Titles for bureaucrats in UP reflect fluctuating fortunes

The titles bestowed on IAS officer in the annual Uttar Pradesh IAS Week are an indicator of the fluctuating fortunes of the bureaucrats and when the IAS week comes within days of Holi, the mood gets even more “colourful”.

The service dinner of the bureaucrats on Friday night was amply reflective of the festive mood in ways more than one.

UP chief secretary Alok Ranjan, who is due to retire on March 31, was reminded that “behind every successful man’s success, lies a woman” — the reference was to his wife Surabhi Ranjan who is a celebrity singer in her own right.

Mr Anil Gupta, chairman, board of revenue, got the title “Hum intezar karenge qayamat tak, khuda kare ki qayamat ho aur.”

Mr Gupta is one of the claimants to the chief secretary’s post. Principal secretary, information and tourism, Navneet Sehgal, was aptly told, “A man for all seasons — a truly neutral bureaucrat.”

The reference was to Mr Sehgal’s ability to fit into the BSP and SP regimes with equal ease.

Lucknow district magistrate Raj Shekhar, who is also known for his media-friendly and diplomatic behaviour, was given the title “Chhapo page one, two and three — Agla Navneet Sehgal Kaun ”

Two IAS officers who are reportedly lobbying for the chief secretary’s post, Praveer Kumar and Deepka Singhal, were curtly told: “Jahan teri ye nazar hai, meri jaan mujhe khabar hai.”

Lakhimpur district magistrate Kinjal Singh, who recently had a run-in with the forest staff in Dudhwa sanctuary, was given the title “Jungle jungle baat chali hai, pata chala hai.”

Rohit Nandan, the former Air India CMD and now secretary in the ministry of skill development, got the title “Pankhon se kuchh nahin hota, kushal karigari se udaan hoti hai” — the reference obviously to his inability to lobby for himself.

Another senior IAS officer Vijay Shankar Pandey, who is on Central deputation, was given the title “Aaj purani raahon se, koi mujhe awaaz na de” — an apparent reference to his skirmishes with the state government.

Mr Rakesh Garg, who was recently removed from the telecom ministry, was given the title –“Communication gap (call drop) can be hazardous at times”. B Chandrakala, Bulandshahar district magistrate, who was recently in a controversy over a selfie incident, got the title “Hum kisi se kum nahin, TV humse hai, hum TV se nahin”. The titles were printed on the menu card called ‘Mirch Masala’ and served to the bureaucrats along with ‘Tilwali Fish’, ‘Mutton Pasanda’ and ‘Chicken Lehsunia’ at the elite Mohammad Bagh Club.