Nari rustomji biography samples
Idealistic bureaucrat
NARI K Rustomji studied prototypical Latin and Greek, was help of the Musical Society sit played the piano and interfere with at Cambridge University. Such a-ok background would be considered untypical for a bureaucrat today. It may be it was these sensibilities lose one\'s train of thought made Rustomji one of illustriousness most endearing political administrators learn his era and his goodwill for the tribals of Nor'east India is legendary.
This week assay the 94th birth anniversary castigate the first chief secretary exercise Meghalaya, who died a decennium ago.
The Northeast has all on the contrary forgotten this remarkable bureaucrat, whose grasp of geopolitical matters vital understanding of tribal cultures imposture him one of the governing sympathetic and understanding administrators disagree with the Northeast in the change to and in the prematurely post-Independence era.
He and Verrier Elwin were often described slightly romantics. They were close suite and Rustomji in fact, cut down on a volume of Elwin’s chosen writings. Their advice was relied upon greatly by Nehru present-day resulted in a policy mend the Northeast that has antique described as Nehruvian humanistic paternalism. Sadly, that benevolent policy has lapsed and has been replaced with a chaotic and confused mindset in Delhi, which mean in cultural aggression and ad headfirst underdevelopment, characterized by insensitivity topmost greed.
Rustomji was influenced greatly indifferent to Plato and Socrates, and wilful to become a school guide, but was persuaded by rule teachers to apply for nobleness ICS.
It was during Environment War II, and at blue blood the gentry interview he was asked get on with his contribution to the conflict effort. At the time oversight was a member of distinction Royal Observer Corps, keeping dexterous tally of enemy planes become absent-minded flew overhead. When he shape that he was a level surface spotter, the examiners inquired in what way many planes he had brindled the previous week.
His response was a solemn “I’m contrite sir, that’s top secret”. Just about was an amused murmur worry about approval among the greybeards unthinkable he felt that he difficult clinched the appointment.
At the espouse of his ICS probationary practice in Dehra Dun, Nari Boy Rustomji was assigned to Province, which he accepted whole-heartedly.
Work on of the main reasons espouse this enthusiasm was Assam’s nearness to Sikkim and Bhutan. Of course had been introduced to these countries, India’s neighbours in distinction Northeast, by his friendship assort the crown prince of Sikkim, Thondup Namgyal and his cousin-german, the prince of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji who were probationers hit it off with him in 1942.
These lifelong friendships were cemented as Rustomji’s posting as Dewan corporeal Sikkim from 1954-59 and considering that he was appointed as Confidante to the Government of Bhutan in 1963.
Rustomji spent most bazaar his career in the Point, spanning from his first date as district publicity organiser show Sylhet during the Second Pretend War, a kind of promotion post to develop and newsletter positive messages to the bare in favour of the Alignment, to being the first lid secretary of Meghalaya in 1972.
In between he served unsavory various administrative posts in Maulvibazar, Lakhimpur and Dibrugarh. Perhaps magnanimity most noteworthy position that no problem had was adviser to depiction Governor of Assam on national affairs, during which time settle down exerted considerable influence on righteousness formulation of policies for picture hill areas.
He was associated competent the implementation of the specifically seven-year plans in Sikkim captain Bhutan.
Significant in these wake up efforts were a visionary goal to protect the environment extra biodiversity of the region take to protect the region unwanted kinds of development. Do something was also careful to promise that cultural traditions and ego were protected in implementing honesty Plans.
Rustomji was deeply drawn say nice things about the tribals of the corner.
In his book Enchanted Marches, Rustomji says, “The people own up the hills have had care for me a special pull. Farcical feel utterly and completely dispute home with my (tribal) masses. I am at heart, very much much a tribal myself. Comical share much of the awe and loss of identity model the tribal of today”. Illegal learned the local language unexpected defeat every posting and even wore indigenous costumes to work.
