Issue 23 ■ www.iasmah.
org Connecting the IAS Community
Importing Michael Porter
EVER wondered why VVS Laxman
prefers to be a middle-order batsman
and not an opener? Or why our Sachin
quit the captaincy? The answers are
provided by the renowned Management
Guru Michael E. Porter who was in
Mumbai recently after seven years to
share his experiences with India Inc.
According to this Harvard Business
School Professor and ultimate authority
on competitive advantage, both Laxman
and Tendulkar are strategists and doing
a trade-off to excel in what can make
them clearly distinctive from others.
Both want to focus on batting, deliber-
ately limiting their ‘value proposition’
only to improve returns. Doesn’t that
sound similar to the ubiquitous Hindi
film line: Kucch paane ke liye kucch
khona padtaa hain?
The master-strategist’s advice to
his audience was to create a package of
distinctive skills, as a matter of course.
A job is not just a way of making
money but a way of developing human
capital, he says. So, he recommends
you to find a distinct positioning for
yourself, consistent with the kind of
person you are and what you are good
at. Porter claims that you can make a
difference as a leader only if you have a
strategy. Success comes not by doing
the same thing again and again but out
of a strategy, which is all about choices
and tradeoffs. And strategy is a race to
get to the position you would like to
occupy. It invariably involves forsaking
some options or making tradeoffs.
While it is essential to be excellent at
operations, the operations must fit with
the overall strategies. And a strategy is
useless unless it is backed by strong
implementation just as operational
excellence is ineffective without
strategic objectives driving it, he avers.
What is the relevance of Porter to
us? As Porter explains, no organization
and no individual can excel without
strategies and trade-offs. So, just when
we seem to be having a finger in every
pie and getting nowhere, the Porter
Principle should serve us as a flashing
beacon. It’s indeed a matter of great
import to us. ■
Rameshchandra Kanade
A Monthly Newsletter of the IAS Officers’ Association, Maharashtra Branch
A Monthly Newsletter of the IAS Officers’ Association, Maharashtra Branch
Who’s gone where?
■ R Gopal (1972): Principal Secretary &
OSD (Appeals), (R& FD), Mumbai. ■ BP
Pandey (1976): Principal Secretary
(O&AR) & Special Enquiry Officer-II. ■
Dr PS Meena (1981): Managing Direc-
tor, Maharashtra State Co-operative
Marketing Federation Ltd, Mumbai. ■
VB Mathankar (1982): State Excise
Commissioner, Mumbai. ■ Sunil Porwal
(1983): Secretary to the Deputy Chief
Minister. ■ Satish Gavai (1984): Director
in the Lok Sabha Secretariat, New Delhi.
■ RC Sagar (1986): Tribal Development
Commissioner, Nasik. ■ Kishor Gajbhiye
(1987): Divisional Commissioner, Nasik
Division. ■ Vikas Shankar Kharage
(1994): Collector, Aurangabad. ■ V
Radha (1994): Associate Professor at
YASHADA, Pune.
By VS GOPALAKRISHNAN
“How did I manage to find out the contents
of the CR? I used to write them myself and
the bosses simply signed them!” ■
[Mr VS Gopalakrishnan (1962) is Director Gen-
eral, World Trade Centre, Mumbai. He can be
contacted on: 022-22182879; 24936429;
vsgopal2000@yahoo.com]. ■
ML Pawar dies in harness
Managing Director of the Maharashtra
State Cooperative Tribal Development
Corporation Limited Manohar L Pawar
(1996) died in Thane at 3.15 p.m. on 2
February 2004. He was only 54 when he
suffered the fatal heart attack. The Asso-
ciation expresses grief and prays that
God rest his soul in peace. ■
February 2004
Mukhopadhyaya, Awadhal,
Chandratreya retire
Additional Chief Secretary (Home) UK
Mukhopadhyaya (1967), Associate Prof
of YASHADA BL Awadhal (1991) and
Additional Divisional Commissioner of
Nasik Division retired on 31 January
2004 on superannuation. The Associa-
tion wishes them a very healthy and
happy post-retirement life. ■
Navin Kumar is Addl CS
Principal Secretary (Public Health)
Navin Kumar (1969) was promoted, in
situ, on 1 January 2004 as Additional
Chief Secretary. Congratulations, Mr
Navin Kumar! ■
President of IC&AS Officers’
Wives’ Association Prema
Nimbalkar appeals
Dear Friends,
WeCare, the community concern arm
of the IC&AS Officers’ Wives’ Asso-
ciation, has, in the short time since its
inception, evolved a concrete pro-
gramme of action that involves reach-
ing out, with aid in cash or kind, to in-
stitutions working for the betterment of
the underprivileged and to communi-
ties/ persons affected by natural/ man-
made calamities.
It also aims to help upgrade the
Balwadi run by the Association and put
into action projects to create awareness
and sensitivity related to civic issues.
In an effort to raise funds for char-
ity, WeCare is taking out its first An-
nual Issue, which will be released at a
special function in February 2004.
We appeal to all to be part of our
endeavour by contributing towards our
fund-raising efforts. Any amount you
donate will help us immensely.
As we all know, it is many drops
that do an ocean make.
