Civil servants of India come in various sizes, shapes and shades. There are those who try to be civil and serve the people. There are others who regard themselves as masters. There are also a good number who, while being properly civil and competent public servants, manage to be masters of the variety of situations in which they find themselves placed. The author of this book, Sreedhar Rao, belongs to this select breed: in recounting his rich and varied experiences, he shows how it is possible to steadfastly adhere to principles without compromise and act fearlessly even in trying circumstances. The leitmotif that runs through this account is the need to maintain the highest standards of governance in the country, without which all efforts to achieve our social and economic goals, or tackle the serious and complex challenges facing the nation in the sphere of national security, cannot yield satisfactory results. For achieving excellence in standards of governance, the civil service, properly oriented and motivated, based on merit and achievement, is a sine qua non. So is the harmonious relationship between the political executive and the civil service, each respecting the role of the other. The book also deals with the current concerns relating to internal security focusing pointed attention on the turbulent North-East. The need to get out of the vicious cycle of lack of progress leading to disillusionment begetting violence and insurgency, and this in turn, destroying all prospects of progress, has been brought out in bold relief. The author, who belonged to the Assam cadre of the Indian Administrative Services (IAS), has held various responsibilities in the states of Assam and Sikkim, in the ministries of Government of India, and in the mission in Australia. He rose to the rank of Secretary in the Government of India and retired as Chief Secretary, Sikkim.
