Flashes before my eyes- The civil service and more by Inderjit Khanna

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Flashes before my eyes- The civil service and more

By Inderjit Khanna

Foreword by Amitabh Bachchan

About the book

This autobiography is about the personal and professional life of a civil servant. The book seeks to cover the sacrifices made by his parents in bringing up their three children, of which he is the youngest. It emphasizes the importance that the parents laid on the education and upbringing of the children even at the cost of the basic amenities in their life. Having been a classmate of Amitabh Bachchan at Sherwood, the chapter on his school life dwells on this relationship with the actor. He has shared his experiences and struggles, right from his childhood, school and college days, his career in the civil service and thereafter.

Mr. Khanna has particularly highlighted his service in two worlds. Over 13 years in the field of rural development where it was about service to the poorest in society and then again of rubbing shoulders with the czars of Indian industry while he was in the Ministry of Finance for four years. He raises the question of what should be the ideal role of government. Should it be tilted towards the large majority of poor or the minority of rich. The book contains a variety of experiences, both positive and negative and interaction with public at large, businessmen and politicians. The author emphasises that the process of learning never ends. The importance of values in life and work has been stressed. The author acknowledges the role of the ‘Invisible Hand’, the Lord above, in guiding and protecting him throughout his service career. The book should provide good reading for the aspirants and to all those already in the civil service.

Inderjit Khanna

Author

and Former Chief Secretary,

Government of Rajasthan

About the Author

Born into a humble Indian Christian family on 10th February 1943 in Delhi, Mr. Inderjit Khanna is an alumnus of Sherwood College, Nainital and of St. Stephen’s College, Delhi from where he did his B.Sc. (Honours) and M.Sc. in Mathematics in 1964.

Mr. Khanna joined the IAS in July 1966 and was allotted Rajasthan cadre. He served as Collector of Barmer, Banswara and Bhilwara districts; Director, Primary and Secondary Education; Commissioner, Tribal Area Development and as Secretary of the Planning, Energy and Finance Departments of the state.

He has the unique distinction of working as a full time Visiting Professor at India’s premier management institute, IIM, Ahmedabad and also as Secretary of the University Grants Commission.

Mr. Khanna had a successful innings of 13 years in the Government of India as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, as Additional Secretary and Special Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, and as Enforcement Director (ED).

He served as the Chief Secretary of Rajasthan for three years. After retirement, Mr. Khanna was appointed as State Election Commissioner and ensured timely, fair and peaceful conduct of elections to the rural and urban local bodies. Over the last fourteen years he has contributed with his experience as a mentor to several organizations in the health, education, skill and rural development sectors. .

Foreword by Amitabh Bachchan

Flashes before my eyes- The civil service and more

By Inderjit Khanna,

Foreword by Amitabh Bachchan

I was astonished how intricately he has been able to put together the events of his life with such eloquence.

The style of the writing is most engaging - it was as though Tich was sitting beside you and giving a narration of his life experiences. This is the most envied quality of any writer.

Testimonials

Dr. C.K.Mathew

Former Chief Secretary,GoR

The book makes excellent reading with one episode or incident following another throughout the narrative. It also gives a panoramic view of a life spent in service of the nation. The powerful faith that the author has in the Almighty also comes through very clearly.

T.V. Rao

Former professor ,IIMA and Chairman,TVRLS

Super. Excellently written. For IAS aspirants, parents, children, teachers and every person. This book will be a great hit and a great influence for all those preparing for entering the civil service and take it up as a career. Once i started reading these memoirs, i found it difficult to put it aside. It is well written with genuineness.

Smt. Shailaja Chandra

Former Chief Secretary,Delhi

and Secretary to goI

Inderjit has been able to combine what few people can do effortlessly- to be able to put together the official sequence of events in a chronological order- and to blend the postings with real life family stories, the ups-and-downs, and the stories of the simple life his parents lived.

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Mumbai 31 May 2022