We are back from a refreshing short trip to Chennai and Pondicherry which we took along with my oldest daughter, son-in-law, and grandkids.  We also had the fortune of visiting Adiparashakti temple in Melmarvattor and also had darshan goddess Kamakshi. 

During this four day trip, I carried book titled “Wheels Behind The Veil written by Late PVRRK Prasad, IAS, Media Advisor to former PM PV Narasimha Rao.

Mr. Prasad, had the advantage of working with  PV Narasimha Rao, DR.M.Chenna Reddy, VengalaRao, N T Rama Rao, Dr. Manmohansingh very closely, and he tried to throw some light on many complex situations which he witnessed. This book contains several things that had happened behind the veil of political governance and had not been revealed earlier for various reasons, are revealed here without hesitation with a particular reference to the relationship between senior civil Servants and political bosses.

 We have a feeling that normally an IAS officer, will enjoy power and authority at the expense of tax payer’s money, sitting AC bungalows, a happy go lucky fellows.These officers are the wheels that turn Administration behind the veil of political governance. This concept is very well explained in this book, which people will enjoy with little interest in Administration and contemporary politics.

The approach was slightly different, perhaps the writer wanted to hold the mirror to the contemporary political and administrative scenario. But it is confirmed by the writer that nothing in this book was hearsay as every incident mentioned, he had some role to play or was a direct witness. So his account of various events appears authentic, especially on PV, his approach to burning issues then, his interactions with bureaucracy and political bosses etc.

The most interesting thing which I liked, in this book, is that as Media Advisor he tried to clear many misunderstandings people have about PV, on Ayodhya and Babri-Masjid demolitions, his connections with Tantrik Chandraswamy, Hawala racket, including film star Rajinikanth’s entry into Congress etc, being closely associated with many intricate issues, this bureaucrat had cleared the air. 

During the Babri-Majid demolition time, some important section in Congress also blamed him, but if you read this, you will be convinced that it is far from the truth. He has taken all precautions and written commitments. But was ditched by top BJP leadership (Of course not Vajpayee), the imposition of  President’s rule was suggested, which as a true democrat, a strong believer in value-based politics, he didn’t want to throw out a democratically elected government, without following due procedure. He made it clear to all important Congress leaders including Arjun Singh, who also nodded his head, but later spread false stories. As strong God believer, he made sincere efforts for the construction of Ram temple. The writer was actively involved when an apolitical Ram temple construction Trust was formed by associating Adwaita, Dwaita, Vishistadwaita pithadhipathis, and heads of other important mutts,  and got it registered. Bringing together all mathadhipatis was a very very difficult task. It is very easy to talk Sri Ravishankarji and ask him to negotiate, but it was very challenging to get pithadhipatis to show some interest in such matters. It represented all cross-sections of Hindu society and it had members acceptable to all political parties

The last chapter “When PV deemed power a curse”  highlights his personality. He was in Hyderabad one day, after having been exonerated by Supreme Court in cash-for- votes and other cases, he wanted Prasad to help him in selling his house, for making payments to his lawyers.As CM of AP, he handled large amounts of party funds, later he occupied many important positions in Delhi.Prasad writes that he couldn’t believe that a man of his stature had to sell his house to clear his Advocates dues. I was pained to read that party leaders including CMs who benefited from their acquaintance with PV didn’t bother about him once he lost power. I think some believed that PV was too good a man to mind their silence and some others deliberately kept aloof from lest they should fall foul of his successors. Finally, PV was left alone to fend for himself.