aAfter a gap of two COVID years, the fourth edition of Aarambh will be held at the Statue of Unity, or SOU, at Kevadiya on the banks of the Narmada River in Gujarat. It is scheduled to take place from 28 to 31 October, in which 97. There will be 443 participants fromth The foundation course of LBSNAA – Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration – includes 11 from the Royal Bhutan Civil, Police and Forest Services. Though most readers would know, it should be remembered that the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at a height of 182 meters is tallest in the world. His biographer, Hindol Sengupta, describes him as “the man who saved India” – the title of the biography – by ensuring the timely integration of 562 princely states into the Indian Union and laying the foundation for a strong, independent, meritorious state. Country based civil service structure.
According to the evolving convention, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address the participants on October 31 (symbolic) Sardar Patel’s birthday. It was because of Patel’s efforts that India’s ‘steel frame’ got the much needed structural support at the most crucial time in the country’s history. Even though by the end of World War II it had become clear that independence was inevitable, a powerful section of the British establishment was intent on creating difficulties for a smooth transition. Thus, when Lord Pethick-Lawrence, Secretary of State for India and then Burma, without reference to the Interim Government in which Sardar Patel was Home Minister, in September 1946, unilaterally decided to cancel fresh recruitment to the Indian Civil Service and the Indian Police. did. Later a meeting of the Prime Ministers of all the 11 provinces was called. He was consulted about the need for continuation of All India Services. Seven of the 11 provinces – Bombay, Bihar, Central Provinces (CP), Orissa, Madras, United Provinces (UP), North West Frontier Province (NWFP) – supported the suggestion. Three – Punjab, Bengal and Sindh – preferred provincialisation, and Assam was undecided. It wanted centralized recruitment and training but greater control over the cadre. Be that as it may, Patel summarized the proceedings with these words: “There was general sentiment in favor of the formation of the All-India Service and it was hoped that once the general plan was drawn up, those who were not currently in favor of it would be convinced that the control have been given adequate allowances for the provincial sensibilities and will agree to attend.”
Why entrants should look to Patel
It should also be noted that while Patel was consolidating the civil services building, MK Gandhi was not quite comfortable with the ICS – he preferred the ‘Hind Swaraj’ model to “the village panchayats as economic and social centres.” did” activity”. Jawaharlal Nehru’s main concern was that officers selected for the Foreign Service should have impeccable manners and pronunciation. It is recorded in several memoirs of civil servants – including those of NN Vohra – that Nehru Interviewed and personally selected Foreign Service officers. In addition, there was a lateral entry option for those who were royalty or well-connected to the establishment. Sengupta used archival material to show that This is how the Home Ministry under Patel ensured that recruitment to all higher civil services, including the Foreign Service, was to be conducted only on the basis of a competitive examination under an impartial body.
Therefore, it is pertinent that all the new entrants take inspiration from the life and works of Sardar Patel. Unlike the 80s, when there were few books and monographs on Patel, there are now several biographies, including one titled Rajmohan Gandhi. Patel: A Life by Rajmohan Gandhi as well as a special edition of administrator, The astonishingly curated exhibition at the SOU includes the life and times of the former home minister, his transformation from a well-paid barrister to the organizer of the Kheda Satyagraha of 1918, his key role in the independence movement, but most importantly, integrating His role is depicted in Princely states. There are rare photographs of Sardar Patel in his simple, homely khadi as a minister of states interacting with the Maharajas and Nawabs adorned with jewels. It must be acknowledged as one of the most efficient and effective ministries India has ever produced. In the short period of its existence, from July 1947 to March 1951, Patel and his very capable secretary, undoubtedly VP Menon, completed the merger of every single state including the 21-gun salute states of Jammu and Kashmir, Mysore, Hyderabad and the like. Baroda, for microstates where the area was less than 100 square miles and the revenue was less than one lakh rupees per annum! As such, all officer trainees with an eye on history and political economy will find a visit to the exhibition most beneficial.
Start, SoU. an integral part of
Let me now share the background as to how Aarambh became an integral part of the celebrations at the SOU celebrated as National Unity Day on 31st October. Since 2014, Patel’s birth anniversary is observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to “regain the inherent strength and resilience of our nation in the face of real and potential threats”. to be affirmed. Unity, integrity and security of our country”. After the SOU was inaugurated by PM Modi on 31st August 2018, LBSNAA was ordered to organize the first launch program for all entrants of Govt. through Civil Services Examination. Importantly, for more than two decades, entrants were pursuing their foundation courses at three institutions: LBSNAA in Mussoorie, MCRHRDI (Dr. MCR HRD Institute of Telangana) in Hyderabad, and RCVP Noronha Academy of Administration in Bhopal .
During his first visit to the Academy in 2017, the Prime Minister was concerned about the construction of silos early in his career and directed that training and residential infrastructure be improved to ensure that all trainees receive the same be trained in the institute. He also wanted the youngest officers to engage not only with the most senior civil servants, but also with heads of corporates and civil society leaders, as well as global think tanks and heads of bilateral and multilateral funding agencies . In early 2019, the Department of Personnel and Training gave the Academy a clear mandate that a comprehensive, interactive program called Aarambh should be launched. The highlight of the event – and the aftermath – was the very free and frank interaction between the officer trainees and the Prime Minister. This tradition of interaction continued, though in ‘online mode’ in 2020 and 2021. This year, officials will again get a chance to hear the PM about his vision for India.
Sanjeev Chopra is a former IAS officer and Festival Director of Valley of Words. Until recently he was the Director of Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration. He tweeted @ChopraSanjeev. Thoughts are personal.
This article is part ofstate of state‘ series that analyzes policy, civil services and governance in India.
(Edited by Likes)