A Book Review Presentation

1. AA
ReviewReview
ByBy
Praveen RanjanPraveen Ranjan

2. 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 BabriChief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh in the period immediately after Babri
MasjidMasjid
 Rose to the post of Cabinet secretary and worked under three primeRose to the post of Cabinet secretary and worked under three prime
ministers.ministers.
 In the course of his journeys through theIn the course of his journeys through the "babudom""babudom" andand "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 inD. 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.

3. About the bookAbout the book
 The book is a memoir-cum-personal reflection on theThe 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 publicIncisively 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 andFrom out of acutely focused snapshots of persons and
events which he had mentally recorded during all hisevents which he had mentally recorded during all his
stopovers, Subramanian assembles a meaningfulstopovers, Subramanian assembles a meaningful
collage of the evolution of governance in independentcollage of the evolution of governance in independent
India, the central theme of which emerges as, "Might andIndia, the central theme of which emerges as, "Might and
self-interest (and not "right" and "public interest") willself-interest (and not "right" and "public interest") will
prevail.prevail.

4. 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)

5. Journey contd…Journey contd…
 New Delhi-New Delhi-
Secretary,Ministry OfSecretary,Ministry Of
Textile(1992,1994-1996)Textile(1992,1994-1996)
 Lucknow-ChiefLucknow-Chief
Secretary,Govt. Of UttarSecretary,Govt. Of Uttar
Pradesh(1992)Pradesh(1992)
 Cabinet Secretary-Govt.Cabinet Secretary-Govt.
of India(1996)of India(1996)

6.  THE DUST jacket illustrating the plight of the poor IndianTHE DUST jacket illustrating the plight of the poor Indian
citizen says it all: a public tap gone to rust because ofcitizen says it all: a public tap gone to rust because of
having been constricted with a 4-lever lock! And who arehaving been constricted with a 4-lever lock! And who are
the villains who locked it and have thrown the keythe 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 wieldeddestinies of India, more particularly those who wielded
power in the later decades.power in the later decades.

8. Moradabd..Ranikhet…Ghazipur……Moradabd..Ranikhet…Ghazipur……
 Apprehensive start -No contact with the governmentApprehensive 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 toOne of the batchmates of the author was asked to
explain how administrative bottlenecks occur in his civilexplain 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 himbottlenecks are always at the top”.TSR says it took him
nearly 40 years to understand the validity of this simplenearly 40 years to understand the validity of this simple
statements.statements.

9. Moradabd..Ranikhet…Ghazipur……Moradabd..Ranikhet…Ghazipur……
 Visit of the ICS member of the Board ofVisit 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 likeMade the 80 odd officers stand in a parade like
line in a single file and in reply to the problemline in a single file and in reply to the problem
put forward by the first officer flared up andput forward by the first officer flared up and
chided the officer.chided the officer.
 The next officers in line had no problem toThe next officers in line had no problem to
narrate whatsoever!!narrate whatsoever!!

10. Moradabd..Ranikhet…Ghazipur……Moradabd..Ranikhet…Ghazipur……
 Accessibilty of the chief secretary and the contrast ofAccessibilty 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 asWhen TSR became Chief secretary he tried to meet as
many visitors as possible and this gave him an excellentmany visitors as possible and this gave him an excellent
overview of the progress of the various schemes and anoverview 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 withInstance of Babri Masjid Demolition and the contrast with
the 2002 Godhra riots.the 2002 Godhra riots.
 Decisiveness,practicality and the vision-necessaryDecisiveness,practicality and the vision-necessary
ingredeients as an administartor.Instance of the see-sawingredeients as an administartor.Instance of the see-saw
battle in the legislative election in Ghazipur.battle in the legislative election in Ghazipur.

11. Madras…Kanpur…..Madras…Kanpur…..
 Indian Foreign Service-morbid approach inIndian Foreign Service-morbid approach in
diplomacy.diplomacy.
 Poor grass root interaction between sciencePoor grass root interaction between science
and the industry.and the industry.
 Law of Administration:”Efforts put in andLaw of Administration:”Efforts put in and
rewards received sre inversely related”!rewards received sre inversely related”!

12. Madras…Kanpur…..Madras…Kanpur…..
On Recruitment and promotion matterOn Recruitment and promotion matter
TSR had an inflexible rule that he wouldTSR had an inflexible rule that he would
proceed by the merits of the matter andproceed by the merits of the matter and
not be guided by recommendation ornot be guided by recommendation or
intervention from any quarter.intervention from any quarter.
The Effect of the unworthy selection wouldThe Effect of the unworthy selection would
persist for thirty-five years and so it wouldpersist for thirty-five years and so it would
be disservice to the system to depart frombe disservice to the system to depart from
merit.merit.