Cheques or Demand Drafts may
please be drawn in favour of the IC&AS
Officers’ Wives’ Association and sent to
Ms Rajee Gill, Flat 901, Neelambari,
Opposite Cooperage Ground, Maharshi
Karve Road, Mumbai 400021.■
For private circulation only
For Private circulation only
2 FARE THEE WELL
Mr Mukhopadhyaya Calls it a Day
“I’ve a confession to make! This is
how Additional Chief Secretary Utpal
Kumar Mukhopadhyaya (IAS-1967)
replied to the farewell given to him by
the IAS Officers’ Association on 31
January 2004, the day of his superannu-
ation. In a voice that was emotion-
choked but filled with lot of love,
warmth and affection, the retiring Mr
Mukhopadhyaya told the audience:
“I’m a shy person. I don’t go out. But
I’m not asocial. I admit I used to belittle
the farewell functions as batatawada
parties. But I admit I was wrong. I feel
guilty that I did not attend farewell
functions in the past. I realize there is
lot of love and affection in them.”
Recalling his 37 years in the IAS,
he disclosed that he had opted for the
State of Maharashtra, and that not for a
day did he regret to have been posted
here. “Mumbai is my home and I’ll be
with you around to cherish the friend-
ship.” Pointing out that IAS is a bond,
stronger than any other emotional part-
nership, he stressed the need to make it
stronger and to stand for each other. He
appealed the members to rise above all
pettiness and keep up our efforts to
achieve harmony. “I’m not sad that I’m
leaving but I’m sad because I’ll not be
sitting on this side with you.” That’s
how one of the top bureaucrats and an
avid singer chose to sing his swan song
in service.
Speaking on the occasion, Associa-
tion Honorary Secretary and Principal
Secretary (Food, Civil Supplies & Con-
sumer Protection) Satish Tripathi re-
called his long association with Mr
Mukhopadhyaya and mentioned that he
found Mr Mukhopadhyaya to be great
host and dancer. He narrated how one
non-official had praised Mr Muk-
hopadhyaya publicly.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hope
By HARSHEEN MADAN
I hope there will be less pollution,
And citizens of all countries find a
solution
To end all war,
And obey rules for sure.
I hope everyone is gentle,
I hope everyone is kind,
I hope that Mumbai becomes the best
place
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity
Principal Secretary (Housing)
Suresh Joshi referred to Mr Muk-
hopadhyaya’s qualities of head and
heart and pointed out that Mr Muk-
hopadhyaya was his worthy predeces-
sor in the Transport Department. Hav-
ing done various important postings
and worked in the World Bank for
about five years, Mr Mukhopadhyaya
had left behind a stamp of his unique
personality. He had pursued the policy
of industrial dispersal doggedly and
also addressed environmental issues
with great understanding. He found Mr
Mukhopadhyaya to be a warm person
who always encouraged the staff and
appreciated their good work.
MMRDA Commissioner & Addi-
tional Chief Secretary AK Mago said
that there was a huge flood of emotions
welling up inside him while recalling
the Mussoorie days. Paying rich com-
pliments to his batch mate, Mr Mago
said that Mr Mukhopadhyaya was ex-
ceptional and had served the World
Bank so long with great distinction. He
disclosed that Mr Mukhopadhyaya not
only dances well but also sings very
well. Reciting a Urdu couplet: Abhi
saaze dil mein taraane bahoot hain;
Abhi zindagi mein bahaane bahoot
hein, Mr Mago wished his friend well
on the eve of his opening a new chapter
in life.
Additional Chief Secretary (Plan-
ning) Jagdish Joshi wondered how 37
Anyone can find.
I know that one day,
Everything I say,
Will come true,
For you,
For me,
and for EVERYBODY. ■
[Harsheen, 11, is a daughter of UPS &
Kiran Madan. She studies in standard 5 in
JB Petit High School, Mumbai and is fond
of writing poetry, and whenever given
HARMONY, FEBRUARY 2004
years had passed, for it appeared as
though he and his batch mates were in
Mussoorie at Charle Ville and other
places just yesterday. He complimented
Mr Mukhopadhyaya for maintaining
good health. He said that Mr Muk-
hopadhyaya and he had not worked to-
gether except for brief postings together
in Delhi. Assuring to join him soon for
Golf after the retirement next month,
Mr Joshi wished his friend all the best.
Association President and Chief
Secretary Ajit Nimbalkar felicitated Mr
Mukhopadhyaya and said that it was
very difficult to speak on this occasion
when his batch mate and friend was re-
tiring. Recalling that they had first met
in Mussoorie but come to know each
other better in the State, he found Mr
Mukhopadhyaya to be a remarkable
person. Not knowing Marathi, Mr
Mukhopadhyaya had felt exasperated
when posted as supernumerary assistant
collector in Ratnagiri and met Mr BG
Deshmukh who was then in charge of
the IAS establishment. But he went
back, mastered Marathi, continued to
work in Konkan for many years and
endeared himself to everybody there,
including minister PK Sawant who
came to regard him as his son. Chief
Secretary said that Mr Mukhopadhyaya
had made a name in Delhi and also at
international level when he was in the
World Bank. He said he found Mr
Mukhopadhyaya to be a family man.
Expressing happiness about the fact that
in his batch of 1967, to which Mr Muk-
hopadhyaya also belonged, there was a
close bond and brotherhood, the Chief
Secretary wished Mr Mukhopadhyaya
on behalf of all a very happy and
healthy post-retirement life. ■
(Rameshchandra Kanade)
the choice in school she prefers to write
a piece in poem form. Harsheen is a
very sensitive
child, inclined
towards charity
and helping the
underprivileged.
She can be con-
tacted on 022-
22821826;
kiran_madan @
hotmail.com]. ■
HARMONY, FEBRUARY 2004
A Novel on Afghanistan by
Lakshmikant Deshmukh
Akola Municipal Commissioner LV
Deshmukh (1995) has just published
his 900-page novel: Inquilab Virrudha
Jehad’. With Afghanistan as the back-
drop and Kabul, Kandahar, Pagman as
action points, the novel is about Anwar
Pamani, the liberal youth from a family
of landlords and myriad characters.