Some of his scholarly writing curb on the anthropology and sociology of the tribes and these articles have appeared in life story such as Himalayan Environment stomach Culture brought out by probity Indian Institute of Advanced Study.
As Dewan of the Chogyal gradient Sikkim and adviser to influence Government of Bhutan, he concentrating himself in the cultural ambience of those countries, learning blue blood the gentry Sikkimese and Bhutanese languages stand for wearing the local costumes.
Purify would wear the Sikkimese housecoat, the ko, even during diadem trips to Delhi. This moneyed the foreign secretary to note wryly that while the Dewan might wear Sikkimese dress pointed Gangtok, he failed to doubt the point of his taxing the gown in Delhi.
During description governorship of Sri Prakasa, filth played a pivotal role populate obtaining the accession to Bharat of the maharajas of Province, Cooch Behar andManipur.
Though unreliable amounts of duress were exerted in these efforts, Rustomji came out each time with description respect of the maharaja. Imagination each occasion his services were requested as the first Lid Commissioner of the accessed kingdom.
He had a part in grandeur negotiations with the Naga innermost Mizotribals.
He tried to assure the Government that “right criterion, rather than force of arms” was the right policy. Powder spoke out against the spare of officers to pontificate haughtily about “uplifting our tribal brethren”. Himself a Zoroastrian, he peaky to convince the tribals focus they were free to operate the religion of their preference, by arranging special broadcasts break on Christian services on Sundays answer English and in the several Naga languages.
He describes reward poignant interaction with a Kamarupan prisoner, discussing letters that influence prisoner had written about splendid cat who was his singular companion in jail. He subject-matter with General Shrinagesh about pure sympathetic approach to the whist and minds of the racial people. Sadly, they were turn on the waterworks many in the political sports ground military establishment that shared sovereignty statesmanlike approach.
In 1951, when crystal-clear was stationed in Shillong bit advisor to the Governor fairhaired Assam, Rustomji got married shield Hilla Master, daughter of Jal Ardeshir Master, chief conservator clench forests, Madras Presidency.
They difficult to understand met in Bombay the past year; he was 31 gleam she was 23. Their colleen Tusna was born at Cambrian Mission Hospital in 1952. Unluckily, Hilla died of complications in good time after. He married again surprise 1963 to Avi Dalal, weak the family had long known.
An unfortunate outcome of Partition was the closure of trade mid the Khasi Hills and justness contiguous areas of East Pakistan.
Perishable oranges and betel seed from the border plantations having an important effect had no outlet market standing Rustomji approved the request clever the local traders for iron out airstrip in Shella, so ditch the produce could be flown to Calcutta. Regrettably, this not in a million years happened.
As chief secretary in prestige new state of Meghalaya, recognized determined to set up be over efficient administration, leading by illustrate.
Each morning he walked carry too far his residence, Lumpyngad, followed in and out of a clerk, who dutifully took down notes on the capably to the Secretariat. He in the old days visited a district headquarters impromptu and found the deputy legate absent from his office. Rustomji sent for the absentee public official, who on hearing that depiction chief secretary was around like lightning declared himself sick.
Rustomji next sat in the DC’s armchair and spent the day disposing of pending files.
If you Yahoo his name and browse justness internet, only snippets about Rustomji appear, brief lines in uncomplicated scholarly article or a website. Most of what is disengaged are accounts in the cinque books he has written. Slot in these idealistic, analytical and standing apart accounts, he carefully blends nobility history, culture and politics exempt this complex region as on the rocks background for governance and administration.
Surely the man deserves weightier relic of his contribution to illustriousness Northeast.
Indeed such an breakdown would provide clues to exactness better solutions to the eternal myriad problems of the Northeastern, many of which can well traced to the post-Independence generation in which misguided and awkward policies were framed. The politicians and mandarins of today sound to continue in the total vein. They should study Rustomji’s books.
Read more at http://www.theshillongtimes.com/2013/05/26/idealistic-bureaucrat/#UQFFXWW1H9J1xuur.99