| Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer posted as the commissioner, civil defence, in Patna has the reputation of being fiercely independent, honest and upright. The Patna High Court has assigned him tasks on many occasions. In the famous Shikha Gupta case relating to corruption in education, Nath's report led to the prosecution of four vice-chancellors and even a retired High Court judge, who had served as the VC of Magadh University. His report on the state of higher education in Bihar is as much a detailed expose of the "academic underworld" as it is a work of literary merit. Nath has not restrained himself to writing just inquiry reports. A prolific writer, he has written on subjects ranging from science fiction to globalisation. His series of humourous articles "Gulliver in Patiliputra" and "Modest Proposals" in local newspapers have been very popular.
Nath is not the only IPS officer following his vocation, while staving off deeply entrenched corruption in a state like Bihar. "Shunted postings" have helped some ias and ips officers to channelise their energy and expertise in the areas of their interest. Some are writing books, some are engaged in ngo activities, while some others have turned playback singers. Take Arvind Pandey, 41. Currently posted as the Commandant of bmp (Bihar Military Police) 10 and BMP 16 at Phulwarisarif near the state capital, he is an accomplished singer.
Besides having released eight music albums, this resident of Vindhyachal region is striving to launch "Bihar Bhakti Andolan", a campaign to revive Bihari pride and sub-nationalism with slogans like "Garva se kaho ham Bihari hain". Arvind also encouraged bmp Constable Pramod Kumar to make 15 paintings for the campaign. Says Arvind, gushing a renaissance-like zeal, "Bihar Bhartiya itihas ke swarnim kaal se hi jura hua tha lekin is rajya ko dobara usi mukam par pahunchane ki jarurat hai. (Bihar had been associated with the golden period of India's history but the state once again needs to be raised to that status.)"
Like Arvind, Gupteshwar Pandey, dig, Railways, posted at Patna became a darling of the public through his playback singing. He has released two audio albums on communal harmony. Gupteshwar, who was made special observer at the recently held Madhepura by-election, is on the verge of completing 20 years in the service, after which he can take voluntary retirement. And he can't hide his excitement.
Gupteshwar move may unleash a fresh debate on whether civil services are still the most coveted career in the Hindi heartland. Many ips officers have already requested the state Government for voluntary retirement. "Isn't it sheer wastage of time, disposing off files in one corner of the secretariat?" asks one bureaucrat, referring to the continued placement of some officers on "shunted postings" in the state. The disenchantment is but natural considering the contribution these officers are able to make to society. ig Abhyanand at the state police headquarters has become a revered figure among the state's engineering aspirants. He teaches the poor aspirants free of cost at a coaching institute—Super Thirty—and 40 of his students have made it to the iits. Says a senior ips officer, "Isn't it some achievement that Abhyanand, who may not have appointed 40 constables in the 25 years he has been in the service, helped 40 students get into iits in just two years?"
There are others who have turned their enthusiasm into a crusade against the rotting system. Ajoy Kumar Verma, dig, Crime Record Bureau, keeps passionately poring over law books and is known as an authority on Indian Civil Services rules and regulations. A 1985-batch ips officer, he has sent a number of missives to the authorities, highlighting corruption and irregularities in government offices.
Verma's questioning attitude has earned him the ire of his seniors.
When dgp Narayan Mishra asked him to work at the state control room during Durga Puja, he shot back asking why the services of a senior officer like him should be wasted in petty jobs like gathering information at a police control room. Despite his unceasing complaints, Verma is not rushing to condemn the entire state bureaucracy. "Bihar is the only state in the country where a hard-working and honest person is given full freedom and no one interferes in his work," he says. Ironically, Verma was suspended on November 8 for flouting Mishra's order. "Verma has promoted indiscipline in the police force by challenging the lawful authority of the dgp," says a senior officer.
Verma has decided to approach the President. "The moment I get the official copy of my suspension order I shall seek an appointment with the President. I have evidence of corruption in high places, which have the potential to create ripples," he says.
Incidentally in September, Verma was denied permission to present a research paper on "Zero Tolerance to Corruption" at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad. These officers have become irrelevant in the present system, says retired dgp D.P. Ojha, once a hero in the eyes of many for fighting against Mohammad Shahabuddin, Siwan "strongman" known as rjd supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav's "younger brother". "They wish to do something good for the state but are not to allowed to do anything as officers. Hence they look for other outlets for their talents," adds Ojha. However, no one can deny the fact that these ips officers been successful in instilling a sense of pride among Biharis. Index |
