They may have lost their credibility but their sense of humour is intact.
The titles given to senior IAS officers at the annual dinner of the UP IAS Association on Friday night prove that the elite cadre retains the ability to laugh at itself and also speak between the lines.
The titles, published on the menu card of the event, also gave an insight into the nature and popularity of various bureaucrats. UP chief secretary Jawed Usmani, who has returned to his parent cadre after an unusually long stint in Delhi and abroad, was given the title “Ghar aaya mera pardesi” — an obvious reference to his homecoming.
Rakesh Garg, principal secretary to the chief minister, was conferred the title of “Badle badle mere sarkar nazar aate hain.” The officer is known for his non-communicative skills and his aloofness.
“Ye kahan aa gaye hum tere saath chalte chalte” was conferred on Sailesh Krishna, principal secretary labour. Sailesh Krishna has invariably enjoyed postings in the chief minister’s secretariat in previous Mulayam and Mayawati governments but this time he has been kept out of the chief minister’s team.
Principal home secretary R.M. Srivastava, a well-known chain smoker, was given the title of “Main zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya, har fikr ko dhuen mein udata chala gaya.” Principal secretary finance, Anand Misra, is known for his tightfistedness and his title for the evening was “Kahe paise pe itna guroor kare hai, yehi paisa to apno se door kare hai.”
Two IAS officers — G.B. Patnaik and Sanjay Bhoosreddy — known for their simplicity and honesty were told “Sab kuchh sikha humne na sikhi hoshiyari” and Alok Ranjan, president of the UP IAS Association, was labelled as the “Man of all seasons” which also speaks for his popularity.
Deepak Singhal, an officer known for controversies in the previous rule, was given the title of “Return of the Don” while Rajiv Kapoor, principal secretary infrastructure and industrial development was named as the “Angry Young Man”.
Pravir Kumar, principal secretary urban development, who shares a warm rapport with his minister Azam Khan was given the title of “Rampur ka vasi hoon main” while Arvind Singh Deo, principal secretary Irrigation, was given the title of “Hum kisi se kam nahin” — a reference to his proximity with his political bosses.
And lastly, three young officers posted in the chief minister’s secretariat — Amod Kumar, Pandhari Yadav and Alok Kumar — who form a formidable trio and wield maximum power, were given the title of “Gangs of Sefaipur” (Sefai is the native village of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav).