https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Born Again, I Would Like To Be An IAS Only

Indian Masterminds Stories

During this life, my future was perhaps decided the day I was born. My father did it for me. He himself had fulfilled his father’s dream of becoming an engineer, and now, in turn, he wanted his son to join the ‘elite’ Indian Administrative Service (IAS) observing the respect and recognition accorded to the IAS officers. Therefore, the decision to join the IAS wasn’t originally mine. I made my father’s dream my own and made an effort to fulfil this dream.

Having completed my innings in the Indian Administrative Service, I love to look back upon the years gone by with utmost satisfaction. I loved every moment of it. There were indeed ups and downs (perhaps more ups than downs)— handling of the Babri Masjid agitation, the excitement and satisfaction of rolling out the National Health Insurance Scheme (RSBY), sorting out the ‘Coal’ mess and grappling with education mafias are a few of those. And, that made life interesting.

However, if I were to be born again and if I could make it (with the increasing competition and fewer vacancies), I would like to be an IAS officer yet again. The reason is simple. No other job on the earth gives you this much freedom and these many opportunities. This is one of those rare jobs where you can afford to remain honest in an increasingly vitiated socio-political environment.

IAS VS PRIVATE SECTOR

The Indian Administrative Service provides tremendous avenues for working towards public welfare and deriving immense satisfaction that more than compensates the comparative disadvantage in financial terms vis-à-vis a lucrative private sector assignment.

I use the term “kick” in my book, “Ethical Dilemmas of a Civil Servant” to describe the enormous sense of satisfaction that one can derive, as I did, out of helping the helpless and the poor who still repose a lot of faith in civil servants. One has the opportunity to serve the richest of the rich and the poorest of the poor.

Despite certain developments in the recent past, there is still a lot of authority vested in most of the positions occupied by an IAS officer during the course of her/his career. It is a different matter that some officers choose to abdicate this authority in lieu of some gain elsewhere. Whether they actually gain (at the cost of the service) or finally lose out is a moot point.

Each officer also has the option of joining politics post-retirement. Many do join. Some do it even while in service but do so discreetly even though it entails some risk and reap the “benefits” while in service and a lot more post-retirement. Some can even get away with a few wrongs as they know how to be on the right side of politics.  It doesn’t really matter to such officers because they are so focussed on their own good that they are oblivious of   the damage they cause to the so-called steel frame. They couldn’t care less as the IAS offers an opportunity to thrive to them as well.

ACCOMODATION & COMPROMISE

IAS officers can also afford to be just honest and do nothing beyond just being honest. They can treat honesty as an end in itself. They can distrust everyone else and treat the rest of the world as dishonest. They can consciously choose not to appreciate the difference between “accommodation” and “compromise”. For them all accommodation is a compromise.

They also survive. Some of them even thrive in their own misery as they wear their misery (that includes the number of transfers) as medallions.

Ironically, the Indian Administrative Service has also the potential of shielding the corrupt. A few years ago, it was believed that the high and mighty could not be brought to book. However, thankfully, on account of informed public opinion and media glare, things are changing and at least some such bureaucrats are on the run.

CORRUPT & THE INEFFICIENT SURVIVE

The inefficient too can survive and even thrive. Once they pass the exam and keep their boss and/or those in power happy (not necessarily with good work), their promotions are secured. Though they may not reach the top (perhaps they may), they can still enjoy life, play badminton (now, golf) or indulge in some other activity till 0900 hours, arrive at the office at 1030 hours, take a lunch break for a couple of hours and return to the office after a ‘well-earned’ siesta and then sit till late in the office to impress upon others how hard they have to work.

THE ‘FACILITIES’

In many states, some smart ones are able to retain the official, earmarked residence for years in a city even as they occupy another house in another city consequent to their transfer. There would be many more such illustrations. Fortunately, very few bureaucrats fall in this category but the fact that some of us do enjoy such privileges indicates towards the availability of such options. No other service offers such ‘facilities’.

