First Rank in State in Secondary School Examination
First Rank in University in Plus Two
First Rank in IIT Entrance Examination
First Rank in All India IIT Computer Science
First Rank in IAS Entrance Examination
First Rank in IAS Training Institute
On passing out from IIT Chennai Mr. Narayanaswamy was offered
scholarship by theprestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology ,
USA .. He who came from amiddle class family believed that he had a
moral obligation to give something in returnfor the lakhs of rupees the
government spent on him as an IIT student. He had theintelligence and
conviction to realize that this money came also from the poorest ofthe
poor - who pay up the excise duty on textiles when they buy cloth, who
pay up customs,excise and sales tax on diesel when they travel in a bus,
and in numerous other waysindirectly pay the government. So he decided
to join IAS hoping he could do somethingfor the people of this country.
How many young men have the will power to resist suchan offer from USA ?
Narayanaswamy did never look at IAS as a black money spinner ashis
later life bears testimony to this fact.
After a decade of meritorious service in IAS, today, Narayanaswamy is being forced out of the IAS profession. Do you know why?
A
real estate agent wanted to fill up a paddy field which is banned under
law.An application came up before Narayanaswamy who was sub collector
the,for an exemption from this rule for this plot of land. Upon visiting
the site hefound that the complaint from 60 poor families that they
will face water loggingdue to the waste water from a nearby Government
Medical College if this paddy field was filled up was correct.
Narayanswamy came under intense political pressure buthe did what was
right - refused permission for filling up the paddy field. That was
hisfirst confrontation with politicians.
Soon
after his marriage his father-in-law closed down a public road to build
compound wall for his plot of land. People approached Narayanaswamy
with complaint. When talking with his own father-in-law did not help, he
removed the obstructing wallwith police help. The result, his marriage
broke up.
As
district Collector he raided the house of a liquor baron who had
defaulted Rupees 11 crorespayment to government and carried out revenue
recovery. A Minister directly telephoned himand ordered to return the
forfeited articles to the house of the liquor baron.Narayanswamy
politely replied that it is difficult. The minister replied that
Narayanaswamy will suffer.
In
his district it was a practice to collect crores of rupees for earthen
bunds meant for poor farmers, but which were never constructed. A bill
for rupees 8 crores came up before Narayanaswamy.He inspected the bund.
He found it very weak and said that he will pass the bill after the
rainy season to ensure that the bund served the purpose. As expected the
earthen bund was too weak to stand the rain and it disappeared in the
rain. But he created a lot of enemies for saving 8 crores public money.
The
net result of all such unholy activities was that he was asked to go on
leave by the government.Later such an illustrious officer was posted as
"State Co-Ordinator, Quality Improvement Programme for Schools".This is
what the politician will do to a honest officer with backbone - post
him in the mostpowerless position to teach him a lesson. Since he found
that nothing can be achieved for the people if he continued with the
State Service he opted for central service. But that too was denied on
some technical ground.
What
will you do when you have a brilliant computer career anywhere in the
world you choose with the backing of several advanced technical papers
too published in international journals to your credit?When you are
powerless to do anything for the people, why should you waste your life
as the Co-Ordinator for a Schools Programme?
Mr. Narayanaswamy is on the verge of leaving IAS to go to Paris to take up a well paid United Nations assignment.
The
politicians can laugh thinking another obstacle has been removed. But
it is the helpless people of this country who will lose - not
Narayanaswamy. But you have the power to support capable and honest
bureaucrats like Narayaswamy, G.R.Khairnar and Alphons Kannamthanam who
have suffered a lot under self seeking politicians who rule us. You have
even the power to replace such politicians with these kind of people
dedicated to the country. The question is will you do the little you can
do NOW? At least a word in support of such personalities?
DO SHARE
