Flashes Before My Eyes: The Civil Service and More

Contents: 1. Brief Family History. 2. Parents and Childhood. 3. Sherwood. 4. St. Stephen’s College. 5. Towards a Career. 6. The Indian Administrative Service: Training. 7. The Sub Divisions. 8. Collector and District Magistrate. 9. Deputy Secretary, State Government. 10. Director of Education. 11. Special Secretary, Planning. 12. An Interlude. 13. Visiting Professor, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. 14. Commissioner, Tribal Area Development. 15. Joint Secretary, Government of India. 16. Secretary, Planning, Energy and Finance, Rajasthan. 17. Secretary, University Grants Commission. 18. Additional and Special Secretary, Government of India. 19. Enforcement Director, Government of India. 20. Chief Secretary, Rajasthan. 21. State Election Commissioner, Rajasthan. 22. Association with Gita Mittal Foundation and others: 2008 Onwards. Appendices.

This autobiography is about the personal and professional life of a civil servant. The book seeks to cover the sacrifices made by his parents in bringing up their three children, of which he is the youngest. It emphasizes the importance that the parents laid on the education and upbringing of the children even at the cost of the basic amenities in their life.

Having been a classmate of Amitabh Bachchan at Sherwood, the chapter on his school life dwells on this relationship with the actor. He has shared his experiences and struggles, right from his childhood and school and college days, his career in the civil service and thereafter.

He has particularly highlighted his service in two worlds. Over 13 years in the field of rural development where it was about service to the poorest in society and then again of rubbing shoulders with the czars of Indian industry while he was in the Ministry of Finance for four years. He raises the question of what should be the ideal role of government. Should it be tilted towards the large majority of poor or the minority of rich.

The book contains a variety of experiences, both positive and negative and interaction with public at large, businessmen and politicians. The author acknowledges that the process of learning never ends. The importance of values in life and work has been stressed. The author acknowledges the role of the ‘Invisible Hand’, the Lord above, in guiding and protecting him throughout his service career.

The book should provide good reading for the aspirants and to all those already in the civil service.