https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Safai Karmacharis are True Followers of Gandhivad: Retired IAS Dedicates His Book to Sanitation Workers

Ajay Shankar Pandey's book ‘Gandhivad Prayog: Narak Se Nagar Ki Aor’ takes us through the labyrinth of municipal work
Indian Masterminds Stories

Just like throughout his career he set examples so also after his retirement he set a precedent. A rare occasion was captured at Ghaziabad’s Hindi Bhawan when two of the senior municipal workers were called in for the launch of a book written by former IAS officer Mr. Ajay Shankar Pandey.

The UP cadre former officer had served as the Municipal Commissioner of Ghaziabad for three years and was also the District Magistrate.

Titled ‘Gandhivadi Prayog: Narak Se Nagar Ki Aor’, Mr Pandey’s book which was ready in 2012 had to wait till after his retirement to get published.

Breaking away from tradition, the former officer not only made Mr. Sompal (72) and Mrs. Dayati Devi (85) the chief guests at his function but also announced that “the royalty received from the first edition will provide for the education of meritorious children of the cleaning staff”.

The book tries to capture the journey from hell to making of heaven of cities. Mr. Pandey has tried to reveal the real picture of the urban bodies during his tenure in various districts of Uttar Pradesh.

DEVOTION

Mr. Pandey, who has vast experience working in Municipal departments having served as the Municipal Commissioner in Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, and for a few days in Kanpur, is popularly known as the officer who used to clean his office himself before starting his day.

He started the unique practice when he got posted as the SDM of Etmadpur tehsil in Agra. Within a week of his joining, the municipal workers went on a strike and the entire city turned into a huge dustbin with litter everywhere. 

The municipal workers demanded salary while the city dwellers raised questions regarding “no cleanliness”.

Mr. Pandey remembers: “I informed people not to depend on others and go out and clean their own neighborhood as that way no harm would come their way.” 

However, no one took his suggestion seriously that is when he decided to lead by example. 

“At first it appeared to all like a publicity stunt. But after I had cleaned part of the city with my team till afternoon, thousands of people joined us in the drive,” the officer recalled.

Cleanliness drive in Etmadpur tehsil in Agra

That drive continued for three days and the municipal workers decided to end their strike. They were ready to work and get paid as clearly cleanliness is next to godliness, Mr. Pandey said.

MORAL HIGH GROUND

Mr. Pandey, who served in the municipal department from 2004 to 2010, spoke exclusively to Indian Masterminds, and said there are many revelations in the book. But many parts have been kept for a second edition.

These unpublished parts are linked to the misdeeds and corrupt practices of all the interested parties related to the Municipal Corporation. “The book was ready in 2012 and permission for publication was also obtained from the state government, but, (setting the highest standards of morality), I did not publish it at that time,” he added.

TRENDSETTER

Mr. Pandey’s tenure from 2007 to 2010 is known as a clean, transparent, honest tenure in the history of
Municipal Corporation Ghaziabad. 

He is popular for bringing about the “zero commission system”, use of charkha, cleaning of the Hindon river, and a corruption-free administration. 

Former IAS officer Ajay Shankar Pandey

In his book, the officer has also told the story of anarchist elements who held the Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation hostage and how he managed to break that web.

Mr. Pandey’s message in the book is if once people start taking ownership of maintaining cleanliness no one will be able to trifle with godliness.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
D Shilpa IPS
Kerala HC Orders IPS Officer D Shilpa’s Inclusion in Karnataka Cadre After Cadre Allocation Error - Know More!
Himachal Pradesh Police1
Himachal DGP Disc Award List Withdrawn Hours After Announcement Amid Leadership Transition
MP Police
MP Police Shake-Up: 10 IPS Officers Transferred, CM Mohan Yadav Acts Swiftly After Public Incidents
IRSSE (Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers) officer
IRSSE Gaurav Govil Debarred from Central Deputation for 5 Years Over Non-Compliance with CVO Appointment
Delhi High Court-resized-DelhiHC
Faith vs Discipline: Delhi HC Backs Army in Termination of Officer, Upholds Dismissal For Refusing Religious Parade Participation
IRS Officer Indian revenue Services
Senior IRS Officer Caught in Bribery Case: ₹25 Lakh Seized at Mohali Residence, ₹45 Lakh Demanded – Know the Full Story
PNB Housing Finanace
PNB Housing Finance Elevates Bhavya Taneja as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) - Know More About Him
Air Marshal Jasvir Singh Mann
Air Marshal Jasvir Singh Mann Takes Over as Senior Air Staff Officer, Western Air Command - Know More About Him
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
Modernising Governance: A Digital Transformation in Gangtok
IMG-20250523-WA0036
Abhishek Singh's SECRET: Vipassana, Anthropology & Smart Answer Writing | Video Interview 
Madhav Agarwal UPSC
From Gwalior to the Top 20: What Drove Finance Pro Madhav Agarwal to Crack UPSC CSE 2024 with AIR 16? | Exclusive
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
ANUBHAV SINGH UPSC IFS 2024
9 Years, 8 Attempts, 7 Failures: How Anubhav Singh Cracked UPSC IFS 2024 with AIR 3 Against All Odds | Exclusive
Anubhav Singh’s inspiring journey to UPSC IFS Rank 3 showcases relentless perseverance, strategic preparation,...
Jogender Sihag
“I Cleared UPSC, But My Grandfather isn’t Here to Hear it,” Jogender Sihag, AIR 521, UPSC CSE 2024
"Life is short; make the most of it, whether in civil service or any other field. Just have a clear vision...
WhatsApp Image 2025-05-28 at 18.56
Didn’t Clear UPSC But Found Something Greater: A Story That Will Change How You See Success
She left a top finance job for UPSC, did not clear but built a thriving wellness brand instead. Veda's...
Social Media
parveen kaswan elephant
Elephant Outsmarts Electric Fence! IFS Parveen Kaswan Shares Incredible Video!
In the now-viral 51-second clip, the intelligent giant approaches a wooden pole supporting high-voltage...
UPSC Latest IAS IPS IFS
UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 Tomorrow: ICLS Officer Altap Shaikh Shares Last-Minute Motivation for Aspirants
His five-post thread offers encouragement, practical advice, and emotional support - not just for those...
Anupam Sharma IFS
#BoycottTurkey: IFS Officer Anupam Sharma Sparks Nationalist Call to Action
IFS Sharma urged citizens to avoid Turkish agricultural imports
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
D Shilpa IPS
Kerala HC Orders IPS Officer D Shilpa’s Inclusion in Karnataka Cadre After Cadre Allocation Error - Know More!
Himachal Pradesh Police1
Himachal DGP Disc Award List Withdrawn Hours After Announcement Amid Leadership Transition
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
IMG-20250523-WA0036
Madhav Agarwal UPSC
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT