Whispers Forum

In the 1982 movie shot by Richard Attenborough, a Brit himself, the last one but scene shows Muhammad Ali Jinnah coming to meet Mahatma Gandhi some time before August 14, 1947. When Nehru and Patel try to talk to him, Jinnah snubbed them both saying “I have come to meet Bapuji and not you”. When Mahatma appears, he tells Jinnah, “Jinnah don’t divide India. You be the first Prime Minister of independent India.” Jinnah remains silent and looks at Nehru and Patel. Nehru tells Gandhi, “Please don’t do that. There will be a civil war in India. We cannot control the people.” Jinnah leaves the scene saying “I will have my Pakistan and you can have your Hindustan.” Jinnah’s silence to Mahatma’s offer was loud and clear. Mohamed Ali Jinnah lived for only another thirteen months as he died of tuberculosis on September 11, 1948. The history of India might have been different had Gandhi had his way.
The old Roman Maxim Divide et impera meant “Divide and Rule”. Lord Elphinstone declared this should be the policy of Britain. As noted by Shashi Tharoor in his article The British Game of Divide and Rule on August 10, 2017, Britain “liked drawing lines on maps of other countries. They did it in the Middle East after the First World War and did it again in India in 1947 when the partition led to killing of one million people, displacing 17 million people, looting and ruining homes Lines meant lives.”
Jinnah, the first Governor General of Pakistan was totally western in his dress and habits. He was clean shaven and loved his drink. In the afternoons, Jinnah used to drop in at the residence of the Indian High Commissioner Sri Prakasa for a drink. Jinnah told Shri Prakasa that he wanted to retain his sea-facing home on the Malabar Hill, South Court, in Bombay as he was looking forward to settling down in his home that he built brick by brick and he wanted Shri Nehru to rent out the party to either a British or American national who will maintain it well. Shri Prakasa asked Jinnah if he could put it in writing in a letter to Pandit Nehru, Jinnah said “yes.” Pandit Nehru obliged Jinnah. From Sri Prakasa’s account, it was evident Jinnah was visualizing Pakistan only as a separate State within the Indian Federation for Muslims but not as a separate country. Till a couple of years ago, the property was used as the Office of the Deputy British High Commissioner for India. Dina Wadia, Jinnah’s daughter wanted to inherit the property and the case is pending in the courts. Pakistan wants the property to house the Pakistani Consulate in Mumbai.
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, however, did not accept a similar request from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who wanted to retain his flat on the Carmichael road off Peddar Road in Bombay. When he left India, Bhutto had two regrets. One, he could not retain his property in India. Two, he could not marry Actor Nargis who wanted to marry Raj Kapoor.
It was the British who sowed the seeds of hatred and hostility among the Hindus and Muslims in India which Mahatma understood very well. In fact, when Gandhi attended the Round Table Conference in London in 1931, he was shocked at the question put to him: “which India are you representing? the Hindu India, the Muslim India or the Princely States “which is captured by Richard Attenborough in the Gandhi movie.
It is significant that Mahatma Gandhi, Muhammad Ali Jinnah (Kathiawar region) and the architect of the India that we have today, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel –all three hailed from Gujarat.
Dr Sitharam Gurumurthi IAS (TN; 1972)
Founder Chairman
Sri Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel School for Monetary Economics, Chennai
Can’t the govt get educationists ?
Can’t the govt get educationists of repute to head these academic organisations. Blindly appointing bureaucrats to these types of posts does not augur well for the educational fraternity and it will lead to demoralisation. The govt should understand that because of lack encouragement and recognition in our country, very well qualified professionals in any field try their best to go abroad.
K Srinivas Rao
Congratulations !
Congratulations to you, Pawan Kumar Singh on joining as DDG(FS). Wish u good luck. May u progress a lot. Amrit Pal Sharma President Punjab state small savings agents association.
Amrit Sharma

This has been an extremely difficult year for one and all due to spread of corona virus. This led to total lockdowns of all coaching institutes across the country. The civil services aspirants have been the worst affected. Even the UPSC had to re-schedule all its exams including the most prestigious Civil Services Examination. A large number of aspirants could not return to home States due to lockdowns, curfews and suspension of different modes of transportation. Totally stuck.
In these circumstances, DOP&T and UPSC are urged to grant an extra attempt to civil services aspirants due to lockdown by allowing one-time relaxation , in future , as a special case? Further, in order to be just and fair to UPSC aspirants , the Govt of India may also re-visit its decision on lateral entry of 400 bureaucrats proposed to be recruited from open market .The impact of post-pandemic joblessness, should also not be overlooked.
A K Saxena ( A former civil servant)

