This IAS Officer’s Harrowing Tale Shows Why Being Honest Is Not Easy In The Present World

When a storm comes, it always uproots the trees that stand tall, while vines that only grow on the support of others with no standing of their own remain unharmed. Similarly, in a country like India, where we struggle to fight corruption rusting the pillars of democracy, it is difficult to have a stand of your own. Even more challenging when your stand comes in the way of people thriving on corruption.

IAS Officer, Raju Narayanaswamy belongs to the former category. Before I start with his story, here’s a little bio of him:

– Belonged to a middle-class family. His parents worked as professors.
– First Bureaucrat to complete all the 10 courses conducted by the National Institute of Disaster Management
– Graduated in Computer Science from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
– Was awarded a doctorate degree by Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
– Stood first in the Class 10 Examination (1983), Pre-degree Examination (MGU-1985) and Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)
– Obtained the first rank in Civil Services Examination and entered the Indian Administrative Service
– Currently pursuing his second PhD from Gujarat National Law University

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After getting to know about him, won’t you think that he should be a man of substantial knowledge and must be an intelligent IAS officer living the dream life? Well, you couldn’t be more wrong.

As soon as he joined civil services his anti-corruption drive started. The journey wasn’t easy for him as he was transferred 20 times in 22 years of service. His spirit still did not break.

According to a news report by Bihar Prabha, during his tenure as the managing director of Marketing Federation (MARKETFED), the chairman and senior politicians expected him to be a part of all their plans, many of which were not completely ethical. True to his nature, Narayanaswamy refused to comply with them and as a result he was shifted to menial assignments and made to work under junior officers.

Another report by The New Indian Express illustrates how he was cut off from the secretary position of the General Education Department in Kerala because he demanded a disciplinary action against Vocational Higher Secondary Education Director, Mohan Abraham, for being involved in a financial fraud worth around Rs. 25 lakhs.

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His reputation for fighting against corruption made him infamous among the corrupt politicians and famous among the honest officials. During an anti-encroachment drive in Munnar, Narayanaswamy was one of the three people selected by Kerala Chief Minister (during that time), V S Achuthanandan for the process. While senior CPM leaders opposed giving him so much power, the CM did not change his decision.

He has done immense work to ensure that people at the grass-root level are benefited and their rights are not taken away from them. However, his journey has costed him a lot in the process. Bihar Prabha reports that he once launched criminal procedure code against his own father-in-law who was a contractor in the region.

His father-in-law had illegally constructed a wall while blocking the public road and segmenting himself from the scheduled caste community residing there. Narayanaswamy’s action costed him his marriage. His wife divorced him for his decision. 

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If you feel like clapping for him for his unshaken spirit, wait for a while. During his tenure, there have been many instances where he has been in the news for fighting against the corrupt leaders. He has been transferred several times and he currently holds a powerless position of Secretary in the Printing and Stationery Department.

Being the brilliant man that he is, Narayanaswamy has written more than 25 books in the last few years and is a welcomed guest faculty at Indian Institute of Technology. His knowledge, at par with his honesty, doesn’t go down, it only escalates to a higher level with time.

Nevertheless, he continues his fight despite the obstacles. This is not the first time that such an instance has come to light. Officers like him keep getting oppressed by politicians who care about nothing but their own benefit. According to a news published in Deccan Chronicles, he is planning to move to Paris to take up a course there.

His present situation shows how the being honest and trying your best to improve the situation of your country can lead you to your own downfall in this country. Let’s ensure that such things don’t happen, let’s be wiser, let’s be stronger.

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