Dr Roop Krishen Bhat
An outsider everywhere is an autobiography of an eminent Kashmiri civil servant, poet and community leader Mr Maharaj Krishen Kaw. Mr Kaw is a prolific writer who has authored about twenty books in English and Hindi besides writing regular columns, middles, in newspapers and journals. Mr Kaw is known for his satirical punches and lucid expressions which are visible in this book from page one to last.
The autobiography can be divided into two main portions. First one as Mr.Kaw’s personal life and the second one as his professional one. The professional one further comprises of two sub portions i.e.his days in Himachal Pradesh and on central deputation in Delhi. However, the special feature of his narration is interweaving of his personal life with the professional one which saves the reader from monotony of situations and keeps one glued to the book. One more characteristic of Mr.Kaw is his free, frank and bold description and true revelations of happenings in his life which is a must for such writings. Taking cue perhaps from Gandhiji’s, “My Experiments with truth”.
The book has been chapterised into twenty six parts, starting from first one as Family tree. While commenting on his surname ‘Kaw” and attempting to trace its etymology he quotes the famous anecdote about creation Kashmiri surnames from Tul to Teng,as we have eight hundred odd surnames based on retsh,(nickname)hardly found in any other community in the world.He locates his predecessors to Mallapur, who later shifted to Banamohalla in Srinagar, mentions his humble beginnings of a low middle class family struggling for existence as a minority in Kashmir with limited resources and influences. Like many other Kashmiris his grand father and later his father braved against odds ,wanted to be part of Kashmiri ethos finally decide to migrate from Kashmir when his father couldnot compromise with the discrimination of being deprived of promotion as range officer in the Forest deptt. He migrates to Delhi in early Post Independent era of fifties. Shares a one room accommodation in Sewa Nagar the sarkaari chaprasi colony and starts as a Lower Division clerk. Later Mr.Kaw alongwith other members of family join him but the process of migration deprives him from regular schooling. Mr.Kaw manages to pass class 10th exams at ten years of age,a unique achievement. He works at a paanwalas shop at Kotla for a paltry salary of twenty five rupees and later joins the camp college set for refugees from Pakistan by Punjab university some fifteen kilometres away from residence. After passing intermediate this eleven year boy resolves to become an IAS officer. He completes his B.A. and later M.A. in first divisions. That too at tender age of sixteen, which rendered him uneligible for Lecturership. It is at college he started writing poetry and developed an infatuation with his teacher whom he describes as a fair lady. He started working and later joined LLB at Ghaziabad and readied himself for the big exam, for which he had to wait for 21 years of age. His preparation on his own with the assistance of family members is inspiring for our youngsters. He finally makes it big, Passes IAS ,is ranked 16th and realizes his dream.
Kaw has been honest and sincere in his revelations everywhere,in his personal life as well as in professional life which might really give some people sleepless nights.His posting in Delhi as ADM and his experiences while dealing with agitation, officials being made scapegoats by politicians, working with police, criminals ,concerned officers, makes interested reading. Under crisis too he keeps on writing poetry to ease his tensions.
His stint at Shimla working at top level in the bureaucracy with chief ministers such as Dr.Parmar, Sh.Ram Lal, Sh Virbhadra Singh and other politicians and the self seeking bureaucrats who are ready to sacrifice their integrity for favours in key postings makes interesting revelations and pinpoints loopholes in our system of Governance.
In the Central Government Mr.Kaw has had several postings but his three assignments have been very significant. i.e. Member Secretary of the 5th pay commission, Secretary Civil Aviation and Education Secretary.He reveals a lot about Politicians which makes very good reading. This pay commission narrowed the gap between private sector and the Government to a greater extent. Mr.Kaw reveals how Justice Pandian the chairman, wanted to keep the commission alive for a longer period to enjoy Govt. perks as is usually done by various commissions, never in mode to finish the job, but he was in haste to finish the job,which he did in three years time to step into next posting, which he got as Secretary Civil Aviation. Here he had to taste the real political mavericks of C.M.Ibrahim the civil aviation Minister, who alongwith his chamchas would often fly to Dubai for longer brakes. Mr Kaw quotes Sh Gujral the then Prime Minister saying him, ‘Mr.Kaw I depend on you for one thing. You have to ensure that there is no scandle in the Ministry of Civil Aviation.”
Mr.Kaw devoted substantial time to put in place a Civil Aviation Policy for the country,but the Minister would never like that to happen, and be bound by norms. He has openly revealed the favouritism extended to Jet Airways, which had shares of politicians, and even of Dawood Ibrahim, and how Ratan Tata’s efforts to float an Airline withSingapore collaboration was stalled by vested interests. And how an IB report against the jet Airways was brushed under carpet and the officer shunted out from IB. Still worst is the greed of then President of India Sh. K.R. Narayanan to pullout two brand new Air buses from Air India for his foreign jaunt which costed the exchequer Crores of Rupees. Resistance to all such moves costed Mr Kaw his posting and he had to cool his heels in Planning Commission as Principal Adviser Education till Mr Murli Manohar Joshi came to his rescue and took him as his Education Secretary. It is this Ministry which gave Mr Kaw his due recognition and satisfaction. He implemented the much talked about flagship programme of the Govt. Sarva Shikhsha Abhiyan (SSA) and initiated the scheme of Universalization of Secondary Education.
Overall this book makes very good reading, is a one or two sting reading material. The get up is very nice. Photographs and sketches inside the book add colour and attraction to the book. I recommend every one to read it especially the younger generation for whom it could be an inspiration,may even choose an advice from the ten pearls of wisdom given at the end of book.
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