13. 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 secretarypowered review committee constituted under the chief secretary
for the ostensible purpose of ensuring that cases of detentionfor the ostensible purpose of ensuring that cases of detention
under MISA (the infamous precursor of POTA) were carefullyunder MISA (the infamous precursor of POTA) were carefully
reviewed once in six months as a safeguard against theirreviewed once in six months as a safeguard against their
unwarranted continuance.unwarranted continuance.
 The exercise consisted of flipping page after page (eachThe exercise consisted of flipping page after page (each
containing particulars of about 100 detenus) with a rhetoricalcontaining particulars of about 100 detenus) with a rhetorical
question "any comments?" and interpreting the deafeningquestion "any comments?" and interpreting the deafening
silence of the other members as sanction for the continuedsilence of the other members as sanction for the continued
incarceration of the unfortunate victims until a similar "carefulincarceration of the unfortunate victims until a similar "careful
review" six months hence, confirming that the only use of suchreview" six months hence, confirming that the only use of such
draconian preventive detention law is its misusedraconian preventive detention law is its misuse

14. Lucknow….New DelhiLucknow….New Delhi
Necessary work hazards for theNecessary work hazards for the
administrators-administrators-sifarissifaris for transfer andfor transfer and
posting through outside influence.posting through outside influence.
Issue of the PS hijacking the role of theIssue of the PS hijacking the role of the
secretarysecretary
Exemplary Officers like K K Dass.Exemplary Officers like K K Dass.

15. Geneva…Geneva…
 As Executive director in ITC he gets a ringside exposureAs Executive director in ITC he gets a ringside exposure
to the wily ways of the U.S. Government's manipulationsto the wily ways of the U.S. Government's manipulations
in order to subserve its own ends. Representing thein order to subserve its own ends. Representing the
trading interests of India during the General Agreementtrading interests of India during the General Agreement
on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and pre-Uruguay Roundon 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 convertHis graphic description of how U.S. officials try to convert
the vanity and gullibility of opinion-makers in the targetthe vanity and gullibility of opinion-makers in the target
countries into their own resources to achieve their goalscountries into their own resources to achieve their goals
makes gripping reading.makes gripping reading.

16. Occupational Hazards !!Occupational Hazards !!
 Hilarious instance of theHilarious instance of the
inaugration of the ruralinaugration of the rural
inexpensive toilet.inexpensive toilet.
 It was not clear to TSRIt was not clear to TSR
how one inaugurates ahow one inaugurates a
toilet!toilet!

17. 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 ofMulayam Singh Yadav addressing a conclave of
IAS officers, "You all have such excellent mindsIAS officers, "You all have such excellent minds
and education; some of you are scholars; some ofand education; some of you are scholars; some of
you have Nobel Prize minds; you will all succeedyou have Nobel Prize minds; you will all succeed
in any walk of life, wherever you turn yourin any walk of life, wherever you turn your
attention to; you have good jobs; you can educateattention to; you have good jobs; you can educate
your children well; and you are all respected byyour children well; and you are all respected by
society; — (and then, the clincher, raising hissociety; — (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 doWhy do you come and lick my shoes? Why do
you come to me for personal favours? When youyou come to me for personal favours? When you
do, I will do as you desire and then extract mydo, I will do as you desire and then extract my
price from you."price from you."

18. Governance in action…Governance in action…
Over the years we have come to giveOver the years we have come to give
primacy to image over substance.This hasprimacy to image over substance.This has
become an unstated theme in the nationalbecome an unstated theme in the national
governance.governance.
““Wettest drought”Wettest drought”
Use of the state plane to fetch minister’sUse of the state plane to fetch minister’s
pyjama.pyjama.

19. Road Blockade and the conversation withRoad Blockade and the conversation with
the District magistratethe District magistrate
Centripetal Tendency among theCentripetal Tendency among the
bureaucrats.bureaucrats.
No department or the agency sees itself as aNo department or the agency sees itself as a
part of the overall system.part of the overall system.

20. Few Observations…Few Observations…
Dichotomy between precept and practiceDichotomy between precept and practice
in our public affairsin our public affairs
Public Servants have been even willing toPublic 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 aboutIntellectual Dishonesty less talked about
but important.but important.

21. Impressions…..Impressions…..
 Memoirs of retired bureaucrats are an interesting genre. They giveMemoirs of retired bureaucrats are an interesting genre. They give
insights into governance and the dynamics of a parliamentaryinsights into governance and the dynamics of a parliamentary
democracy. More interestingly, we get forthright opinions about howdemocracy. More interestingly, we get forthright opinions about how
the innards of the 'system' function—or don't—and the role of thethe innards of the 'system' function—or don't—and the role of the
players. Subramanian has adroitly weaved a story that moves fromplayers. Subramanian has adroitly weaved a story that moves from
personal experience at the cutting-edge of administration to thepersonal 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

22. Impressions…Impressions…
 The presentation, in elegant and near-Wodehousian language, isThe presentation, in elegant and near-Wodehousian language, is
predominantly anecdotal, and humour — subtle mostly and hilariouspredominantly anecdotal, and humour — subtle mostly and hilarious
on occasion.on occasion.
 Granted that it contains reminiscences of but a single civilian'sGranted 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 valuableadministrative 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 aby a
perceptive participant, and is bound to have an enduring historicalperceptive participant, and is bound to have an enduring historical
value.value.