There have been many ex-civil servants in India who have authored books, and laid bare the inner workings of the ‘system’. Theses have understood bureaucracy in a proper manner in their lives. The stories given by them actually tend to show what a civil servant experiences in his or her life. We have compiled a list of 6 such memoirs penned by ex-civil servants that every IAS aspirant should read.
Understanding Indian Bureaucracy – Important Memoirs
1.Bureaucrazy Gets Crazier: IAS Unmasked – M.K.Kaw
This book was first published in 1993 and it was a sellout in 30 days. It lays bare the workings of the civil services from an insider point of view. It also exposes the weaknesses of the system at the highest and lowest levels.
2.Not Just an Accountant —The Diary of the Nation’s Conscience Keeper – Vinod Rai
Vinod Rai was the 11th Comptroller and Auditor General of India. In this book, he has exposed the truth behind major scams like the Commonwealth Games scam, Air India scam, the 2G scam, Coalgate and so on.
3.The Service Of The State: The IAS Reconsidered – Bhaskar Ghose
Ghose addresses questions like the appropriateness and relevance of the Indian Administrative Service in today’s India. He had an experience of 36 years in this field.
4.Untouchables: My Family’s Triumphant Escape from India’s Caste System – Narendra Jadhav
This is the autobiography of an IAS officer who was born into a Dalit family. This book reveals the trials, tribulations, and abuse faced by his family. It also talks about the family’s struggle and escape from the clutches of the caste system.
5.Poor But Spirited in Karimnagar – Sumita Dawra
Dawra was the Collector of Karimnagar district in Andhra Pradesh from 2001 and 2004. This book recounts her experiences as an IAS officer in Karimnagar. This book shows the wide gap between the planning of policies and their implementation.
6.The Honest Always Stand Alone – C. G. Somiah
An IAS officer of the 1953 batch, Somaih retired as the Comptroller and Auditor General of India in 1996. It tells us about the time when Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India. What all discussions took place at the highest political level at that time, you can come to know through this book.
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