Every year, on the 21st of April, India celebrates Civil Services day, to commemorate the famous address by Sardar Patel to the first batch of civil servants of India. In the speech, he called them the Steel Frame, as a reference to an enduring structure meant to build and protect a young nation.
“India observes National Civil Services Day 2020,” I read on my twitter feed while on my way to a nearby village. I read the article, put my phone down and gazed outside my window. Travelling on the desolate road, letting in the warm summer wind, I had a moment to pause and reflect. As I contemplated what it means to be a civil servant, a bunch of thoughts and emotions came rushing in.
When I was an aspirant, I used to wonder whether I made the right choice in letting go of a career in the private sector and preparing for this exam. There are three principal reasons why I harboured that cynicism, much of it shaped by a general perception of the government service.
The first pertains to the general contempt that exists against the government. It’s perceived as slow, inept and indifferent. While some of it might be true, my experience over the past five years has painted a different picture. I found that the government can be nimble, agile and sharply rise to the occasion when a problem presents itself.
Think about the current COVID-19 crisis. Though the cases are on the rise, the growth rate is slowing. The number of persons getting cured by the day is improving, too. It seems India, for all its glaring inefficiencies, has done well so far. Credit is due for all the healthcare workers and the frontline staff. Apart from it, what is truly amazing is that we’re able to manage the lockdown relatively well. It’s difficult enough to make two strangers agree with each other— on any issue. Now to have a billion-plus people voluntarily agree to confine themselves to their homes for well over a month is a staggering achievement by any measure.
It took continuous monitoring of public opinion, proper supply of essential goods to the stranded labour, and ensuring social distancing at all public places. Given this incredible challenge, we seem to have done a good job so far. There are no food riots nor mass unrest. It begs the question: How come the inept and indifferent civil service, thought to be good at nothing more than sitting on files, is managing the crisis better than developed countries?
Secondly, the case against a career in civil service has to do with political control. It is argued that civil servants, though competent and driven, are stifled because of such limitation. I find such criticism amusing.
Just think of it. Except for a totalitarian dictator, which job in the world entrusts unchecked power? A prime minister or a chief minister is answerable to courts, audit agencies, election commission, media, civil society. An Apple CEO must cater to the compulsions of shareholders and revenue growth projections of Wall Street. A startup founder is always tweaking the product to please the investors. Every job with responsibility is restrained with external checks. In the case of civil servants, it’s the political leadership. To think that just because you cleared an exam, you should be vested with all power and control is absurd. Political control means popular control. It’s not a bug, but a feature of a democracy.
Lastly, take the general view that people universally sneer at a sarkari officer. My experience in civil service couldn’t have been more contrasting.
Wherever I have been, I noticed that, contrary to the popular perception, civil servants enjoy a considerable reputation among the general public. It’s as if civil servants have carved out an exclusive space for themselves in people’s imagination. Maybe it’s the tag of IAS or IPS. Perhaps, it’s the authenticity of the UPSC that attaches so much prestige to the post. Whatever it might be, the respect people have for civil servants is phenomenal.
Consider the position of an IAS officer trainee, whose job is vested with no authority nor any specific responsibility. Yet I realised that, much to my surprise, my word carried weight. Whenever I brought a problem to the notice of the concerned officer, they would respond quickly and work a little more diligently. As for the public, no matter which remotest corner I travelled to, the importance and belief people repose in this institution is just stunning. In one public survey, District Collector ranked as the fourth most trusted institution in India. Can anyone buy or force their way into such trust and confidence of the poor? I believe people have that confidence in the institution of the civil service because, throughout its history, so many public servants have worked, silently and sincerely, unmindful of all the loud voices disparaging them.
Sardar Patel is credited with the integration of states, and rightly so. Yet, we must not forget the role of VP Menon who ably assisted the home minister, going through reams of legal documents, holding negotiations with princely states, and drafting Instruments of Accession.
That, I think, epitomises the role of a civil servant. To do the work that ought to be done, to do it to the best of one’s ability, to take pleasure in the act of doing it well, not take any praise seriously, and not let any unfair criticism affect you personally.
My experience in the service belied the apprehensions I had as an aspirant. If I get to choose my career now, I will again choose to be a civil servant.
Get new posts delivered to your inbox by subscribing to this blog.
Thanks for sharing this with us sir
This is absolutely commendable. Thank you Anudeep Bhaiya.
Inspirational,….
Great article ….i always enjoy your writing ….can u please write about meditation and how it changed you!!!
It inspired a lot to come into the civil service. Thank you Sir for sharing with us
When I read it I felt I was the person experiencing desolate road and warm wind blowing….. It was so surreal …thank you anudeep sir and sir I would like to ask you how has meditation changed your path of preparation for upsc, also sir I don’t like meditation but how can just inculcate it in my life.
. #Just one of your reader
#Ashna Eshika
Nice sir?
Motivational!! Sir could please throw some light about meditation which you took up during your preparation. Excepted about meditation in your recent release of your book. Please provide a detail about meditation
Yeah,please tell us about your meditation
Awesome sir…..
Sir, you people are really doing a great job standing infront and working for hours for saving our lives. Moreover civil servants of UPSC-2017 were actively helping in the fight of COVID-19. Thanks will be a small word. You are one of the heroes who were doing your jobs day and night for caring us.
Es article ko padh ke aaj humare purane dosto ke chehre me smile jarur aayi hogi 🙂 good observation and good introspection 🙂
Awesome sir,its an inspirational words for beginners sir
We miss your blog, sir. At least, write one each month
Sir Please write something about work life balance…
Thank you sir for the post. You are an inspiration
I congratulate you sir for your interest and passion in your
job ???
Thanks sir sharing your experience. Such a cool writing .
Absolutely Honest, Humble & Genuine Words!! Your thoughts reflect that milk of humanity runs very high in your blood nd you are a true human being in the truest Sense of the term. No highs n lows of this life can move you from your place!! More Power to You! Best of Luck ?
Wow. ?
Sir i am in college first year engineering how can i start my preparation
Sir I am so proud to have you as my inspiration.
Your journey was so inspiring indeed it reminds me of the character Andy Dufresne from The Shawshank Redemption.
Great experience sir .
Very aptly worded article! Thank you 🙂
Awesome
Sir, how do you find appropriate words to use while writing?
Always love to read things you write sir. You are extremely talented.
Good Morning sir,
Its really a moment to cherish. Hoping to get into this juncture soon.
Thanks for us useful and inspiring blog.
Fabulous writing sir
Sir,I understood one thing in you that you are always being inthe moment,alert and being aware of every moment.Which you may got from your meditaion, iam i right sir?
Sir, i find honest experiences from your writings, but the crucial matter for the civil servants they are not ready to give up some space to professionals coming to picture of policy level matters in ministry level at Union r state ,eg-joint secretory by lateral entry there has been huge uproar from the community, in practical civil servant becomes a generalistic administrator in the entire service but if we take the proven professionals they are much rooted updated and connected with the industry r field which they are from. what is your say sir?