No Dream Is Too Big : Memoirs of a Civil Servant

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Composing one's memoirs proves to be a formidable task, especially when one opts to delve into the intricate details of diverse assignments undertaken as a civil servant, traversing various departments and contexts. The civil servant's vocation, a blend of desk-bound administrative duties and fieldwork, teeters between agony and ecstasy, contingent upon the individual's competence and inclination. In this regard, Dr. GG Saxena's remarkable aptitude seemingly transformed his 34-year career as a DANICS/IAS officer into a source of immense satisfaction. During my tenure as the Director General of Doordarshan (2002-4), Dr. Saxena was under my purview, holding multifaceted roles such as Head of Department (HOD) for Doordarshan staff, General Administration of Doordarshan, Chief Legal Officer (Prasar Bharati), and coordinator of the Parliamentary Hindi Committee, among others. His dynamic approach, employing the SIU methodology, played a pivotal role in elevating our in-house production of DD programs from a mere 6% to a commendable 23% compared to sponsored content in 2003. Moreover, we successfully launched the 'DD Bharati Channel' without the need for additional external human resources.

Dr. Saxena's memoirs have contributed significantly to our society. They artfully portray the brighter facets of bureaucracy, effectively dispelling the negative stereotype of bureaucrats as mere impediments wielding pens, enshrouding everything in bureaucratic red tape. This transformation is imperative for societal improvement, rekindling public faith in civil servants.

It is with a wonderful sense of delight, deep personal satisfaction, and wistful nostalgia that one reflects on the very aptly titled book, i.e., 'No dream is too big - Memoirs of a Civil Servant', by the very distinguished bureaucrat, accomplished writer, and above all, an admired colleague with whom one served together, Dr GG Saxena. This timely book by him is a labour of love by him in terms of painstakingly recollecting the efforts and achievements under very trying times and environment as also, a yeoman service in chronicling the various initiatives and accomplishments, which he partook, and passionately pursued till their fruition.

By their very construct, memoirs ought to afford some tangible value, meaning, inspiration and order to a life well lived and then putting up the same for public consumption this memoir ticks all those boxes, and is a fine repository of the transformational work done by a conscientious bureaucrat. With much to be proud of and shared in terms of accomplishments, this additional effort to 'pen' the same was necessary.

Personally, we go back a long way and I remember vividly Dr GG Saxena's natural zest and indefatigable spirit for getting things done that always made him stand out in a crowd - self driven, beyond partisanship and seeking constant improvement in everything that he undertook, is my definitive memory of him and his work. Therefore, this memoir will indeed serve as an invaluable addition to the repertoire available to budding bureaucrats, and even to well-meaning citizenry, who believe in doing their bit for the nation.