IAS officer Heera Lal is not someone to lead a routine work life. He is either thinking up a plan or else executing one, for the welfare of the public. Wherever he is posted, he leaves his mark as a sincere and dedicated officer who is always ready to help. His stint as the District Magistrate of Banda, a few years ago, was marked by water conservation initiatives that earned him the name of ‘Waterman of Banda.’ The officer has also made a name for himself through his efforts toward malnutrition eradication and prison reforms.
Recently, he launched his first book, Dynamic DM, titled after the nickname given to him by some of his fellow officers. The book showcases his journey from a young boy to an A-grade officer. However, the book is getting popular for a different reason also – it is helping UPSC aspirants to close in on their goals.
Indian Masterminds got in touch with Mr. Lal to know from the author himself how his book is guiding aspirants on their UPSC journey, and also interacted with coaching institutes and IAS aspirants to know about their take on the book.
Read our exclusive cover on his book here: The story of a Dynamic DM
ABOUT DYNAMIC DM
Mr. Lal’s book covers the bittersweet moments from his days as a young boy in Basti to becoming the District Magistrate of Banda. Overcoming all the challenges coming his way, the officer introduced more than 20 innovative initiatives in the first few years of his tenure as the DM of Banda, the details of which are given in the book.
At the same time, the book is also a pointer to what to expect once an aspirant clears the exam and enters the civil services. According to Mr. Lal, if one thinks that cracking the exam is the most difficult part of an aspirant’s journey, then they are absolutely wrong. It is not a bed of roses once you enter the service as it takes endless hours of hard work and toil to work for the people and give them a life full of benefits and ease.
HOW IT WILL BENEFIT UPSC ASPIRANTS
Mr. Lal feels that his book, Dynamic DM, could be of immense value to UPSC aspirants as he shares a plethora of knowledgeable tips that can prove to be beneficial for them in their journey.
“The book will be extremely beneficial for the students who are planning to give the UPSC Civil Service Examination in the future. Such is the feedback that I have received from anyone who has read it,” he told Indian Masterminds.
He also said that the book shares details about several social problems prevailing in today’s times, with a modern solution for each one of them. “It is written in a way that portrays the problems that a community or society goes through and how we (IAS officers) as influential personalities can fight off these evil problems and provide redressal to the people of the concerned community or society.”
ASPIRANTS & MENTORS SPEAK
Indian Masterminds spoke with Anmol Chandra from Prayatna IAS Coaching Institute, located in Indira Nagar, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, for his feedback on the book. He said, “Out of the four examinations at Mains level, the fourth paper is related to Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude. This paper consists of case studies. Mr. Lal’s experience in the field, which is clearly described in the book, proves to be very enlightening, especially through this stage of the examination.”
He also added that the officer’s work in different fields during his service will also help the aspirants through their preparation, as many questions related to these specific fields are asked in the examination.
Mr. Piyush Dharmeshwari Gangwar, founder and Managing Director of the Academy of Civil Services, located in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, said: “It is a very useful book for understanding the relationship between officers and the public. The book is completely based on real-life experience, not on imagination, which makes it even better.”
IAS aspirant Gaurav Patel, who has been an avid follower of Mr. Lal since the officer’s early days in service, said, “UPSC preparation has become expensive these days owing to the high fees of coaching institutes and costly study material. However, Dynamic DM ignites a sense of motivation in aspirants that if a person from such a humble background, who grew up in poverty, can become a successful IAS officer, then so can we. This shows that resources are not a hurdle, a person’s willpower to achieve his dreams should be his driving force.”
Going by their words, Dynamic DM seems to have hit the right chords among UPSC aspirants and mentors alike, who are looking for first-hand guidance from an experienced civil servant. In this aspect, the book can be certainly called a hit!