Mr Deshmukh’s previous novel
Andharyara and a collection of short
stories Udak have already earned him
name in literary circles. ■
Accommodation Galore
Accommodation for our cadre officers
coming to Mumbai on meetings is
available at the following places:
MSLTA Guest House: Cooperage,
Mumbai 400021. Only for Div Com-
missioners, Collectors and CEOs of
ZPs. Contact: GAD Protocol. No pay-
ment to be made by officers to the
MSTLA. Read GR GAD No. TRS-
1003/3546/31 dt 13 January 2004.
MSRTC Guest House: ST Bhavan, Dr
Anandrao Nair Marg, Mumbai 400008.
Contact: Chief Civil Engineer JB Inam-
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ten steps to help your child develop a positive self-image
By PREETI JAIN
Try the following ten steps to help your
child develop a positive
self-image:
1. Teach them to change
their demands to prefer-
ences. Tell them there is
no reason why they
must get everything
they want and that they
need not feel angry
either. Encourage them to work against an-
ger by setting a good example and by rein-
forcing them when they display appropriate
irritation rather than anger.
2. Encourage them to ask for what they
want, but point out that there is no guarantee
that they will get those things.
3. Tell them that they are responsible for
any feeling they create and experience but
are not responsible for others’ feelings.
Don’t blame them for how you feel.
We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
MISCELLANY
Inamdar. Ph: 022-23082333 (O);
25295758 (R), or Divisional Engineer
(Electrical) PV Padalwar. Ph: 022-
23071524 Ext 284 (O); 24978897 (R).
MSEB Guest House: Bandra-Kurla.
Contact: S.E. (Civil), Bandra. Ph: 022-
26473762; Fax: 26472866. ■
Happy Birthday to You!
02 Feb: ABP Pandye (022-22024221;
23693770).
02 Feb: Ramanand Tiwari (022-
22026419; 22023986).
04 Feb: N Arumugam (0721-2662034;
2662035).
05 Feb: Neela Satyanarayan (022-
22028648; 24953209), Umesh C Sarangi
(020-26122500; 26345385).
06 Feb: Debshish Chakravarty (022-
27565158; 22882367); Sanjay Khandare
(02564-221001; 221002).
07 Feb: KVSeshadri(kvsls@hotmail.com).
08 Feb: Sanjay Kumar (020-25501103,
25652416).
09 Feb: SG Kinkar (07252-233400;
233401)
10 Feb: KC Srivastava (022-22620525;
24937290); SB Patil (020-25501200).
11 Feb: MN Bobade (0172-2545541).
12 Feb: AK Lakhina (022-23685909;
22820532); RP Wagh (020-24464148;
24271435); Maitreyi Das
(mdas@worldbank.org); RK Pingale (?).
14 Feb: Ajit Nimbalkar (022-22025042;
22846606); Sudha Bhave (022-22022816;
23631232).
15 Feb: RL Mopalwar (020-25513717;
26357541); Rajeev Kumar Mital (02482-
225792; 220165); Ranjit Singh Deol
(02456-221826; 221504).
16 Feb: NL Lakhanpal (?).
4. Encourage them to develop hobbies and
interests that give them pleasure and which
they can pursue independently.
5. Let them settle their own disputes be-
tween siblings and friends alike.
6. Help them develop tease tolerance by
pointing out that some teasing can’t hurt.
Help them learn to cope with teasing by ig-
noring it while using positive self-talk such
as ‘names can never hurt me’, ‘teases have
no power over me’, and ‘if I can resist this
tease, then I’m building emotional muscle.’
Help them learn to focus on their strengths
by pointing out to them all the things they
can do.
7. Encourage them to behave toward them-
selves the way they would like their friends
to behave toward them.
8. Help them think in terms of alternative
options and possibilities rather than depend
upon one option for satisfaction. A child
who has only one friend and loses that
3
18 Feb: Rahul Asthana (022-22023896;
23691273).
19 Feb: ALJarhad (022-23732468;
23611313).
20 Feb: GC Tripathi (022-22026448);
AKD Jadhav (022-22850281); Bipin Mal-
lick (011-23381930; 26266123).
21 Feb: AKJain(022-26206716; 22030209).
23 Feb: DM Sukthankar (022-24936522);
Jagdish Joshi (022-); Mukesh Khullar (022-
22026534; 22822188).
25 Feb: VandanaKrishna (van-
danak@vsnl.net).
28 Feb: AKG Desai (020-25658930). ■
Riddles of the Alphabets
By SHAGUN SHAH
1. What is a veggie?
2. What is an insect?
3. A water feature?
4. What do Russians shout
when they go on a roller
coaster?
5. In which alphabet
will you find the square of another al-
phabet?
6. What alphabet is a word used in
Hindi to show respect?
7. Which alphabet asks questions?
8. Which is the self-proclaiming alpha-
bet?
9. Which is an accusatory alphabet?
Answers on Page 6.
[Shagun Shah, son of Varsha Shah, is a stu-
dent of Cathedral School. He is interested in
reading, writing and guitar-playing. He has
represented his school in many games]. ■
friend is friendless. However, a child who
has many friends and loses one, still has
many. The more you help them realize that
there are many options in every situation,
the more you increase their potential for sat-
isfaction.
9. Laugh with them and encourage them to
laugh at themselves. People who take them-
selves very seriously are undoubtedly de-
creasing their enjoyment in life. A good
sense of humor and the ability to make light
of life are important ingredients for increas-
ing one’s overall enjoyment. Children and
teenagers with learning disabilities and at-
tention deficit disorder may need extra help
in developing a positive self-image.
