Born and raised in the quiet mountain town of Dwarahat in Uttarakhand, 1991 batch retired IRS officer Munesh Kumar’s early years were steeped in simplicity. Studying at a government school between 1975 and 1981, he wasn’t just a boy with books – he was the voice of his school, winning district-level debates, staging plays, penning poetry, and sweeping awards with a natural flair that made him stand out in every crowd.
This wasn’t just childhood curiosity. It was the beginning of a mind that would one day move seamlessly between tax codes and story arcs, between national budgets and cinematic screenplays.
In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, the Uttarakhand cadre retired officer shared his story.
THE CREATIVE FIRE AT IIT DELHI
When Munesh stepped into the IIT Delhi campus in 1982, he carried with him more than academic dreams. Here, his creativity exploded. In his very first year, he was honoured with the Best Ubharti Pratibha Award, recognising his exceptional emerging talent.
As Secretary of the Film Series Committee, he immersed himself in films, storytelling, and student-led cultural pursuits. From Hindi Samiti to dramatics to poetry slams, Munesh didn’t just participate; he led! For four straight years, he was crowned Best Poet of the institute. While his peers tackled equations, Munesh balanced both metaphors and mechanics with equal ease.
THE OFFICER WHO LISTENED BEFORE HE LED
In 1991, Munesh Kumar joined the Indian Revenue Service, Uttarakhand cadre. Over the next three decades, he shaped national policy from the inside.
He played a crucial role in the Direct Tax Code, Benami Transactions Act, and Union Budget strategies. As Director of Tax Policy and Legislation, his work directly impacted how India viewed taxation reform. Between 2017 and 2020, he served as Secretary, Income Tax Settlement Commission, handling key benches in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai—navigating some of the most complex cases in tax dispute resolution.
At NADT Nagpur, as Course Director, he mentored the 2005 batch of IRS officers, not just as a teacher but as someone who understood the human side of administration. Through it all, Munesh remained approachable, reflective, and rooted – never allowing the weight of power to isolate him from the people he worked with or the values he began with.
CINEMA, SCRIPTS & THE ART OF REINVENTION
Retirement didn’t mean retreat. In fact, that’s when Munesh Kumar’s next act truly began.
In 2018, he enrolled in a short course on Television Writing under the SKIFT Program of FTII, conducted at IIMC New Delhi. Walking into a classroom full of twenty-somethings, Munesh was the senior-most – not just in age, but in government rank. But he never let that matter.
His course directors remember him not for his resume but for his humility, enthusiasm, and eagerness to collaborate. He wrote, listened, rewrote, and helped others brainstorm. During class projects, it was Munesh who quietly, almost effortlessly, brought everyone together like a natural anchor in a sea of creativity.
Even after the course ended, he stayed in touch with his fellow students, constantly bouncing off ideas and pushing everyone to think bigger.
THE MIND BEHIND “DASVI” AND BEYOND
A storyteller at heart, Munesh co-wrote the screenplay of “Dasvi”, a film that went on to win the 2022 Filmfare Award for Best Feature Film. His understanding of human psychology, systemic intricacies, and emotional nuance found expression on screen in a way few former bureaucrats have managed.
He also co-authored “65 Days for IIT,” a bestseller published in 2005 that redefined how aspirants looked at entrance exams, focusing not just on formulas but on thinking clearly and learning smartly.
THE TECH WHISPERER OF FILMMAKING
For the last four years, Munesh Kumar has been deeply involved with MyNextFilm.com, a cutting-edge SaaS platform designed to democratize filmmaking.
Many of the platform’s most innovative features—including Idea Mall, Harkat Club, Viewer’s Lounge, and Project Center—can be traced back to Munesh’s insights about future communication trends.
Every Friday during the platform’s weekly “Rendezvous” event, filmmakers from across the globe line up – not for flattery, but for Munesh’s brutally honest feedback. His sharp observations, often delivered with dry wit, have helped countless writers reshape their work into something sharper, more human, and more watchable.
THE MAN WHO NEVER STOPPED LEARNING
If there’s one thing Munesh Kumar has proved, it’s that curiosity doesn’t come with an expiry date. From Dwarahat’s school stages to Delhi’s policymaking corridors, from FTII classrooms to script feedback forums with global filmmakers – he has lived many lives in one.
And yet, he insists, he’s just getting started.
Because for Munesh Kumar, every ending is just a well-written cue for the next scene.
