The myth of the civil service

At midnight 12 am on August 15, 1947 was born a child named 'India', with powers most sought after during birthright - freedom in a democracy.

"Can there be a greater aspiration to seek in the world, than freedom?" 

The question needs to be popped, in particular, into the heads of the fascists leaders who have ruled the world and the citizens who bore the brunt of it. The freedom to desire for unregulated power, as longs as it lasts, seems to be the cause. From the ruling dictators to the military generals trying to overthrow them through a coup, in less democratic fashion -  power seems to blind any logical cause. 

Democracy makes it no different either.

Democracy is based on the principle of practicing social equality through an organized governmental system of elected representatives.  The decision making of the people, for the people and by the people - taken by representatives who handle the politics. The ministers are duly assisted in the governance, by the bureaucrats - in the desi version they are the 'netas' and the 'babus'.

The story is not so different before the birth of the nation, when Raj-babus used to do the dirty work for the rulers, who in turn keep holding onto the authority administered through the British. Soon, these Raj-babus or civil servants in pre-liberalized India came under the administrative structure called the Indian Civil Service (ICS). Their role primarily to that of a regulator. However post-liberalized India had the officers having a slight change in the role, the new role being that of a facilitator than regulator - the service renamed Indian Administrative Service (IAS). 

The hierarchy still remained with the power flowing from the Minister to the bureaucrat to the people - the people thus  governed. As someone put it, our democracy relies on 'Babudom in the service of netagiri' - if 'Yes Minister' and 'Yes, Prime Minister' were translated into Indian languages, they certainly would represent India of today.

As someone once said, 

"With great power, comes greater responsibility."

 This quote seems to be earnestly followed by the neta-babu duo. The responsibilities range from scratching each other's back in the process of ensuring to stay in power to making the most of their tenure, having their pockets filled. Now where did it go wrong?

Looking at the power hierarchy - from the netas to the babus to the people. If the people where to elect the babus (criterion based on knowledge and ability), who would then elect the best amongst them as netas, would we see a change?!  The current system has the babus selected from the cream of the country, after cracking one of the most competitive exams held. There is no doubt as to them being educated. But then only to be bossed by the lot of the less credentialed ministers, where there is no rule for the selection to such an office. These babus have but no choice but to underperform and become puppets to the netas. Democracy the culprit.

Another concern is the direct selection of babus by an examination - to gain seniority over officers with experience through service. Is a quick training after the examination enough to gain expertise and the skills for the job, that can beat experience. Quoting, 

"Skills can be learned, while experienced has to be earned".

 Will not this kind of discrimination and subordination lead to further inconsistency?

Why not do away with the Civil services, which is actually a thing of the past - as Nehru who ridiculed the ICS for its support of British policies: Indian Civil Service as neither Indian nor civil nor a service. Well today, not much of a change - is there?  Actually the British who introduced the structure, are done with the service in a way in Britain with some major reforms.

In India, what still looks like a Nawabi styled, authoritarian position with social prestige but no scope for serving truly, even if thoroughly willed. Its time to move onto local governance. Money that comes from local economy to serve the local people, who elect the local government. Less government and less spending on bloated government staff, in turn lesser scope for corruption.

Ronald Reagan once said, 

"Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession, I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first (Prostitution)."

With netas being ably backed by the babus, I wonder why our system has designed the selection from the cream of the country, as civil servants,  to do the pimping?

Thus ends the myth of the civil service.