10. Finally, enjoy your children. Hang out
with them. Do things together as a family
but also see that each parent has ‘one to
one’ time with each child on a regular basis.
■
Continued on Page 6.
4 BOOK REVIEW
Travelogues of a Triumphant Titan
From Poona To The Prime Minister‘s
Office: A Cabinet Secretary Looks
Back by BG Deshmukh.
HarperCollins Publishers India, New
Delhi; 392 pp. Rs 500.
THEY call him BG. But they could as
well call him, Busy. For, that is what he
has been from the day he entered the
Metcalfe House in Delhi in 1951 and
went on to become the top bureaucrat
before calling it a day from government
in December 1990. Even thereafter he
has remained very active. Yes, he is
BHALCHANDRA GOPAL DESHMUKH
(IAS-1951), one of the rare examples of
a very successful life as a civil servant.
As one of the key witnesses to an
exciting four-decade long era, which
commenced almost immediately after
India became Republic, he occupied a
vital seat and actively participated in
many major events that shaped India.
Therefore, these are the memoirs in
which Mr Deshmukh has recorded a
few important events of those times.
Benjamin Franklin had said:
If you would not be forgotten
As soon as you are dead and rotten
Either write things worth reading
Or do things worth writing.
Mr Deshmukh has done both: he
has not only done many things worth
writing about but also written about
things that are worth reading. This is a
candid, forthright and lucid account
from a former outstanding bureaucrat
who is widely known to be efficient,
quick and businesslike and retired “with
the reputation of having been an up-
right, honest and good civil servant.”
Written transparently in the first
person singular and with simple and
sincere words, this is an autobiography
of one of the most distinguished civil
servants in India. In this exceptionally
readable, interesting and fascinating
book, the author traces his own career
that was not only action packed and
event-filled but also exciting. To any
discerning reader, it would provide
fresh insights into the momentous
events of his times and give an insider’s
view of how the Indian bureaucracy
works. Full of nuggets of bureaucratic
guidance for young officers, it shows
how the minds of bureaucrats, politi-
cians, ministers, prime ministers and
president work and how decisions are
taken at the highest level.
Most importantly, it is an inspiring
tale of a typical middle-class boy who
joined the IAS through competition and
reached the top to become the cabinet
secretary to the Government of India
and later principal secretary to the
prime minister, without any godfather
and without currying favour with any
politician. It is not a tale told by some
ordinary bureaucrat. It is a motivating
story of a titan who left his indelible
mark on the mammoth bureaucracy. It
is a story of a colossus who began his
journey as a supernumerary assistant
collector but persevered sincerely and
doggedly and realized the dream of
every civil servant. But he does not
deny the great role luck played in his
life. But nobody can disagree that he
too shaped his own destiny.
The author tells us about his back-
ground. He hailed from a middle-class
Poona family that had frugal but decent
living. His great-grandfather, Sitaram,
retired as Tahsildar. His grandfather,
Bhikaji, rose to become an inspector in
the postal department. His maternal
grandfather was in the excise depart-
ment. His father, Gopal, was a scholar,
stood first in the final examination of
Bachelor of Agriculture, joined the
state agriculture department and, after a
chequered career, retired in 1936 from
the district local board of Satara to
practise as a consultant on gardens and
plantations in Poona. In keeping with
the family tradition, Mr Deshmukh also
proved to be a scholar, got a number of
prizes in school, won the middle school
scholarship and joined the prestigious
Fergusson College.
It was at this stage that NV (aka
Kakasaheb) Gadgil, his father’s old
friend, asked him to do B.Sc. and then
appear at the civil service examination
“so that he could be a civil servant in
Pandit Nehru’s government.” And sure
enough, he became the first person to
The righteous shall inherit the earth.
The righteous shall inherit the earth
HARMONY, FEBRUARY 2004
get into the IAS from the erstwhile
Bombay state in 1951.
Mr Deshmukh recalls his Metcalfe
House days. It was here that he learnt
Gujarati, was the president of the mess
committee, signed his first pay bill in
Devanagari script but had to sign again
in English because the treasury officer
would not pass it otherwise. He also
remembers Morarji Desai who asked
the young probationers curtly, when
they called on him, to wear khadi
clothes instead of Western dress. He
also records his first experience with
political interference in administration
when he transferred a talathi.
The book contains interesting
trivia, titbits and tips apart from analy-
sis of many administrative issues, and
they are bound to fuel the appetite of
any young entrant to the service. The
author narrates his happy experiences
as assistant collector of Bhivandi prant
in Thane District and then of Tharad
prant in Banaskantha District. There are
references to the Anderson Manual, ja-
mabandi and treasury inspection, which
a newcomer may find educative. He
mentions his experience of spending a
night in a so-called haunted dak bunga-
low near Viramgam Cordon. He tells us
how, as collector of Dang District, he
tried to help the tribal but how “the
mandarins in the secretariat at Bombay”
thought his scheme was not practicable.
After working in Dang the author
had expected to be shifted to a bigger
district but was ‘nervous’ to have been
picked up for central deputation in
Delhi as under secretary in the Ministry
of Tourism & Communications. A
blessing in disguise, this afforded him
an opportunity to know first hand how
the wheels of administration turn in
Delhi. It opened an avenue for doing an
MA course in Williams College in the
US. There he got a good grounding in
economics and econometrics and learnt
how to solve the economic problems of
a developing country.
On return to Bombay, he landed in
the finance department. Soon he was
selected for the general administration
department. He lost no time in stream-
lining matters concerning the All India
Services until it was again time to go on
central deputation to a newly created
post in the Administrative Reforms
HARMONY, FEBRUARY 2004
Commission in Delhi, with Morarji
Desai as its chairman. But after about
one year, he had to return to Bombay
because of his wife’s illness. Soon he
was asked by the chief minister VP
Naik to be his secretary in the upgraded
post in super time scale. And then there
was no looking back for Mr Deshmukh.
