No Minister: Memoirs of a Civil Servant HB

0.0

The bard wrote: ‘The course of true love never ran smooth’. The same is true of this book. It is the memoirs of a civil servant who followed the path of rectitude. This is an interesting autobiographical account full of anecdotes and the author’s personal observations on the bureaucracy, politics and life. It covers a fascinating period in India’s political and administrative fabric and gives us insights into the working of the civil services. As Mahesh Prasad observes, ‘The career of a civil servant which may appear to be glittering to outsiders is an eternal struggle’. As he says, there are those who are happy saying ‘Yes, Minister’, and so reap the benefits that come their way. Those who dare to oppose the Minister have to face the consequences. Dealing with the steel frame, it unveils the seeping in of corruption and inequity in the bureaucracy. The book is replete with self- deprecating humour and bon mots and is well worth a read. ‘A well chronicled memoir encompassing the

0.0

Mahesh Prasad has had a long and distinguished career as a Civil Servant in the Indian Administrative Service. He retired from the rank of Cabinet Secretary, as Chairman India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO). During his career spanning 40 years he has held several posts in the Civil Services, including the post of Joint Secretary in the Ministries of Home and Commerce, and Advisor, Planning Commission. He has also held Secretary level positions at the Centre in the Ministries of Finance, Industry, Environment, and Information & Broadcasting. Mr Prasad has also been Chairman of a number of UN and intergovernmental bodies. Born in Lucknow, India, into an upper middle class family, the author was educated at Lucknow University and at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. He has been conferred several awards for distinguished public service such as Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award (1998), Bharat Gaurav Award (1999), Pride of India Award (2000), International Millennium Goldstar Award (2001), Rashtriya Ratna Award (2001) and U.P. Ratan Award (2003). Mr. Prasad now serves on the Board of various commercial and charitable organizations.Table of ContentsSalad Days • The Steel Frame • Polishing a Diamond • Broken Promises • Two Would Be Prime Ministers in a Jeep Ride • The Wild Sweet Bitch • Estofin Telegram and Cambridge • Nehru Children Don’t Lie • I Wanted to Keep You in Dehradun • A New Broom Sweeps Clean • Control of Goondas • Run Up to the Emergency • Exotic Locations: Lakshadweep and Andamans • Supping with the Devil without a Long Spoon • Diplomacy • Bitter-Sweet Sugar Pill • Industries Bandwagon of UP Steams Ahead • Central Aid to States • I Will Chew Him Up: He is a Vegetable • Are You the Prime Minister or Am I the Prime Minister? • Trade Promotion • The Rusted Frame • Epilogue