To know ‘who are these people’ uncovering sinister plots, fighting terrorism, and defeating evil designs to destabilise our country, you have to read senior IAS officer Leena Nandan’s latest novel, titled aptly to attract curiosity – Who Are These People? The book is a gripping narrative entwining two plots: first, a planned terror attack in India, and second, an interplay of emotions when a bunch of civil servants meet after close to a decade, during their batch reunion at LBSNAA. Both the plots are woven together seamlessly, as the officers, whose characters are developed over the course of the novel, play important roles in tackling threats to national security.
The author is 1987 batch IAS officer of UP cadre, Ms. Leena Nandan, who is currently the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.
In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, Ms. Leena Nandan, IAS, shared interesting details about the book and her writing journey.
GRIPPING TERROR PLOT
Ms. Nandan revealed that “the thrills and twists of the storyline are in figuring out how the terror narrative will unfold, which character will reveal a hitherto unknown side, and finally, what really does destiny have in mind for the individuals who the readers are gradually becoming familiar with”.
In the terror plot, two groups of antagonists are described: first is a terrorist linked to terror attacks orchestrated in India in the past. The second is known as the ‘Professor’, an anti-government activist, who is attacking his country from within because of a warped desire for brute power through ruthless action.
The author carves these antagonists craftily using sharp words to shape them with unredeeming qualities, that will make readers’ dislike them. And, as the book races through their attempts to destabilise India, the question that emerges is, will the impending crisis be averted?
ENTER THE CIVIL SERVANTS
The book’s narrative now shifts to the lives of the government officers, providing deep insights into their minds and character, as over time, they will be at the heart of decision-making.
These officers are people from varied backgrounds, possessing distinct characteristics and foibles. Some of them have their own agenda and perspective even as they carry out their duties, while their strengths and shortcomings make them react differently to the same challenges and circumstances.
Among the cast of characters who are officers in government, a few play a key role in the terror plot, while others pique interest for their personal lives and individual traits. Some of the key characters connect both the plotlines, as common strands weave them into different aspects of the story, like an IPS officer who is well aware of the threats to the nation but is too enmeshed in a personal story that traces its roots to the Foundation Course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA).
DRAMATIC REUNION AT LBSNAA
The two plots collide in a reunion at LBSNAA, a reunion full of revelations and dramatic moments!
Nostalgia overcomes the officers as they remember the times spent together in Mussoorie and their separate journeys since then. Some of these officers’ names crop up several times in the Foundation Course as well as in the reunion, and it is in their narration of past times that much of their common history is told.
OF FACELESS OFFICERS
The novel wraps up by fleetingly touching on leadership qualities, to give the reader a bird’s eye view of administration and some paths that civil servants navigate. Their persona and their relationships are vital aspects that determine whether they will succeed or fail in their objectives.
Some of these officers are brave and committed, work with dignity and honour, giving their all to the nation, while remaining unknown and unsung.
Then, again, there are others who are self-serving, caring for themselves only, who let down the system, and in doing so, fail to deliver on the promise.
Ms. Nandan said, “There is no larger conclusion to be drawn. It is a story of people that have one common connection, in that they are among the faceless civil servants of the country.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ms. Leena Nandan studied English Literature from Patna Women’s College and joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1987 in the UP cadre. She is currently the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. On balancing tight work schedules and her writing, she said, “As far as finding the time is concerned, if one has passion for doing something, one finds the time for that.”
This passion was developed while sneaking into the exciting worlds of books, while growing up. “I have always been an avid reader, and writing has been my hobby for decades. Starting with composing poetry in college, I progressed to contributing articles for magazines and newspapers during the initial years of my career. Thereafter, I embarked upon the journey of writing a novel,” she said.
Till date, three of her books have been published. Her first book, How To Placate An Angry Naga – Finding One’s Feet In The IAS was published by Penguin India, in 2007. Then she wrote a work of fiction titled Ten Days, in 2014. And, now, she has come up with her third book, Who Are These People?.
WHY THIS TITLE?
“The title of the book is so because it is a glimpse into the lives of Civil Services officers, who largely remain unknown, unheard and unsung. I have not written this book based on any specific individual, nor is any character inspired by any particular officer. In fact, it is an imaginary story build around many civil servants that I have seen and whom I have been acquainted with,” Ms. Nandan said.
Her book has received wonderful reviews so far. Summing it up in few words, India’s G20 Sherpa, Mr. Amitabh Kant, an author himself, told Indian Masterminds, “The book is in essence about civil servants, their personalities, leadership styles, how they navigate in the backdrop of high pressure roles. It is a fast paced book, filled with action, that weaves two worlds together, and highlights the individual character traits that make or break public servants.”
(Who Are These People? is available on Amazon https://www.amazon.in/dp/8183285953/)
