Where Are Their Heros Published on 10 Dec 2019

                                                          Heros of IAS

        I was director of Army Welfare Education Society and attended the yearly Principals' meeting at Dehradun. They organized a trip to Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), where candidates selected through the Indian Administration Services (IAS) Examination are trained. A month after that visit, I wrote this article. 

                                                      Where are the Heroes

               I was part of a group of Principals and Directors of Army Public Schools who visited Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussori,  earlier this month. It was eagerly looked up visit and we expected a lot to see on this institution of National Importance which trained our policymakers, based on whose guidance destiny of India has shaped over the period of time.

              We were conducted around the main campus by a ‘Guide’, who, as we found later, worked as LDC in the Academy. We were briefed about the campus, layout, various buildings a place called museum which had black and white photographs of IAS trainees interacting with Prime Ministers and Presidents, batches that passed out and that of activities in the institute.  Later a Retired Army Officer, posted as Deputy Director briefed us on the organization, training, and activities in Academy. A short movie was also screened on the Academy.

              However, we did not see any photos or paintings of ‘Heroes’ of the alumni of the Academy who did proud to their Alma Mater,  on display anywhere in the Academy that we saw. Few buildings are named after leading politicians. A memorial stood in one of the lawns without any names of martyrs who died in the line of duty. It is not that the IAS cadre is bereft of heroes. Almost a month back The Tribune carried a writeup on Dr B N Yugandhar who, as I see, was an ideal bureaucrat and an example to emulate. His pencil sketch was there among ex Directors of the Academy.  Of course there are many names like Dr TN Seshan, Dr MS Randhawa (ICS), Dr MS Gill, Vinod Rai, Ashok Khemka, Shanmugam Mamjunath (a young IAS Officer who was killed by oil mafia) and many more who stood up to dictates of politicians and upheld the rule of law. What could be a better motivation to a trainee than look up to the heroes of his fraternity who once walked in the corridors of this prestigious academy?    

        However, the next day a visit to Indian Military Academy was a complete contrast. The IMA memorial, Museum (glittering with painting of war heroes), Cadet Messes, Lawns, buildings and of course Drill Ground cast a spell on the visitors.

        The question arises; as to why IAS officers who have done pioneer work in number of fields are not looked up or known as Heroes? Do they want to remain in the background and let politicians take the credit or they get branded or get typified as ‘Congress Type’ or ‘BJP Type’; not allowed to be touted as Heroes. Someone has to answer, ‘Why there are no Heroes on display at LBSNAA?’ 

This article was published in The Tribune on 10 December 2019 and can be viewed by clicking here