Obviously nostalgic, he recalls his
days with chief minister VP Naik and
says “I remember these as some of my
best years in service not only because I
had the privilege of serving an out-
standing chief minister but also because
I was given an insight by a master poli-
tician on how to run administration in a
democratic state. His advice to civil
servants was that they should try to un-
derstand the common man’s difficulties
and go out of their way to solve them.”
He quotes his mentor, “... people would
be satisfied if they felt that an honest at-
tempt was being made to understand
their difficulties and an equally honest
effort was being made to resolve them.
In this process, failure was not as im-
portant as the transparent intention of
trying to help.”
The author was equally happy with
the next chief minister SB Chavan who
asked him to continue as his secretary.
When BMC civic chief Madhukar
Desai suddenly died in July 1975, chief
secretary DD Sathe suggested the au-
thor’s name for the post. That’s how Mr
Deshmukh became BMC’s, perhaps,
the youngest municipal commissioner
ever. He made “the city much less un-
clean than before.” He recalls, “My
posting was a most satisfying one. It
gave me a huge budget and a vast ma-
chinery to do something for the city.”
After three years, he was ready to
go to Delhi. As additional secretary in
the Home Ministry, he was required to
process the Shah Commission Report,
which was “a rather unpleasant task”.
To solve the border dispute between
Karnataka and Maharashtra, the author
had suggested that Maharashtra set up a
new township called New Belgaum just
across the border and develop it into an
educational and industrial complex. But
the suggestion was not accepted.
The author confides in us that he
was getting restless when his promotion
as secretary was not coming through.
So thinking of reverting to the parent
cadre, he spoke to home minister Zail
Singh, who immediately disclosed that
Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.
Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.
IN THE HALL OF HARMONY
prime minister Indira Gandhi regarded
Mr Deshmukh to be YB Chavan’s man.
Significantly, the promotion came soon
after he clarified to RK Dhawan that
“Mr Chavan was nowhere in the pic-
ture” when he (the author) was brought
to Delhi in 1978.
After about four successful years
as secretary in the ministry of labour &
rehabilitation and as chairman of the
governing board of the ILO, Mr
Deshmukh was expecting to go to a
more important ministry. But instead,
he was asked to return to Maharashtra
as chief secretary “as desired by the
then chief minister Vasantdada Patil.”
After getting an assurance to be brought
back to Delhi, he came to the state as
chief secretary. In August 1986, with
only nine months left to retire, he was
“stunned to hear” from the then prime
minister Rajiv Gandhi that he would be
the new cabinet secretary on a three
year tenure. The rest is history.
The author does not hide his soft
feelings for Rajiv Gandhi with whom
he later worked also as his principal
secretary. But then, he had warm feel-
ings also for his subsequent bosses: VP
Singh and Chandrashekhar. But what is
most remarkable about him is that
though Chandrashekhar removed him
unceremoniously without allowing him
to complete his term, despite having
told him to continue as his principal
secretary, he has no acrimony or ill
feeling for Chandrashekhar.
The book reveals all this and much
more. The writer explains to us many
controversial subjects such as Bofors,
the coterie that surrounded Rajiv, the
Union Carbide case. He analyses the is-
sues concerning Mandal Commission
Report, India’s involvement in Sri
Lanka, Indo-Pak relations, and explains
why terrorism took roots in Punjab and
how it was tackled. He tells us also
about the genesis of Kashmir problem.
Countless episodes and anecdotes
in the book show that Mr Deshmukh
had the courage of his convictions,
acted straight from his conscience and
did what he thought was right. He gave
his masters advice that was frank, fear-
less and based on facts and figures and
never on views.
The author reveals, through his
own example, that if a civil servant
gives a free, frank and fearless advice
to his minister, he would be respected
5
for that, and if he also appreciates how
a minister functions, there will be less
friction between the two. Mr Deshmukh
narrates many incidents in which his
advice was heard but not accepted.
This 392-page hard-bound book
has excellent design and index. There
are photographs which tell the reader
about different phases of the author’s
life. Photographs, especially of his first
wife, Sumati, of the second wife,
Vijaya, and of his daughter, Jayati, all
of whom he lost on the way, make the
memoirs intimate and touching. But
one cannot help thinking that the author
should have provided more information
about these members of his family who
must have contributed amply to his
success.
Mr Deshmukh tells us why he
wrote the memoirs. He believes that “a
civil servant should write his memoirs
after retirement to let the public know
what went on behind the scenes while
important decisions or events took
place because it is not even aware of
how the government functions at all.”
Perhaps anticipating queries, he says,
“I’ve not written a history of the time
when I served in the government. I’ve
written about those subjects and matters
of which I had personal knowledge or
where I was involved in taking a deci-
sion or executing it.” He admits that
“this might disappoint some as they
may not find any reference to certain
matters during the relevant period or
exposure of any sensational items or
developments or revealing of any so-
called secrets or skeletons in the cup-
board as this is neither my intention nor
my objective.”