All said and done, the Indian Administrative Service provides you an option to seek your own road to salvation. In fact, you can not only choose your own road; you can redefine ‘salvation’. You can perform and exist; you may do nothing but still exist. You may survive if you are honest, you may survive even if you are dishonest. Which vocation officers so many options!

If I were to be born again, I would love to live the life of an IAS officer, in the manner in which I did in this life, all over again. Nothing like deriving a “kick” out of serving the needy, the helpless and the poorest of the poor. And, it would not be my father’s choice, but mine.

(Author is a former UP Cadre IAS officer, having served the Union Government as Coal Secretary and School Education Secretary, who has written books like No More A Civil Servant, & Ethical Dilemmas of A Civil Servant)


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
MP CM Mohan Yadav Morena Industry
Chambal Ravines to Renewable Revolution: CM Yadav Lays Foundation for ₹12,500 Cr Industrial Boost in Morena
shahdol-village Footballers MP
Shahdol Footballers to Train in Germany; PM Modi Highlights Madhya Pradesh’s Sporting Revolution
NeGD
Digital India Milestone: NeGD Enables Nationwide Integration of 1,938 e-Services via DigiLocker & e-District Platforms
Tamil Nadu Police: Senior IPS Officer G Venkatraman
IPS G. Venkataraman Appointed Acting DGP of Tamil Nadu Amid Deviation from SC Guidelines, Following Shankar Jiwal’s Retirement
MP News
MP: CM Yadav Unveils Rs. 10 Crore Development Blueprint for Chhatarpur; Stadiums, Medical College Boost, and Major Infra Push Announced
Yogi Government
UP to Introduce India’s First 'Ease of Doing Business Bill 2025', Yogi Government To Decriminalize 99% Industrial Laws
Madhya-Pradesh-State-IAS
Major IAS Transfers Expected in Madhya Pradesh After Chief Secy Anurag Jain's Extension, Ujjain & Indore Expecting Bureaucratic Overhaul
UP Police
UP Govt Transfers 8 IPS Officers in Major Police Reshuffle; Shraddha Narendra Pandey New SP Kanpur Dehat, Rahul Bhati Posted as SP Shravasti
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IPS Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo
Managing Elections, Communal Tensions, and Public Safety – Meet IPS Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo | Video Interview
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-25 at 13.56
Operation Hunt: IPS Dr. Karanraj Vaghela’s Mission to Nab Valsad’s Most Wanted
Dr
Resisted Flawed Schemes, Transferred Thrice In Three Months, Found Solace In Writing
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-12 at 7.27
First Attempt IRS, Fourth Attempt IPS: The Relentless Pursuit of Jitendra Kumar Yadav Who Cracked UPSC 3 Times
IPS Yadav is originally from Chhattisgarh. He was first selected for the IRS through UPSC and later for...
Social Media
Masahiro Hara
From Go Board to Global Use, How QR Codes Changed the World: IRAS Officer Ananth Rupanagudi Spotlights Masahiro Hara’s Vision
IRAS officer Ananth Rupanagudi shared a video on Masahiro Hara, the inventor of QR codes, highlighting...
IFS Susanta Nanda Video
A Mother’s Duty: Tigress Watches Over Cubs Splashing in Waterhole — Heartwarming Video Shared By Retd. IFS Officer Susanta Nanda
A tender wildlife video shared by Retd. IFS officer Susanta Nanda shows a tigress keeping watch over...
Mohanmala
Kaziranga Mourns: Beloved Elephant Mohanmala Passes Away After Five Decades of Service
Kaziranga National Park mourns the loss of Mohanmala, a beloved elephant who served over 50 years as...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
MP CM Mohan Yadav Morena Industry
Chambal Ravines to Renewable Revolution: CM Yadav Lays Foundation for ₹12,500 Cr Industrial Boost in Morena
shahdol-village Footballers MP
Shahdol Footballers to Train in Germany; PM Modi Highlights Madhya Pradesh’s Sporting Revolution
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IPS Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-25 at 13.56
Dr
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT