Includes index.

The autobiographies or memoirs of persons in public life including civil servants are found to be of great use to those who are keen to know about public affaim and how these are conducted with what effect. The authoi’s account, because of his working in the civil service in various capacities for over four decades, is a valuable guide to one and all connected with the governments and public administration and also to the large aspirants forthe civil services. Moreover, the public has a right to know. They are not very well conversant with the happenings, the methods and machinations in Government. They blame the politicians all the time, which the politicians deserve. At the same time, they may not know about the civil service politicians (second rung of politicians) who are in fact more dangerous than the professional politicians, as they sacrifice merit for other considerations; only brute political force or backing works with them and no more tine sensibilities like an honest and straightforward appeal work. Since the author has worked in many responsible and sensitive posts in various ministries such as commerce, defence, civil supplies, consumer affairs, environment and tourism, the book highlights the policy issues of the government in detail and the various vested interests (internal or external) in framing these policies. A separate chapter has been devoted to ‘Bofors’ or ‘Tehelka’ or ‘Corruption’ and another is on ‘Bureaucracy’. The author has tried to put these issues in proper perspective.