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Profession :
Public & Government Service
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Location :
Bhopal
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Madhya Pradesh
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INDIA
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IAS, 1982 Batch, MP Cadre. B.Sc.Honors and M.Sc Maths, St Stephens College, Delhi University, Secretary Maths Society, National Science Talent Scholar and won Ground colors in Squash racquets.1997-1998:Harvard University, USA– divided time between John F Kennedy School and Harvard Business School, Masters in Public Administration 1998.Presently Principal Secretary Urban Development Department, Govt. of MP.Earlier postings:MD MPSIDC, MD MPRDC, Commissioner MP Housing Board, Director Ministry of Commerce, GOI.Plays vigorous badminton and leisurely golf. Written for ET,HT,and varous other journals.Author of "Soul, Mind, Body:Mapping the Global Citizen" released by CIC on 30/3/2007.Creator of concept and methodology for www.scratchmysoul.com
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My father's dream would be fulfilled if I were to become an Advisor to the Prime Minister of India |
Q (ALH) What was the inner inspiration insisted you to be an IAS?
Or
Could you specify the reason for being an IAS?
Ans. (RC sir) I did not know too much about life in the IAS (my father was in the State of UP Transport Department, a person respected for his basic integrity, simplicity and overall decency) except that my father was enamored by the service. Some of his IAS officer friends were people who were held in very high esteem and legends were spun around them-names like IDN Sahi, BD Sanwal, Hasan Zaheer etc. There was a sense that in the IAS you could contribute to national building while being respected in society. This was a heady mixture. And so it was my life?s first ambition to get into the IAS.
Q (ALH) What was the dream of your parent about you?
Ans. (RC sir) My father's dream would be fulfilled if one day I were to become the Governor of some State in India or if I were to become an Advisor to the Prime Minister of the country.
Q (ALH) What is your educational profile ?
Ans. (RC sir) I studied in La Martiniere College in Lucknow upto Class XI. Then I went to St Stephens College, Delhi to do a BSc Honours in Mathematics. I won the Sudarshan Kumar Memorial Prize for the best all-rounder, was Secretary of the Mathematics Society and managed to get into the Squash Team of the College, apart from representing College in the Quiz Team in various Cultural Festivals.
As a mid-service professional I applied for the Government Colombo Plan trainings and got rejected for all due to reservations that year. So I applied on my own to Harvard and got admission. Then I applied to the World Bank and got scholarship through the Joint Japan/ World Bank Fund.
Q (ALH) How do you feel when you are called IAS?
Ans. (RC sir) I feel ok. But I know that there is a perception issue there. When I returned from Harvard, I dropped the IAS from my visiting card, as I thought it was not an asset and that it was not necessary. A couple of years later I realized my mistake-the IAS is a huge asset in India and it is still much respected!
Q (ALH) Are you a sportsman? Which are your favorite sports?
Ans. (RC sir) I play badminton regularly. It keeps me fit physically and ensures that I have no frustrations to take to work. On Sundays I play golf. In badminton I am a good, club(+) level. In golf I am club(-) level.
Q (ALH) I have read more about soul, mind and Body what are these for you?
Ans. (RC sir) I feel that in life there is nothing which is perfectly correct for all-to each his own. But to be able to align yourself with the world, your community, your family and yourself is the key to global peace and happiness (sarvamangal-mangaleya). Hence soul, mind, body alignment along the principles of sat-chit-anand or satyam-shivam-sundaram is my understanding about the right thing to do. This is close to the concept of the Middle Path advocated by the Buddha.
Q (ALH) What was your impact as Indian in Harvard Business School ?
Ans. (RC sir) Excellent! I was the oldest student in class. But because of my practical working experience I made up with insight what I lacked in terms of business training. I got A+ in all my Business School courses. The highlight was a case study in Service Management taught by James Haskett, an authority on this subject. I took a contrarian position in class, and was the only one out of 120 students who held his own and defended his position in a business case study. I got a standing ovation from the class. After the class, I walked back to my apartment. When I opened my e-mail, there was a message from the Professor waiting for me, ?Raghav, congratulations for steering the discussion so effectively!?
Q (ALH) How do you dream the word Scratch my soul?
Ans. (RC sir) It was purely something that stemmed from deep down in my soul, that society should become ultimately better!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- Readers Kindly send me your comments at hanfee4u@gmail.com) |
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