All in all, this book is a must read
for all those who are interested in pub-
lic affairs. This tale will guide many a
future bureaucrat and student of public
administration. It will serve to educate
the public on crucial issues. The new
generations will find in it a motivation
to join the civil service, which, accord-
ing to its author, can be a vibrant and
romantic journey if one observes a cer-
tain code of values and does not mind
sometimes carrying the cross. And as
Sir Anthony Eden would have said,
“such account could be useful because
nothing can change a man’s need to
take counsel with all who have pursued
the endless adventure.” ■
(Rameshchandra Kanade)
6 DIFFERENT STROKES HARMONY, FEBRUARY 2004

The Law is an Ass – Sentenced to Life and beyond Life

By VARAKUR S. GOPALAKRISHNAN Jones was also given two sentences of would expire with his death. His expiry
WE administrators 150 years each on three counts of as- would invalidate the unexpired sen-
in India have gener- sault and battery with intent to kill. tence. To avoid such confusion I felt
ally exercised quasi- This kind of American justice and that the Oklahoma court should have
judicial functions jurisprudence is indeed extraordinary. said, “1,050 years or till death, which-
and known the One of my family members said that ever is earlier unless released still ear-
merits of our the American criminal court benches lier for good conduct”.
judicial system, ex- perhaps consisted of tortoises rather Anyway, you will see that the
cepting of course than human beings to have envisioned judges therefore have to have mathe-
the horrible delays such large time frames. However the matical acumen. They should be par-
that hamper justice. What has capti- fact is that there are several thousands ticularly good in addition. If a guy is
vated me is the American system, par- of such sentences by the courts all over sentenced on 14 counts, with each
ticularly the criminal courts, and you America that the tortoise theory cannot count necessitating a sentence from 15
will see why I say this. hold water. In actual fact, the fault does to 750 years, the total has to be care-
Indeed, it would appear that the not lie with judges but with the law fully worked out..
American convicts are expected to live which gives huge mathematical num- So it is obvious that calculators are
longer than the biblical Methuselah bers for each count of sentence. Now used before the sentencing. The other
who is said to have lived 969 years. my worry as a part-time historian is beauty of the American system is the
Just the other day, while reading a this. Such sentences are likely to be jurors. They are randomly picked from
newspaper, I saw this headline, “1,050 viewed by extra-terrestrials and also the society and have no training in law.
years in jail for manhandling”. This those living in the next millennium, in a Many of them do not like to take up the
sentence was handed to the convict by totally different light. They would onerous duty of being present at the tri-
an Oklahoma court. I thought that if surely think that the average age of als. Hence they quite often fail to turn
this is one way a government could as- human beings in America exceeded up at the hearings. I am told of several
sure longevity, I should at once head 1,000 years as against 80 years or so in cases of jurors thrust upon with trial
for the United States. other countries. cases whose delinquency at the trials
In the said case, the convict I discussed this issue with a friend has led to trials against themselves. In
named Mr Jones dragged a woman who had just returned from the USA af- one case, a juror who failed to appear at
trapped beneath his car for more than ter nearly three decades of active ser- a number of trials was himself sen-
nearly 700 feet. Well, in India there are vice over there. His point of elucidation tenced to 450 years in prison. That is
drivers simply mowing down several seemed valid. He said that in any case American justice --- always big, bigger
persons simultaneously and yet escap- the convict would get out of the prison and the biggest. ■
ing the long arms of the law. But Mr after twenty years of good conduct. So
Jones was given 750 years for inten- it does not matter if the sentence was
tionally injuring a woman (I suspect for more than 1,000 years. What if the Answers to the Riddles
1. P; 2. B; 3. C; 4. V; 5. W; 6. G; 7. Y;
that one year for one foot of dragging convict does not show good conduct in
8. I; 9. U.
must have been the basis for this). the prison? In that case the sentence
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Present! empty! I blew kisses into it until it was your golden box, keep it close and
full.” know that you are loved. It’s a matter of
THE story goes that some time ago a The mother was crushed. She fell believing!■
mother punished her 5 year old daugh- on her knees and put her arms around
ter for wasting a roll of expensive gold her little girl, and she begged her for-
wrapping paper. Money was tight and giveness for her thoughtless anger. Change of Address
she became even more upset when the AL Bongirwar (IAS-1966), Chairman
An accident took the life of the
child used the gold paper to decorate a child only a short time later, and it is Tariff Authority for Major Ports, has
box for Diwali. Nevertheless, the little told that the mother kept that gold box shifted to: Jackson House, Ground
girl brought the gift box to her mother by her bed for all the years of her life. Floor, MbPT Colony, Sassoon Dock,
the next morning and said, “This is for Whenever she was discouraged or faced Dumayne Rd, Colaba, Mumbai-400005.
you, Mother.” The mother was embar- difficult problems, she would open the Phones: Office: 022-23726084; Res:
rassed by her earlier over-reaction, but box and take out an imaginary kiss and 56564860 & 22187740; Mobile:
her anger flared again when she opened remember the love of the child who had 9821219781. ■
the box and found it was empty. put it there. Continued from Page 3.
She spoke to her daughter in a In a very real sense, each of us, as a [Preeti Jain, wife of Collector Yawatmal
harsh manner. “Don't you know, young human being, has been given a golden Parag Jain (1996), is a gold medalist in MA
lady, when you give someone a present box filled with unconditional love and and currently doing PhD in History. A poet,
there’s supposed to be something inside kisses from our children, family and and a painter, she was selected in semi-final
for the International Poetry Competition,
the package?” The daughter had tears in friends. There is no more precious pos- California. She can be contacted on: 07232-
her eyes and said, “Oh, Mother, it’s not session anyone could hold. So, find 242301; jainpreeti_p@rediffmail.com]. ■

All things are possible to him that believeth.

All things are possible to him that believeth.
