I was born three months after the launching of the first written Constitution of India. By virtue of its provisions, India became a secular democratic republic with Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in it. In addition to this, the basic freedoms were treated as legal rights enforceable by independent Supreme Court and the High Courts.

In keeping with the directive principles, the Government decided to establish a socialistic pattern of society wherein the commanding heights were reserved for the public sector. The Government took upon itself the responsibility of promoting an equitable social and economic order. Growth with social justice and removal of poverty were the popular slogans in my formative years. Steps like abolition of zamindari, untouchability, privy purses of erstwhile rulers of various princely territories and bank nationalization induced me to think of the greatest good of the largest numbers. On the other hand, famine of 1967 and rise of Naxalism soon, thereafter, made me realize that civil administration had a pivotal role to play in our developing society.

Therefore, I took the first opportunity to join the civil service at the age of twenty two years. I traveled far and wide within my large sub divisions for four years and spent nights with villagers in "forest" as well as "revenue" villages of Chattisgarh particularly the hotbed of naxalism- the Bijapur tehsil of Bastar district where there was no electricity or piped drinking water supply. I struggled to implement the antimony lending and debt relief laws by spreading awareness in obscure villages. Simultaneously, enforced the Bonded Labour (Abolition) Act and the M.P. Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings Act and ensured physical possession of land to the tillers. Protection of cultivators / tribals interests in "tree" proved to be an arduous task and brought me face to face with the "exploiters" in the Government and the civil society. The struggle went on for nine years till I joined the Government of India in the Ministry of Home Affairs soon after Phoolan Devi had exterminated 22 of her tormentors and a Dy. Inspector General of Police had been shot dead at the entrance of the Golden Temple, Amritsar.

While working in the agriculturally advanced Chambal Canal system, once described as the "bad lands of central India" I improved my professional acumen by taking a full time course in Law and also by completing my thesis on the cutting edge levels of district administration. Numerous case studies and research papers kept me going and brought recognition.

While in Delhi, I saw at close quarters the activities of terrorist and their patrons. In June'84, I spent a night in the office writing out the first draft of "White paper" on Punjab crisis. I successfully contested numerous cases in the High Courts and the Supreme Court to safeguard public interest under Unlawful activities (Prevention) Act and the National Security Act. I saw a batch-mate and two colleagues being felled by the bullets of terrorists in separate incidents after the "Operation Bluestar".

Two long stints with Commerce & Industries Department in Madhya Pradesh and a three year tenure in the secretariat of Border Roads Development Board made me realize that Administration has to play a vital role in economic development particularly of the backward regions. In other words, development of infrastructure has to be propelled by the Government agencies even in the twenty first century.

Growing importance of development of human material is fully justified in view of the need to involve every inhabitant of the country in its socio-economic development. Mass mobilization is not feasible without the active involvement of self-help groups, community based organizations and the interest groups, also loosely described as the non-governmental organizations.

Empowerment of weaker and marginalized sections of society continues to be the felt need even sixty years after Independence. My vision is to play a constructive role in the creation of epoch making success stories of the new Millennium. Launching of this website with a discussion forum is a step in the direction of mobilizing the dormant majority in the society who want the future generations to flourish in an egalitarian and terror-free environment.