I honestly believe no one is better qualified than the distinguished diplomat himself to set the readers’ doubt at rest.

Recently I happened to read a book THE INDIAN PRESIDENT – An Insider’s Account of the Zail Singh Years authored by a distinguished career diplomat K. C. Singh.

The book eminently reveals some interesting anecdotes and the frosty relations between president Giani Zail Singh and the young prime minister Rajiv Gandhi from the year 1985 till the former concluded his controversy-ridden presidency in July 1987.

What intriguingly captures my attention is a series of startling revelations that seemingly sit oddly with the gravitas of a true civil servant like the author himself.

A member of the civil services is under inviolable obligation to observe impeccable integrity, allegiance to the constitution, impartiality and transparency in discharge of his or her duties. Such qualities must not only be observed but must also be seen to be observed.

Also Read: Amritpal Saga: Govt’s Inept Handling And Police Blunders

Some events documented by the author in laudatory terms prima facie seem to be inconsistent with what is expected of a senior official posted in the highest constitutional office of the land.

As a reader I would like to highlight couple of his anecdotes that arouse my curiosity about the role of a civil servant ensconced in the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

In the book the author narrates the way he manages to facilitate the entry of two visitors in the precincts of the presidential house without being frisked owing to immunity conferred on him.

To any discerning mind, it appears to be the dilution of the sanctity bestowed upon a civil servant holding some particular status in the hierarchy. The author proclaims that he uses his own peacock-blue fiat car to ferry the two gentlemen to the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Readers tend to believe that this furtive act is not strictly in the scope of his official duties. It appears to sound ethically inappropriate.

The author’s seemingly vicarious pleasure emanating from the possibility of dismissal of the government subtly tends to mirror his disguised ambitions, albeit the plan fails to materialize.

Also Read: The truth about the Mughals

The author candidly displays his political proclivity and recounts as follows

“In a political standoff at the highest level, there are really two options. One is to stay committed to one side and do your best. The other, as happens more often, is to keep a foot in both camps and hedge your bets. My crossover from being an advisor to playing the political game was a factor of my temperament”.

By his own account, he was privy to the meetings held between the president and visibly a handful of disenchanted elements in the Congress party. To any reasonable mind, I am afraid, it seems to border on self-incrimination. Is it prudent to wear politics on one’s sleeves while being a civil servant? It sounds unpalatable to the reader.

Given his inclination, I wish the author who was fairly young at that time may have embraced active politics to serve the nation in a far more independent and passionate way, particularly, in view of the fact that the Indian political landscape is woefully starved of statesmanship and true leadership.

My naivety may have driven me to this curiosity. Maybe I am not enlightened enough to decipher the nuances of the precise mandate cast on the senior functionary posted in the exalted constitutional office.

Any discerning reader will, nevertheless, like to solicit clarification to clear the misgivings in this regard. If such actions were in conformity with established norms, the author will do well to convey their legitimacy to the future crop of career diplomats and the guileless readers like me who are fond of the author.

For this purpose, I honestly believe no one is better qualified than the eminent diplomat himself to set the readers’ doubt at rest.

Also Read: Khushwant Singh As Portrayed By His Son

This small article is not a critique of this memoir per se. Readers’ only anxiety is to clarify their doubts vis-à-vis the author’s specific assignment in the Rashtrapati Bhavan in view of the honest and frank disclosures in the book.

I have deliberately chosen to keep the scope of my query limited to this extent only. Other aspects such as ‘The Operation Bluestar’, assassination of Mrs. Gandhi, Sikh pogrom in Delhi have consciously been left untouched.

___________

Also Read:

TRUTH VS FALSEHOOD: BBC – Who is afraid?

Mughal Gardens – Name Changed, But Why?

Industrialization versus Environmental Degradation

75 years of hope and despair

Punjab – How a deadly cocktail of Agri-Water-Energy nexus going to destroy it?

North Pole and the ideological conflict of RSS & Hindutva