HARMONY, FEBRUARY 2004 WOMEN’S DELIGHT 7
Trends in Jewellery splurge on a beautiful pair of diamond
solitaires worth over Rs 8 lakh. “Life is
baguettes and tapers, all of which are in
great demand) and other coloured pre-
VARSHA SHAH
short, and I have the confidence that I cious stones such as rubies and emer-
FROM time immemo-
can earn this amount again, so why alds. Sapphires are not considered aus-
rial, humans have
should I not indulge myself?” she can- picious although they fall within the
decorated themselves
didly asks. precious stones category. Semi-
with ornaments. Men
Normally women in the age group precious stones such as amythysts, ci-
and women from
of 28-40 are the actual customers. trines, topaz, turquoise, lapis lazuli, aq-
ancient and medieval
Younger women prefer more delicate uamarine jade and even malachite are
to modern times have
wearable pieces of jewellery. Price is combined with precious stones to create
been very particular in adorning their
decided more by the trend and demand dazzling pieces at reasonable prices.
bodies with jewels and ornaments.
of the moment than the actual value. Often enough, these stones can be in-
There is no part of the human anatomy
The Oxford English Dictionary de- terchanged with each other to give the
that cannot be embellished, be it head-
fines jewel as a ‘precious stone’. Jewel- wearer a feeling of possessing a wide
dresses in the form of tikkas, tiaras, hair
lery therefore means items such as variety of jewellery.
clips, or nose rings. Earrings, today,
rings, brooches, earrings, necklaces Most designers work with their cli-
need not be conventionally worn only
made up of precious stones set in pre- ents jointly to create individual pieces
in the earlobe, but up to 5 different
cious metals by talented and imagina- of jewellery, the client making the final
pairs can be attached in various sections
tive designers. Once imagination joins decision with the designer guiding them
of the outer ear. Even the poor navel is
forces with the patience of its creator, towards what will suit their personality.
not spared. Rings pierced into the deli-
its potential is unlimited. For the working woman, designer
cate skin of the navel are worn by 16-
Many unusual materials such as jewelled watches are very trendy. A
25 year olds to show off their
glass on gold, resin, wood, mica, plas- pair of diamond solitaires, a string of
washboard stomachs!
tic, vinyl, acrylic threads, glass, paper pearls and a beautiful watch will see her
Today, jewellery is worn by almost
and feathers have been used by design- get through from workplace to party
any income and age group, not so much
ers to fashion beautiful pieces of wear- with her style intact.
to display wealth but as a form of deco-
able art. Innovative and fashionable Silver has always been popular in
ration. The perception of buying jewel-
people always want new materials, ac- India. Cheaper than gold, equally mal-
lery as an investment has changed. As a
cording to another renowned fashion leable and pretty, silver is being crea-
well known jewellery designer from
and jewellery designer who has many tively designed in a wide variety of
Mumbai says, “Today’s woman wants
well known names among her clients. jewellery worn by young collegians as
jewellery that is unusual. She would be
She feels that, “the current trend in well as by their trendy mothers. Silver
willing to pay as much for the exclusiv-
jewellery is invisible settings wires and bangles, earrings, single anklets, thin
ity in design as for actual value.’’ Lead-
more emphasis on the stones and gems. bracelets with delicate hanging charms
ing jewellery stores create many exclu-
It is very widely popular. She also feels inset with coloured stones, chunky
sive pieces of jewellery based on motifs
that although this trend will never die, bracelets combined with gold, dia-
taken from the past. Greek, Egyptian
something new will come along and the monds and coloured stones. Visit
and Moghul cultures are dipped into for
range to choose from will only become Poonam Soni’s creation: The Silver
inspiration. These pieces get sold off
wider. More power to the consumer!” Edge for Khazana, the boutique at the
almost immediately with many repeat
Women have shifted from the tra- Taj chain of Hotels in Delhi.
orders, something which reiterates the
ditional gold and diamonds and are Women now want simplistic
fact that people are willing to experi-
willing to experiment with different minimal designs with emphasis on sub-
ment with designs as long as they are
metals such as platinum, coloured gold tle coloured metals (matte finish, white
exclusive. A rich socialite who prefers
(white or pale coloured gold in 14-18 gold, platinum and silver). There is a
to remain anonymous declares matter-
carat purity). Designs have become desire for re-interpretation of old de-
of-fact, “I move in a circle that is ex-
simpler and more eclectic -- a mixture signs put together in contemporary in-
posed to the world’s best. I like it when
of the Indo-West fusion style -- pieces novative forms, which emphasizes a
people stare at my jewellery while pre-
that women on the move can wear from definite cycle to trends in jewellery.
tending to talk to me!”
the work place to a night out. Coloured So, a trend is a style that you inter-
Women these days earn their own
diamonds have made wide forays into pret to suit yourself. The modern
money, marry late and have far more
the white diamond market. These woman dresses not so much for others
disposable income to spend on them-
‘fancy colours’ come in pinks, yellows, but to suit her personality and her
selves. According to the Diamond In-
rare greens, black and blue. The value pocket. It is she, along with the astute
formation Centre at J.Walter Thomp-
of these diamonds comes from their rar- channeling and interpretation of her de-
son, the advertising agency for De
ity and perceived aesthetic value. Many sires by the designer, who sets the
Beers, the self purchase market for
pieces of jewellery are made using a trends in the market. ■
diamonds by woman has increased by
combination of coloured diamonds,
41 per cent during 1998-99. [Varsha Shah, daughter of Malati Tambay-
white diamonds, (diamonds come in
Rita, a young ambitious career Vaidya (1955), is an all rounder and can be
many different shapes besides the ubiq-
woman working with an up-market contacted on 022-22880939;
uitous rounds such as pear, triangles,
firm, withdrew all her savings to varsh22@hotmail.com]. ■
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour than silver and gold.
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour than silver and gold.
8 MUJHE BHI KUCCH KEHNA HAI!
Regulatory Commissions:
Do we really need them?
