Autobiographies are mostly written by people in powerful positions either to defend themselves from criticism or misconceptions about their work while in power, or to elucidate some good work not adequately appreciated or slurred over. Here, however, is an autobiography written by an astute, efficient and honest civil service officer, who at one time had been Principal Secretary in the powerful Prime Minister's Office (PMO), attached to two great slain Prime Ministers, Indira and her son Rajiv Gandhi.
First published in India in 2004 and having three impressions the same year, this thick beautifully-bound volume is written elegantly in a plain and simple style with a racy prose, and offers a rare opportunity to look at the maneuverings and behind-the-scenes happenings of Indian politics. Alexander enlivens the dead past and takes the reader on to the stage to see and feel the currents and crosscurrents underneath the tide of gripping events that pervade throughout the great democratic nation. At first look, it seems formidable, but once one starts reading it, one is easily overtaken by the turn of events --- sometimes amusing and fascinating, sometimes dramatic and shocking and at times tragic and unwarranted.
Instead of starting from the early years chronologically to the end of his career, as is the usual practice, Alexander's assignment to the political posts of a Governor in two major states of India, namely Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, is brought forth in his first chapter, "From Raj Bhavan to Rajya Sabha". This is to emphasise the perceived turning around of a long-serving Congressite to a Shiv SenaBharatiya Janata Party favourite. He forcefully argues SS-BJP recommendation for giving him an extension for a second term was on the basis of his hard work in the state that created misgivings in a section of the Congress High Command. This was further accentuated when in a book launching function for Alexander's new book, "India In the New Millenium", in 2001, Prime Minister Vajpayee declared, "Dr. Alexander was not only a Rajyapal, but also a Rajguru". This provoked a section of the Congress to start the "Off with Alexander" tirade.
Fifteen other chapters, from his early years to his appointment in the Indian Civil Service (now called Administrative Service), and getting into the central government's work, then follow. Working as principal secretary to Indira Gandhi takes two chapters in which he recounts why she was compelled to call the army to carry out Operation Blue Star and how the top generals changed their plan and strategy halfway through the operation, leading to its tragic results. Working with Rajiv Gandhi takes another chapter.
Alexander describes his tenure in the PMO as 'most memorable and satisfying' during his five-and-a-half-decade long public service career. Even though Indira Gandhi had not known him closely before he started work with her in 1981, he realised within a short period that the Prime Minister was dealing with him as an individual in whom she had reposed her trust. She had stated in unambiguous terms that she wanted Alexander to get involved not only in government matters, but in political and party matters as well as he had earlier retired from IAS and was not constrained by any service regulations. Alexander claims he found that Prime Minister Indira Gandhi not only welcomed his forthright views but also respected him because of his firm stand. He was thus a ringside witness to all the major events of this period and privy to all the relevant information, classified and non-classified.
Following Indira Gandhi's assassination, Rajiv Gandhi continued the tradition set by his mother in playing great trust in Alexander and not treating him merely as a civil servant assisting him in government work. His relation with another Prime Minister, P.V. Narasinha Rao (1991-96) was equally close. Both of them developed mutual respect during the period when Rao was a minister in Indira's, and later, in Rajiv's cabinet.
Alexander had a singular unpleasant experience incurring the wrath of Prime Minister Morarji Desai (1977-79) when he was secretary in the sensitive ministry of commerce. In one case, he was almost on the point of being fired for firmly opposing one of Desai's directives. His stand was supported by Cabinet Secretary Nirmal Mukharjee, another Christian IAS officer. Desai unfairly accused them of supporting each other raising the "Christian-Christian" factor.
The most surprising and depressing experience in Alexander's career was in mid-2002 when the Congress leadership vehemently opposed the proposal made by Prime Minister Vajpayee and other leaders of National Democratic Alliance (NDA), seeking its support for fielding Alexander as a candidate for the office of the President of India. What saddened him most was a personal vilification campaign raising again the Christian-Christian factor. If he were elected as the President being a Christian, this would bar Sonia Gandhi from being Prime Minister in future because of being a Christian.
The book sums up the story of Alexander's life, who held some very senior positions that are not within the reach of a civil servant. He mentioned in the end that he grew up in the colonial years and witnessed the transition from foreign rule to freedom. Born and brought up in the former state of Travancore, he had "witnessed the obdurate resistance of the princely order to the winds of change sweeping across the country and its ultimate capitulation to people's power." He did not possess the advantages of birth, caste or community; nor did he seek political backing for reaching these positions. He admitted that luck played its role in everybody's life, and he had, perhaps, a larger share of it than many others.
For the younger generations, he offers a lesson learnt in his lifetime- that if one is firmly committed to certain lofty values and remains determined not to compromise with one's self-respect, integrity and sense of duty to gain short term advantages, one will not have any cause for regret in the long run- with an implicit caveat that a civil administrator, however brilliant he may be, undertakes great risk to his career when he is tempted to enter the world of politics, because an honest, straightforward person can be no match for beguiling, wily politicians. Alexander is silent on this lesson learnt at the fag end of his career.

Hemayetuddin Ahmed is former Director General of External Publicity and can be reached at [email protected]