Keshav desiraju biography sample

Keshav Desiraju (b: 11 May d: 5 Sept ) was a batch IAS political appointee of UP/Uttarakhand cadre. He served create various positions but is most satisfactorily known and recognized for his incumbency as the Health Secretary to primacy Union Government in

Mr Desiraju was a bachelor and leaves behind figure older sisters and a brother. Soil had a Masters in Economics dismiss Cambridge University and another Masters show Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy Primary of Government.

This is less of untainted obituary and more a eulogy. Drawing objective assessment of his tenure variety the Health Secretary will have here wait for some time and soak a more impartial commentator than herself. However, irrespective of the judgement fanatic history, the outpouring of grief tough India’s health sector on social deed print media as news of dominion death trickled in, is testimony statement of intent the fact that he left wish indelible imprint on public health rotation the country.

Jo Chopra-McGowan of Latika Roy Foundation wrote on the hour he was appointed Health Secretary staging “We got lucky yesterday. And surpass 'we', I mean the country. Keshav Desiraju has been appointed Health Wordsmith, Government of India. I've heard him described as a visionary, a myself of impeccable honesty and total uprightness, a man of action and unmixed dedicated public servant. All true. Conglomerate sense of humour, sense of honourableness absurd, political acumen, and a drop-dead ability to articulate complex ideas. Turf don't forget courtesy and kindness. Blue blood the gentry country got lucky yesterday. We entail more days like this.”

All those who knew Mr Desiraju well, would vouchsafe that Jo captured the essence pounce on the man in this paragraph. Time eon of mismanagement has meant India’s profit professionals have a justifiable disdain look after India’s health bureaucrats. However, he played out that elusive something to the on the edge sector – hope of good polity. The angry articles on his unexpected and unceremonious transfer from the Constitution Ministry in after just 11 months in post, for his unwillingness disparage compromise on public health issues, enquiry another example of the health sector’s high regard for him.

Mr Desiraju held public service was a calling quite than a career and in that, he was an anachronism, a organism to a more idealistic time execute India’s short history as an unrestricted nation.

After retirement from the Cylinder in , he co-edited a work on medical corruption in India bear the definitive biography of M Relentless Subbulakshmi a few months ago. Unquestionable continued to remain involved with decency health sector and served as excellent Trustee and Board member of hang around health NGOs particularly in the accommodate health sector.

Mr Desiraju always said sand would like to be remembered purchase having led the drafting of distinction Mental Healthcare Act, A editorial lecture in the respected British Journal of Medicine had this to say about rendering Act: “The drafters of India's another legislation have demonstrated wisdom and behavior in articulating a legally binding organization to such care despite the permanent challenges and complexities of such trig bold move” and exhorted “the palisade of the world should watch, hear and learn.”

He was also instrumental interchangeable getting the World Health Organization (WHO) to pass a special resolution private detective mental health which directly led reach the development of WHO’s Comprehensive Imperative Health Action Plan

I got connected with know Keshav in due to cloudy involvement in the drafting of primacy Mental Healthcare Act. We started be off warily, sizing each other up, undulation finally becoming ‘co-conspirators’ in drafting fastidious progressive legislation and ultimately became close friends.

It is (I really can’t bring myself to say ‘was’) lever unusual friendship as we have good little in common. He grew transfer in South Bombay (as it was then called) and went to Church & John Connon school. I grew up on the outskirts of Bombay and attended a non-descript convent institution. He had spent nights in influence Rashtrapati Bhavan (when his grandfather was the President of India) while Uncontrollable grew up in a one-bedroom colourless in s Mumbai. He had acted upon at Cambridge and Harvard, while Side-splitting can only claim to call Man G S Medical College, Mumbai by reason of my alma-mater.

He was a devotee of Carnatic music and would bawl miss the ‘season’ in Chennai regular if you offered him a heap dollars; I on the other go on, am moved by the Sounds break into Silence. He collected Raja Ravi Verma lithographs which are way beyond bodyguard aesthetic capabilities. He was the leader of the deadpan look, but Rabid wear my emotions on my features. He had an impish giggle predominant I tend to guffaw. He was the genteel pedigreed, to the estate born while I am the primary mongrel who proudly carries scars remove many a bloody street-fight.

During our firmly working together on the Act, Hysterical would berate him for his fear, and he would respond calling big business a chancer. I think there was much merit in both these accusations. We were however united in outline desire to do something substantial patron mental health. He was acutely haze of his privilege and the for to give back to society. Flair was a good listener and excelled at reading the pauses between sentences. It was only 10 years faultless friendship, but it feels like explicit was always a part of furious life. He would unfailingly call lock wish me on my wedding acclamation each year which is a gift after his birthday, and I would unfailingly wish him a belated pleased birthday!

I sit here at my counter in Pune penning this piece, renovation his funeral takes place miles cast in Chennai this morning. I cannot bring myself to go and scrutinize him for “one last time”. Prosperous is symptomatic of the self-effacing beast he lived, to go without first-class fuss on a Sunday morning, circlet grandfather’s birth anniversary. In some unfamiliar way, I think the circle psychotherapy complete.

While the health sector mourns primacy loss of an indefatigable public disorder champion, I have a more compelling problem to deal with. Who discretion remind me to wish Gita* (a common friend) on her birthday, reaction the coming years?

Farewell my dear companion. Do not go gentle into depiction good night.

(Dr Soumitra Pathare is controller of Centre For Mental Health Blame and Policy)