By SUNIL PORWAL
AS the process of liberalization is in-
creasing the coun-
try is witnessing
more and more of
regulators with
concomitant
disarray of con-
fusing rules and
regulations.
The process of
enhancing the scope of private partici-
pation in the development of a country
is based on the logic of efficient and ef-
fective utilization of resources. This, in
turn, can occur best when buyers and
sellers of goods and services interact
freely to decide the terms of the con-
tract and have options to choose from.
The suppliers who cannot meet the ex-
pectation of the buyers have to leave
the field for other suppliers who can
meet such expectations. This calls for a
system which provides, inter alia, (a)
hassle-free entry and exit routes to the
suppliers, (b) options to consumers, and
(c) laws and governance mechanisms
systems, which can ensure adjudication
of disputes between the parties to the
contract in a fair and transparent man-
ner with least time and cost.
What we are suffering from is not a
deficiency of technical, financial and
other resources but a lack of systems
and the mind-set to set up such systems,
which would help in creating an appro-
priate environment for fair and honest
interaction between parties to a contract
and also a mechanism which can ensure
speedy disposal of disputes in a fair
manner and at a low cost.
But we are still bogged down by
the ritual of laying down the rules of
the game, terms of the contract, the
prices and cost of goods and services,
disclosure norms, etc. This is nothing
but an old culture with new nomencla-
ture in the form of Telephone Regula-
tory Commission, Electricity Regula-
tory Commission, Security and Ex-
change Board, etc.
While these organizations provide
good opportunities to our esteemed Ba-
bus with cushy post retirement jobs,
this does not ensure, per se, laying
Published in Mumbai for the IAS Officers’ Association, Maharashtra Branch by the Editor: Rameshchandra Kanade (IAS-1978)
Email id: ■ harmony@iasmah.org ■ r_kanade@hotmail.com ■ Phones: 022- 22703785; 22834329; 9820025277.
We are thankful to the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd for supporting ‘Harmony’.
We are thankful to the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd for supporting ‘Harmony’.
down of appropriate systems. Madhya
Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are two
States which incorporated Electricity
Regulatory Commission quite early.
Has the quality and cost of the power
supply improved in these States? In
fact, poor supply of power is considered
to be a major reason for the debacle of
Congress in the latest election in M.P.
In Uttar Pradesh the Electricity Board
has been trifurcated but still the status
and supply of power and its cost remain
the same. What people need is assured
power supply at appropriate cost and
not more organizations.
A couple of weeks ago, an adver-
tisement in The Times of India / Eco-
nomic Times made me sit and think.
The advertiser had called for bids to
supply power to its manufacturing
units. I am looking forward to a day
when similar advertisements will ap-
pear from more consumers and also
from suppliers. The main problem in
the electricity sector in the country is
not lack of technology or financial or
fuel resources to meet the shortage of
power. Nor is there a lack of resources
for transmission. The crux of the prob-
lem is lack of options to consumers be-
cause of the continuation of monopoly
regime in distribution.
A couple of years ago, a friend in-
formed me that while making their
housing complex in Mumbai they were
approached by the BSES and the Tata
Power to supply power. They were able
to negotiate for a free sub-station and
lower tariffs with one of them. What I
would like to see is how fast this hap-
pens all over the country. Will our
Regulatory Commissions aid this proc-
ess and help India grow faster? It is be-
lieved that India’s GDP is growing 2
per cent slower than it could have been
with assured quality power supply. The
reforms in Telecom Sector and Finan-
cial Sector have reduced cost, making
India cheaper. Good and assured power
supply can supplement it further.
This calls for a change of mind-set
amongst the policy makers to give
power to people to decide and set their
rules. This will enhance the process of
people getting educated and empow-
ered. The role of Regulatory Commis-
sions or Government should be re-
stricted to laying down system which
HARMONY, FEBRUARY 2004
restrict role of third parties to ensure
adjudication of dispute between the par-
ties fairly, timely, transparently and at
the least cost, instead of stepping into
the shoes of suppliers or consumers. ■
[Mr Sunil Porwal (1983) is Secretary to the
Deputy Chief Minister. He can be con-
tacted on 022-22024221; 23671657;
sunilporwal@hotmail.com].
Clean and Green Earth
By NEENA BATH
I have started the
New Year with a
resolution to use
minimum plastics.
Though I had long
been thinking doing
this, I was not
successful in
implementing. But now I am deter-
mined to use my good old cloth bag in-
stead of a plastic bag.
One morning I was struggling to
meet the morning ‘dead lines’ and
packing lunches. In a hurry, I kept a hot
frying pan on top of the plastics mat
used to keep hot dishes on the table. I
did not realize that the mat would get
stuck to the bottom of the pan and again
put the pan on the gas.
Before my horrified eyes, the plas-
tic gave out a pale yellow fire and
started melting into a horrible sticky
fluid. I burnt my hand slightly. Fortu-
nately, the fire did not spread.
That day I saw first hand how in-
destructible plastic is and realized how
terrifyingly it is covering the Mother
Earth. It is there in our homes, on roads
and hills, in rivers and seas and is swal-
lowed by unsuspecting cattle and fish.
If buried, it will not get decomposed in
the soil. It neither dissolves in the rain
nor does it burn without giving out
toxic fumes. From that day I was even
more determined to do my small bit to
protect Mother Nature so that we leave
to our children a beautiful planet on
which they can see tender green leaves,
flowers, grass, hills and seas, and not
covered by ugly layers of plastic. ■
[Dr Neena Bath, wife of Dr Vijay Satbir
Singh (1986) is an accomplished Doctor and
works in the Mantralaya Dispensary. She
can be contacted on 022-22848669]. ■