About a month back, entire Cabinet had walked out of the meeting, for the reason that the Chief Secretary, who is secretary of the cabinet, made some remarks, which were considered impolite and intemperate. Such a unsavoury situation, at such a apex level ,could have been avoided by tactful handling by the cabinet members,who are senior to chief secretary.The continuation of this childish act of permanent boycott of any meeting ,in which chief secretary was to take part, could embarrass the state further, which has already hardly any good achievement to show. So the mature handling by the chief minister saved the day. The chief secretary apologized and the controversy got buried. However ,a minister very boisterously proclaimed that the chief secretary had apologized thrice, so he could not refuse. It is not understood as to why the chief secretary apologized thrice, and why a minister ,against all norms of propriety and grace, had to so loudly pronounce about apology having been sought for three times by the chief secretary. But still the chief secretary has been removed disgracefully and unceremoniously, two months before his retirement.
The incident reminds me of a very old story, ''Death of a govt clerk'', written by a legendary short story writer of Russia, Anton Chekhov. Succinctly stated, a clerk, goes to a theatre to witness a drama. Sitting in the second row, he had to suddenly sneeze. When he looked around, he saw that a Civilian General, was wiping his head spattered by his sneeze. He apologized to him and the General said, ''never mind. ''But his fears took the clerk to the General's office three, four times for apology. The General ultimately lost his temper with this obstinate persistence and he rebuked the clerk, who could not live thereafter..
I remember that long time back, during Partap Singh Kairon's time, many officers would take a bold and righteous stand and would stand their ground. AL Fletcher ICS, who was a legendary Financial Commissioner Revenue Punjab, would be candid in his briefings to the Chief Minister, and would never budge from the righteous path.About two decades back ,there was an administrative secretary, who would almost on daily basis ,had to differ in opinion with his minister and send the files to Chief Minister for decisions. This continued for more than three years. The officer, in routine, accepted central deputation, but had never sought transfer. That secretary got his promotion as Secretary to govt of India and also functioned as chief secretary of the state for about 3 yearsStanding one's ground always pays.
I recollect a very unpleasant incident of Feb,2018,when Chief secretary of Delhi govt, lodged an FIR that he was manhandled by some AAP MLAs at the thick of the night,at the residence ,of the Chief Minister. If such incidents happen, then who will protect the higher and lower bureaucracy ! There were reports about a state, where the sons of the chief minister would attend all meetings. They would insult senior secretaries and would also often tell the chief secretary, ''tu chup reh,tu tto gadha hai.' 'Not very long ago ,the IAS association of a state, had selected,' the most corrupt bureaucrat of the state'', by secret ballot. Incidentally, she turned out to be the chief secretary of that state.
Punjab gets Ms. Vini Mahajan, as the first lady Chief Secretary of the state. She has come at a very crucial moment, but her long, illustrious, honest, straightforward, noble and highly courageous career, may start a glorious chapter for the state.
Surinderjit Singh Sandhu

The world is slowly but surely edging forward towards World War -3. Procrastination by having frequent dialogues with China is enabling China-Pakistan to mobilise their resources. Frequency of terror attacks by Pak is increasing by the hour.
Arrest of Chinese spies in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim for creating mayhem, is disturbing. Their intrusion through Nepal is the wake-up call.
India must strengthen its guard at the "chicken neck", which China is aiming to take over. This could cut off the entire North-India from the hinterland.
If, necessary, a small surgical strike at Nepal would be necessary to seize a part of Nepal to obfuscate China from further misadventure. No candyfloss approach for Nepal under the present Oli dispensation.
Time is of the essence
Are we awaiting arrival of S-400 air shield from Russia, Rafael fighter jets from France, Spice jets from Israel and F-22 & F-35 fighter jets from the US ? These would be useful in the long term perspective.
Though India can take on China and Pakistan together, but the NATO forces led by the US will have to concurrently engage with China and North Korea. This will force China to fight the war at multiple fronts.
India will have the opportunity to take back POK, Gilgit -Baltistan and Aksai chin.
India must also assist in the liberation // separatist’ movements in Baluchistan , Sindhu Desh and Pakhtoonistan. Afghanistan must grab the opportunity of taking over Pakhtoonistan.
A K Saxena ( A former civil servant)

Similar situation prevails in MoEF&CC. The particular Section of MoEFCC plays major role to delay the process. The selection of Directors and DGs of subordinate offices and autonomous bodies are kept pending for long time to provide benefits to the IFS officers on deputation. Especially, where the aspirant are Engineers or Scientists. The selection of Director, IPRIT, Bangalore is over long back but the same is being kept pending by RT Division, MoEFCC. When is comes to the appointment of IFS officer, the process is advanced. It was felt that the situation will improve under the regime of Honorable PM, but situation of scientific institutions remain same.
K Reddy