https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

The officer with a melodious voice and a poetic heart

The 1997 batch IAS officer Dr. Hari Om has made lot of fans with his fabulous writing and singing. With six books and five albums to his credit, he is a renowned name in the literary circle.
Indian Masterminds Stories

It takes years of efforts to master a craft. But, there are few who are blessed to excel in not just one but in various facets of art. Dr. Hari Om is one such creative soul. Apart from being a senior IAS officer, he is a prolific writer and a celebrated Ghazal singer. 

Hailing from a small village Katari, district Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, his journey from Allahabad University to JNU and ultimately returning to UP as an administrative officer is truly inspiring. What makes him different from others of his clan is that he didn’t just stop after getting selected in one of the most prestigious services of the country but started exploring his creative side and took it to another level. 

In a conversation with Indian Masterminds, he talked about his journey in literature and music apart from the experiences in the administration.

The start

Currently posted as the Secretary, General Administration department in Uttar Pradesh government Dr. Hari Om has a bright academic record. He is a man of sensitivity and emotion which led him ditch Science from his school days and move to arts. Remembering those days he said, “My elder brother had a keen interest in science especially biology. He used to do various experiments in the house also which would creep me out. That was the time when I thought of leaving science and move to arts. This was my forte and I used to enjoy it a lot. Back then every student of art was advised to try for government jobs. I was no exception so I also went with the flow.” 

Mr. OM during a visit to his village

Having scored good marks in 12th board, Dr. Hari Om did graduation from Allahabad University before moving to Jawahar Lal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi for MA and M.Phil. This was not the end of his academics. He did his Ph.D from Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna University, Garhwal, Uttarakhand and went abroad for his second Masters in Governance, Public Policy and Political Economy from The International Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, Netherlands. 

Civil Services was on his mind from his graduation days but the idea finally found its root during his JNU days. He cracked the UPSC in 1997 and got the coveted IAS. 

His journey in literature & music ran concurrently alongside his academics. He wrote his first poem for an inter-college magazine. This continued in Allahabad University as well, and he became an active contributor to the hostel magazine called ‘Samved’. At that time, he had also developed a habit of writing diary daily which continued in his JNU days too. 

During college days he was widely appreciated for his melodious voice. Every now & then he used to sing for his friends. “At the time writing and singing was just a hobby. I wasn’t serious about it till my first posting. I was posted as SDM in a very rural district and apart from work I had no other engagements. So, I started writing. In the beginning, I used to write couplets before stepping into Ghazals and then poems”, said Dr. Hari Om. 

Mr. Om with his wife for an event dedicated to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Now, he has also been writing stories. He already has published two story collections. His first book Dhoop Ka Parcham (Ghazal Collection) was published in 2002. In 2009, he came up with his first story collection titled America Meri Jaan. Apart from it he has four more books to his credit namely Khwabon Ki Hansi and Main Koi Ek Raasta JaiseKapas Ke Agle Mausam me and Titliyon Ka Shor. This passionate officer is also preparing for his next book which is a travelogue on Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.  

Shayar to Singer 

During his college days he used to listen to various Ghazal singers like Hussain Brothers, Jagjit Singh to Mehandi Hasan Sahab and Ghulam Ali. He was a big admirer of them and used to hum their Ghazals. Slowly, people started appreciating him boosting his confidence. 

He says, “In 2006 I recorded my first cassette named ‘Rang Pairhan’ for my near and dear ones. I was lucky enough to present this to legendary Ghazal singer Ahmed and Mohammad Hussain. He was very impressed with it and advised me to compose my own songs”.

Heeding his advice, Dr. Hari Om started learning from internet and some professionals. But, he was never trained professionally. He debuted in Ghazal singing soon and so far has released five albums. Rang Pairahan and Intisaab are dedicated to the memory of the legendary shayar Faiz. Roshani Ke Pankh and Rang Ka Dariya and Khanakte Khwaab are his other albums where he has sung his own lyrics mellifluously.  

He has also performed in more than 100 live concerts including ‘Jashn-e-Rekhta’. He has shared stages with legends like Ghulam Ali, Hussain Brothers and Chandan Dass among others. 

(This the first part of the story on Dr Hari Om. The second part will follow soon.)


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
MOIL
Production Milestone: MOIL Records Highest-Ever July Output in FY26 Despite Adverse Weather
Indian Police Services IPS Officer
CRPF Chief G P Singh & SPG Director Alok Sharma, Senior IPS Officers of 1991 Batch, Granted Apex Pay Scale - Details Inside
NHPC MOU
Preserving Heritage: NHPC Signs MoU to Build Cultural Centre in Jammu under CSR-SD Scheme
National Green Tribunal
Govt Appoints 2 Judicial & 4 Expert Members, Including 2 Former IFS Officers, to National Green Tribunal (NGT) - Know More About Them
SBI QIP
SBI Sets Record with ₹25,000 Crore QIP, Rings Bell at NSE to Mark Banking Milestone
Medha ROppam IAS
New Noida DM Medha Rupam Cracks the Whip: Stops Salaries of 5 Officers Absent on Samadhan Diwas in Dadri
Sishu Mitra Programme
Assam Police Strengthens Child Protection Framework with State-Level Dialogue Under Sishu Mitra Programme
PSU News PSUs News
No Merger Planned: Centre Rules Out Combining IREL, HCL, and NALCO with National Critical Mineral Corporation
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
How IAS Karn Satyarthi Transformed Gumla Through Empathy and Innovation
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
IRAS Ananth Rupanagudi’s Take on Corruption, Reform, and Duty
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
What Most Indians Don't Know About Jim Corbett
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
BPSC Bihar police
From Lantern Light to Police Uniform: How Praveen Kumar from a Small Bihar Village Cracked BPSC to Become SDPO
From a lantern-lit village in Bihar to becoming an SDPO, Praveen Kumar's journey is a testament to resilience,...
IAS Priyansha Garg
Why Mindset Matters: IAS Priyansha Garg’s Mental Health Mantra for UPSC
After two failed prelims, Priyansha Garg cracked UPSC with AIR 31 in her fourth attempt, proving how...
Ashish Akshat
From Setback to State Topper: How Ashish Akshat Topped JPSC While Working Full-Time
Ashish Akshat from Dhanbad topped JPSC 2023, proving that resilience, discipline, and family support...
Social Media
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve: From India’s First Sanctuary to a Tiger Conservation Success Story | International Tiger Day Special
IAS Supriya Sahu Hails Mudumalai's Role in Tiger Conservation on Tiger Day. Declared in 1940, Now Among...
Mangroves
Mangroves: Nature’s Shield Against Disasters, Says Officer Parveen Kaswan on Mangroves Day - Watch His Post Here
Mangroves, with their dense, interlaced root systems, form a mesh-like structure that serves as a buffer...
Retired IPS Inderjit Singh Sidhu
Purpose Doesn’t Retire: How 88-Year-Old Retired DIG Becomes Chandigarh’s ‘Quiet Warrior’ of Cleanliness
Inderjit Singh Sidhu’s Dawn Patrol Earns Applause, Mahindra’s Praise for a Man Who Chose Action Over...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
MOIL
Production Milestone: MOIL Records Highest-Ever July Output in FY26 Despite Adverse Weather
Indian Police Services IPS Officer
CRPF Chief G P Singh & SPG Director Alok Sharma, Senior IPS Officers of 1991 Batch, Granted Apex Pay Scale - Details Inside
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT