. Representing the trading interests of India during the General Agreement trading interests of India during the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and pre-Uruguay Round on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and pre-Uruguay Round negotiations, Subramanian had this dubious privilege.negotiations, Subramanian had this dubious privilege.

His graphic description of how U.S. officials try to convert His graphic description of how U.S. officials try to convert the vanity and gullibility of opinion-makers in the target the vanity and gullibility of opinion-makers in the target countries into their own resources to achieve their goals countries into their own resources to achieve their goals makes gripping reading.makes gripping reading.

Occupational Hazards !!Occupational Hazards !! Hilarious instance of the Hilarious instance of the

inaugration of the rural inaugration of the rural inexpensive toilet.inexpensive toilet.

It was not clear to TSR It was not clear to TSR how one inaugurates a how one inaugurates a toilet!toilet!

Public Servants or….??Public Servants or….?? He quotes the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, He quotes the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister,

Mulayam Singh Yadav addressing a conclave of Mulayam Singh Yadav addressing a conclave of IAS officers, "You all have such excellent minds IAS officers, "You all have such excellent minds and education; some of you are scholars; some of and education; some of you are scholars; some of you have Nobel Prize minds; you will all succeed you have Nobel Prize minds; you will all succeed in any walk of life, wherever you turn your in any walk of life, wherever you turn your attention to; you have good jobs; you can educate attention to; you have good jobs; you can educate your children well; and you are all respected by your children well; and you are all respected by society; — (and then, the clincher, raising his society; — (and then, the clincher, raising his voice) — Why do you come and touch my feet? voice) — Why do you come and touch my feet? Why do you come and lick my shoes? Why do Why do you come and lick my shoes? Why do you come to me for personal favours? When you you come to me for personal favours? When you do, I will do as you desire and then extract my do, I will do as you desire and then extract my price from you."price from you."

Governance in action…Governance in action…

Over the years we have come to give Over the years we have come to give primacy to image over substance.This has primacy to image over substance.This has become an unstated theme in the national become an unstated theme in the national governance.governance.

““Wettest drought”Wettest drought”Use of the state plane to fetch minister’s Use of the state plane to fetch minister’s

pyjama.pyjama.

Road Blockade and the conversation with Road Blockade and the conversation with the District magistratethe District magistrate

Centripetal Tendency among the Centripetal Tendency among the bureaucrats.bureaucrats.

No department or the agency sees itself as a No department or the agency sees itself as a part of the overall system.part of the overall system.

Few Observations…Few Observations…

Dichotomy between precept and practice Dichotomy between precept and practice in our public affairsin our public affairs

Public Servants have been even willing to Public Servants have been even willing to turn themselves into private servants.turn themselves into private servants.

Attitude of the new entrantsAttitude of the new entrants Intellectual Dishonesty less talked about Intellectual Dishonesty less talked about

but important. but important.

Impressions…..Impressions…..

Memoirs of retired bureaucrats are an interesting genre. They give Memoirs of retired bureaucrats are an interesting genre. They give insights into governance and the dynamics of a parliamentary insights into governance and the dynamics of a parliamentary democracy. More interestingly, we get forthright opinions about how democracy. More interestingly, we get forthright opinions about how the innards of the 'system' function—or don't—and the role of the the innards of the 'system' function—or don't—and the role of the players. Subramanian has adroitly weaved a story that moves from players. Subramanian has adroitly weaved a story that moves from personal experience at the cutting-edge of administration to the personal experience at the cutting-edge of administration to the broader vision at the policy level. broader vision at the policy level. 

Perish the thought that the narration must be cynical, grim, harsh, Perish the thought that the narration must be cynical, grim, harsh, judgmental and full of bureaucratic jargon. Quite the contraryjudgmental and full of bureaucratic jargon. Quite the contrary

Impressions…Impressions…

The presentation, in elegant and near-Wodehousian language, is The presentation, in elegant and near-Wodehousian language, is predominantly anecdotal, and humour — subtle mostly and hilarious predominantly anecdotal, and humour — subtle mostly and hilarious on occasion.on occasion.

Granted that it contains reminiscences of but a single civilian's Granted that it contains reminiscences of but a single civilian's experiences, that too within a limited area in the vast politico-experiences, that too within a limited area in the vast politico-administrative jungle of this nation; it is nevertheless a valuable administrative jungle of this nation; it is nevertheless a valuable socio-political record of the nascent years of India's freedomsocio-political record of the nascent years of India's freedom by a by a perceptive participant, and is bound to have an enduring historical perceptive participant, and is bound to have an enduring historical value.value.