The True Picture

It is no exaggeration to state that Anil comes out with the flag of professionalism flying sky-high.

Not Just a Civil Servant
By: Anil Swarup 
Publisher: Unicorn Books
Pages: 200
Price: `499

Nandan Nilekani, in his foreword, describes the book as a candid and engaging book which is a must-read for those who want to understand the complexities of Indian administration and how a few good men and women can make all the difference. Anil Swarup comes across as atypical in a most basic and fundamental  sense of being a civil servant who found unalloyed excitement and sheer beauty in  all the days—choppy 
and routine—of his 38-year-long challenging and fulfilling career. 

Anil has established beyond a shadow of doubt how the decrepit, canker-infested governance structures and systems, inherited as unwelcome colonial baggage, can be made to work with aplomb to deliver superlative results, worthy of acknowledgement and respect. This is its strongest USP. In the present muddied scenario of negativity, despondency and relentless babu-bashing, the book is more than a welcome gush of fresh air, and restores confidence and belief that all is not lost. 

The eloquent recounting of memorable tints are gripping reads. Even more engrossing are the conceptualisation of novel health insurance schemes such as the RSBY (Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana), which has now morphed into the eponymous Ayushman Bharat, deft handling of the coal-conundrum, initiation of the hugely successful e-auctions in the sector and the blinding arc lights of school education. No punches are pulled. There could not be a more honest retelling of developments that veritably shook the country to its foundations. 

It is no exaggeration to state that Anil comes out with the flag of professionalism flying sky-high. He has masterfully juggled passion and risk, demonstrating admirable leadership acumen through the best and worst of times. Having seen it all, Anil harbours no illusions and is brutally frank in admitting that the IAS has the potential of shielding the corrupt and letting you do nothing and still exists.With an easy, witty, acerbic style, light on verbiage, the book easily qualifies as the best, most contemporised ‘Governance Shastra’ on the shelves. A clear winner.

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