3 Review(s)

P Abrahama's Memoirs of an IAS Officer From Powerless Village to Union Power Secretarya is strikingly transparent and candid portrait of an able administratora's incredible journey in life. It portrays his life in a remote village with humble background; education in his village school ; a first generation educated from his family ; first to go to the college from his village ; the sacrifices made by his parenta's; his academic excellence and his determination to get into the premier Indian Administrative Service, is truly a remarkable journey made from a powerless village to the top of the ladder in the administrative echelons in the country. It is a gripping account of a determined persona's journey fuelled by the impassioned interest to scale greater heights in life. Abraham held several sensitive assignments including 15 years specialized service in the power sector. These jobs included, Chairman, Maharashtra State Electricity Board, Mumbai, the biggest power utility in the country. When he subsequently became the Union Power Secretary, he could successfully interact with several Chief Ministers of different political affiliations about the need for large scale reforms in the power sector, which finally resulted in arriving at a national consensus on the Common Minimum National Action Plan for Powera initiating major reforms in the sector, which has become the bedrock of the power reforms and is presently being implemented in the country. Abraham also brought out very lucidly about his interactions with the Defence Services as Additional Secretary (Defence) and the services and sacrifices made by the Services. Abraham also achieved the distinction of being a National Constitutional Authority as Member, Union Public Service Commission, New Delhi. Abraham recounted graphically his close interactions with the Chief Ministers and the Prime Ministers. He left an indelible mark wherever he worked. Abraham concludes that the biggest incentive to a civil servant is, to be a part of the growth process of the country, actively participate in policy making and implement them effectively and be a Facilitator for a Change. Abrahama's objective in penning down the Memoirs is to inspire the younger generation to participate in the process of development and make a difference to the cause of the common man and the country. About the Author P. Abraham, IAS (Retd.) was born at Gaddamanugu, an unelectrified village in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh. Had early education in his village; post graduated in MA from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam; joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1962 and was allotted to Maharashtra; obtained Management Degree from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute, Mumbai. Some of the important positions held by him in Maharashtra were Collector and District Magistrate, Bhir (1966-69); Secretary, Maharashtra State Electricity Board (69-72); Chairman, Maharashtra State Textile Corporation (72-75); Secretary (Energy) (86-89); Chairman, Maharashtra State Electricity Board (89-91). In Andhra Pradesh, important positions held by him were Secretary, Municipal Administration, Urban Development and Housing (82-83) and Commissioner of Industries (83-86). In Government of India, he functioned as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Defence (91-94); Secretary, Ministry of Power (94-97) and Member, Union Public Service Commission (1997-2003). He had the unique distinction of being the first Chairman of any State Electricity Board to ever become the Union Power Secretary since Independence. He undertook consultancy assignments for World Bank as an Energy Expert. He negotiated a loan of $ 400 Million with the World Bank as Chairman, MSEB. Travelled widely in USA, Europe, China, Japan and South East Asia. He is the author of Ambedkar's Contribution for Economic Planning and Development - It's relevance (2002) and Power Sector Reforms Focus on Distribution (2003). He writes regularly to journals and dailies. He is an avid golfer.